Question:
death 1 1/2 years post op
How likely is it that if someone dies 1.5 years post op, it's related to this surgery? I have no clue why, but a "friend" told me that a woman she knew died 1.5 years AFTER her surgery. Could it be surgery related? If so, what could be some possible reasons why? — Michelle J. (posted on October 9, 2003)
October 9, 2003
I bet anything that will happen to us for the rest of our lives will
probably be blamed on the surgery! However, that being said, there IS a
risk of bowel obstruction due to adhesions at any time after abdominal
surgery, even years later. There's also a malnutrition risk if she wasn't
keeping up with her vitamins/labs. These are two things I can think of off
hand. So yes, it COULD be related. Depends on what she died of.
— mom2jtx3
October 9, 2003
Hi Michelle- If you haven't already looked at the memorial gallery, often
the cause of death is written about. Also, if the person on the memorial
gallery still has a profile on this site, sometimes the info is there.
Good Luck :o) Mea
— Mea A.
October 9, 2003
It seems that if someone has weight loss surgery, everyone thinks that
their death is surgery related even if they are hit by a truck. I don't
mean this to sound flippant, but I would imagine that there are deaths that
are surgery related that far out but only when there have been some severe
complications. I do know that people have died from conditions that were
complicated byt their obesity and that the surgery prolonged their lives,
even if it didn't solve their health problems.
— Patty_Butler
October 9, 2003
Hello. I just wanted to tell you that my mother's friend had this surgery
years ago. She was very sick before surgery because of all of her wieght
related problems. She was given 6 months to live without surgery. She had
the surgery and lived 10 years. It extended her life by to years and she
was happy. Now everyone says she died because she had the surgery. She did
not but people don't understand WLS so they assume things. Unless you know
exactly why the person died you don't know if it is related or not.
— AmyWollet
October 9, 2003
Thanks all for your responses. I guess my question should've read
something like; Hypothetically, if the death would've been related to WLS,
after 1.5 years what could it be attributed to. I agree with you all that
people assume that WLS is the cause of death no matter the circumstances.
— Michelle J.
October 9, 2003
I guess if they had complications, I read a story of someone who at a year
out still can't eat any solid food, she is probably going to have a
reversal since she can't stop losing. Without medical intervention, she
would be in grave danger. That's scary, but I haven't heard many other
people with that problem, and she still says she is glad she had the
surgery.
— Patricia T.
October 9, 2003
Yes, it's possible. I just had a visit with my surgeon on 9/30. I am 9
months post-op and down 92#'s. He wants me to continue to come and see him
twice a year and to keep a close relationship with my PCP as well. He
wants me to get blood work done twice a year as well to monitor vitamin
levels and such. He said there will always be a risk of problems
developing from having this surgery so it was best to keep in touch with
the Bariatric Specialist who will be able to detect problems early enough
to do something about it. Having this surgery means you've altered your
internal organs (in a rather unnatural way) for the rest of your life. We
have to keep in mind that we cant go back to what was normal for us before
because now our insides are different. FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE, you need
to take vitamins, eat less, eat alot of protein, drink lots of water, dont
eat & drink at the same time, etc. Stay on track, visit w/ your
doctors and pay close attention to your body and you should be fine.
— Lisa R.
October 10, 2003
Yes, it is possible but only an autopsy will tell for sure.
If your body is in starvation mode and you are not getting the 60-80
(80-100) grams of protein a day then your body starts eating itself.
Seriously, the body will start using muscle tissue as fuel. This includes
heart muscle -- bam, your dead.
— Marrilee M.
October 10, 2003
Big Pete is a sad example of that, he died well after surgery so the
uninformed would likely blame it on WLS. In his case it was from previous
heart damage from a lifetime of being MO. Surgery gave him more time and
the opportunity to live for for a short time at a normal weight.
— bob-haller
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