Dead Mother!! - ThinnerTimes

Jay56310 · 04-03-2008, 02:59 PM

Ok so I am new to this forum and have had many questions in my minding about my mothers gastric bypass surgery. I am not here to bash the surgery cause I have seen it work miracles for many people. But I did want to share the darker side of this issue with people.

My mother had the gastric bypass surgery done and then 3 months later her skin started to turn yellow. Hepatitis. She was going to all of the post operation Dr. appointments and was never tested for liver problems. Then I started doing research and found that 90% of people who undergo the surgery have some sort of liver issues after they have the surgery.

When she was admitted to the hospital doctors said "i can't believe you are even standing." Her bellyrubin (sp?? what ever they use to detect how well the liver is functioning) levels were through the roof. She should have been dead then. Anyway, they admit her while they spend 2 weeks trying to figure out what is wrong with her and how to fix it. Eventually they throw out the autoimmune liver disease crap which basically mean we don't know WTF is going on and put her on the liver transplant list. Then her kidneys fail. At this point she is still conscious with machines doing the rest. Dialysis etc etc.

So after 3 weeks of being on a donor list, at the top, for a new liver. Oh yeah if you aren't an organ donor I really hope you go straight to hell but that is besides the point. 2 weeks after she was put on the list she catchs a staph infection and loses consciousness, so now they can't do the surgery. Another 2 weeks go by and she actually fought off the staph infection and was getting ready to get the new liver when everything crashed. I think she had just had enough.

Anyway, the point is if you get the surgery make sure you watch your liver and kidneys and get them tested after the operation. VERY VERY IMPORTANT!!!!!

And also why isn't it procedure to test all the bodily functions after a surgery that is really messing with mother nature and I feel is still an experimental procedure?

DON'T THINK THAT THERE ISN'T A RISK. DEATH IS ON THE LIST.

Let me know what you guys have to contribute and if you are considering the surgery be wary and do all the research you can. I am sure that if my mother was reading the things I am finding now AFTER THE FACT she wouldn't have taken the risk.

Also, if there is someone out there who did have you liver and kidneys test post op please let me know whether it was at your personal request or if it was part of your procedure.

it is sad that they can sell this like there was no risk. it is on TV for god sake. It should be a very very last resort not a cosmetic surgery.

fisher1000 · 04-03-2008, 03:15 PM

Most of us understand the risk going in, and it's hardly for cosmetic reasons. This is the last resort that many of us have.

I am very sorry that you lost your mother, and bless her for what she had to go through. Some of what you wrote though needs a little more explanation.
When did your mother have the surgery? Did she investigate the surgeon's expertise before choosing him/her? Where did you find your information about 90% of GBS patients having liver or kidney problems?

I sympathize with you, I really do...but I know I did the right thing and that it WAS a last resort for me.

-Mike

Vim&Vigour · 04-03-2008, 03:17 PM

Jay,

thank you for posting such an alarming outcome. Firstly, my sincere sympathy for the loss of your Mother in this way. She would no doubt have been impressed on your reaction and warning on her behalf.

My surgeon confirmed my liver and other organs looked ok. I had pre-surgery blood tests performed with exactly the same done before leaving my hospital. I have been asked to have the same blood tests (liver function etc) done at 6 months. It includes hepatitis.

I have not come across anything similar to your thread in the four months that I have been on this Forum, perhaps because I felt no concern personally and therefore was not looking.

I will speak with my doctor upon my next appointment. Thank you very much for raising this life-threatening condition.

With very best wishes for your own good health and your spreading the word.

Vim

KarenInKali · 04-03-2008, 03:17 PM

First, let me say I'm sorry for your loss.

Everyone has this surgery for different personal reasons, but I think the vast majority of patients don't believe this is a cake-walk. Surgery, no matter what type of surgery, is dangerous and can be deadly. There are risks, and I agree with you, they should not be covered up and hidden away, but I honestly think most doctors don't hide the facts. And, the facts are out there if you do your research.

I can't say that I know where you're coming from, because I don't. But I did lose my grandmother to one of the first weight loss surgery procedures done back in the 70's. And I'm still going forward with this, you ask? You betcha. I feel that I have made an educated and informed decision.

Again, I'm sorry for your loss.

bridgetgirl · 04-03-2008, 03:28 PM

so is it your mission in life to be angry at people who do it, or the doctors who perform it? If you are under the impression that this is a COSMETIC procedure, Im assuming you have that impression left by your mother, that indeed she was not at all prepared for this surgery. Oh and by the way 90% of people who have weightloss surgery do not have problems with their liver and kidneys, lets not be dramatic.

It sounds like your mother was sick for some time, and ignored the symptoms and signs because she thought it was all apart of how one would feel after a big operation like hers. Again, it sounds like your mother did not take advantage of the support groups and educational groups that people are urged to become apart of post operatively.

I think your mad at your mom, for living you untimely. Her life was too short. My dad went into liver and kidney failure after having a bone spur removed off his spine. What was supposed to be an overnight event for monitoring, turned into almost 2 weeks of not knowing if he was going to live. Things happen, I am sorry for your lost. But please dont come here and rain on my parade, you need to locate a support group to assist you in your time of grief, not come here acting like a bully! Please go away and grieve with people who know you.

Hamburgler · 04-03-2008, 03:28 PM

I am really sorry for your loss, and want to say I value your passion when it comes to the issue of being an organ donor. I wanted to share with you a conversation my sister and I had when she first started looking into weight loss surgery prior to my decision to have gastric bypass. She was scared that something could happen, we talked about the possibility of death...we weighed those against a life of never fully being able to live, which was how we were living at the time. I would never go back! Was I scared, yes. Was I cautious, and do I follow all of the rules, Yes and Yes. I just think that when you suffer with obesity for most of your life, and when you have done everything possible on your own, the benefits outweighed the risks (at least for me) and again, Im so sorry for your loss, all surgery's are dangerous though and we all have made this decision after much research and discusssion. I thank you for your input, I do think its important to make people aware that death and illness can be a very real thing.

Jay56310 · 04-03-2008, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fisher1000

Most of us understand the risk going in, and it's hardly for cosmetic reasons. This is the last resort that many of us have.

I am very sorry that you lost your mother, and bless her for what she had to go through. Some of what you wrote though needs a little more explanation.
When did your mother have the surgery? Did she investigate the surgeon's expertise before choosing him/her? Where did you find your information about 90% of GBS patients having liver or kidney problems?

I sympathize with you, I really do...but I know I did the right thing and that it WAS a last resort for me.

-Mike

Liver disease is present in some degree in 90% of persons who undergo bariatric surgery, usually a manifestation of the metabolic effects of obesity on the liver. This may take the form of large fat globules within the liver cells (steatosis), chronic inflammation of the liver (steatohepatitis), and in a few instances, cirrhosis of the liver. The latter condition may lead to liver failure and the need for a liver transplant.

Gastric bypass surgery - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I read similar things somewhere else but this is the one that I could find quickly.

I am not trying to bash the surgery by any means just trying to be my mothers voice now that she is gone. She was very active in these forums (i can't find the exact one that she was on unfortunately but I figure i am reaching just as many people on this one).

Jay56310 · 04-03-2008, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bridgetgirl

so is it your mission in life to be angry at people who do it, or the doctors who perform it? If you are under the impression that this is a COSMETIC procedure, Im assuming you have that impression left by your mother, that indeed she was not at all prepared for this surgery. Oh and by the way 90% of people who have weightloss surgery do not have problems with their liver and kidneys, lets not be dramatic.

It sounds like your mother was sick for some time, and ignored the symptoms and signs because she thought it was all apart of how one would feel after a big operation like hers. Again, it sounds like your mother did not take advantage of the support groups and educational groups that people are urged to become apart of post operatively.

I think your mad at your mom, for living you untimely. Her life was too short. My dad went into liver and kidney failure after having a bone spur removed off his spine. What was supposed to be an overnight event for monitoring, turned into almost 2 weeks of not knowing if he was going to live. Things happen, I am sorry for your lost. But please dont come here and rain on my parade, you need to locate a support group to assist you in your time of grief, not come here acting like a bully! Please go away and grieve with people who know you.

not trying to rain on your parade by any means. if you want to get it done get it done. and no my mothers surgery was not cosmetic but I have met people who have done it for just that reason. All I am saying is don't get wrapped up with all the good there is a bad side to it all too.

Jay56310 · 04-03-2008, 03:36 PM

please you all need to know that this is not an easy thing for me to talk about but I feel i have a duty to at least inform people of what happened. I am really not trying to "rain" on anybody parade.

Jay56310 · 04-03-2008, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fisher1000

Most of us understand the risk going in, and it's hardly for cosmetic reasons. This is the last resort that many of us have.

I am very sorry that you lost your mother, and bless her for what she had to go through. Some of what you wrote though needs a little more explanation.
When did your mother have the surgery? Did she investigate the surgeon's expertise before choosing him/her? Where did you find your information about 90% of GBS patients having liver or kidney problems?

I sympathize with you, I really do...but I know I did the right thing and that it WAS a last resort for me.

-Mike

as far as her doing her research on her surgeon. I don't know his name but she did fly from NC to NYC to get the initial surgery done so I am assuming she had "shopped around" i guess you can say.