Question:
should i be worried
i had my first consult with dr yesterday and he point blank said one of his patients had died from this (rny) he does both banding and rny and has only done about 160 surgeries. He is the only one in my area and i really liked him but now i am getting really nervous about how many he has done. i am scheduled for cardio, sleep study and psych so i have some time to think. any input will be appreciated Arden — bikermama (posted on March 7, 2008)
March 7, 2008
I would not be too worried but I would ask more questions like was it Open
or Lap? How long ago? What did they die of? What are your risks to that
same issue? I would want the doc to open up and answer anything I could
think of and if they were reluctant then I would get worried. I know there
are doctor patent rules that they can not tell specifics but you are not
asking for names or phone numbers so you should be entitled to know the
answers to whatever questions you have.
— stutzman
March 7, 2008
That is a risk with any surgery, you must balance the risks and only go to
a doctor that you trust 100%. If you must drive 100 miles only go to a
doctor that you feel comfortable with.
— chell2008
March 7, 2008
It's so rare...you'd be luckier to win the lottery. Anytime you walk out
the door could be your numbers up...But if everytime you walked out
thinking that you might die today...what quality of life would you have?
Any surgery is a risk. People die for many reasons...Obesity without
surgery is a far greater risk...It was for me anyway. Go to a different
doctor if you feel better....The risks are still the same.
Good luck with your decision
— .Anita R.
March 7, 2008
You have to consider that people who are having this type of surgery are at
a greater risk of dying regardless of the type of surgery. Obesity itself
puts you at higher risk of dying from many different diseases/conditions.
If you are concerned about the rny, maybe consider the lapband which is
10times safer? Also, your doctor is doing all the cardio and sleep studies
to make sure you are a good candidate for the surgery. It's good to be
aware of the risks of surgery but also think of the risks of not having
surgery? Good Luck. gg
— LOOKINTOLOSE
March 7, 2008
You'll have to use your "gut feeling" about this. If it were me,
I'd check out others too. I don't know what you mena about "one in my
area", does this mean your city?, within a 20 mile radius? etc. I'd
be willing to drive a couple of hours to find a surgeon with lots of
patients. My hospital and inital consults were 45 miles from my house, one
way. My surgeon also has a liscense as a general surgeon to handle any
emergies that might come up. And he specializes in this surgery--and holds
teaching seminar at other hospitals about twice per year teaching other
doctors about the LAP RNY procedure. I think driving some distance is a
minor incovenience and would allow me to have better confidence in having a
better expereince surgeon do the operation.
— Dave Chambers
March 7, 2008
My doctor also had one person die, post op. That person actually died of
complications related to a pulmonary emboli (blood clot in the lungs).
There are many risks associated with obesity. Obese people are predisposed
for blood clots due to inactivity. Remember after surgery WALK, WALK,
WALK! The more you move the better you would feel.
— mary_rn
March 7, 2008
IF in doubt, there is no doubt. Trust your instincts. There are other Dr.
out there. You might have to travel a bit, but it is worth it. GOOD
LUCK!!
— Kathleen L.
March 7, 2008
It is sad to say but yes some die in their efforts to finally be thin and
healthy. 160 --- ooo, How long ago was his first patient and where did he
learn to do the rny procedure. Does he have a mentor??
— bariatricdivalatina
March 7, 2008
Hi
I am not trying to discourage you but please read up on "Center of
excellence" requirements for gastric surgery. I had my surgery at one
that has this rating and I find it very important. My doctors have a zero
mortality rate and they have done thousands of these surgeries. If they
don't have this important rating then they haven't met the guidelines which
are very stringent. This is your body and the only one you have. Do your
homework and you will not regret it. God Bless.
http://www.rockwoodclinic.com/about/news_events/news/2007/bariatrics-center-of-excellence.htm
— Claudia C.
March 7, 2008
thank you for all your comments
— bikermama
March 7, 2008
Hi Arden, thanks for writing. Having done 160 surgeries and only one death
is actually a good record. People die Arden, it is a matter of why. If it
was health related issues, blood clots, something unforseen, these are
risks with any surgery, not just rny. If was from mal-practice, then that
is another issue. I don't know how to research this, but I am glad he was
honest with you. I would want to ask though, if he were my surgeon, how
many successes he has, and how many of the 159 have complications resulting
directly from the surgery. To live or to die is not the only concern we
have for wls. Some people have these horrible tiny pouches that can't hold
food, or somehow their intestines never work right again, stupid stuff that
any surgeon in his field should know how to do right. How is his
aftercare? I see my surgeon every year, and ANYTIME there is a suggestion
of an issue. I had my yearly exam last year, and two weeks later was back
in because we suspected a twisted bowel. I was in surgery in just a few
short days. You have to be able to depend on him after surgery, not just
before and during. I don't regret my decision to have surgery, but I have
had surgery every year since wls for one thing or another. Oddly enough, I
don't consider this a problem, when I had wls, I accepted that there could
be "maintenance" issues that needed dealing with, some wls
related, some not. For example, I had gyn surgery that I probably would
not have done if I were still obese. Losing the weight prompted the gyn
issues to get worse, and subsequently fixed. My gall bladder was full of
stones, I had ulcer issues, and a tt:), then a obstructed bowel from scar
tissue. My stomach had also adheared to the intestine, and they had to
disect it from the intestine when they removed the scar tissue. Some of
the surgeries were tough, but I am still glad for my decision. Go into
this with your eyes wide open (if they are not already). Read a book from
a testimonial perspective, and one from a surgeon perspective, there are
plenty out there on amazon.com. I wish you well as you make your decision.
Patricia P.
— Patricia P
March 8, 2008
Sounds like this guy is just being frank and honest with you. That's a GOOD
thing. There are many facets to a surgeon. Experience at doing a particular
surgical procedure is just one of them. I'd say that 160 bariatric
surgeries is more than enough to qualify him as being "very
experienced". Another facet is 'bedside manner', not only in the
hospital after surgery but also in his office weeks and months afterward.
In my case, my surgeon was just learning to do both the RNY and lap band
procedures. (I had RNY.) That did not stop me though because his
"teacher", a very experienced bariatric surgeon, was also in the
OR during my surgery. I think my 'learning surgeon' did an adequate, if not
excellent, job. The problem with my surgeon was his bedside manner. He was
terribly self-centered in the examining room both before and in the weeks
and months after surgery. When I questioned a decision of his (4-1/2 months
post RNY) and suggested that I wanted to get a 2nd opinion, he got into a
snit and stomped out of the examination room. He was a good SURGEON but has
a way to go before I would consider him to be a good PHYSICIAN. Since the
surgery is just one of the initial steps on the path away from morbid
obesity, followup care and treatment are critical to success. If you sense
that your doctor/surgeon will be difficult to deal with over the long haul
after your surgery, I suggest that you might want to keep looking for a
physician/surgeon who has good marks on all of his/her 'facets'.
— [Deactivated Member]
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