New at work today....

   I got back from my mini vacation today and heard some starteling news at work. I girl who works in our customer service dept had gastric bypass surgery last thursday and died on the table. She apparently had a stroke and never woke up. She was 37, never married nor did she have any kids. Its just so sad, and really makes me scared now. She was SO young and had SO much ahead of her! Its really making me second guess this whole sugery thing now

Don't let that deter your desicion to do this.  If we second guess everything we do then we would do nothing.  Have faith in God and your surgeon and his team and you will be fine.   Have faith!!! Beth

Death can be the result of ANY surgery, regardless of how insignificant or elective it may seem.  But, most deaths occur from something other than the surgery itself, mainly a health problem that already existed.  Do you know what it was that actually caused her death? I am so sorry to hear this.  It saddens me so much.  It always makes me wonder what hopes and dreams the person would have accomplished after ridding themselves of health issues/problems caused by obesity...  once their body was strong and energetic enough to live life more fully.  It might be good to do some more research, really examine your heart and come to a solidified decision "Yes this is what I want" or "No this is not what I want."  The only person who can answer that is you.  I wish we could take your fears away, but its not that simple.  I knew that death could be my final result.  But, I had no children.  I had no boyfriend, no husband, and I decided that I wasn't really living life anyway.  If I were to die, there were no children or husband that rely on me to take care of them.  So I decided to go ahead with the surgery.  It is a factor that you must take into consideration when you say "yes" or "no".... 

Tina,  I am so sorry to hear about your coworker.  It is a real risk of this or any major surgery.  I am a RN.  I was terrified to have this surgery.  But, I was also miserable, completely miserable.  I had been off work for almost 6 months with serious health problems last year that were severely complicated by my weight.  I truly came to the point that I accepted that I might die from the surgery, but I felt like I was dying anyway. Just a slow death.  I really researched the surgery, talked to people, looked up stats, everything I could do.  I then wrote my will, letters to my loved ones, and a Living will. I prayed for weeks! My husband and I talked about it a lot, and he completely understood the risks and was willing to accept them.  It is a big decision.  Death is an extremely rare occurence with this surgery nowadays.  I suggest you really pray about it. Marilyn

I just had to stop by and first of all apologize for the incident. Second of all I must say that I have had so many around me that have feared this exact thing with me all except guess who?..................ME. I actually did a lot of meditating and asking God if this was for me and my answer came when I fell off of the carport and had the biggest and the blackest bruise under my knee that trapped me in bed one day, as I was in a lot of pain and that sent me packing to my PCP, who in turn referred me to an orthopedic specialist that bluntly told me that the only way my joints would last longer was to consider weight loss surgery because of arthritis. So, I think God answered my question in His own way. I don't believe He's ready to pull my timecard yet so............ but to each his own. This is a choice you have to make unless, like Beth, says you have faith in God and I have crazy faith, my dear. Good luck on whatever you decide to do!

Diane

4 years ago, a young lady at work (in her late 20's) had WLS and died. A childhood friend of mine had his tonsils removed when we were in our early 30's.  He came through the surgery fine, but passed away 2 days later from a blood clot.   ANY surgery has it's risks and is serious business.   Having fears, worries and doubts about WLS is "normal".  We all had the same thoughts and concerns.  But I weighed the pros and cons of the surgery and decided that it was definitely worth the risks involved.  My health was steadily declining as my weight continued to rise after having 5 heart attacks, a pacemaker and a stent.  I was on blood press ure meds, cholesterol meds, was pre-diabetic, had sleep apnea (on a bi-pap machine to sleep), had severe edema of the legs and feet, pain in my knees and back, and in general my health and quality of life was going to he!! very fast.  So, even considering the possibilities of what could happen, I decided the surgery was worth the risk for me. Do your research, weigh the pros and cons for you personally, and make your decision. Then, if you choose the surgery, leave it to the surgeons and a Higher Power.   Good luck to you.

Hi Tina, I am so sorry for the loss of a coworker.  I too had the fears, I went into this surgery strapped to a motorized wheelchair unable to walk for the weight was too much on my body.  I also knew that it could affect my having Leukemia when I had surgery.  But after finding out about the Leukemia, and God answered my prayers by sending me to Dr. Colquitt after having 11 denials prior to the leukemia.  Yes I was worried, but I just trusted God to guide my surgeons hands.  There's always a risk with any surgery.  You just need to leave it in God's hands and let him worry about it and trust him to make the right decision that is best for you.  You're in my prayers.

Tina, like everyone else, I am so sorry her life ended too soon.  I agree that there may have been an existing risk factor with her health that complicated things but... maybe not. I hate to say it but not every surgeon is competent.  That is just a fact.  Sometimes they make errors or bad judgement calls. It happens. That's why it's so very important to know your surgeon's history and credentials. Do your research! Now with that said, even VERY competent doctors have patients who don't make it. That's with ANY surgery. I hope Dawn would post to this because her surgery was long and complicated but her surgeon and his team were very competent (proven track record) and she pulled through fine. And, she loving life now. I've read profiles on here and stories of people who either didn't make it through surgery or didn't last long after.  Sometimes it was the surgeon and sometimes it isn't.   There are risks... true enough. But, here's how I thought about it.  In a year, I went from being borderline diabetic to having fasting blood sugars of 300. People who are diabetic can tell you how bad that is if you don't already know.  I went for about 12 yrs with really no major comorbidities.  All of a sudden, my body started saying no more! It couldn't take it. I was getting bigger and putting too much stress and strain on my body and my health. Was I scared to have WLS? Absolutely not!  Well, no more than I was scared to stop breathing at night from sleep apnea or going into a coma from diabetes. For me, I thought well, I'm either going to die from being obese or die from trying not to be obese.  I had reached a point in my life that I knew I MUST do something or I would be 6 ft under. My quality of life sucked! There's no other way to put it. I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. I researched every hospital in Nashville that did the surgery. I read many reviews of doctors who performed the surgery. I talked to a bunch of people who'd had surgery locally.  And when all that was done, I was confident in the hospital and surgeon I had chosen. I had faith in them and I had faith in God. Really, if it's someone's time to go then it just is. There's nothing anyone can do about it. That is how I went into the hospital the day of surgery. I prayed and prayed some more. Because you can never have enough God in your life! But, I was at peace. I knew that if God had further plans for me here that'd he'd put his hands on the hands of the surgeon and his team. And I knew that if God had decided my time was done here then it wouldn't have mattered if I was on a table in a hospital, in my car going to work or laying in my bed. I knew for sure though that I could no longer continue down the path I was heading because I was killing myself one bite at a time. I guess maybe you could say I was committing suicide. I decided I didn't want to die. I wanted to live. Now, almost 2 months later I've lost 51 lbs and I feel sooo much better.  I can do things I could never have done before. To God be the glory! I really believe that through God's hands my surgeon saved my life that day. As was already said, only YOU can make the right decision for you.  Might I suggest though to not let this deter you. About 4 yrs ago when I lived in KY, I went to have a consult for this surgery with a surgeon who was relatively new in the area. He had done WLS for a coworker and they came through fine. But, 2 wks after our consult, a patient of his died during surgery. Now, they called and called me but I never went back. Not because I didn't want WLS but because I was not confident in him. Sorry this was so long but I just wanted to get on the level with you. I know what you are feeling. I was there before. I heard all kinds of horror stories.  But, take a look at all the folks on the TN board and on OH that are LIVING proof of what can happen. I wish you peace! God bless!

Tina,          That is horrible, simply horrible, but as everyone has said, you need to not let this scare you away from the surgery. It could have happened to her with or without the surgery.  I knew a girl that was the same age as me at the time 33, however she was very healthy, perfect size, worked out 4-5 days a week and one Saturday morning she was in the bathroom and had a major stroke.  She did survive, but it has left her paralized on one side and impaired her speach, even today, six years later, she remains the same.  I guess what I am saying, God has his own plan and he is in control, not us!!  A former Pastor of mine, spoke one Sunday morning on how we are living on borrowed time and it really put things into prospective for me!!  He was right, God only promises us the exact moment in which we are living and the each moment afterwards is his gift, so pray about your decision and be at peace once you have made it!!! That is truly all one can ask for!! Shelia 

Tina, My prayers go out to your co-worker's family.  I will have my surgery on Tuesday and yes I have worried about this very thing.  In fact I just e-mailed my wishes for my funeral to my best friend and have kept a copy to give to my DH on Tuesday morning.  No, I don't think I will die on the table, but I'm a person who likes to be organized.  I figured anything I could do to make that time easier on my family was what I should do.  Now my GF can hold on to this for another 30 years until its needed and I won't have to think about it again!!  I have prayed about this surgery and ask God to show me if this is what I should do.  I can't tell you the number of things he has sent my way to let me know I'm on the right track.  If I don't have this surgery I know I will either wind up in a wheelchair, bedridden or die early, so thinking that way this surgery is the only logical thing to do.  Only you can decide what is right for you.  My daughter had her tonsils out at 15 and all most bled to death.  Our son had his tonsils out at 25 and had no problems at all.  You just never know. B