Question:
Do you think that the longer you are post op, the worse your health will be?
I was reading some information tonight and came across this http://www.users.qwest.net/~swidemark/wlswalk.htm and it's got me a bit upset. It implies that the longer post-op you are, the worse health you are in, ever worse than being obese. This is an issue for me because i'm only 18. What do you guys think? — blank first name B. (posted on April 23, 2001)
April 22, 2001
Angelina,
Sue Widewark is not a nurse, surgeon or anyone with any medical experience
whatsoever. Basically, her goal is to scare people to her way, which is
'diet and exercise is the only way', surgery is not the answer'. Sue will
take bits and part of the truth and exaggerate them until people are
terrified of having surgery. Yes, there are complications sometimes and
no, as long as your faithful to taking supplements and keeping up your
protein, your health will be so much more improved after surgery. Look at
all the testamonials here of people who have had surgery and no longer need
their diabetes medication, blood pressure medication, etc, etc. Sue
Widemark has been banned from the duodenalswitch egroups list because she
posts what she calls "facts" and are really no more than
conjecture. It is important for you to make an informed decision, but talk
to people who have actually had the surgery and are post-op and check out
the actual medical studies, such as the one by Dr. Hess,etc. One thing you
will find, that a large majority of problems can be ruled out by your
commitment to your health. If you don't think you can be faithful to taking
calcium and vitamins for life, then you are not ready for surgery yet.
Don't forget that many, many people who don't have surgery also take
vitamins and supplements and after 30 it's been proposed that *everyone*
should take calcium since everyone starts absorbing less calcium as they
get older. I hope this helps and please don't let Sue prey on your fear
*hugs*
— Anita N.
April 22, 2001
This is one of those "unfortunate" web sites that starts with
some basically accurate information, but then drifts away into total
inaccuracies, leaving some readers understandably and unnecessarily anxious
and frightened. I agree with the writer that all individuals considering
WLS should be completely informed and knowledgable before deciding to
undergo an elective, major surgery...that all RNY and DS patients will need
vitamin and calcium supplementation in varying degrees for the remainder of
their lives...that many WLS patients will choose to have some
reconstructive plastic surgery to correct severely sagging skin
post-op...and that adherence to diet and exercise are important factors in
maintaining weight loss long-term. However, considering my personal
experience and the experiences of other family members and friends who have
had proximal lap RNY surgeries, I take exception to the following
statements:
...many patients have "post-op hernias and bowel
obstructions"...although these are stated risks of any
abdominal/intestinal surgery, they are the exception, not the norm. Bowel
obstruction would be a more common risk associated with distal intestinal
surgeries than proximal RNY surgery.
...."patients have a sick look due to prolonged starvation"...the
post-ops with whom I am personally acquainted and the post-op pictures
represented on this site demonstrate the exact opposite. In addition, WLS
patients are not the victims of "starvation". We, as a group,
are much healthier post-op and generally maintain a much more nutritious,
low-sugar, low-fat dietary regimen than our non-WLS friends and family.
The author also states that WLS patients will develop brain damage
secondary to starvation and this is completely false information.
..."all WLS patients experience severe bloating and gas pains, often
requiring antibiotics long-term"...I can only speak from the
perspective of a proximal RNY, but have experienced no bloating, no gas
pains since the immediate post-op days, and have not required antibiotics
in the past 14 months since surgery.
..."WLS will not fix depression"...Diagnosed clinical depression
occurs in obese and non-obese individuals, and is a chemical imbalance
which can be effectively treated with medication. The day-to-day
depression and humiliation associated with morbid obesity is generally
"cured" by successful weight loss and the ability to reclaim
one's health, energy, self-esteem and joy of living a normal, functional
life once again.
..."1 out of 200 WLS patients die"...This is a gross
exaggeration. My surgeon has performed over 600 WLS with one mortality (a
patients with a severe pre-existing cardiac condition), and I am confident
that other bariatric surgeons would refute the author's statistics as
well.
..."only the MGB performed by Dr. Rutledge is reversible"...the
proximal RNY is completely reversible, both open and laparascopically.
Angelina, continue to do thorough research on responsible sites which will
provide accurate information, but please be assured that the information
provided on the site quoted above is not worth your fear and anxiety. Best
wishes !
— Diana T.
April 22, 2001
Sheesh! I spent some time reading the above referenced article then I
followed the link and read some other stuff. She seems to have a couple of
valid issues that I want to discuss with my nutritionist. But it is
DRASTICALLY skewed to all of the negatives about the after-effects of the
surgery. I found myself wondering "what are her credentials?"
"has she had the surgery?" "has she ever been obese?"
I'd be interested in knowing what this woman looks like. I can't
understand why she wouldn't include her own personal story to add to her
credibility. I am also a pre-op doing a lot of research. However, I just
can't get behind her negative site. When you are obese like me and have
been this way your entire life, you are willing to take the risks involved
with this surgery. Period. I read the article and other info with a grain
of thought, a little concern but mostly with disdain for this Sue person.
Everything I've read tells me that this surgery is a tool. You must be
committed to making it work for you. Good luck!
— Kimberly L.
April 23, 2001
Hi. I just wanted to comment on the '1 out of 200 will die' quote.
Actually my surgeon, who does both RNY and BPD/DS, did state that the
generally accepted 'risk' of death with bariatric surgery is 1/2 of 1
percent,which by my math does translate to 1 out of 200. His personal
statistics were lower than that. But he did say to take into consideration
that that figure includes people with a wide variety of weights and
pre-existing medical conditions. In general, a person of lesser weight who
is relatively healthy has a lesser risk than a person who is more
overweight and has severe medical issues. Now I know that complications
can happen to anyone. But I believe his point was that someone who weighs
say, 600 lbs and has severe heart or lung disease due the the weight may be
at a greated risk than the 1/2 percent simply due to their medical
condition at the time of surgery. But then again the surgery may save them
from dying from their heart/lung/whatever disease so the risk is worth it.
I didn't read the aforementioned website so maybe these statistics were
taken out of context there.
— Karen F.
April 23, 2001
Thanks so much you guys! I feel a ton better after reading your responses.
I have read about this surgery since December, and I asked my surgeon two
sheets full of questions, so I feel like I am well informed about the risks
andcomplications. It only scared me because this woman was bringing up
risks that I've never heard discussed in regards to this surgery! But
anyhow, I fell better now, thanks :-)
— blank first name B.
April 23, 2001
Ms. Widmark is a scare-monger. And it looks like she may be selling
something.. The mini-bypass. Most of what she says I've already been
warned about in a much calmer and more helpful way from my nutritionist. I
know I am going to have to take vitamins the rest of my life and be
committed about it.
The kidney damage stuff really scared me but then I read the referenced
material. The kidney damage she warns about is a complication of a surgery
I haven't heard anyone talk about getting .. the intestinal bypass
surgeries that bypass all the small intestine and in some cases some of the
colon as well. If Ms. Widnmark wants to be believed, she needs to be more
honest in her "reporting."
— Rachael L.
April 23, 2001
It's best to look for clinical published statistics for this answer. You
can find these for each surgery type. I've read many and found that if the
patient is compliant with the supplements, their health is much improved
over the long term. Personally, I know many long term post ops. One had
the PBD (http://www.duodenalswitch.com) 10 years ago, this month, and is
planning on participating in a Triathalon in the fall. She's in incredible
health.. Good luck in your research! (http://www.mywls.com/discus)
--->>
— [Deactivated Member]
April 23, 2001
I had my first wls at age 16, a VBG. I was very young and left most of the
details up to my Mother. She did not do a lot of research on the operation
or the surgeon, just knew he was the local bariatric surgeon. I had the
surgery, but unfortunately I did not have a good aftercare program.
"If it hurts, don't eat it." was about all the advice I got. For
2.5 years, all was well. I was at my ideal weight and happy as a lark,
except for sagging skin. I never learned about good eating habits, and
would still try to eat like I did pre-op, binging and vomiting a great deal
of the time. I took no vitamins or supplements - no one told me to.
Suddenly, almost overnight, I was able to eat a great deal more, and
started gaining weight. I felt like something was wrong, but my Mother
basically insisted it was yet another failure on my part. I tried calling
the surgeon myself, only to find he had retired. So, I gained back about
50 lbs of the 115 I lost. Then I got married, and gained 85 lbs over three
years from two pregnancies. Then I gained another 40 lbs after my husband
was killed in a car accident in 1998. I was up to a whopping 355. I could
not take care of myself much less my two children. I started researching
for a surgone to revise my surgery and found one. He revised the VBG to a
RNY. He taught me how and what to eat. I will follow-up with him an a
bi-annual basis for a while, then have an annual check-up. My staple line
had disrupted and the silastic ring had failed. What's so sad, is that he
was only 60 miles away from me 16 years ago when it all happened. I have a
lot of issues today with my Mother not trying to help me then, but I am on
my way back to life now. The moral of this story is to find information
from REPUTABLE medical professionals, seek a skilled surgeon with a good
aftercare program, and find the surgery that is the most successful and
best for YOUR lifestyle. My surgeon did quote the 1 in 200 statistic to
me, but that's at a national level. He was part of the medical research
team who got the RNY endorsed by the National Institute of Health, so I
trust his info. I wish you the very best in your decision.
— [Deactivated Member]
July 23, 2002
Sue Widmark is a notoriously outspoken CON weight loss surgery person. She
and I have had it out more than once, let me tell you. She has her points
on a couple of things, but for the most part, she is a farce and is NOT a
doctor and has not any proof in her research. Please do your own research
and ask your doctor. Don't rely on Sue.
~Laura H, Dayton Ohio
— Laura H.
July 23, 2002
I am going on personal experience, and the longer post-op I am, the better
my health is. And I'm old enough to be your grandma (well, if I started
young!). Take Care. Take Ms. Widemark's comments with a pound of salt,
not just a grain.
— Marjorie B.
July 23, 2002
Ok, so she's made it very clear that is against this surgery- often. She
isn't a Doctor, nor a Nurse or a Nutritionist, yet she is very vocal
regarding the nagatives of weight loss surgery of any kind. But my question
is WHY? Who is she? More importantly, WHY does she care? What is her
motivation? I JUST DO NOT GET IT? I e-mailed her and asked her if she had
any of the surgeries she was against- but she never responded. Does anyone
know the history of this woman and why she is so vocal regarding something
that does not pertain to her?
— Karen R.
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