In shock over WLS death ...

I just found out that a lady I knew through Barix passed away 4 days after RNY WLS. She was in her late 40s. Her husband found her deceased in bed when he awoke Sunday morning. She had had a blood transfusion on Friday following her WLS on Weds. Her husband has asked for an autopsy. I am not posting this to frighten anyone ... just to let you know that this is major surgery and complications can occur ... including death.

susan...i angelled for a gal named brenda before i ever got approved for my surgery-she was from chillicothe but had her surgery up here in bowling green---i was with her right before surgery and for a day after-the second day i wasn't allowed to see her but her sister kept me up-datedshe died before she left the hospital...it has haunted me ever since..however; it also re-enforced my fight to get my own insurance approval....

this surgery is not a fix all....

i am sorry to read your news tonite.....i would be curious to see results from the autopsy when available.....

(((((((( Hugs Margo )))))))) I am so sorry that happened. It would haunt me also. My son was against WLS because of the possibility of death, but I decided being obese was going to kill me for sure. This is the first for me (actually knowing someone who passed away following WLS). I am so grateful (now) that my DRs were so demanding and thorough with testing and approvals on me. I was convinced that death was so rare ...

That is a very upsetting thing to hear Susan.  But we know it can happen.... like with any surgery, there are risks.  I too am grateful to my surgeon for all of the pre-op tests to make sure that any complications would be minimal to none.  I pray for her family. 

Dear Susan...I am so sorry to hear this news. I am so nervous about such a thing , however I simply must have Faith and know that I am going to be where I was meant to be. I too am interested to know of the autopsy results. I pray for Peace and healing for all of her Family and Friends. As I agree about all the pre-op tesing etc...., there are never any guarantee's with any surgery. There is a risk when we walk out to our mail box! I was wondering however, in all the research I have done with this surgery, is it a very common thing to have to have a transfusion?
I wondered if it is a common thing or not.

This is so sad,I am sorry to hear it.

I saw this earlier tonight on the Ontario (Canada) forum.  Here is the posting.
I'm so sorry to tell you this and have very great sadness.  A dear friend of mine, and someone who attended the Milton WLS group in Nov with me, as well as the group I started in February, has passed away.
 
Shiela (Rusty as she's known on the Barix boards) passed away at 6:04 in her hotel room on Sunday morning. (For those who didn't know, Sheila had RNY on the Wed. night before)
 
As of yet we do not know for certain the reason why.  An autospy is being done in Michigan. 
 
It is very hard to post this, as it is scary for those still waiting for surgery, but we all know that there are risks with any surgery.  I'm sure that Shiela would want others to be informed of what has happened.  It is up to each individual to weigh the pros and cons and make a decision.
 
We wish her husband, two sons and her boyscout troop strength to get through this.

Sheila lived near Toronto and went to the Barix clinic in Ypsilanti, MI where a lot of Canadians go for bariatric surgery. People on the Ontario forum are flabbergasted and saddened by her death.  Very sad, indeed.
Margaret

I am so saddened by this, my prayers go out to the family. Hugs Gail

((((((((( HUGS Margaret )))))))))) Thank you for posting this. She was a really sweet lady. I feel so badly for her family. A dear friend through Barix had WLS in Ypsi on that same day and she and Sheila had become good buddies. I guess we all think that "bad things" only happen in the rarest of situations but this really hit home for so many of us who knew this sweet lady.

BUT, I do still believe that death from WLS is rare these days. I know I made myself get out of that bed ASAP after surgery and the nurses were shocked that I was constantly up walking the halls as well as doing my breathing exercises. I was forcing myself to be up and about when I go home also. Poor Rusty may have had some underlying health issue that just wasn't caught during screening? I have had so many previous surgeries that I felt comfortable with having the WLS in spite of my age and my son's concerns. I would do the WLS again in a heart beat. Please take care of yourself and have everything checked out well before your surgery. Those breathing exercises prior to surgery are extremely important as well as getting in walking and exercise prior to surgery. Again, I do not know what went wrong with Sheila or why she had to have a blood transfusion on Friday? I do hope that we find out the results of the autopsy. Although her passing is such a shock to all of us (esp worrisome for those of you who are pre-WLS) I feel that for the majority that WLS is still safe and successful.

I wish I had been able to go to Ypsi as planned in early Feb to meet all the gals.

((((((((( HUGS )))))))))) Susan

Susan...I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your friend. My prayers go up for her family and friends. This is just so sad. I hope we do hear the results of the autopsy.

(((HUGS)))    connie d