Question:
What is the morbidity rate for this surgery? My chiropractor says 1 in 200
is this true? That may be a little too scary for me. — Julie P. (posted on June 15, 2001)
June 15, 2001
I believe that comes to about 1/2%. That doesn't sound extremely risky to
me.
— [Anonymous]
June 15, 2001
I agree with the previouse post. My docs statistics are the same 1/200.
That is very minimal considering how many of these surgerys are done. And
it's pretty true. My clinic has done slightly over 250 of these sugeries
and has had only one death. The guy was in very bad shape to begin with
and this was his only hope. I think the statistics of people dying from mo
or complications of mo are much higher. Being morbidly obese, is not a way
to live.
— Alison B.
June 15, 2001
I too am someone who is very worried about the possiblity of death. Seeing
the information of those who didn't make it only made that fear get a bit
worse, BUT..then i looked at all the memorials of the people who had passed
away and many more died from WAITING to have WLS then those who died from
it. Of course with this surgery there are going to be a bit higher rate of
deaths than that of say..gallbladder or c-sections, many of the patients go
in unhealthy, this is why they are having the surgery. People have bad
hearts, high blood pressure, diabetes, some are well over five hundred
pounds, etc. etc. The more co-morbities, the greater the chance of
complications. BUT, look up some of the percentages of chances of dying
from some of these co-morbities...i can guarantee they are MUCH higher than
that of surgery. I myself can say if i am going to die i am going to do it
with a fight, not sitting back and watching myself slowly kill myself by my
weight going up and up and more and more illnesses overtaking my body. I
wish you luck at making your decision and good luck to whatever you decide.
— paula B.
June 15, 2001
Yupppp....the stats are scarey. The thought of possibly dying causes one to
pause and reconsider. I gained 50 pounds in the last year due to a variety
of factors, the main one being an ankle injury. I had to stop going to my
step-aerobics class...No excercise and feeling sorry for myself....I gained
a lot and earned the label of morbidly (hate that word!) obese this spring.
A deciding factor for me is that at this time, my comorbidities are not
life threatening. I am also aware that may be a factor in whether or not I
get insurance approval. Anyway....In making this decision, I think it makes
a big difference if you are in a life threatening position or not. My
reasoning is, I do not want to get to the point where my omorbidities are
life threatening. To help me make this decision I had long talks with my
family doctor, my gastric specialist, and my bariatric surgeon. I also had
a long heart-to-heart talk with a PhD doctor I have worked work on several
weight loss programs. He helps patients that are metabolically challenged.
This doc told me that 1/3 of all patients that have open RNY have very
serious complications. One third? That is a really frightening number
indeed! While I was in his office he telephoned a surgeon who [reviously
performed this surgery in my local hospital. He quit due to high mortality
and morbidity rates are so hight. (I think that I am used the word
morbidity correctly, but I am not sure...) This surgeon was on the speaker
phone and recommended I persue "other" weight loss options. Wow,
what a shocker that was! I decided not to go through with this. 33and 1/3
percent or not, my comorbidities are taking ahold of my body more and more
with each passing day, eg edema with the hot weather we are having. It
hurts so much to stand and even walk a relatively short distance. I
recently had dinner with one of my closest friends. We talked a lot about
this surgery as she is eager to learn as I progress through my journey. We
discussed all the pros and cons. As I left her home I said a little prayer
as I have often done these last few months, asking for His guidance as I
make my way. And I have never done this before, but I asked Him for a sign,
just a little something to let me know this surgery option is in my and my
family's best interest. I turned a corner and there in the sky was the most
beautiful rainbow I have ever seen. When I got home I told my husband that
I had my "final answer" and I truly do believe I was supposed to
see that rainbow right when I did. Are the stats scarey? You betcha! But as
so many people have expressed in this wonderful site, much more eloquently
than I can, life has risks. Each person has to make their own decision in
their way and in their own good time. I have seen my rainbow.
— [Anonymous]
June 15, 2001
The surgery group I am using has done 3,000+ surgeries and has only had 4
people die. I am pretty sure, if I remember correctly, a couple of them
had nothing to do with the surgery and maybe a couple were blood clots.
All I know is I am afraid, too, however, I am putting that energy into
doing whatever I can BEFORE surgery to minimize my risks. Protein
supplements, vitamins, exercise....these all aid in recovery. I am actualy
glad to have read this post this morning - because I have been bargaining
with myself around the diet cokes ...and I think this just helped me quit!
I am not ready to leave my husband (or this life); I am not prepared to
live the rest of my life at this size either. Everything in life has
risks...and even though we do hear about some of the deaths, they stick out
so much more than the successes. I've been reading this site every day
practically since February 5th - and if I went back and counted, the number
of successful surgerys is huge compared to those with complications and
death. I agree with previous posters that it is a PERSONAL decision and
that I must make it for MYSELF -- and not have surgery for DH or anyone
else... God Bless us Every One.
— blee01
June 15, 2001
I agree with everybody on the 1 in 200 or 1/2%...but it depends on your
surgeon too. The team I am going with has done approximately 1000 and has
not yet lost a patient due to complications of the surgery. So I am very
comfortable with their statistics. Also, I look at it kinda
fatalistically--if it is my time to go, then I'll go. I do know for sure
that if I don't have this surgery I am inviting an early death. I want to
LIVE and live fully---not the half life I have now. I put my trust in God
and the surgeons --in that order--and all will be well. ((((HUGS))))
— Sharon N.
June 16, 2001
I adore my Chiropractor, but the nature of his practice is to do whatever
it takes to avoid having to do surgery. Still, once I made the decision,
he didn't try to sway me in any way. The statistic is true, and probably
about the same for many surgeries. Maybe it was presented in a scary way
because Chiropractor's tend to be against any kind of surgery. I'm sure
if/when you decide this is right for you, he/she will support you.
Suggestion, get a good adjustment right before surgery, this can help with
back pain that some experience immediately post-op.
— kcanges
June 16, 2001
The rate that is quoted by most surgeons doing this is
1 in 1000. That comes out to .01 percent! That is about
the average for all surgeries. That is a percentage that I
knew of when I went into this and had it done last Oct..
— Dennis J. B.
June 16, 2001
I believe the overall statistic is 1 in 1000 but if your surgeon has done
200 and had 1 die, then take his/her word for thierself. However,
depending on your co-morbids, death is MUCH MORE certain for being morbidly
obese. Knowing that I WILL die without help, and I have .01 % chance of
dying from surgery helps me really get over that mortality rate thing...
— Elizabeth D.
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