I'm so very angry right now because a good friend of mine died this morning.  She had RNY 9 years ago.  She went through all these years and gained back weight just like everyone else does.  She had gone through a tummy tuck and brachioplasty (twice) years ago.  From what I've heard she had DS sometime last year due to her weight gain.  Evidently she started having heart problems and blot clots began forming in all of her limbs.  She underwent reveral this month and then passed away this morning.

I'm angry because people EVERYWHERE are DYING to be thin!  Being thin is more important than life itself.  WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE PEOPLE THINKING FOR GOD'S SAKE????  SERIOUSLY???

SURE, we gain weight back because our stomachs STRETCH!  We gain weight because we go back to eating like we did before surgery.  Then, we put our lives back on the line and undergo MORE SURGERY because we don't have self control!  SERIOUSLY?????

This woman led a vibrant life and was a teacher who was loved by her students and everyone around her.  She was obsessed with how people thought of her.  She was a mere 49 years young and lived life to the fullest!  People who knew her are shocked and still reeling from this news.  No one understands how SERIOUS gastric bypass surgery is!  They ESPECIALLY don't know how serious it is to undergo TWO gastric bypass surgeries and THEN HAVE THEM REVERSED! 

I'm writing this to somehow get through to people who are thinking about having this surgery!  BEING THIN IS NOT WORTH DYING FOR!  Think about this and talk to people who are ten years out from surgery!  See what the long term complications are before you make up your mind!  KNOW that if you don't CONTINUE to eat mostly proteins THE REST OF YOUR LIFE AND EXERCISE THE REST OF YOUR LIFE you will GAIN the weight back!   (READ THAT AGAIN!)

You will gain your weight back if you don't diet and exercise the rest of your life!  Say it outloud until it sinks in! 

THIS SURGERY is only a temporary tool to a permanent problem!  ARE YOU WILLING TO DIE for a temporary fix?

I'm extremely shocked and angry that this precious woman had to die to be an example of what kind of people are out there today who are willing to do to ANY LENGTHS to be thin!

I don't come here much so if you want to write to me personally you can do so at:  macrobin2000@yahoo.com.

Please, for your own sakes, try some other way to lose the weight!  There are better ways than giving up your life to do it!

 Robin,
I posted a reply to you on another board, I hope you saw it. I didn't want you to feel alone or like no one was listening. Take care, keep your head up. Hugs
Jules

Hello,

I had LAP RNY in October of 2008. I lost 100 lbs. I never reached goal. I maintained for about 2 years. I gained back about 1/2 the weight loss now. I am 44 y.o. I am contemplating revision to DS. My two young daughters (10 and 6) are BEGGING ME NOT TO CONSIDER SURGERY AGAIN because I nearly died the first time around. I had a "white light" moment. I swore that I would never again in life contemplate ANY elective surgery again EVER!!!! I felt that unless you would rather be DEAD than FAT not to consider this option and certainly not if you are a parent. I am the only caretaker to my young girls and they are my life. Thank you for sharing about your friend. I wouldn't want my girls to be typing what you have typed here someday.

This is all just so sad, that I am so depressed about what has happened and that I am still holding onto the dream that this surgery can be for me the crown jewel it has been for so many that have gone before me. I feel that I have already altered my insides so what difference would it make to do so again? I also feel that since I already screwed around with my insides I may as well achieve the desired result and try again. Way back then I had contemplated DS but my surgeon didn't perform that surgery so I went with what most others called the gold standard.

If I dare to have revision surgery there is no one in my entire life that will support me because like I said, I was at death's door. They are all traumatized that I almost died. I had to be rushed back for a second emergency surgery within 24 hours of the first surgery that had been deemed a "success.". No one even realized that I was internally bleeding until it was nearly too late. I remember feeling like I was almost dead and taking my last breath and how scared I felt that I was going to die without anyone with me that I knew or loved as the drs were running me on the gurney back to the OR. I had such severe PTSD that I cried every day for 30 days straight after the second surgery. The insanity of it is that now, years later, with the memories and trauma suppressed, I am so unhappy with my body again that I want to try to make it work this time. I read so many happy stories. I want my happy ending too.

I am so confused... If anyone else had similar confusion and wants to share their story (good or bad) I would appreciate it.

Hug,
Anna

I can almost hear the hurt, anger, and fustration in your voice while reading this point.  You're friend was way to young to die.   You are so right in what you're saying.,
wls is  only a tool.  We have to work at keeping the weight off. 
What also scares me is the doctors who do revisions for regain.  I realize that there are times that revisions are done as a neccessity.  But  If people hadn't learned the first time, gained ALL the weight plus more,  I had so many complications after my rny.  I spent 10 months in hospitals and nursing home beddridden and on oxygen.  I wasn't expected to live.  Right after the initial surgery. I would never do another wls knowing what happened to me.