Question:
Am I just Paranoid??

I realize that I'm probably just overreacting,because like others I am terrified of dying, but my surgeon has been performing gastric-bypass surgeries since 1996 (about 60 a year) and has been doing it lap since 2000. When I asked him how many deaths he's had - he said "None". I told him "Wrong Answer" - that it increased my chances & that if he had one within 200 ago that my odds would be better (he just laughed). I've asked other patients of his, and they seem to like him just fine. Should I be worried?    — amandalianne (posted on December 5, 2002)

December 5, 2002
I think that everyone is afraid of dying, so I would hardly consider you paranoid. As for the statistic of 1 in 200 people dying, you have to keep in mind that the statistic comes from thousands of surgeries over many many years to thousands of people in various levels of medical distress. Of course this is a serious surgery, and as such there are risks involved, up to and including death. The statistic does not mean that if you are patient number 199 your are just fine, but the next guy should really have all of his affairs in order before going under. It doesn't work that way. My surgeon has done 1100 or so surgeries without a fatality. Does that mean that he owes the grim reaper 5 people? no, it doesn't thank god. When I was researching the risks, I figured out that there were different levels of risk. If a person had many really serious comorbidities, already had 2 heart attacks, COPD, uncontrolled diabetes, a body mass of 92 and allergies to anethesia, well his risk of surgery is going to be higher than someone in relatively good health but who has a bmi of 41. Of course the worst case scenario person above has enough risks that he might be at that high of a risk of death whether he has surgery or not. There is an old quote that goes something along the lines of "There are 3 types of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics". Don't take a statistic at face value without looking into it and researching what information that they used to come up with that statistic. I hope that helps. Steve
   — Steve V.

December 5, 2002
I agree with what Steve said 100%! Couldnt have said it better myself. ***grins
   — TheresaC

December 6, 2002
relax,, you're normal,, we who have had the w.l.s. all went through what you are feeling.. when i have been asked your question, i tell people would you rather have an obesity related heart attack at home,, maybe being alone, or have a problem on the o.r. table where they have everything they need to fix whatever problem may pop up.. and like the previous poster..the odds in the o.r. are in your favor.. sadly most who do die are in such bad health before the w.l.s. and it had a hand in what happened..i thought i'd rather have a problem trying to get healthy, than die weighing 425#'s in my sleep.,, a little over a year out i am at goal. 180#'s,, and i wouldn't trade the great feeling for all the pizza in the world..and a year out i go to pizza hut and eat a piece or two.. it's great.. good luck..
   — bruce M.