High Risk

Hi there everyone, 

I just have a question about my surgery.  I am very high risk for this surgery.  I know that surgery is risky anytime you go under anesthesia, but I have heart disease that all my drs. are concerned with.  I was wondering if there is anyone else here has gone thru anything similar?  My surgery is fast approaching and I am a nervous wreck.

Thanks

I was high risk also which is why my surgery had to be done in the hospital instead of the doctor's clinic.  But I was fine and still am.  No more diabetes medicine, no nitro, no high blood pressure medicine!!

I was high risk as well. I have heart disease with 3 stents in one artery, I was on blood thinners(still am), took lots of Advil for arthritis in my knees and high BP. My surgery was in a major hospital. My doctor made the decision to do the VSG instead of the RNY due to all of my comorbidities. I was very nervous too but I knew I was in good hands. In addition, I knew if I didn't do it I was going to die anyway so I didn't have anything to lose.

I had a problem with my cardiac clearance prior to surgery - I almost had to delay surgery due to a Right Bundle Branch Block showing that had never been seen before on my EKGs. It's not heart disease, but it made me higher risk. It was so frustrating and scary. Especially because my primary care didn't do a great job explaining it. The cardiologist was amazing and fit me in last minute because I work for the medical group. He really calmed my nerves. Surgeon also did a GREAT job at explaining she had plenty of experience working with people with heart issues, due to the nature of the surgery. Those two docs were my best allies in figuring things out. I hope you have allies like that somewhere in your care team. Good luck!!

I was high risk due to a clotting disorder. I clot too fast and too much. All my doc's knew this going in and made medication adjustments and monitored lab work closely. They won't clear you until the conditions are safe to proceed.

Good luck!

My brother had congestive heart failure, he was ICU for 2 months.  He had uncontrolled diabetes, and many other problems.  He came through with flying colors.  Good Luck!

I was a high risk case due to a BMI in the 60's and multiple co-morbidities. Surgery precautions taken were:  losing 80 pounds before WLS, a hospital room next to the nurses' station, leg pumps, abdominal binder, blood clot shots, longer stay in the hospital, frequent follow-up appointments, and my constant immersion in making the WLS lifestyle work.  The decision to have WLS was my way to prepare for a more peaceful death in what will be a shorter lifespan than the average person but yet a longer lifespan if I hadn't done so--make sense?  May you find that same sense of peace and comfort knowing WLS will improve and lengthen your life, too.

Thank you everyone for your words of encouragemen! I don't come to this site often anymore and I should because it is so open an honest and encouragin, etc. Most of of the things you have said, I have gone thru and of course the cardiac thing was obviously told 2 different ways...one to me and one to my Bariatric Surgeon and I have had a few weeks to come to terms with either outcome. Obviously, I am hoping for the better of the 2 because I have so much more I want to purse and just try! So, here's to April 4th!

Thanks again everyone and continued success in your journeys!

? Andi ?