Question:
CAME ACROSS AN ARTICLE THAT FREAKED ME OUT.......
ok i was surfing the net and came across an article that said wls is dangerous it stated that the reason you don`t find postops who are 20 -30 years out is bc the average postop lives an average 15 to 20 years after rny i am 27 and so this really made me nervous i can`t go back and change it i had the surgery to be healthier, and live longer please tell me this is not true i got this info from a site called fat acceptance thanks open rny proximal 8/15/02 261.5/178/126 — nice n sweet B. (posted on February 22, 2003)
February 22, 2003
I agree that this is scary, but you have to realize that you got the
information from a website called "fat acceptance" obviously
these people have a bias towards accepting fat instead of doing something
about it! I think they are quoting old information that is not in step with
current medical practices. If you read some of the profiles on this site,
there are people who are years post-op and still healthy. The main thing to
remember is that you had your surgery to get healthy and that you have been
given a tool that will allow your to do that. How you take care of yourself
post-op is still up to you! Take care and enjoy your journey.
— NewJoolz
February 22, 2003
Please do not believe the information that you saw on the web. Those fat
acceptance people are people who believe that it is ok to be 500 pounds and
possible to be healthy at that weight. We both know that this is not true.
They tend to take factual information and take it way out of proportion to
make things appear the way they want them to be. A lot of their members
have had WLS and did not take the time or effort to treat their obsessive
compulsive eating habits and gained all of the weight back. The list the
normal complications that everyone is informed of as complications that no
one knows about. Now they make it their life's mission to spread false
information regarding WLS. There are people who are 10 or more years post
op around. I saw a lady who is 17 yrs post op post on AMOS last week. The
thing is that when most people are 10-20 plus years out their lives are no
longer centered around WLS and support groups. You will be just fine.
— Skyedancer4u1
February 22, 2003
I asked my PCP if I would survive to the age of 80 if I had WLS. I
actually said "Will we see little 80 year old post ops walking
around". She said yes, but you're not going to see 80 year old MOs
walking around. Puts it in perspective. Another thing... this version of
the RYN hasn't been around for 15 years, and corrects many old problems.
If you faithfully supplement for the rest of your life, you'll be healthier
than you would have been staying MO.
— mom2jtx3
February 22, 2003
I agree with Teena totally. How many morbidly obese elderly people do you
see out and about and enjoying life? These people cannot find a solution
to their problems and so therefore, are trying to change the world and make
people accept fat. That in itself, is ok because fat people are humans
with feelings etc. BUT if these people are trying to make everyone
accepted why do they put us down? We made an intervention to save our
lives and that takes courage. I applaud the "fat acceptance"
people for their efforts but please, leave us alone in our happiness. I
would rather have 20 yrs as a normal person who can function in a society
geared towards healthy weight than 30 yrs trying to fit into booths,
airplane seats, being comfortable in my own body. I agree that obesity is
the last unaccepted handicap and we should never judge others but does that
give them the license to judge us and try to persuade others to join their
cause? Each of us here on this planet has to choose our own path. My path
is for health and a long fulfilling life. I think I can achieve that
through WLS and healthy eating patterns. God bless the morbidly obese and
if that is what they want, so be it. I, for one, feel I have extended my
life by 30 yrs by having the surgery. I was dying daily at 312 lbs.
Perhaps they are afraid to have the surgery, but doesn't it sound like
"sour grapes" to you? I hope they enjoy their lives and can
conquer the comorbidities that will shorten their lives.
— Mylou52
February 22, 2003
APPLAUSE to Teena for her marvelous answer. Please do not forget that in
todays society people will say anything to scare the shit out of those who
have the guts to face and do something about their problems. Never believe
what you read or hear!!! {{{{{{{{{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}
— Regina C.
February 22, 2003
The reason you don't see many of them, is that the surgery as it exists
today has only been done in significant numbers for about the last 10
years.
Personally, I suspect that my altered system may very well shorten what
might have been a normal lifespan (not a MO lifespan, mind you, but a
normal one). I can honestly say that if I died tomorrow from complications
which arose from my surgery, the last 3 years will have absolutely been
worth it. These years have been so much more enjoyable than the MO years.
Will it shorten my life? I'll let you know when I'm dead!! In the
meantime, I spend every day trying to appreciate how much more pleasurable
life is as a normal size than an MO size. -Kate-
— kateseidel
February 22, 2003
What is interesting is that I went out to NAAFA's website (I assume that is
what you are talking about when you mentioned fat acceptance, Cherice).
The URL of their policy on WLS is at
http://www.naafa.org/documents/policies/wls.html
<p>
This policy was written in 1993. WLS has advanced so much since that
time. What's interesting is that at the bottom of this policy page is a
link to Sue Widemark's site...JR
— John Rushton
February 22, 2003
That is completely bogus, based on old information taken out of context.
Consider old procedures were almost exclusively performed on people over 40
and these old procedures were not nearly as refined as they are now. These
people over 40 were having the surgery because medical complications
required weight loss. Historically, these older people were facing death
from diabetes, heart conditions, high blood pressure, immobility and etc.
Thus the numbers would show that these people would have a shortened life
expectency becasue of age and health.
This data does not apply to the current state of WLS, performed on
reletively healthy people, many of them young and using refined surgical
procedures.
I expect to live at least to 70....I'm 37 now...and I'll probably annoy
this world well into my 80's. Later I will haunt the people that spread
bad data and the newspeople that seem all too willing to accept it as fact.
— Scott L.
February 22, 2003
I know someone who had this surgery in 1969. It was considered
expieremental and very dangerous back then. This women is very healthy and
78 years old.
— barbyannn
February 22, 2003
Ah yes, Sue Widemark. I believe I had read some articles against WLS and
what do ya know, if was affiliated with her!
— TLLessor
February 22, 2003
the article is bull sh*t
rny wasn't done 20 - 30 years ago, maybe that is why you don't see 20 - 30
year post ops walking around. The ones who would have benefitted from it
(before It was developed) are DEAD from Morbid obesity.
— **willow**
February 22, 2003
I post on Sues list to try and balance the sky is falling. If any other
post ops would like to join it would help a lot. Drop me a email. Its true
a small percentage have troubles. But MOST of us do fine. I know a nurse
who is 21 years out. She looks good but doesnt take money to work. She
takes care of the surgical waiting room and sits directly across from the
vending machines. Says theyt call to her. She isnt skinny, but looks normal
to me. Says she would like to loose 20 pounds.
— bob-haller
February 22, 2003
When I was researching WLS, I remember finding some of the fat acceptance
and Sue Widemark stuff. It freaked me out for about a day. I was going to
cancel all my tests and go back to dieting. Then I started thinking, why
is my insurance company willing to pay for my surgery? If WLS is all that
bad, why does the National Institute of Health endorse RNY as the only long
term treatment available for morbid obesity? Everyone is entitled to their
own opinion, and you have decide if the surgery is right for you. Me? At
275 pounds I was dying a little bit every day. I am not afraid that the
surgery will shorten my life. Even if it did, I'd rather have a little bit
of wonderful rather than a lifetime of nothing special. Good luck with
whatever decision you make. I'm almost 6 months post op and absolutely no
regrets. Life's too short, and I've spent the great majority of mine
agonizing over my weight and what to do about it. I decided it was time to
get on with it.
— Valerie B.
February 22, 2003
I am terribly torn here, the fat acceptance site is indeed biased against
those of use who make a choice we believe is right for us. But, they also
work to raise the awareness that there is wide-sprea discrimination against
obese people. We have all seen the looks when you are sitting on a plane
and someone gets stuck next to you in that middle seat--Its horrifying. My
opinion is people come in different shapes, colors, genders and no one is
better or worse than the other.
Surgery is a personal choice... there are complications, risks and
wonderful outcomes.
20-30 years ago the surgeries being performed where different, surgeons
didn't have the medical advances they do now.
I am scared of whats going to happen to me in 12 days, but more frightened
at what might happen over ther next 12 yrs if I decided to not go through
with the rny.
— Peg L
February 22, 2003
I saw this question and read what everyone else was saying and then went
to NAAFA.com to see exactly what was going on there. I then came across a
post stating that after WLS you can NEVER have children. I guess everyone
has the right to thier own opinions, but get the medical facts before
blowing off that kind of information. That will scare people and I am upset
that NAAFA may be coming too extreme. What happened there????? I used to be
a member, but way back then it didn't feel right, not because of WLS or
anything, I had never thought of it before, just because it's so clichey!!
(or however you spell it). I just hope that everyone considering WLS will
be smart enough to do research and not believe every Tom, Dick and Harriet
that writes the opinions of one group. Just my opinion! Thanks for
listening. Kim Thompson WLS 11/13/03 -60
— Kimberly T.
February 23, 2003
Who is Sue Widemark? And why does she have so much credibility? In other
words, why do people listen to her? Has she had WLS and failed or
something?
— Mylou52
February 23, 2003
No, she's just thinks Weight Watcher will work for everyone.
— TLLessor
February 23, 2003
Sue says she is only trying to let everyone know all sides of WLS. But she
quotes out of context, twists things and says where she lives there are
tons of healthy happy MO senior citizens. In my area there are very few. My
realtives dont live to be senior citizens they mostly die young from being
MO:( Sues latest is joining WW and posting how great its going and how if
MOs only lost 20 pounds and exercised they would be so much healthier. I
admit some die, and have troubles. But most post ops today are doing good.
The OLD surgeries were bad and those folks some from 20 years ago have
diffiulties. The RNY is much better thean those.
— bob-haller
February 23, 2003
Hun,
I know first hand that not all people that has had WLS will died in 20 to
30 years... My Mom had one of the first types ( intestinal bypass where
they just shorten your intestines and dont touch your stomach) back in 1980
and she is doing Great... She was 50 years old and weighed 325 pounds, she
is now 73 and very healthy at 165 pounds... Hun, that is 23 healthy and
happy years she wouldn't have had without the surgery... Her Doctor tells
her she is healthy as a horse and should live to be will over 100... She
was the reason I decided to have my WLS in Nov 2002 and she is my main
supporter... I am proud to say that I have lost 60 pounds and I feel
Great!! I just turned 49 yesterday Feb 22nd and it is a Great feeling to
know that with Gods Will I will live to be as healthy and happy as my
Mom... I know some people have died due to this surgery but you have to
realize they probably had other complications or didnt follow their doctors
orders, and I am so sad that they passed away, but the ones that have
survived out weigh the ones that didn't by far... So Hun, Be Happy and
Enjoy Your New Life As A Healthy and Happier Person...Because Worrying in
itself can Kill You and you're way to young to worry about dying now, so
enjoy, be happy...Best Of Luck To You!!!
Pre-op 321-lbs Post-op 3 months 261 lbs.
~~Cindy~~
— Cynthia B.
February 23, 2003
Ok, I had never even heard of this site before now. I had to go and check
it out. OMG, I have never read such B***S*** in my entire life. How
ignorant and rediculous can you get? That is about all I have to say about
that. Hugs and smiles to all.. and stay away from the crazy people on the
net.
— MnShadows
February 24, 2003
I did a search on the web, "life expectancy shortened after gastric
bypass". Guess what? The only things that would come up were things
about "LONGER life expectancy after gastric bypass".
— Debbie W.
February 24, 2003
Cherice- I am 29 scheduled for open RNY in 24 days! WOOOHOOOO!!!! I also
worried about whether WLS would shorten my life but then I realized that
I'm not exactly living right now. I'd much rather live 20 years of bliss
than 25 years of misery. Plus, we never know when the good Lord is going
to need us anyway so I decided to enjoy life while I can. I don't mean to
stereotype here so please don't take this the wrong way...but....my DH and
I were at the BUFFET the other day and I looked around and noticed
something very intriguing. There really are two groups of people who
regurlarly eat at the "buffet" and they are the overweight and
the elderly. I saw many, many overweight people all of which were
relatively young or middle aged; however, the only elderly people that were
there were NOT overweight and most likely there for the wide variety of
veggies that they offer. That's why my "normal weight"
grandmother used to go, who incidently lived to be 90! One more
thing.....I have an Aunt who had an older version of the gastric bypass
done 22 years ago and while she has had complications (most of which
wouldn't have happened with the new procedure) she says she would do it
again in a minute and feels very certain that she would not be here today
had she not had surgery. Just my two cents...and then some I guess. LOL.
Good Luck and enjoy your success!
— denisel
February 26, 2003
Cherice ... Good Lord, it's not bad enough we've got the skinny people who
freak out every time they need to lose two pounds of water weight, now
we've got the fat acceptance people beating the danger drum in our faces!
OK, I admit that once upon a time, pre-op, I tried the fat acceptance thing
-- I'm huge, deal with it -- but for me, it was just denial. By the time I
got to my open VBG almost three years ago, I was practically to the point
where I didn't care if I lived or died, because weighing 350+ pounds and
puffing like a steam engine every time I bent over to tie my shoes was no
life in anybody's book. Yes, probably more people did die from the
"old procedure" because there were serious malabsorption problems
with it -- which is why they stopped doing it, for heaven's sake! I figure
I had no life expectancy AT ALL the way I was pre-op -- sleep apnea, high
blood pressure, type II diabetes, family history of heart attack and stroke
-- so the 15 or 20 years these fat-acceptance people are quoting would be
quite a bonus! I was almost 43 when I had my surgery, and I've never felt
better -- or more honest -- in my life. Face it,anybody -- fat, skinny,
pre-op, post-op, no op -- could go out tomorrow and get flattened by a bus.
Live for today, because life is 100% fatal no matter what you do. It's
all in the details, hon. Love,
— Cheryl Denomy
June 11, 2003
Sue Widemark is not the enemy. I think that because the link to the
article, some here may have mistaken her to be the author. Sue's site
actually shows ALL sides of WLS and let's be realistic it is not ALL roses
and there are things we need to know prior to going into this. I realized
last night at a support group how little some people know about this
procedure it's benefits, as well as the pitfalls. Thii is very disturbing
because if you don't REALLY know what is going on, how will you know what
is considered "normal" with this procedure and what isn't.
Reading that site I know now to ask about how adhesions from my c-section 7
months ago will affect my surgery. I would not have thought about that had
I not read the site and learned from the complications someone else
suffered, I may not be in the position that I am to avoid the same types of
problems. I am not the "defend Sue Widemark brigade", I am just
saying look carefully. Also on that site I found a great article she
authored with nutritional advice from Michelle Curran for WLS patients. My
understanding is that she was just showing an honest view of the whole
procedure. Even though there was more of the bad posted, she does reiterate
that WLS is a PERSONAL decision and that successful WLS patients are those
who are well-informed. We can't only hear the good and assume that we are
well informed. My advice is be diligent. Learn from others who have had
good experiences and those who have had bad ones and set a plan of action
for yourself. One thing I have learned is that everyone is different where
this surgery is concerned so learn as much as you can about EVERYTHING!!!!
— Aisha S.
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