Weight Loss Surgery

[47Looking4info]

Hi
I am new at this.

I was told on 2005 that I had MDS. Boy was I sick, I have low MDS.

Does anyone know if a person with MDS can have weight loss surgery.

My doctors keep telling me to loss weight, like it is that easy. I have been fighting my weight most of my life. Even my cancer doctor says to loss.
I am 245 pounds and 5 feet tall.
Right now I am stable and doing great.

Has anyone had weight loss surgery.

Thanks
Dee

[Neil Cuadra]

Dee,

You're doing the right thing by trying to follow your doctor's suggestion while also looking out for yourself and asking how MDS affects your choices.

Whether or not MDS patients can have dental procedures or surgery probably depends on the risk from low blood counts. Your hematologist or oncologist can give you the "all clear" for a specific type of surgery, unless they think your condition makes it too dangerous.

For example, if your counts are normal or close to normal they will probably say OK. If they are too low they will probably advise against it, if you have a choice (i.e., it's not life-saving surgery). And if your counts are borderline they might suggest that you get a transfusion before the surgery.

If there are other aspects of your health that are also of concern, you might ask your general practitioner and your hematologist to talk to each other directly, so they come to a joint recommendation. After all, MDS poses a risk but so does being significantly overweight.

Do you have your blood counts checked regularly? Do you know what they have been recently?