Guest guest Posted December 6, 2003 Report Share Posted December 6, 2003 I have stopped taking my medicine for Gerd also and haven't taken my antidepressant for 2 weeks either. This is the best thing I could have done for myself. I am happy I had the surgery... Pam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 6, 2003 Report Share Posted December 6, 2003 December 6, 2003 Re: Bariatric Surgery To: The Editor, Miami Herald I am concerned about the recent media coverage about deaths due to bariatric surgery. The death of a loved one following surgery is a sad and painful experience. However, patients often die during and soon after major heart surgery, yet no one is suggesting that such life saving surgery be stopped. People who qualify for bariatric surgery are not the best surgical risks. They are at least 100 pound over a healthy weight. They frequently have diseases such as diabetes, circulatory impairments, and diminished lung functioning. Such patients are at increased risk of complications, including death, regardless of what surgical procedure is necessary. Bariatric surgery is not recommended unless the patient meets a long list of eligibility conditions. Prime among these is that the patient has tried to lose weight through diet and exercise for many years, without success. Morbidly obese people are at a very high risk of dying long before their natural lifetime is over. The quality of our lives is compromised due to lack of mobility and the depression and social isolation that often accompanies extreme obesity. Bariatric surgery is not easy, and the aftermath of the surgery requires a strong commitment on the part of the patient to make life long changes in food intake and exercise level. We will never eat " normally " again. However, the surgery is life saving for the vast majority of those who have it done. I had bariatric surgery six weeks ago. My diabetes is now under control for the first time in 10 years. My blood pressure is now normal. My GERD has disappeared, and the painful swelling in my legs, ankles, and feet is gone. I have gone from taking 14 prescription medications, plus insulin, to needing only 6. The National Institutes of Health have concluded that once a person has become morbidly obese, diet and exercise alone will not work for them. Our choice is to accept the risks of the surgery or face the far more certain risk of ever increasing health problems and a slow, painful early death. JoAnne Mansell _________________________________________________________________ Winterize your home with tips from MSN House & Home. http://special.msn.com/home/warmhome.armx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 6, 2003 Report Share Posted December 6, 2003 In a message dated 12/6/2003 10:25:33 AM Central Standard Time, joannemansell@... writes: Our choice is to accept the risks of the surgery or face the far more certain risk of ever increasing health problems and a slow, painful early death. JoAnne Mansell I couldn't have said it any better. Well said JoAnne!!!!! Wolfie Leeds, Alabama " Keep It Real & Off the Top " Lap Rny & Choly Dr. Lee Schmitt Medical Center East August 27,2003 336/271/200 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 6, 2003 Report Share Posted December 6, 2003 Joanne....great letter, and much needed info to the public. I am 2.5 weeks post op and am already off my blood pressure and depression meds. This surgery was the best thing I've ever done for myself. 11/18/03 284/249/234 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 6, 2003 Report Share Posted December 6, 2003 very, very articulate joanne. most media outlets have their biased agendas, wtg on educating 'em. lori h. > December 6, 2003 > > Re: Bariatric Surgery > > To: The Editor, Miami Herald > > > > I am concerned about the recent media coverage about deaths due to bariatric > surgery. The death of a loved one following surgery is a sad and painful > experience. However, patients often die during and soon after major heart > surgery, yet no one is suggesting that such life saving surgery be stopped. > > People who qualify for bariatric surgery are not the best surgical risks. > They are at least 100 pound over a healthy weight. They frequently have > diseases such as diabetes, circulatory impairments, and diminished lung > functioning. Such patients are at increased risk of complications, > including death, regardless of what surgical procedure is necessary. > Bariatric surgery is not recommended unless the patient meets a long list of > eligibility conditions. Prime among these is that the patient has tried to > lose weight through diet and exercise for many years, without success. > Morbidly obese people are at a very high risk of dying long before their > natural lifetime is over. The quality of our lives is compromised due to > lack of mobility and the depression and social isolation that often > accompanies extreme obesity. Bariatric surgery is not easy, and the > aftermath of the surgery requires a strong commitment on the part of the > patient to make life long changes in food intake and exercise level. We > will never eat " normally " again. However, the surgery is life saving for the > vast majority of those who have it done. I had bariatric surgery six weeks > ago. My diabetes is now under control for the first time in 10 years. My > blood pressure is now normal. My GERD has disappeared, and the painful > swelling in my legs, ankles, and feet is gone. I have gone from taking 14 > prescription medications, plus insulin, to needing only 6. The National > Institutes of Health have concluded that once a person has become morbidly > obese, diet and exercise alone will not work for them. Our choice is to > accept the risks of the surgery or face the far more certain risk of ever > increasing health problems and a slow, painful early death. > > > > JoAnne Mansell > > _________________________________________________________________ > Winterize your home with tips from MSN House & Home. > http://special.msn.com/home/warmhome.armx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 7, 2003 Report Share Posted December 7, 2003 alicia....what do your numbers stand for?? thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 10, 2003 Report Share Posted December 10, 2003 Bravo JoAnne, I posted (although I didn't write to them) a similiar post in response to the People Magazine article about 9months ago. Any of us undergoing ANY surgery with all these medical conditions would face a similiar risk. And the risks of not having the surgery.....do get me started. Marina (Los Angeles, CA) post-op 3/12/03 " JoAnne Mansell " joannemansell@...> wrote: >December 6, 2003 > >Re: Bariatric Surgery > >To: The Editor, Miami Herald > > > >I am concerned about the recent media coverage about deaths due to bariatric >surgery. The death of a loved one following surgery is a sad and painful >experience. However, patients often die during and soon after major heart >surgery, yet no one is suggesting that such life saving surgery be stopped. > >People who qualify for bariatric surgery are not the best surgical risks. >They are at least 100 pound over a healthy weight. They frequently have >diseases such as diabetes, circulatory impairments, and diminished lung >functioning. Such patients are at increased risk of complications, >including death, regardless of what surgical procedure is necessary. >Bariatric surgery is not recommended unless the patient meets a long list of >eligibility conditions. Prime among these is that the patient has tried to >lose weight through diet and exercise for many years, without success. >Morbidly obese people are at a very high risk of dying long before their >natural lifetime is over. The quality of our lives is compromised due to >lack of mobility and the depression and social isolation that often >accompanies extreme obesity. Bariatric surgery is not easy, and the >aftermath of the surgery requires a strong commitment on the part of the >patient to make life long changes in food intake and exercise level. We >will never eat " normally " again. However, the surgery is life saving for the >vast majority of those who have it done. I had bariatric surgery six weeks >ago. My diabetes is now under control for the first time in 10 years. My >blood pressure is now normal. My GERD has disappeared, and the painful >swelling in my legs, ankles, and feet is gone. I have gone from taking 14 >prescription medications, plus insulin, to needing only 6. The National >Institutes of Health have concluded that once a person has become morbidly >obese, diet and exercise alone will not work for them. Our choice is to >accept the risks of the surgery or face the far more certain risk of ever >increasing health problems and a slow, painful early death. > > > >JoAnne Mansell > >_________________________________________________________________ >Winterize your home with tips from MSN House & Home. >http://special.msn.com/home/warmhome.armx __________________________________________________________________ McAfee VirusScan Online from the Netscape Network. Comprehensive protection for your entire computer. Get your free trial today! http://channels.netscape.com/ns/computing/mcafee/index.jsp?promo=393397 Get AOL Instant Messenger 5.1 free of charge. Download Now! http://aim.aol.com/aimnew/Aim/register.adp?promo=380455 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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