Dying a year out? Why?

A large reason why I need to know all of this is that I do have a toddler, and Jessica O. and I were the same age, from the same area, and I felt her pain so much. I'm also about 5'5" and 250. I think if I did weigh 300+ pounds it would be an easier decision but the fact that I am a 'lightweight' makes me wonder. I've even had allied health people doing my preop testing tell me A) I'm crazy for considering surgery and B) the only reason why they tell a lot of people to go through with surgery is because the hospital is after the big $$. Straight from the mouth of people who work at that hospital with those surgeons every day. I want to be thin but at what cost? I am a member of the OSSG_Gone_Wrong group and I do read the other side. It is terrifying that the whole story isn't always stated. Those of you that have had surgery and no comps... bless you. I really hope if I go through with this I can be one of you!

Hi Amy. Jessica O (God bless her) also had cancer & a heart condition that she had been treated for for most of her life (if I remember correctly what I read). Yes, she did have complications from her surgery, but she died due to her heart giving out. Due to the cancer & the heart condition, who knows how long she would have lived with or without weight loss surgery. I agree with Ronnie. The last year & a half have been fantastic. I've lost 115 lbs. & feel the best that I have felt in as long as I can remember. Fortunately for me, I didn't have a lot of medical problems before surgery except back & knee problems. Yes, I could have lived with those problems & eventually had a knee replacement, but now I am not having 1 single problem with my back or knee. And my knee doctor said that I may never need the knee replaced. I also can get out of bed each morning without rolling out of the bed & sitting on the side for a few minutes before being able to stand up. To not have the back & knee pain, I would do the surgery again! Having weight loss surgery is a very personal decision for each individual. You have to be 100% sure that it is what you want. You have to have 100% confidence in your surgeon & in yourself. You must know in your heart that you are doing what is best for you & you are doing it for yourself & no one else. Keep your head up & if you pray, keep praying! As the time gets closer, you will know in your heart if you are making the right decision. If you have any hesitations, then don't do it. Wait until you have no hesitations at all. Good luck to you & God bless, Julie 5'3" 248/133 at goal -115

I can't understand how anyone could read Jessica's profile and come to the conclusion that WLS was anything other than a horrific nightmare for her. She suffered greatly, through multiple complications, caused by and directly related to her surgery. We cannot sugar coat this truth. I think that it does Jessica's memory a disservice to imply otherwise. Some people will have malabsorption issues REGARDLESS of whether or not they are in compliance with med requirements. Early on, I had that problem with B-12 absorption (fortunately, I no longer have that problem; something must have kicked in). I had to take shots for a while because I wasn't getting what I needed sublingually. I didn't find this out until my 6th month, and that was because I was feeling under the weather and requested a blood draw. My surgeon's office doesn't require one until after the first year. I'd imagine that many of us have bloodwork done only once per year. I guess the lesson here is to know the symptoms of vitamin deficiency/anemia ... and see your doctor right away if you are feeling under the weather. People do suffer complications from surgery. I think that it's important to acknowledge that. It doesn't mean that the risk isn't sometimes worth the possible outcome -- in my case, I was willing to take that risk, and it paid off. That doesn't mean I won't remain ever vigilant with matters regarding my health and general well-being -- I cannot assume that I won't ever suffer longer-term complications from having this life-altering surgery. I see it as my responsibility to remain informed and to comply with all requirements set forth by my surgeon's office.

I am sorry if you misunderstood my post! I never denied that Jessica O had many major complications with her weight loss surgery, she went through hell. I kept up with her story everyday & yes it was a nightmare for her. But from everything that I have read, it has been stated that she died from cardiac arrest. I think that every story should be told & read by anyone considering weight loss surgery. Yes it is possible to have complications, but as in my case, it is also possible that you will not have one single thing go wrong! Just as anything in life, you are taking a chance. I also did not state anything about malabsorption issues. It doesn't matter who you are, some will have problems & some won't & you have no way of knowing if you will or won't. All we can do is make sure that we research as much as possible & go into this with a positive attitude. I for one wanted to know all the good AND bad that could happen with the surgery. And no, I had no way of knowing that I would have done as well as I have, but to me, it was very much worth taking that chance! Sorry if there was any confusion with my last post! Have a great day!

Hi, Julie - I really hate this format, because I constantly forget that I am responding to a specific person, rather than generally to the thread. I really did intend to post this more generally (which is why I brought up some issues that you didn't even discuss). I know that you weren't implying that WLS is the perfect solution for everyone. It seemed to me that some people were suggesting that Jessica's death had *nothing* to do with her surgery, and I don't believe that to be the case (and doubt that her family does either -- but I cannot speak for them). We'll probably never know how much damage was done to her already compromised health because she could not get adequate nutrition. She wrote about how malnutrition was affecting just about every organ in her body. I don't think it's a stretch to assume that her WLS at least contributed to her untimely death. It certainly caused her many problems. I think it's important for people to know that -- not to scare anyone away from a surgery that *could* save their lives, *could* improve the quality thereof, *could* alleviate so many co-morbids that go along with obesity. But it's important to know about the possibility of complications, too -- and to bring that into consideration. Most people will have SOME complications; fortunately, for many of us, they are not at all life-threatening. I guess what I'm trying to say is that, in my opinion, Jessica's story shouldn't be dismissed as extreme and not related to WLS -- because it is an integral part of her experience, and that is a risk that we all take. I'd hate to see that experience minimized. And although I'm responding to your thread, I wanted to be very clear that I am making these remarks generally, and not specifically to you

Thanks for your response! And although it is just my opinion, I agree with you. I feel that all that Jessica went through, had helped to weaken her heart. I hope that you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

"the only reason why they tell a lot of people to go through with surgery is because the hospital is after the big $$." ??????????????????? Hhmmmmmm, interesting theory here. I had open rny surgery. My hospital bill was $19,473.63 Yes, it seems like a lot of money but look at what got paid: Total Insurance payment $2,469.00 Total That I Owed $75 THAT'S IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have a ppo and this is the negotaiated amount that they pay. I don't see where the hosptial got big$$$ from me having surgery at all. I think that each individual person needs to research as much as they can about wls. They need to come to a decision regarding it looking at all of their personal "variables" (health, bmi, insurance, family issues, compliance issues, etc....) I would NEVER venture to say that wls is right for you. That is something that only you can say. All I know is that it was right for me!!! I'm six months out and down 103 pounds. I started at 5'5" and 262 lbs. so I'm fairly close to where you are. I'm amazed at the improved health I now have!!! NO more sleep apnea, no knee pain, I can walk all day without pain, my life is GREAT!!!!! And if the Lord should decree that my days on earth are done...... I'll look darn good in my casket and not need extra people to carry it!!!! Wishing you the best - Keep researching, it's good that your thinking ahead!!! Laurie

Amy...when I had my surgery my son was 4 and my daughter was 1. I was really afraid to leave them without a mommy...but my fear of staying obese for the rest of my life was bigger. I want to know where you read about Jessica's cancer being caused by any change in her immune system? Did you know the chances of you getting cancer are MUCH higher if you are obese? My dad had 3 kinds of cancer, including breast...my grandmother had breast...and half my dad's cousins died of cancer. THAT is what weighed the heaviest when I decided to have surgery. My dad caught a virus called Fulminant Pneumonia (which basically only gets those whose immune systems are compromised) and has been in a coma for almost 2 years. I WILL NOT end up like him. I exercise almost every day, lost the weight, and take my vitamins religiously. Everyone in my house gets sick (mainly because of the kids/school) all the time...EXCEPT me. I can't even remember the last time I was sick...and I'm positive my immune system is super strong. My blood work shows it too. My PCP is so impressed I can't even begin to tell you. I am no doctor...but I know from my own experience that if you take care of your health the way you're supposed to (mental health included) there's NO WAY this surgery will compromise your immune system. Of course those who have complications are a different story. But if you don't (and I believe those who do are mainly the ones who had them before surgery) I see no reason for you to have absolute control over your health. Blessings, Paola

PS: I've been getting mamograms for 3 years now...and this year was the first one (after I lost the weight) that my exam came back clear. I've had a lumpectomy and a biopsy, which I thank God were clear. You should have seen the change on the pictures from before/after I lost the weight...and I know that change affected my whole body...not just my breasts.

Jessica's death was horrible. However, you have to understand that she suffered from a series of complications. Her doctor originally suggested WLS for her because she had a problem with her heart~ they wanted her to get a pacemaker and she didn't want one at that young of an age. They all felt that by her losing weight, the heart problem might lessen. In other words, her heart problem existed waaaay before WLS. Also, cancer takes time to spread. It is possible that she was already suffering from it, undetected, before the WLS which is why she never recovered from the surgery. OR, the conditions in her body were right and the surgery itself took the toll on her body that started the cancer. From what I understand, neither the cancer nor the WLS actually took her life. Her heart, the original defective muscle, stopped because of all the strain put on it by the chemo and the WLS complications. Just my two cents: just because you and Jessica are/were in the same age group, this is comparing apples to oranges. I survived two sets of life threatening complications. Just check out my profile. I would NEVER advise someone to get this surgery. I would tell them to check it out, learn everything there is to learn and make their own decision. However, if they decided not to get the surgery based on "my" complications, I would laugh at them. What happened to me was astronomically weird. If the same odds were in force, I could purchase a ticket to the Powerball and become a millionaire. AND, having had the surgery, I am thrilled with the results now that the complications are over. We are each individual. Our surgeons are each individual. Cir****tances vary. What might be a death sentence for one will be a life saving operation to hundreds of others. ~Marra