Question:
Will this surgery shorten my life?

My sister is in the heath care field and says that the doctors she works with say that after the RNY, I will be sick and die by 55. Well, I'm in pain every day and I'm sure obesity will shorten my life. However, the women in my family live very long lives even with obesity. I really want to see my grandchilden grow up. I'm 33 years old and don't want to face only having 20years left.    — Laurie V. (posted on March 18, 2002)

March 17, 2002
i am 58 and have had the surgery on 9/5 down 140 pound and feel betterv then i have for 15 years i no longer have diabeties less heart medication and will be getting of my bi pap machine it is the best thing i have done
   — ted M.

March 17, 2002
The OLD surgeries of 20+ years ago led to great weight loss but side affects that caused shorter life spans for some! Mostly kidney and liver malabsorbtion problems. But the RNY is different, its partially malabsorbtive, but a big part of how it works is restrcting physically how much we can eat by creating that small pouch. Now in MY case loosing 125 pounds as well as diabetes, high blood pressure, severe sleep apnea, high chlestrol, and a myriad of other health problems certinally should give me some more healthy years of life. Truthfully I didnt WANT to live any longer with diabetes. My feet were starting to get numb, and my vision was being affected too. ALL VERY BAD. None of us know how long we will live, anyone can get whipped out at any moment. But I sure enjoy my healthier life post op. See my profile for more info~! POST OP IS THE PLACE TO BE!
   — bob-haller

March 18, 2002
My goodness. Do the doctors that she works with still use leaches? They aren't terribly informed are they? If your getting your nutrition, losing weight, exercising, and all of your co-morbitities are gone, how is this going to shorten your life? Like the other poster said. Maybe with the old surgeries this was a problem but those doctors need to join the rest of us in the 21st century.
   — Meredith A.

March 18, 2002
I think these people are probably thinking of the old stomach stapling surgeries back in the 70s and earlier. Yes, a lot of people got sick from these and died. The RNY these days is the gold standard. People get the gastric bypass when they develop stomach cancer and other similar problems. Although it is impossible to say whether those who are getting the RNY now will live longer or shorter lives (we just don't have that data yet), it appears that most are doing just fine, thriving in fact!
   — Terissa R.

March 18, 2002
Hi I'm 20 and pre-op and worry about this too. I figure though that if you get your labs done religiously, get bone density scans, etc, and everything is normal, then how could you be at risk of an early death? Most health-related deaths don't come without some warning, right? The obese men and women in my family live very long lives too and do pretty well. My grandmother is 87 and only recently developed diabetes, she has high blood pressure, and arthiritis... but she still lives alone and takes care of herself. I don't think I want to live to be 87 like I am now though. I hope and pray that I'm making the right decision. I've made my peace with it for the most part. Good luck to you!
   — [Deactivated Member]

March 18, 2002
I know someone who got this operation when they were 56 yeas old. Does that mean they have been dead for 1 year and not even know it? :) I got this surgery at 51 only 4 years left? Only God knows for sure when your number is up! Good luck
   — Robert L.

March 18, 2002
I don't think anyone has the answer at this point. I'm guessing they have been doing the RNY's around 10 years now? But I only know I could'nt go on much longer with the 319 pounds as I could feel my body giving out. At least now, I'm doing better. Although I'm still having some problems, they are getting better. Perhaps the RNY will shorten my life, but if I had a choice I'd chose quality over quanity any day. My guess is I will live a longer and healthier life than if I had'nt had the surgery.
   — Danmark

March 18, 2002
THANK YOU FOR YOUR POSTS. I FEEL MUCH BETTER. I SPOKE WITH MY MOTHER ON THE MATTER AND SHE THINKS THAT MAYBE MY SISTER IS MORE JEALOUS THAN ANYTHING. MY SISTER IS EVEN HEAVIER THAN I AM AND BLAMES IT ON A DIFFERENT MEDICAL PROBLEM EVERY OTHER MONTH. IT WOULD BE NICE IF SHE COULD REALIZE THAT SHE'S JUST IN THE SAME MESS AS THE REST OF US AND NEEDS TO FIND A REAL SOLUTION. ;)
   — Laurie V.

March 18, 2002
Laurie, please understand that most doctors that don't do this type of surgery, do'nt really advocate it. Are they correct? Possibly. I know that there are many many people who have had WLS and are so satisfied and happy with it. Their lives will probably be lengthened by doing this. I also know that there are some, like me, who have had nothing but serious problems since having surgery. So far, seems my life will certainly not be expanded by doing this and may, in the end be shortened...if not shortened, then the quality of life has been severely damaged. I honestly don't think this surgery makes you die sooner but I also think that many people advocate the surgery and tend to look over the problems that it can cause because they want to "fix" this thing called obesity. There's nothing wrong with that at all but I have talked to so many doctors recently who do NOT advocate it. Also, please know that I had the BPD/DS and NOT the RNY. This also might make a difference.
   — Barbara H.

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