Question:
PANIC over the risks! Mortality Rates

I am scheduled on January 19, 2006, my husband goes on December 8, 2005. We are young, BMI in the 40s, no heart issues, no diabetes, no high blood pressure, etc. I have a slight case of sleep apnea. Now, I know, intellectually, that our risks may be lower than average. I keep seeing the mortality rates of 1 in 50, 1 in 100, 1 in 200...YIKES. Can anyone point me to information that breaks these risks down to age, morbidity, BMI levels, etc.?    — sloopy (posted on November 21, 2005)

November 21, 2005
There was a grossly misquoted study last month that had appeared in the Journal of the AMA that reviewed the risks across all surgical weight loss methods among patients on government assistance insurance plans-- therefore, these were higher risk patients who were often disabled due to their co-morbidities. No distinction was made between the different types of surgeries. The principal issue for increase mortality was surgeon inexperience. Also, as the study researchers have acknowledged, there is significant evidence that weight loss surgery considerably adds to the duration and quality of life for those who had been morbidly obese. You can look up many of the studies at the National Institute of Health website or at the JAMA website.
   — SteveColarossi

November 21, 2005
This is so out of wack my surgon has done 1900 no deaths
   — Rusty A.

November 21, 2005
Marty, You need to focus on the positive. I believe things in life can be affected my your state of mind. Have you ever seen any of those reports on tv sometimes where they talk about people who are prayed for have better stat's after surgery and recovery stat's. You also have to remember that people have WLS to save their life's! Some of these people have SO MANY contributing factors to there deaths. Surgery is always serious. Many people after years of obesity have so many other things wrong with them. So looking in to the morality rate arent really giving you a fair picture. You said yourself you and your husband are young and health other then being obese. These doc's do this surgery all the time these days. Chances are you have a good doc who has done it quite a few time himself. Try asking your personal doc how many he has done. When he tells you ask him how many died on the table. That was what I did to my doc, I was straight up. He told me he had lost a few. But had also assured me that they had lots of other things wrong with them, and in many ways this surgery was their last chance. I suggest you stop focusing on mortality rates and start focusing on what you could do to help be in the best possible health you can be for the surgery i.e not smoking, not drinking, getting good rest, making sure your taking your vitamins. And reading up about all the post op stuff your not prepared for, because no matter what you read your not prepared. I know I wasn't. Good luck, Im sure youll be fine. Sarah
   — sophrona5

November 21, 2005
I believe that you should talk to YOUR surgeon and ask about his/her mortality rate. My surgeon was very open about his track record (which is great by the way). There are a lot of factors that attribute to those different studies and the best way for you to weigh these is to talk to your doc. I wish you the very best and hope that you receive the answers that you are seeking. Allison F - 289 - 177 3/23/04 laprny
   — AllisonF

November 24, 2005
I had my surgery 3 months ago, and have lost 55 lbs., so far. I worried about the surgery, too. My surgeon has done thousands, with no deaths. The one thing that struck me is that everyone i spoke to that had the surgery, even if they had any small problem, would do it again in a heartbeat. The most important thing to to is ask your surgeon about his own rates---everything in life is a risk, including the old " you could get hit by a car just walking pout of your house" ! Surgery has improved markedly over the years, and statistically, the odds are with you. My surgery was very uneventful- went like a charm,I am older [55] and sicker than you and your husband. I had high blood pressure, abnormal lab work, -high cholesterol,diabetes, asthma, sleep apnea, etc. Everything is now GONE, in 3 months!! My labs are now back to normal, I can now exercise, and don't become short of breath just walking, like i used to, and I feel like I have been blessed with a new life. The thing is, I KNEW that if i DIDN'T have the surgery, I WOULD die of my obesity, and related medical problems. This is the best thing i ever did for myself; i just wish I did it sooner. Ask your surgeon about his death rate and his complication rate, and what those complications were. The more surgeries a doctor does, the better off you are.Hopefully, your surgeon runs a pre-op support group. I went to those, had a chance to talk to lots of people who had the surgery from my surgeon, and that helped to calm my fears, a lot!! God bless, and good luck- it's a WONDERFUL journey!!!
   — Robin S.