Another WLS patient died here...How common is this?

"The thing that is hard to quantify is the difference in mortality rate for those who have WLS versus those same individuals if they hadn't had WLS."

It's hard to quantify individually, yes (meaning, individual outcomes can never be guaranteed), but it HAS been quantified in the aggregate - and the result is: yes, you're better off having WLS than remaining morbidly obese.  

Here's an article on the Swedish obesity study (Sjostrom L, et al. Effects of bariatric surgery on mortality in Swedish obese subjects. N Engl J Med. August 23, 2007;357(8):741-752.),  published in March 2008. 
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3225/is_6_77/ai_n24919417

"Conclusion: Although the study was not sufficiently powered to compare the effects of different bariatric surgery techniques, surgery was associated with long-term weight loss and significantly reduced mortality rates. Because other studies, such as the Framingham and Manitoba studies, showed that obesity was the only significant predictor of mortality after 26 years, the effects of bariatric surgery on survival might be even more dramatic in longer-term studies."

Very well said Lithia, There are risks in life. YOU are the only one who can decide what risks you are willing to take. For me it was an easy choice I was going to die if I didnt have my surgery. At 40 my body was starting to fall apart. Now at almost 3 months out and I have lost 52lbs I feel better than I have in years. Best of luck with your surgery Wendy and God bless Vicki's family my heart goes out to them. Laurie

Lady Lithia,

You are so right and that was very well written.  I KNOW it is just my nerves and fears that are running rampant in my brain right now but it is hard to stop the thoughts at times.  I also know that I can't keep going on the way I am going....hence the need for surgery.  I will be in a wheelchair in a few years if something doesn't give and I am only 42 years old.

Thanks for the advice,
Wendy

Wendy, for the two months before I met my surgeon and finished my six month diet, I was back and forth to California. My mum was dying of Colon cancer, and it was the hardest thing I have ever gone through. The day of my surgical consultation, something my mum wanted me to grab with both hands, was the day she died. I'd flown home the day before because of my appointment. I needed to do it, and my mom had hung on until my sis arrived. I was very unenthusiastic and almost a zombie on the day of my consultation. I'd spent a week in the hospital at my mum's side. I saw death up close and personal.

Once I was approved for surgery, about six weeks after my surgical consultation, I was terrified. Before my mum's rapid deterioration and death, I'd weighed up the risks of death and found myself very highly unlikely to die due to health factors within me, and I'd chosen a very good surgeon, so the odds of dying due to surgical ineptness was also minimal. But after mum's death, I just didn't know if I could justify risking my life just to get thin (and healthy). I couldn't stand the thought of leaving my hubby and my students behind. It really weighed heavily on my mind. But I knew it was a direct result of having kept such close company with death just before being approved for surgery.

Only my time here on OH helped to keep me sane and focused. I trusted my memory of my confidence in my surgical chances. But I have to say, my fear did finally get the best of me. I did back out. Alas, I backed out in the recovery room after surgery. First thought on waking was that I didn't want to do it, didn't want surgery. Of course by then it was too late.

Fear is a natural response. But in the end, I had very little problems with my surgery. You can't see my incisional scars, I'm down 51 lbs in 4 months, and since I began my pre-op diet I'm down 108 lbs. The change in my life is extraordinary. I am glad I made the choice to go through with it, and not allow fear to rule my life.

Earlier in my decision making process, I realized like you that if I didn't choose surgery, then I would just continue to expand until I was immobile. I had to do something now before being forced to do something later. I'll be 40 in November and I'm glad I made the choice and have embraced the lifestyle!

We seem to have some things in common -- strict surgeons, and moms who died close to our surgeries.  I lost my Mom in October and had my surgery in April.  It did make me think was I doing the right thing, and it scared my sisters terribly that I was undergoing this elective surgery that could cause me to die, but I new I had to do it to save my life. 

I can understand your fear , but believe me this is not neccessarily WLS related . My daycare lady had to have part of her intestine removed because of a blockage , my grand daughter (7 at the time) was deathly ill because she had a blockage , & I work at an institution where many of our residents have ended up with blockages . One recently died . None of these people had had WLS . That doesn't mean it couldn't ever happen . It means , get to know your body . Be your own best advocate .

Wendy

My husband had a blockage and he didnt have wls but the hospital was able to correct it with an enema TMI (yes).


My aunt she had breast cancer ,1 year later went into ER because she wasnt feeling well, couldnt poop, nauseous, couldnt eat, couldnt drink anything, dehydrated.
the ER said you have a blockage, and  they asked her what do you want to do about it, she said I want to go home. They said we cant do anything about your blockAGE right now because your blood level is messed up from your cancer. They said go home and take Miralax. dumb Azz drs She was on Medicaid. Well to make a long story she passed away 1 week later.
Dumb aZZ  ER Doctors what if that was their Mother ?

lesson if you go to the ER be sure you get treatment and not just a bandaid !

Poor vicky she will be missed, I too will no longer procrastinate and I am getting a medical ID bracelet med id necklace

We're not talking about an impaction here (like your husband had)-- we're talking about a herniation or twisting in the intestines themselves-- like a balloon animal-- where no food or gas can pass at all.

A medical ID bracelet will not do a thing for you in this case. ER Doctors are simply not trained to look for intestinal blockages in post RNY patients.

Very sad :(

We all go through this scary times before surgery - wondering if we are doing the right thing. Wondering if we'll make problems worse or better. It's a scary life altering decision. I personally knew that if I did nothing, I was going to suffer the same fate of my father. Dying young - having numerous heart attacks, kidney failure, diabetic, etc.. I didn't want to raise my daughter like that. I understood my risks and came to a peace within myself. I made sure everything was taken care of that needed to be. I decided if I died, then I at least tried to get healthier and that if I didn't have surgery, I could just as easily died the next day from a heart attack. My surgery was postponed for 6 months because of my thyroid. That alone scared me because of all the risks my doctors kept telling me about if the thyroid isn't in check. But those 6 months were the greatest thing to happen to me. I thought long and hard and researced more and more.

And I stayed away from the memorials section of this site. :)

But what you are feeling is normal. You have to decide for yourself what to do. The risks have decreased some, but are still high. 1 in 1000 now vs 1 in 100 before. If you have a good doctor who is experienced and in a hospital who specializes in these surgeries, your risks go down even more. But know that whatever happens - were here for you!! If you have questions, concerns or fears.. etc.. this is the place for you to come!

Death from bypass? Uncommon. Intestinal blockages? Up to 5% of RNY suffer them, and they're potentially fatal.

I'm a savvy RNYer and I suffered one in June after a gallstone surgery. I went to the ER and TOLD them I suspected it was a blockage and was still sent home as my local ER had no idea how to read the CAT scan of someone with altered intestines.
 
5 days later, I was in emergency surgery where they were really not sure if they could save my bowels OR my life-- the type of total blockage I had was generally fatal within 72 hours. I dodged a serious bullet. I really should not be here.

I VERY AGGRESSIVELY advocated for myself and was STILL left in the waiting room 5 hours, and sent home with a potentially fatal ailment. You have to be hyper aware-- and you have to be able to get treatment from someone who knows what the hell they are talking about.