Obituaries...

While nosing around the site tonight I came acroos the obituaries page.... I have to admit they scared the heck outta me! I really wish I hadnt came across that page as I feel some of the stories will haunt me in the back of my mind going into surgery. Dont get me wrong- its wonderful to remember those gone, Its just that the risks of the surgery just seem so much more threatening now. On a more positive note, I finally have a consult date- Oct 18 with Dr H. So Ill be going on vacation in two weeks, then come back and then its almost time! Vacation will help the time pass quicker. Now on a even MORE positive note....Today I won a contest and became a millionaire for a day! Wooohoooooooo! I have never won anything before, so I thinks its just pretty durn neat! Its really not as great as it sounds- I only win the intrest off of one days intrest on one million dollars- works out to be $61.00. Oh well, Its fun to say I was a millionaire once hahahaha. (the winnings will pay my furbabies vet bill this week- so Im glad for it!) Anyway, I HATE insominia!! I havent had a good nights sleep in two weeks- here it is almost 6AM and I havent been to bed yet. Question for post-op's...anyone have to sleep with a CPAP for sleep apnea? What happens with the CPAP after surgery? Do you discontinue use permantly, How do you adjust to sleeping without a machine- IM so used to it I cant imagine sleeping without it. (That is WHEN I can sleep)

Hi Robin....I read some of the memorials myself and got a little scared! I'm not anymore! I figure if God wants me home, He will take me whenever He wants, wherever I am, no matter what I'm doing! I may be in surgery, I may be in my car or even as I sit here at my computer......I pray, that I'm asleep whenever He does and hopefully it will be decades from now but I'm gonna be ready whenever it is! My Faith in Him keeps me strong! Are you seeing Dr Hodges or Hornbostel? I don't know a lot about Hodges but Hornbostel has been doing some pretty good work here lately...ask anyone on here! I don't sleep with a CPAP. I do think that there are times I should of but I sleep on my sides or belly and have no problem now.....Thank You Lord! Again Robin, don't let those memorials take too much out of you...people die everyday from something! That page just happens to show THEIR way of going and for us to learn from and remember them that went before us! Think about what our doctors have learned from those patient's lost, not to mention what the insurance companies SHOULD BE LEARNING! Compare those that didn't make it to the thousands that have! It may be that more of us are making it because of those that didn't! My Mom sacrificed her life so that her children and grandchildren and so on wouldn't have to suffer as she did. She had Leukemia, had a transplant 15 years ago. I was her caregiver and watched as she and other, some were babies being treated like guinea pigs for several months. I hated it! I saw things that most people never will or never should! That was nothing, compared to what my Mom went through, that was something! She got another 12 years of life and God only knows how many others are getting completely healed or at least getting longer, healthier lives because of her and soooo many others! We lost her 3 years ago but I will never forget her sacrifice! (I LOVE YOU MOM!) Remember, Robin, he will take us when it's our time, not when we fear it's our time! Deb M.

Hi, Robin: Where are the obituaries listed on the web site? I would be interested in learning from these unfortunate deaths. There is a risk to any type of surgery and rny is no exception. As I told the dietician I met with last week, I know there is a real risk to this surgery and I am willing to take that risk. Otherwise I feel my health is only going to get worse and what kind of life will I be living in 20 years? I agree with Debbie M., the Lord will call me home when it is my time. I too hope it's in my sleep. Wouldn't it be wonderful to go to sleep and instantly wake up to be in His presence FOREVER! I have asked Him to guide me as well as my doctors and I believe He will take care of me. He is faithful. I have a CPAP, to be honest, haven't used it but a couple of times. I was told my Sleep Apena isn't bad and it was just a trial period to see if it helped me feel better. Well, I guess I really haven't given it a good try, it's cumbersome and I'm a tummy sleeper so that makes it harder. I have Periodic Limb Movement. My Sleep Specialist told me that most people move their legs about 5 times an hour while they sleep. I move mine 84 times an hour while sleeping. I told her I was POSITIVE I didn't move my legs that much while I am awake! lol! She prescribed a type of Parkinson medication to help with that. I took it a couple months and it started making me feel strange so I quit. I have a follow up appointment with her next week. Will discuss these things with her then. Congrats on being a Millionaire for a Day.....it's fun to dream! Take care, Debbie D.

The obits are scary but you have to remember that most of the people who died had very large bmis and were very unhealthy to begin with. The higher your bmi the more the risk. The percentage is good 1% or less if you have a good surgeon. My heart doc told me not to have surgery cause my heart is so weak he thought I would die on the operating table . I had my wls anyway and did fine but I knew I might die and I was at peace. To me it was a win win situation. If I woke up in heaven that is fine if I was hurting I was alive and that was fine too. My wife had her surgery six months after me and was on a cpap for years . She has not used it since surgery and does not even snore anymore. She is very happy with the results. We both had diabetes and that is gone too. You do have to realize you can die but that it is very rare. They will put you through all kind of tests pre op and be honest with any problems you have. My surgeon told me if he knows of potiential problems he can be prepared and not be surprized which is a good thing. Wls changes your life for the postive . Dont be a fraidy cat.

I had surgery two years ago and my bmi was really high at the time. I also read the obits page and it scared the beejeebers out of me. But it helped me in two ways. 1. I determined that if God was going to take me I'd be ready to go. So I had my letters to my kids and husband written and all my financial ducks in a row. 2. It helped me make a list to talk with my surgeon about before the surgery. I asked his mortality rate, what the difficulties were with those who had died or had complications. I asked about breathing difficulties and what causes that, about bowel nicks and how they guard against that, etc. He had great answers for all of those questions and it put me at ease having talked candidly about those things. So, my suggestion is talk to your surgeon if you haven't already. But really ask him the tough questions. If he gets upset with you or defensive or won't answer, then he's not the one for you.

Thank you to everyone for the encouraging words. I am feeling better about the whole memorial thing now- but I dont intend to look at any more of them until AFTER my surgery- I dont want to be discouraged again. Anyway- I went and collected my "winnings" today and went out to eat to celebrate being a millionare (hahahahaha). I think I wouldnt have this weight problem of mine if I didnt go out and celebrate so much! Oh- to who asked where to find the obits... its actaully memorials and they are located on home page under the "our members" tab.