Question:
Is Any Wls Better Than No Wls At All?

I am in a real crummy situation, my doctor who very nice will not transect the stomach in open RNY beyond stapling and everyone but his office tells me that I'm courting disaster without the stomach being cut away, I can't go to another Dr because every other doctor's office I've check with wants between two to five times the $2000 co pay Dr. LePort charges. And I can't seem to find anyone else at that price (and getting that money has taken me forever) I'm, in a rock and a hard place, in an ideal world I would choose to have distal RNY but, it appears I can't afford it on a fixed income. The problems not Blue Cross, they have been more than great. Here in CA doctors just love their co-pays. I am scheduled for the surgery early September so my question is: What's the lesser of two evils doing nothing and having lousy health or have the surgery that at this point may not have the optimum results available and could very well require another surgery someday should the staples fail. . I know it may sound like I'm bargain shopping with my health but I'm not, that really is my only option in our financial situation. So what would you do?    — B W. (posted on August 29, 2001)

August 28, 2001
If I was in the same situation you are I would have the surgery. The surgery is a tool. No matter witch WLS you have. I am so tired of being this big that I Am going to get this done any way I can,I guess it depends on how bad you want this. My Surgeon is a real JERK but a very good surgeon. I would trade surgeons in a heartbeat if I could. But I am so close now that I will stay with this one and get my WLS this nov.or Dec. Where I am you wait 1 to 2 yrs to get WLS it took 12 months just to see the surgeon,I am not starting over now. By the time I get my WLS it Will have taken At least 15 months. As long as you realy want this and your surgeon is a good surgeon I would do it. But only you can decide that .Good luck I wish you well what ever you decide.
   — Sue R. T.

August 28, 2001
Lots and lots of surgeons staple only and don't transect, and have many, many success stories. I would not fret about this. I don't think you are courting disaster at all unless you are planning to eat huge amounts of food, which is unlikely and would be painful. Although staples lines can fail, it is really uncommon, don't worry about this. Have surgery and get on to your new, exciting, heathlier life!
   — blank first name B.