Re: Surgical deaths...Way to Go Joanne!

[Guest guest]

Way to Go Joanne!!! It is a fact that this surgery is not an " easy

way out " and that all of us have tried diets,etc and our health was

not getting any better. Thanks to my surgery almost 12 weeks ago, I

no longer have high blood pressure, cholesterol, and my feet and

ankles no longer swell to the point that I can not walk. Not to

mention the fact that I am no longer short of breath and my knees

don't feel like they are going to give out on me. The urinary

incontinence is gone too!!

I commend you for standing up for all of us who have chosen to have

the surgery done.

God Bless

Shelley

>

> >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.

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>

>

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