I also had several comorbidites and weight related problems (bone-on-bone knees & obstructive sleep apnea to name a couple). 

I am very thorough with all my research when I am making a decision and only rely on the best, most independent sources available to me.  When I did my research, I learned that the risk of my death from RNY the way it is currently performed is about the same as that of a hysterectomy.  RNY has been done for about as long as hysterectomies have been done as well.  After I read all that research/history, I realized this...
If I knew I needed a hysterectomy to get over some debilitating medical problem, I'd have it.  People around me wouldn't be saying, "Aren't you scared?" or "Do you worry you're going to die?"  They'd just support me.  RNY was no different for me.  It was a surgery I needed for a medical problem.  People around me who might ask "Aren't you scared?" or "Do you worry you're going to die?" were just un-educated about the actual FACTS (not RUMORS, but FACTS) regarding WLS - as I had been before I did all my research.  

I worried about complications until I read the statistics regarding long-term complications from RNY - which are usually between 7 - 15 %.  These risk factors include high risk patients undergoing RNY, including revisions (from other surgeries such as lapband, etc), patients in excess of 400 pounds, etc.  Remember those statistics also include idiots who do not follow their surgeon's advise.  (We've all seen those idiots on the main board saying something like, "I'm 2 weeks out and just ate a big bowl of nachos @ a BBQ.  I used to would have eaten 3 big bowls and now I only ate 1 big bowl!  So I'm so proud!  But  my tummy hurts a little bit.  Do you guys think I might have hurt myself?"  Unfortunately, completely dumbasses like that count towards that 7 - 15 % complication rate.)  So I figure if you weed out the idiots, that brings the complication rate down just a little. 

So the way I figured it, I either:
a) have the surgery and have a CHANCE of complications from the surgery, or
b) don't have this surgery and have the REALITY of the complications I ALREADY HAVE from staying obese.

Since I knew that the complications of my obesity were DEFINATELY killing me (albeit slowly, but still killing me to be sure) as well as debilitating me, I chose the more POSSIBILITY of complications from a surgery that would get rid of the obesity that was debilitiating and killing me. 

It was a simple decision based on logic to me - but then again I'm a very analytical person that puts a lot of stock in factual data and NOT a lot of stock in rumor (including those lovely people who invariably tell every pre-op "My cousin knew someone who had that surgery and DIED!"). 

I know it's not that easy of a decision for everyone - but I really wi**** was.  This surgery saves people's lives.  It saved my life.  So it's hard to talk about it in an un-biased fashion. 

To me, it's the same as having a surgery to cure cancer.  Imagine how hard it would be if you had had cancer, then had a surgery to cure you, then watched someone else suffereing/dying from cancer.  It's hard not to get right in their face and scream, "You don't HAVE to suffer!  You don't HAVE to die!  There is a cure and I did it.  Three years ago I was exactly like you and I'm better now!  I'm alive and living a healthy, well, full life!"  Now granted, this is different because it does require long-term behavior modification.  I mean, if I went back to eating like a morbidly obese person again, I would BE a morbidly obese person again.  But I won't do that and most people don't do that.  The majority of us are successful for LIFE.  Even those that do regain do not regain a lot (10% is common). 

In any event, I've went on long enough.  Good luck.

Wen

Wow you have done wonderful, 8lbs you can do, try I was down to 163 and back up to 192 all because I quit exercising and got married and been eatin and drinkin with him, guess what back to exercising this week.  I am going to get back down and start saving for plastics!

AmyBeth

Right now Amy S is leading.  We are looking for some support people from Dr. Roller, but so far no luck.  If we could get more people to attend it would help. 
Amy, we would love to have you.  It might help you get back on track.  I am up 6 pounds and fighting the battle again.
Carol

I have missed you all too, well I got SICK the weekend before Christmas, H1N1 and type A flu together.  Then spent New Years Eve back at the doctor with bronchitis/chest congestion/head pain etc.  Took about 3 weeks to get better.  Had some allergies and another chest congestion/ear infection thing and was starting to feel better, YEAH lol I know.  Bill is now deployed and on a 4 month campaign in Kavakhstan.................drank a little wine Wednesday night with friends before he left and thought that might have been what was making me have the foamies on the way to the airport Thursday morning, WRONG!  I had the stomach thing that was going around so I threw up for 12 hours straight and worrying about him getting there safely.  He did, Thank you GOD, but man I miss him so much!  Other than that I am great, ready for some heat and to start back on my exercise routine that I have not done faithfully in the past year and a half, hell no wonder I gained weight after I got married so I am bound and determined that I will be back closer to goal or at goal by the time he gets back and then start preparing for maybe my first of three surgeries I will need to deal with the skin issues.  I am hoping for them to be done by Summer of 11.  February was my 3 year mark and I am seeing my doctor next month for labs and my yearly checkup, he probably won't be too happy about the weight gain but I am going to lose 30lbs seriously! GAME ON.

I have missed you all and hope that everyone is well.

Love ya'll
AmyBeth

HEEYYYYY AB!!!!!   What are you up to these days, my friend?  Nice to see your smiling face!