Question:
What exactly is a pulmonary embolism?

well I just read the memorial page and if I was scared before Im TERRIFIED now. It seems alot of people have died of pulmonary embolisms(?) or bllod clots. That scares me since I already have breathing problems and I smoke. (yes I know thats crazy, Im trying to quit). Some of the memorials didnt say what the cause of death was. And wouldnt you know one of the deceased used the same surgeon I plan on using. Im real close to backing out. Im so scared.I have sleep apnea and quit breathing as it is...what if that happens during surgery?    — justaboutkrazy (posted on July 11, 2003)

July 10, 2003
Blood clot that goes to the lungs
   — Shari M.

July 10, 2003
Major complication of this surgery and ANY other surgery, not just weight loss surgery. It can happen even after you leave the hospital. people have been out several months and doing great then suddenly die from a blood clot. It breaks off from the rest of your blood and travels up to your lungs. No warning symptoms. Just know that it Can happen with any surgery and yes, smoking is a risk factor. Don't back out. You have come too far. The memorial page does scare everyone. But if you had to have any operation it could happen. Has nothing to do with the surgeon. AND copared to all the people who have surgery everyday of all kinds, it is a small percentage that this happens to. Just be aware .
   — Delores S.

July 10, 2003
Discuss the risks of a blood clot with your surgeon. You may be a candidate for a Greenfield Filter. This is a filter they place in your body to "catch" blood clots before they get to your lungs. Some people do have a higher risk of blood clots than others. Check with your family members to see if any have had issues with blood clots. I too am pre-op and this was a fear of mine too. I had a long discussion with my surgeon about all my fears. He really helped me to fee comfortable and confident. He takes so many precautions to ensure a safe, uneventful surgery and recovery. Don't back out. I think being frightened is a normal feeling to have prior to surgery...especially after reading the memorials page. Keep in mind though all of the success stories on this board daily. They far out number the horror stories. Think positive. We are all here to help support one another!
   — Kamy

July 10, 2003
First I emncourage you to have surgery but do QUIT smoking NOW! Along with all thew common health risks smokers have more leaks and dont heal as fast. Since your doing this to get healthy why not give your body all the help you can. Many surgeons wouldnt do WLS on smokers. Theyy test the blood to see if your cheating.
   — bob-haller

July 10, 2003
I think the same thing happens whenever you first check out the memorial page - it's a dose of reality and that hits you where it really hurts. No one wants to think they could die from having WLS - after all, it offers morbidly obese people so much hope! Having said that, look at the number of people on the memorial page, then compare that to the numbers of "before" and "after" pictures in the gallery. There are WAY more successful and healthy folks there! Talk to your surgeon about your concerns. Kudos to you for trying to stop smoking, too! If you can, start walking a little bit every day. Do you have any family members who had problems with blood clots (such as in their legs?) ? I know that even though I had a very low risk for blood clots after surgery, I was given heparain shots (a blood thinner) every 12 hours after surgery and had to take a baby aspirin daily for three weeks afer surgery. And, also, immobility is a big reason for clots to form. We have a friend who broke his leg and was in a cast for several weeks. He unknowingly developed blood clots in the casted leg, and a clot traveled to his lungs. He survived and was very, very, lucky! (It could have gone to his brain or heart!) Another reason to walk, walk, walk! As far as during surgery, your breathing is controlled by a ventilator and monitored by the anesthesiologist. Even after surgery, your oxygen levels are monitored. (They use a pulse oximeter - a little clothspin like device on your finger that measures the percentage of oxygen in the capillaries of you finger. It alams if your 02 level goes below a certain level).) I have never smoked, and I had a pulse ox on until the day after surgery. Lots and lots of MO folks with sleep apnea have had this surgery. Only you can make the final decision whether it is worth the risks for YOU.
   — koogy

July 10, 2003
Hi Mary- Pulmonary embolisms are very scary. I had massive clotting in my lungs (aka pulmonary embolism) in 1998. The doctor said I was about a day from death when they figured out what was wrong with me. Just know that they are treatable and not everyone dies from them. It turned out that I have a blood clotting disorder that I didn't even know about. The best way to protect yourself from clots is to walk as much as possible afte surgery. They will most likely give you lovenox (a anti clot medicine) while you are in the hospital as well. Try to relax. I know the memorial page is scary, but the odds are that you will do great and live a long happy healthy life.
   — A M.

July 11, 2003
A pulmonary embolism can happen anytime and anywhere. Journalist David Bloom died from a pulmonary embolism while covering the Iraq war. It probably occurred because he was sitting in one position for long periods of time while travelling in the vehicle he was riding in. Walking and moving your legs, ankles and arms are essential with any surgery. My surgeon has given us some exercises to do while we are lying in bed in the hospital. They need to be done every hour or so while laying in the bed. I am preop and had the same fears you are feeling until I realized that my life is in God's hands and I trust in Him to help me through. I hope this helps! Relax!
   — Checker B.

July 11, 2003
Pulmonary Emobolisms are a blood clot in the lung - usually traveling from somewhere else in the body. They can happen after ANY sugery; they can also be the result of deep bruising or other injuries. They are especially a concern when one can't move around enough because the blood pools in the extremeties and forms small clots, which can then migrate to the lungs (or heart, or brain). That's why they say to get up and walk the aisles on long airplane flights, and not to sit for a long time without actively moving your legs. To prevent blood clots while you're in the hospital, you will receive blood thinners (we received Fragmin), and also for a while at home; you will also have "sleeves" on your lower legs that inflate and deflate to help keep you circulation moving. And they will encourage you to get up and move around almost immediately after surgery. As far as your sleep apnea is concerned, you will likely be sent to the ICU after your sugery, not because you are in critical condition, but so that your breathing and blood oxygen concentration can be very closely monitored until after all of the effects of the anesthesia have worn off.
   — johanniter

July 11, 2003
I forgot to add my surgeon says that smokers get more bloodclots. Another excellent reason to quit. I feared clots too. Be sure to walk walk walk a lot begining the day of surgery and every day thereafter.
   — bob-haller

July 11, 2003
Pulmonary Emobolisms are a blood clot in the lung - usually traveling from somewhere else in the body. They can happen after ANY sugery; they can also be the result of deep bruising or other injuries. They are especially a concern when one can't move around enough because the blood pools in the extremeties and forms small clots, which can then migrate to the lungs (or heart, or brain). That's why they say to get up and walk the aisles on long airplane flights, and not to sit for a long time without actively moving your legs. To prevent blood clots while you're in the hospital, you will receive blood thinners (we received Fragmin), and also for a while at home; you will also have "sleeves" on your lower legs that inflate and deflate to help keep you circulation moving. And they will encourage you to get up and move around almost immediately after surgery. As far as your sleep apnea is concerned, you will likely be sent to the ICU after your sugery, not because you are in critical condition, but so that your breathing and blood oxygen concentration can be very closely monitored until after all of the effects of the anesthesia have worn off.
   — johanniter

July 11, 2003
As odd as this may sound, after my surgery I had no desire for smoking cloves or cigs. I hate the smell of either of them. I feel like it was a blessings in many ways. I have breathing problems and so does my husband. So this has been a blessing for not only me but my family too.
   — Kim J.

July 11, 2003
I have a history of blood clots and am on coumadin for the rest of my life AND I too was a smoker when I had my surgery. I came out of it just fine. Pulmonary embolisms are a risk with any surgery. I've had 3 surgeries in the last 3 years and even with my tendency to get blood clots I've yet to get one from surgery. If you are concerned that one of the deceased used the same surgeon, you could always check into other surgeons, you should ask your surgeon how many patients he has had with complications and death. This may be the only death your surgeon has had and may have had nothing to do with the risks you are concerned with.
   — Michelley

July 11, 2003
As far as a "pulmonary embolism" surgery is'nt the only risk! My Mom took a cross country train trip with me in 1996 and had a clot go from the leg to the lungs. She is now on O2 fulltime and her lungs are now scarred. She was and is a non smoker. It just goes to show, that none of us are safe. As far as the risk in surgery, afterward I got alot of shots in my belly, and they put something on your legs to kneed them. After they were off I always wiggled my legs alot and of course get up to walk alot. There are always risks with everything. All we can do, is our very best to minimize the risks. And hope for the best.
   — Danmark

July 11, 2003
Hi, talk to Richard Benson... his profile is on this site. He just had surgery about a month or so ago and had a pulmonary embolism. He can tell you what it is like and what happened to him. He is a great info source on this. Don't worry, get informed and rest your fears. Hugs!
   — Sharon M. B.

July 12, 2003
I was pretty terrified of that, for the same reasons. I had severe sleep apnea and I was a smoker. I had quit, or tried to, before the operation but I wasn't 100% honest about it and cheated from time to time. The reality is that anyone can get a blood clot after any operation. In some ways, you have an advantage. Because of your sleep apnea, you'll likely be in a maxi care or ICU room where you'll be monitored constantly. Also, it's standard procedure to fit you with the inflatable socks that keep the blood circulating and to give you regular shots of a blood thinner - they used heparin on me. You wouldn't be normal if you weren't scared - it IS a scary thing. But obviously, most of us make out ok, and the best thing you can do to help yourself is to insist on walking as soon after your surgery as possible, and often! Having read the memorial page, and having read the accounts of people who had blood clots and lived, I was determined to get out of that bed and walk the hospital hallways to avoid the risk. Good thing I knew to do that too, because none of the staff ever tried to get me to walk - but then maybe that was because they didn't have to.
   — sandsonik

July 12, 2003
I won't tell you if you should go through with the surgery or not. There are risks either way, and only you can decide if a certain risk is acceptable to you. Have you asked the surgeon what his mortality rate is for this surgery? Some surgeons have better records than others, so be sure you are going with a reputable doctor. It's good that you are taking the risks seriously, because this is major surgery and shouldn't be taken lightly. However, there IS also a serious risk in staying obese. I seem to recall some of the memorials on this site are for people who died from a heart attack while awaiting the surgery. Personally, one reason that I chose the lap-band is because it is the safest bariatric surgery. If you feel that you aren't ready for the potential risk of RNY or duodenal switch, you might want to consider the lap-band. There is a list at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Bandsters where you can talk to people who have the lap-band.
   — K M.

July 14, 2003
My mom died in Feb. from a pulmonary embolism. She had broken her leg and was laying in bed for over a month and didn't do any exercises, that's how she got hers. As long as you follow your surgeons orders and walk or at least do leg exercises, you should be fine. I definetly would not let this stop you from having surgery. Good luck to you :o)
   — fropunka

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