Question:
Thank you to all who responded to my being scared to death post!!

Thank you so much!! It makes me feel better to hear other people encourage me!! The people I have met and spoke with on this site are so wonderful!! This site is the best thing for pre and post-op people. I also have to admit that I may have did an oops for myself. After posting about being scared of the surgery I somehow ended up looking at the memorials page on this site. That scared me even more. I don't know what i was thinking looking at that before surgery. Anyway, thanks again!!!! God bless you all!!    — Sillyguts (posted on October 18, 2007)

October 18, 2007
Hey Angie, I read the memorials too! My surgery is Oct. 25. Dumb thing to do but luckily I didn't see anyone who had had the VSG, but I'm sure that is because it is so new. And you are right! The people on this site are wonderful. Pat
   — pjennjr

October 18, 2007
When you review the memorials, please notice the year. I realized that there are very few that are recent. Mortality rates have dropped in recent years as technology and procedures have been improved.
   — Pat Cole

October 19, 2007
Hi...I am pre-op too and found the memorials not too long ago too - SHOCK and AWE..It really freaked me out too..but someone else on this site told me that if I looked closely I would see that not all of them were surgery related and many they had a lot of other "issues" that may have contributed to their death..All in all, I am glad I went to the memorials..I figure I need to know the good, the bad and the ugly and while that site stuck with me for a few days, I continued to do my research, work my pre-op diet and excersize routine and decided that if made myself as healthy as possible b4 the surgery it would lessen my chances of having an unfortunate end from this surgery..everything has its risks..I could get hit by a truck going out for lunch today...but I don't want to live this way any longer and want to be in control of my eating..I feel I am ready for this and you will too...just give everything you read a chance to sink in and work your best b4 hand to be as healthy as you can...We'll be OK...:O)
   — Laura110169

October 19, 2007
I am considering WLS. I did not know that there was a memorial page on this site, and after reviewing it I don't think I can go ahead with bypass surgery. I am twenty five years old, have three young children (8, 4 and 2) and about to marry their father after being together for 10 years. I would not want to die and leave them behind. I need to just keep working on eating healthy and start exercising more. WLS just seemed be the answer since I have struggled with obesity all m life. I will still ciontinue to research however. Good luck to you!!
   — missy81

October 20, 2007
Melissa, and all those struggling with this. I am over 6 years out and had the same doubts, but am very glad I had WLS. Long term studies prove the RNY and other surgeries are way safer than remaining MO. The death rate drops substantially over 10 years espically for type 2 diabetics and high BP sufferers. Plus the quality of life improves a LOT! I feel bad for those scared of surgery, because often the die anyway from just being MO. For old timers here momma angel welcomed newbies and just helped so much. Unable to get insurance approval, then when it finally came she decided against it, out of fear. Sadly it wasnt long after that she died anyway. We all thought if she had only had surgery:( Her presence is still here on so many old surgery pages. I just DONT want to see more deaths like hers! Something to think about as we all struggled with deciding.... Incidently the sooner a type2 gets WLS the better the chance it will be GONE. My surgeon reports its abut 95% for those diabetic 2 years but drops to 80% after 15 years, or something like that.
   — bob-haller