Made A Mistake And Looked

[ASKSARAH - Sleeve 256]

At the complication board. OMG. now that scared the pants off me.

Other news I went and saw my pain manager today and kinda brought it up. She said I am going to call this doctor right now and find out more details for you. Her husband is an anesthesiologist and worked in Mexico. Maybe I can get some good info On dr. Ponce de leon. It didn't hurt that I made her a knitted scarf either!

Don;t go reading those complication boards!

[Rootman 1,101]

EVERYTHING in this old world is fraught with risk, having a serious abdominal surgery to a pretty major organ carries it's own too. Weight this against the risk of being morbidly obese and probably getting MORE obese year in and year out. I feel for these people and really wish they could of avoided the deadly situations they find themselves in, but alas fate conspired against them and they ended up on the raw end of the deal.

All I can offer is it WAS worth it to ME. It has changed my life more than ANYTHING else has - EVER. It's up to the individual to asses and weight the risk vs rewards.

[iggychic 1,405]

Actually I'd disagree with you and say read them, every one of them, so you are prepared. I did not read them because I was low BMI, no comorbidities, no risk factors to worry about and was given the impression that this was going to be relatively easy for me in comparison to someone who had higher risks. Then I nearly died due to this surgery.

Sugar coating this surgery and only reading the rose colored stories is a mistake. You want to know what to look for, what to be concerned about and in many cases, what to avoid so that you aren't posting your own complication story in the future. Is it scary, hell ya! But having a garden hose shoved down my chest without anestesia is a chit load much scarier. Or how would you feel about half a million dollars in complication costs attached to your name? You want to avoid that type of thing at all costs! Read and learn.

[dexter 205]

I read them all. Everytime a new one showed up, I read those too. I wanted to know all sides of this surgery "just in case". Rather be informed than blindsided.

Now, the week before my surgery I did have to stay away from the boards. I was doing a pretty good job of freaking myself out without external help.

You know how many complication stories you can handle. Mix it up with success stories. And if you can read the bad stories (including iggy's) and you still feel confident about the surgery, then go for it. If the complication stories scare the crap out of you and make you doubt this decision, maybe sit down and have a little heart to heart with yourself.

Again, it's better to be informed now than blindsided later. But that's just my .02

[CowgirlJane 14,261]

I am a "eyes wide open" type person too. I think each of us needs to face the possibility of complications and make the decision based on that knowledge.

for me, it was scary reading it but I honestly felt and still feel that it was worth it. I was dying slowly due to weighing 300+ pounds so I had 100% chance of that whole crap situation. My "risk" of serious surgical complications was considerably less then that and I knew that it was worth taking the risk.

I was banded in 2001 and bought the story of how safe the lapband was. I had no idea the years of suffering I had ahead of me. Complications were always brushed off as being due to "patient non compliance" or some such BS... like "it could never happen to me". I had a top surgeon at the international level and STILL had many years of complications. If I had known, well, I don't know if it would have changed my decision but at least I would have understood what to do and how to handle it when things went bad.

A little fear is maybe a good thing... face it, embrace it and make your decisions. This is a serious committment. Those of us who had a pretty easy time can easily say "come on in, the Water is fine" but reality is that there are plenty of stories like Iggy's out there.

[BrokeMyHalo 107]

Complications DO happen. That is why it is SO important to research and go to a doctor you trust.

PERSONALLY I would never go to Mexico.. I know it is cheaper but still. I worked for a bariatric surgeon and the stories I heard from patients were INSANE. Then they called our practice looking for help.

So matter where you go make sure you feel comfortable, educated and most importantly prepared for anything. We all like to go into surgery thinking we will come out in one piece but having a plan of action if you don't is important. Talk to your surgeon!

[julielle 199]

Pffft I'm quite OK with my choice to go to Mexico. I don't believe that there are more complications in Mexico than elsewhere.

I weighed the risks of the surgery VS the risk of a lifetime of morbid obesity, and the surgery was much less risky. I didn't read the stories in the complications forums but I did read the possible complications from the surgery from medical literature.

[BrokeMyHalo 107]

Pffft I'm quite OK with my choice to go to Mexico. I don't believe that there are more complications in Mexico than elsewhere.

I weighed the risks of the surgery VS the risk of a lifetime of morbid obesity, and the surgery was much less risky. I didn't read the stories in the complications forums but I did read the possible complications from the surgery from medical literature.

That is why I said "personally"... I know some people have had great success with Mexico and had no problems. It is the thought of if something goes wrong, I want to be in the US.

[thall1726 42]

I believe there is risk with anything you do in life. I am personally ok with going to Mexico . It's a shame that obesity is the leading calls of death in the US and the insurance company's don't care . They will deny u every chance they get. I been paying 200 a month for top notch insurance at my job for the last 10 years and got denied. To be honest i feel that all the money I have given them I would of just been paying for my own surgery. A few months ago my friend mom was standing at A Bus stop in the morning on her way to work and a drunk driver ran up on the curb and killed her and a few other people. ( and this was not the first time something like this happened in Vegas ). So I decided on that day to LIVE LIFE TO THE FULL cause you never know when it's your last. I'm a firm believe that our life's are already planed out for us and if it meant for me to have complications or death then that was already in the cards for me. My grandmother was the only person I told beside my husband and my mom. She was recently sent home on hospice care and died Monday. We talked before her death about my surgery and she was so happy for me because she seen the excitement over me . She told me never let nobody dictate my life for me . If I wanna do anything in life I should . She told me she had a full life and everything she wanted to do she did and she is welcoming GOD with open arm . Her service is Saturday and when I go to that church I'm not gonna be sad cause I know she was happy . And god forbid anything happens to me I know my husband and mom are gonna feel that say way and that right there leaves my with so much joy in my HEART.

" I'm so excited about my future" NEW BEGININGS:)

[Amber'sJourney 14]

Where is the complication board... I can't seem to find it.