my nephew needs WLS but he is affraid?

hi everyone my nephew is a great person. his weight is becoming a major health concern any ideas of how to get him to consider having WLS. he has gone thru with all the test pre op stuff but he is affraid he will die on the table any advice. anyone out there willing to chat with him ? thanks lisa

Hi Lisa...I'll chat with him anytime. I'm a major believer of WLS. It works. I'm still post op though, I'm going through a sixth month class required by my insurance. How old is he? It is a scary thing for younger people because they have to be sure they are ready because it is a lifetime commitment and without proper care you can fail. I would introduce him to this website and this teenage forum because it has helped me sooo much you wouldnt believe...All the people here are wonderful and so informative. And if he doesnt want to talk, which I didn't at first because I was so embarrased, he can just read all the profiles and look at all the before and after pictures. He will come to find that for most people. esepecially of his age, the surgery is very easy and has very minimal pain. That is what eased my distress most the time. But when it comes down to it he has to want to do it for himself. Email me anytime at [email protected]. Tamara

It is very normal to be fearful of surgery! It is a HUGE life change. Right now, it's *probably* not a life or death decision that he has to make. (Meaning, as of right now, he probably doesn't have 18 different health problems stemming from his obesity.) I think that the burden of those health problems is what causes a lot of people, who would have never thought of WLS as an option, take the plunge. If it's any consolation, the chances of him dying on the table are very slim. (I think for RnY it's like 0.2% of a chance?) Most people who do die after surgery die from various complications: Blood clots (usually in the legs) that travel to the lungs and cause pulmonary emboli. (This is a risk in ALL types of surgeries, not just WLS.) Leaks, though I have to say: if a leak is caught swiftly, it can be treated. Post-op there are things like bowel obstructions, and blockages which you have to always be on the lookout for. For the rest of his life he will have to be diligent on getting in his protein, his water, and all of his vitamins/supplements. Exercise is also very important. Also, just because you have WLS, does not mean the weight will stay off. You have to work for it, and once you are further out, and able to eat more, the urge to eat 'bad things' will be strong. All of those issues are things which support groups, counselors, etc. would help tremendously with. The healthier he is, the better his chances of survival. The people who have the most problems are those who have the most 'co-morbs' (health problems brought on by being obese, or those problems that are made worse with excess weight.) Like Diabetes, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Sleep Apnea, etc. Which brings me to my next point: Make sure he gets a sleep study done beforehand! (In fact, his surgeon should REQUIRE that pre-op.) I also recommend him really researching this on his own. Looking up info about the different surgeons/weight-loss surgeries available (he can shop around for the best one... It is his life we're talking about!) I hope this has helped you. If you or your nephew has any questions, this site is a wonderful place to gain information, or you can email me (via my profile) and I will try as best I can to direct you to the correct sources for answers. Much love, Amanda

i am will to yalk anytime i am at about the same stage as him just let me kno my e-mail is [email protected] ok cool talk to ya later mandy

It was a piece of cake. Had the laproscopic RNY. The operation only lasted about an hour. Was out of hospital on 3rd morning. Mimimum pain and the incisions healed in about 2 weeks. It's very rare to have anyone die on the table. This is not heart surgery. More people die from ater surgery problems, most often from blood clots because they wouldn't get out of bed and walk. At my hospital they put inflatible cuffs on my legs that forced circulation when lying down or sleeping, but they encourage you to walk the halls after surgery to prevent blood clots. My experience was very positive. Of course it helps if you have complete confidence in your surgeon. Mine had done over 900 RNY's with no fatalities, so I wan't worried in the least. Jer