Question:
has their been many deaths and what cause them.

   — carol P. (posted on September 2, 2003)

September 2, 2003
http://www.wlscenter.com/ResearchArticles/RisksOfSurgery.htm <BR><BR> You may find this article of help.
   — [Deactivated Member]

September 2, 2003
Carol, I was searching the Gallery and came across the WLS memorial, there a some stories and how comes on there if your interested. Personally I found it very sad, but know in my heart, if my savior wants, then it is my time. But I wont let it stop me from being healthy, and getting WLS. Hope this helps.
   — Sandgirl37

September 2, 2003
that site was the most depressing thing I have encountered since I started working toward wls.I was flooding in tears.I feel so sorry for the patient and their family for their tragic loss.Now I am getting scared for my family. I dont know what my kids would do without me.
   — loisph

September 2, 2003
I take risks every day of my life, like when I get on the interstate or local streets and drive around, like when I fly somewhere, etc. etc. etc. I just figure if I'm gonna go and the Good Lord wants me, then this would be the way to go. By the way, I read the memorials, and most deaths occur to extremely obese people 700 lbs & up, and is caused by blood clots, also a few deaths not directly related to the surgery, like Heart Attacks....I didn't really see any deaths to the average obese person ie: 200 to 500 lbs. This made me feel better about the death factor, my surgery is 10-1-03 and you can bet I will be there. P.S. For the record my will is in order, and I do have a living will, and my life insurance is paid up. From there its up to my surgeon, medical staff and God as to what happens to me.... God Bless you on your journey.
   — Donna Y.

September 2, 2003
Usually people die from pulmonary embolism, heart failure or lung problems. Our bodies are so stressed from dealing with our excess weight, they sometimes can not handle the trauma of surgery. The way to know your risk is to have your heart/lungs checked out ahead of time - such as with a stress test. To reduce your risk, you need to be on blood thinner, have compression and pneumatic stockings until you can walk a lot, and then keep the compression stockings on and get lots of walking in - all to reduce your chance of pulmonary embolism. All of that said - if the God of the Universe knows the numbers of hair on my head, knit me together in my mother's womb, and knows the number of my days - if I died in surgery, it would be because of His time - if not surgery, then a semi truck, or something else. I also couldn't imagine what my family would have done if I didn't make it - my husband is disabled and I have a special needs son - but my risk from surgery is lower than my risk of major complications in my life from the obesity - so if you were "playing the odds" - you'd be better off having the surgery!
   — bethybb

September 2, 2003
If you go to the memorials page, you will see that few people died of the surgery itself. Most had very high super-morbidly obese BMI's and died of post surgery complications. If trying to weigh (no pun intended) the safety of this surgery, it is necessary to compare the surgerical complication and death rates to other abdominal surgeries. You may find that the rates are relatively the same.
   — M B.

September 3, 2003
Regarding your question about deaths, there are times that death couldn't have been prevented, but there are some that could have easily been prevented. One example is my best friend, Ginger Brewster, who's story is on the memorial page of this website. Her situation is a perfect example of a death that could have so easily been prevented. My advise is to try to be in the best health that you can be for the surgery and most important of all, if you have any life threatening co-morbidities, please try to get them under control as best as possible prior to your surgery and make sure that not only your surgeon is aware of your conditions, but that all medical personnel, including the anesthesiologist as well as the nurses are well aware your conditions and have taken precautions as to how to deal with them. Best of luck to you for your surgery.
   — Hackett

September 4, 2003
Maggie B. had it right: so many of us are already in such rough shape that it any kind of surgery is a risk. The very term "morbidly obese" literally means "death-promoting over-weight." The state of morbid obesity puts us at the top of the high risk groups for cardiac arrest, stroke, and diabetic coma. so the issues brought to the surgery table exist whether we are having WLS or knee cartiledge surgery: we're already in terrible shape, and there it is. Having said that, I can say that we should be people of courage and charge right on in to that surgery suite and say "Help me!" and that's I see MO folks doing every day. Hooray!
   — Deborah M.