Question:
How common, or how much of a threat is renal failure after surgery?

My sister, a hospital RN, knows an RN in the hospital where I'm planning my surgery. She said they have several WLS patients dealing with renal failure. I didn't find much on the AMOS web site dealing with the subject and I was wondering just how common it was.    — lorien (posted on April 10, 2003)

April 10, 2003
Renal patients are likely diabetic and had this trouble before wls.
   — bob-haller

April 10, 2003
There was an article on CNN.com last week that confirmed high protein diets (like Atkins) can quicken renal failure, even in people with mild renal insufficency, which I have. After weight loss surgery, we're encouraged to ingest large amounts of protein, which includes various forms of meat (chicken, beef, etc.). Meat consumption makes the kidneys work extra hard resulting in quickened renal failure. I called my nephrologist and she is helping me put together a list of alternative protein sources that are much easier on the kidneys. Also, after surgery, I will ingest more simple carbs than proteins, which will result in slower weight loss, but this is a trade-off I'm very willing to make to keep my kidneys as healthy as possible.
   — Leni M.