Petrified of surgery

Well after all these months, I was finally calming down and feeling like I would make it through RNY surgery. Now last night I've read about two young women who just died from haveing surgery. One Mary Brown from Indiana and one Angelique Thomas from I forget where. Mary needed a new heart after loosing wt...but her poor heart gave out. She made it home, but then died....anyway. Angelique had a bad infection, autopsy results pending, which I think will be that she had peritonitis. ...she had like 800 cc's of infected fluid in her stomach or pouch which probably caused her death. I am so sad. I feel aweful. ..for them and their famileis......and I feel more scared than ever now. I am sick about this. Anyone have any thing good to say? Any words of wisdom, I sure would appreciate it. Thank you Cissy from Freehold

Cissy: Here's a break down I did earlier this year on the cases mentioned on the Memorial Board. I hope it helps you get a perspective to help you make the right decision for *you*: The Memorial Page: http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/members/wlsmemorial.php I did this research to rebut a nasty post on the Weigh****chers board, but I thought the statistics might be interesting/comforting/sobering for everyone to read: Here is a breakdown of the deaths on the site above: 4 deaths to cancer 3 deaths to a car accident 55 to post-op complications. These include leaks, pulmonary embolisms, heart attacks and blood clots. These patients had BMIs ranging from 51.7 to 111.6. As with any surgery, pulmonary embolisms, heart attacks and blood clots are common complication. These possible complications are exacerbated by the fact that most GBS patients have at least one or more co-morbidity going into the surgery. At least one of these deaths was attributed to surgical instrument failure, which is a possibility of this surgery. 2 did not have GBS; 1 died of congestive heart failure; one died of a stroke after vascular surgery 3 died post-op (how far post-op was not stated) from the flu and/or a heart attack. 1 died from kidney failure - a pre-op health issue 1 died post-op; the autopsy stated "morbid obesity" as the cause of death. 8 died waiting for surgery approval; BMIs ranged from 58.5 to 87.1 19 - no information on cause of death was given; one had a BMI of 103.5 7 were not attributed to GBS - one did not have surgery and was a volunteer on the OH website; one did not have surgery & had a BMI of 86.8. Two died of twisted bowels more than 2 years after surgery; the sister of one noted her sister ignored repeated symptoms and put off going to the doctor. One died during hernia surgery. One died 5+ years post-op of unrelated surgeries. GBS saved his life; he went from 863 pounds to 257 pounds & lived a rich, full life as his still-existing website attests. 9 - not known if related to GBS; deaths occurred anywhere from 5 months to 3 years post-op. The person who died at 5 months post-op had a surgery BMI of 103.6 I hope this is helpful to someone. P~

PAM, Out of the research that you did, are they all "gastric bypass" are any of them Lap Band patients? Or are they mixed on the page? Or is there another page for Lap Band? I Think it is good that you did all that, and here it came in handy. Have a good holiday with your family "NOBETTERWOMEN" BRIDGET K.

Cissy, I know alot of people go through this, including me. The first thing I did was to try to steer clear of the stories like the ones you read. It's true complications exist, but only you can judge for YOU if WLS is the right thing to do. If you know in your heart that it is right for you then the best thing you can do is believe in your own strength--your own desire and will to heal. I've had a number of surgeries in my life. For me, it never gets easier...I'm always scared. But when it came to WLS I just knew in my heart that what I was doing before wasn't living....and without WLS I would be worse off. I wish I could say or do something to make it easier...to make the fear go away. Just know that we're all here for you...we'll listen anytime you have concerns or want to vent. *hugs* Sandi

Cissy, STOP thinking so negitive, you need to have positive thoughts around you, having this surgery is the best thing that can happen to you, just think of all the happy times will be ahead for you. You must live your life with your glass half full.... NOT half empty...Think POSITVE honey and everything around you will work out... I wish you all the best....You Go Girl!!!!!!

Dear Pamela, Sandy, Sharon, Thank you so very much for your help and kind words. Pamela, wow you did some homework there didn't you? This is very helpful, and does put things into perspective , yes indeed.... thank you three again....and Happy Holidays! God bless you and yours Cissy

Hi Cissy, I can tell you that there was probably no bigger chicken in the world than me. Before surgery, 8 weeks ago, I researched for a year and a half, but was scared to death the whole time. I have been a chicken my whole life - do not like pain or doctors. Dentists - oh, you have no idea. I would wait until a toothache was so bad, until every last drug would not work anymore, then finally go - the last time, the dentist said the infection was so bad, another day, it would have hit my brain. i was in bad shape, but that's how scared I am of pain and doctors. Now having survived what I thought would be the hardest thing, surgery itself, I can honestly tell you, it was a piece of cake. The surgery itself and recovery in the hospital, nothing; I came home and took a pain pill on my first night home, not because I was in pain, but because I wanted it to help me sleep (didn't work!)... never took one again. I honestly feel like the 'after surgery' is the hardest part; learning how to eat again, dealing with little bumps in the road, like the seroma I developed. But as for the surgery itself, wonderful. But you have to do your homework and get an excellent excellent doctor whom you feel comfortable with, and knows his stuff, and who's been doing it a long time. In my research, I also found that many of the patients who died and/or had horrible complications, most had underlying health conditions that weighed against them, going into surgery; it was usually something else that caused their deaths, and not the weight loss surgery. Through all the pre-testing I had gone through, I was terrified they would find something wrong with me, and that would put me in more harms way during surgery. All I can say now is, that surgery was the easy part, for me... it's the after that is weighing me down now. I don't regret it, and it's not something that would deter me, but all the anxiety I felt about surgery, and it really wasnt bad at all, and I can't believe I am admitting that now; had I known what I know now, I would have done so many other things sooner. Good luck!! Michelle

thank you Michelle, I hope you are doing well since your surgery. Cissy

Cissy, I was terrified too....I talked to a minister about an hour before my surgery and she told me this...I can change my mind...right up until the last second before you are anesthetized....Realizing I could change my mind really helped.... Also, its important to know the risks of WLS, so I think avoiding the statistics and the stories about bad outcomes is a little like hiding your head in the sand....But it is important to keep it all in perspective....The poster who broke down the death statistics on the Memorial page had the right idea...Look at the statistics, but figure out what they mean... Finally, for me anyway, I doubt I thought I would truly be one of those people who died...But the fact is I could have. I had an very high BMI, I have an automimune disorder that requires me to take drugs which effect my response to infection and healing...Basically, I was an accident waiting to happen...But I looked back on my life. I had had a career I loved, I traveled the world, I had people who loved me and whom I loved...But all of that was taking a back seat to my illness. I had become 480 lbs and wheelchair and homebound...I decided that it was worth the gamble to get some of my life back. 3 years later and 288 lbs lighter, out of the chair and returned to school to get a dietetics degree....I have my life back...and its better than ever before...physically anyway.... I also truly believe in a serious mind body connection. I think if we dwell on the negatives, it effects our health negatively...try and get some peace with yourself and no matter what you decide about your surgery...you will feel much better.... Good Luck, Kelly

Cissy, You do know that these people had "other" issues that put them at risk. Your doc would not jeopardize his license to do surgery on you. He wouldn't be doing it if he didn't think you'd be just fine! And, I am thinking (because I also perused the memorial section) that these are "older" cases...there has been so much positive breakthrough since they first started doing these surgeries. Remember WLS is relative new in the United States. So no to worry and stay away from the Memorials. (besides being overweight is far more of a risk than the surgery itself...you'll be great!) Take care, Barb