Yesterday I met a woman who lost her 33 year old girlfriend, who died 11 days after a Gastric Bypass. The 33 year old and her husband traveled from Vegas to California to use one of the best doctors around. Both surgeries went without a hitch. However, the woman's legs became swollen, and she ignored the problem. Her mother begged her to go to the emergency room. The girl I met also begged the friend to get medical attention since her legs looked suspiciously swollen. The girl kept saying her legs were always swollen. Everyone begged her, but she decided she'd wait it out. Eleven days later she collapsed, and she died within hours. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to get all the details, but the cause of death was related to some sort of blood clot problem. It killed her. She could have saved her own life if she paid attention to warning signs. SHE DID NOT HAVE TO DIE.

I've heard several similar stories of people who ignore symptoms, hoping the problem will go away. Don't ignore problems. Attack them from every angle till you know you're safe. If a doctor suggests diagnostic testing, "just to be on the safe side," then don't wait for a convenient time - get in immediately. Maybe nothing's wrong, but maybe nothing's right, either. Safety first. Period.

If you're worried or scared about your upcoming surgery date, good for you! You should be concerned and cautious. Going in with concerns is the best and safest way to a healthy recovery. Listen to your body, watch for anything that seems odd or feels wrong. Never think you are pestering your surgeon. If he doesn't call back, stay on the line, call again, and call the office manager, the nurse. If a doctor only gets one call, he might not think it's urgent. We pay a small fortune for this surgery, so the doctor better tap dance his ass to the phone or give me his number and I'll call! Never avoid calling your surgeon because you think you are pestering him.

Read all the posts here by NJChick, for example. She's going to make an excellent patient because she's been participating here and learning as much as possible BEFORE her surgery date. She has valid concerns, but she's going in with knowledge and will know what to expect after surgery. She'll be able to tell the difference between post-surgical discomforts vs. something out of the ordinary that needs to be addressed with her surgeon. Gold stars to her and the rest of you newbies that are here every day acting like a sponge, absorbing vital information.

If something really uncomfortable or out of the "norm," get on the horn immediately. Do NOT log into LBT and ask why your wounds are red, swollen or leaking. Do NOT come here if you can't swallow, or if you passed out earlier. Don't come to LBT if your pain is so severe that you can't move. Please don't come here for medical answers because we are not doctors. However, the second you get off the phone with your surgeon, I beg you to PLEASE log in and tell share everything here AFTER you have called your surgeon. If your surgeon isn't available, then you can come here to ask suggestions for other alternatives to finding another surgeon, for example.

I'm not trying to scare you; I'm trying to empower you. Go in with ammo. Know what to expect, and you'll be ready for anything. We'll all be here waiting on the banded side with love and support. Good luck to all of you!

Oh, and most important, keep a sense of humor. You'll need it!

Good message. I personally researched the band and read LBT for a year before my surgery! It helped alot - like I knew to expect shoulder pain when the surgery was over. One month before my surgery I was at the surgeon's office and was talking to a girl in the waiting room who had her surgery one week before and she was like "I have all this shoulder pain, It won't go away, what it is, blah blah." and I told her it's gas, walk walk walk, sip sip sip - I learned that here! I can't belive she'd gone a week without calling the doc! I call him or see him if I have a question and I don't care if he doesn't like it (he's never given me that impression - he is so nice) but point is, I paid for a band AND the DOCTOR so I am going to use my band and when it doesn't work right I am going to use my doctor. All the ?'s I ask on here I have discussed from him - I just like to get the LBT opinion as well.

"I paid for a band AND the DOCTOR so I am going to use my band and when it doesn't work right I am going to use my doctor."

SAY IT AGAIN, AND SAY IT LOUD!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart

(you made me cry LOLOL)

i am also new here and have been trying to soak up as much information as possible. i definitely find this to be one of the best sources out there. it's really great to hear other people's stories and to know what to expect... not just statistically significant outcomes. so thanx everyone for being so open.

i am in the final stages of being approved for the band so everyone keep your fingers crossed. )

Good luck Niche!

I'm not afraid of the surgery because I think I'm a pretty intelligent and informed person and there's no way I would not notice or ignore symptoms like that. Like the surgeon pointed out, for somebody to die because of band surgery, both the patient and all those involved in her medical care need to be stupid repeatedly many steps along the way.

What I'm really afraid of is the change of lifestyle afterwards