IM SCHEDULED FOR SURGERY ON MONDAY THE 26TH AND WAS JUST WATCHING THE NEWS AND IT SHOWED ANOTHER DEATH FROM THE LAPBAND AT ONE OF THE SURGERY CENTERS IN BEVERLY HILLS CA WHERE IM SCHEDULED AT. I DONT KNOW IF THIS IS A SIGN FOR ME TO PULL OUT OR A SIGN FOR ME TO KEEP GOING. IVE COME SOOOOO FAR ON THIS JOURNEY AND I WAS SOO HAPPY BUT NOW I FEEL SCARED. I NEED SOME ENCOURAGMENT PLEASE SOMEBODY HELP!!!!! BELOW IS THE ARTICLE:

By Stuart Pfeifer, Los Angeles Times September 23, 2011, 6:41 p.m.

An Orange County woman has died after weight-loss surgery at a West Hills outpatient clinic, the fifth person to die shortly after Lap-Band procedures at clinics affiliated with the 1-800-GET-THIN advertising campaign since 2009, according to lawsuits, coroner's records and interviews.

Paramedics rushed Paula Rojeski on Sept. 8 from Valley Surgical Center to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead, said Los Angeles County Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter. The coroner's office performed an autopsy but has not yet determined how she died.

Rojeski, 55, was the second Lap-Band patient to die after surgeries at the West Hills facility on Woodlake Avenue, which has used multiple names, most recently Valley Surgical Center. Three patients have died after procedures at another clinic on Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills, which also has used numerous names including Beverly Hills Surgery Center.

Both locations receive referrals from 1-800-GET-THIN, which sends prospective weight-loss patients to outpatient clinics that perform Lap-Band surgeries in Southern California. The ads have attracted criticism, including from the device's manufacturer, about underplaying of risks associated with the procedure.

1-800-GET-THIN, the ubiquitous marketing campaign seen on billboards, television and the Internet, has led to a surge of Lap-Band weight-loss surgeries in Southern California. More than 100,000 people called 1-800-GET-THIN in its first 15 months of business, leading to more than 10,000 scheduled surgeries, the marketing company said in a trademark lawsuit. (It filed the suit against an attorney who had set up a website to attract former patients as clients.)

The Lap-Band, manufactured by Irvine-based Allergan Inc., is a silicone ring that is surgically implanted around the stomach to discourage overeating. The surgeries vary in cost — ranging from $12,000 to about $20,000 by some accounts — and often are covered by insurance.

The patients' deaths and injuries have led to a series of wrongful-death and personal injury lawsuits against 1-800-GET-THIN, its affiliated surgery centers and doctors who performed the procedures. Allergan is not affiliated with 1-800-GET-THIN.

Another lawsuit, seeking class-action status, accuses 1-800-GET-THIN of false advertising, saying the ads failed to provide adequate warnings about the risks of the surgery. Wrongful death lawsuits allege that two brothers, Julian and Michael Omidi, were part of a "joint venture" that included the surgery centers and the 1-800-GET-THIN marketing firm.

Both Omidis have been disciplined by the state medical board over issues unrelated to 1-800-GET-THIN, according to state records.

Rojeski, a Ladera Ranch resident who loved dogs and worked as a buyer for an aerospace firm, had told friends and family that she was looking forward to the Lap-Band surgery. One friend described Rojeski as being thrilled ahead of what she hoped would be a life-changing procedure.

"I had just talked to Paula the night before. She was really excited, really happy. She told me, 'I'm going to be skinny!'" said Rojeski's longtime friend Marni Rader.

Friends said they thought that Rojeski was not significantly overweight — her California driver's license listed her as 5 foot 5 and 160 pounds — and that the surgery was unnecessary. Rader estimated that Rojeski weighed 180 pounds.

"I was a supportive friend, but I didn't think she needed it," Rader said. "I don't understand why it would be worth the risk for 20 or 30 pounds."

Rader said she and Rojeski met more than 10 years ago at a dog park in Orange County and had been friends ever since.

"She was never married. She never had kids. Her dogs were her kids," Rader said. "That was her happiest moment, in the park with her dogs. She loved her dogs as much as she loved her family and friends."

Dr. Michael Omidi, listed in a government filing as owner of the outpatient center at which Rojeski had her surgery, did not return a telephone call seeking comment about Rojeski's death. Instead, attorney Robert Silverman sent an email statement to The Times that he said Omidi had authorized.

"Any loss of life is tragic and our hearts and prayers go out to the family and loved ones," the statement said. "The surgery center you are discussing is fully accredited by a prestigious organization. It is my understanding that the center is conducting a full investigation of the events that transpired. Any reporting on this matter is premature."

1-800-GET-THIN and the Omidi brothers have filed a series of lawsuits against The Times, its journalists and website commenters over past coverage of the surgery deaths. Judges have dismissed three of the lawsuits and ordered the plaintiffs to pay The Times' legal expenses and fees in two of the cases.

Rojeski's friend, Rader, was one of several guests who attended a Sept. 17 memorial service at Rojeski's home. She said friends and family were surprised by two late-arriving guests: Silverman and a lawyer named Brian Oxman, both of whom have represented 1-800-GET-THIN and the Omidis in the past. They brought flowers.

"They didn't say they were sorry. They just came by," Rader said.

Oxman said in an email that he attended the service "to express my deepest sympathy to the Rojeski family and bring them flowers." He also said the Rojeski family "was a long time resident of Superior, Wisconsin, where my mother grew up and knew the Roheski family well."

Silverman did not respond to a request for comment about his attendance at the memorial.

Alexander Robertson, a Westlake Village attorney who has filed several lawsuits against 1-800-GET-THIN and its affiliates, said he thinks it's time for the Medical Board of California to take action. His clients include the family of Laura Faitro, the other woman who died after Lap-Band surgery at the West Hills center at which Rojeski had her surgery.

"Clearly it sounds like there's something very wrong," Robertson said. "I just wonder where's the Medical Board in all of this? With five reported deaths, that's not just smoke, that's a forest fire. Somebody needs to investigate."

Medical Board spokeswoman Jennifer Simoes said she could not disclose whether any of the deaths were under investigation. But she said the agency would investigate any outpatient surgery deaths of which it becomes aware.

So, why are you here? This is a forum for lap banders and the support thereof. If you do not "approve" of lap band surgery perhaps you would be better suited posting somewhere else.

I would love to know the answer to that too.

SM you obviously have some agenda. Instead of hiding behind negative posts come out with it. If you have had a bad lapband experience tell us what it is. Or are you just trying to promote another type of WLS? If so fine but then tell us which one and why so that we can make our own decisions. Or maybe you are working for a surgeon and trying to promote him/her?

Whatever please be transparent. If you are against the band that is your prerogative but making veiled comments that don't really tell us anything weaken rather than strengthen your argument.

That is a very reasonable question. I got interested in WLS because I desperately needed to lose weight and had heard about the band. My PCP was even on board with that too, as he really didn't know of any other surgeries, and I was classed as morbidly obese (co-morbidities plus weight) I did a LOT of reading, sifting though these forums, trying to judge the accuracy and honesty of the posts, trying to sort out what is just advertising and what is real and important information, trying to find factual information like studies and reports. I came across so much information that suggested that the band was an advertising success, but not much of a long term real success. I went to my local medical group WLS seminar and was very disappointed that none of the risks and problems that I now knew were a part of getting banded were mentioned at all. It was 18K, 500 a year for fills and any complications were extra. It was a sell job by DOCTORS to make money from the insurance companies. The people there were tired of the struggle, wanted an answer and were hanging on every word. I opted for another surgery, VGS, and am two months out from that. I come here occasionally to try and help inform those that I feel are being taken in by the medical community because they are infatuated with the dream of successful WLS. I don't want that dream to be crushed with suffering. I can understand that I am ruffling feathers, but I am trying to help those that I feel need to be exposed to more information than they have gotten - not criticize those who took another path.

This is a forum for people with the lap-band or are thinking of getting the lap-band to get support and information from people that have the lap-band. You don't..... you have your opinion, go on a VGS forum and talk about it. I don't think anyone here looking for support cares what your opinion is. You don't have any experience with the band so go be negative somewhere else.

I agree this is not the place to debate the band. There are other forums for this, however, in respect to smkeller's input, I think doctors need to be up front with complications and their own success rates on lapband surgeries. I did much internet research before proceeding with the surgery and everything scared the heck out of me prompting me to cancel my surgery once. Something that you have not mentioned though is that there have been great improvements to the band and the surgical technique. Not to say that this eliminates complications and there is not enough long term data yet, but, many of us have made the decision to go lapband because it is removable and there is no re-routing of the inside plumbing. In addition, I personally know a few people that took other WLS routes and a couple are miserable and two of them have stretched their stomachs and have gained most if not all of their weigh back and now have no other choices. I do understand that weight gain can also happen to banded people, but, there are options and the band is adjustable.

Here's my story.

I started my WLS journey research with the gastric by-pass procedure and was to go that route, however, along the way I met 2 of the people mentioned above at which point I started looking at the lapband and found it was the best fit for me and only because I did not want permanent routing of my intestines. That's just me though and I respect any of the WL surgeries. The final goal regardless of which route we take is "getting healthier" to live a longer and fuller life.

Words of encouragement to mstrustar2730. Yes, death is a possibility as in with every surgery, however, lapband is less invasive and usually done as a day surgery. Death from a lapband surgery is minimal and is usually not from the procedure itself, but from surgery complications. After I did all my research on the lapband I discovered that a co-worker died from the surgery and I cancelled my surgery a 2nd time. Well, after asking more questions it turns out that he had heart complications and the surgery was never performed. I, as you thought it was a sign and should not proceed. My support system was awesome and with prayer and encouragement I went forth. Best darn thing I have ever done for myself and as I always say live for today and if complications come later on, I'll cross that bridge when I get there. I am convinced that lapband has saved my life. I was in trouble medically taking 8 prescribed medications and am down to 3 for blood pressure. Would i do this again? ABSOLUTELY!!!!! Jake

Wow.....that article was scary! I would check to see if the surgical center is a Center of Excellence and research the Surgeon a little more. When I met with my Surgeon last week she said that the Death Rate for Banding nationally was 1 in 3,000 and for gastric by pass it is 1 in 343 nationally.

Good Luck!

Thanks alot you guys I found out she had Other problems with her health as well so after long talks and Prayer i Decided to go ahead with it and Let me tell u it was the BEST thing I could have ever done. Im sooo happy I have not had any problems besides Gas and a lil chest pain but other than that It was a Success and i already lost 10lbs in a week So thank you everyone with all of ur kind and encouraging words of wisdom im SoOO Happy my confidence is starting to come back everyday i step on the scale an see lbs jus going away FOREVER im still young (25yrs) and i have alot of life left in me to let it stop now So again Thank U everyone. God Bless

Congratulations to you!!!! And the best is yet to come! jake

I'm so happy you decided to go ahead with the surgery, I said a prayer for you as well. Good luck and I can't wait to Join you

I guess we all want to get this surgery FAST but sometimes its best we take our time and do all of the tests required. My surgeon requires an overnight stay at the hospital. Even though I would rather sleep in my own bed, I dont mind being in a place where I could be monitored. Good Luck!

THANKS

THANK U RN2012 REALLY APPRECIATE IT ILL PRAY FOR U AS WELL

I'm so happy you decided to go ahead with the surgery, I said a prayer for you as well. Good luck and I can't wait to Join you