Ok, now I'm freaked out!

Did you see this article, posted on the main message board? http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20060707/hl_hsn/newmethodgaugesweightlosssurgeryrisk I was feeling so calm about my upcoming RNY surgery, (July 17th) but I have 3 of the 5 risk factors! Ack! The only thing I have going for me is I am not male and I don't have a high clot risk that I know of. I have (controlled by medicine) high blood pressure, a BMI of 67 and I am 49. Should I be scared again? Julie in WA

I have a lady that is in my local support group that was 62 and had surgery. She is now 70 and tells everyone she is healthier now than when she was 40. As long as your bp is controlled you should be fine. Shellie

Shellie, Thank you so much, you are right. Even my surgeon said I was on the healthy side of the people he operates on, so I should chill out. Julie

Julie With any surgery there is always a risk. But if you feel confident with your surgeon and he show no concern for these thing. Then if your still at ease talk to him about it. I am sure if it was a big concern to him he would be telling you. God Bless Melissa

That's true Melissa, thank you. He seems very confident that he will be able to do it. I met two ladies today that had GB about 3 years ago, they have each lost 160 lbs, have had plastics, and you would never know they were ever overweight, snappy dressers both if them and beautiful! They were very encouraging, and you all are here too. I knew you would help me. Julie

These kinds of articles just ****** me off. Here surgeons have found a way to help the Obese, Extremely Obese, Super Obese, Morbidly Obese, whatever you want to call it, get back on track with a healthier life, and they go and ruin it with articles like this. Yes, we need to know the risk, and I think we all realize that we are risking our lives to save our lives. I've know people that have died from having simple surgeries that does not require anesthesia or any preparation. I just read this stuff with a grain of salt. I used to let these articles worry me, but my health is more important than these articles. Plus, they fail to tell you that these people had underlying problems, that caused their deaths that are not WLS related. WLS may have aggravated it, but they died from other causes. Their time just came after they had surgery. With that I say, Mercy Center for Weight Reduction, I'll see you on July 17th @11am, prepared and ready for surgery. See you on the losing side........ Nissah....... 360/313/???/180 7 days, 2 hours, and 27 minutes to go

Nissah, You are a smart girl. It's true, the more I thought about it, the more it seemed ridiculous to worry. One point is that the death statistics were 90 days out from surgery, and they have to count it as a death from WLS even if they die of a car accident. WE will be WLS sisters now, girl, both of us starting our journey on the 17th. Thanks for writing. It really helps. Julie

I think the article said high blood pressure is a factor if it indicates heart trouble. Give me a call if you want to talk. Hugs, Loris

Thanks Loris, I'm feeling better now. Julie

Aren't those risk factors for EVERY type of surgery? I would not worry about it. Your surgeon would NOT operate on you if he didn't think it was a) necessary and b) relatively safe. To further illustrate this point, my father was supposed to have surgery 3 days after I did. They postponed it because his surgeon had an emergency out of town, then he went in for the final preop visit and they changed their minds completely -- his BMI was not high enough to outweigh his preexisting heart and lung problems. Surgery scratched. When I went in for my last preop visit (different surgeon), he went over this 20 page document with me -- telling me everything that could possibly go wrong. 19 of the 20 pages could have gone wrong with any surgery. I even laughed when I saw a list of complications and their results, because one complication was "death" resulting in, you guessed it, "death". (please, please don't be scared by this!) Just do as you're told, follow your doctor's orders to a T, and everything will be fine. Julie PS: The surgery will take care of two of your risk factors anyhow. The third is going to have to wait for the fountain of youth.