Question:
I am 16 years old and have a BMI of 57.9. Should I go to my insurence company and try
I am 16 I have a BMI of 57.9. I also found out that I am a diabetic. I have not contacted my insurence company yet. But, some people say I am wasting my time. What should I do ? Should I try anyways ? My family has a horrible medical history and I am slowly but surely starting to go through the same things they do. My dad is 40 and we are currently having some of the same problems and I'm only 16 !! Please help me what should I do ? — Ashley G. (posted on January 30, 2003)
January 30, 2003
First, i am sorry you have aquired the genes and health problems of your
family. I think that there are many of us here that can relate in some way,
but maybe not as dramatically as you. First thing you need to do is go to
your family physician to discuss your ideas and find out wheter or not
he/she will be supportive of you. If they are not supportive, you need to
find a doc that will be. This is a long road, and you need a pcp that will
help you. Then, have your PCP go to the insurance company for you. That is
how you have to start this process. Good Luck to you!
— Vicki L.
January 30, 2003
Ok...Here's the thing about WLS at your age...your body is still growing,
developing. HOWEVER...this doesn't mean you shouldn't (by you I mean, you
and your parents) go discus your weight with a doctor. If you haven't
already...try some persciption WL drugs, and a doctor perscribed diet. If
you've done all this without any luck, surgery may be the best option. The
point is...you have to try something before you make such a final choice.
WLS isn't a quick fix, as I'm sure you know. Its a FOREVER
commitment...that means, at prom and in college when all your friends are
eating french fries and drinking soda...you're not going to be joining in.
If you can commit to a diet that may be VERY strict for the rest of your
life...and you understand the risks...I'm sure the doctor will help you.
But you need to talk it over with your family and your doctor. I was about
225lbs at 16...I would have done the surgery then if I had been allowed,
but other than being tired and fat, I had no other problems. You, however,
do. Go have a chat with your parents. See what they think...direct them
to this site...explain calmly why you feel this is the best course of
action and remember, even if they say no, your doctor might say yes...and
he/she can be on your side.
— Renee B.
January 30, 2003
If you have THOROUGHLY researched this and know what you are getting into,
don't take people's word for it that you are wasting your time. Some Dr.s
are reluctant to do it on Teens, but you can find one that will. By all
means, try! This is your life and if you are predisposed like it seems you
are, then go for it! Did you happen to see the story on it last week with
WLS and Teens on either Dateline or 20/20 (can't remember which)? One girl
was only 14 and having it done! So it is possible! Educate your family and
PCP if they are not supportive. Mostly they aren't supportive out of
ignorance regarding the surgery. Good luck to you!!
— Kris T.
January 30, 2003
hi there :) i was always a bigger girl in my teens anywhere between 170-
270 i was always healthy though but went on to gain into morbid obesity as
the years went on. yes your young but usually as you get older your weight
goes up alot easier and being that there are health issues you are having
id say do your research, have a long heart to heart with your parents and
as long as you both have a clear understanding of the changes that will be
involved, the beinifts, possible side effects and even which surgery may be
best for you id say you should go for it!i have only regret about mine and
that is that i didnt do it sooner! but things happen in your life when they
are suppose to so im just glad i did it when i did it! it has freed me of
my cage and changed my life for the better in so many ways! its a wild
journey , one with ups and downs but its incredible and i wouldnt trade it
for anything. i wish you and your parents the best of luck in your
decisions that lie ahead! :)
— carrie M.
January 30, 2003
GO! ASK! What do you have to lose? I am just of the opinion that you
should not have to wait through four more years of misery to be considered
"adult" enough to make this decision!! I also feel that if you
learn how to handle WLS from a earlier age, perhaps the change (psych and
physical) will not be so hard on you... Any one can learn how to use this
surgery, being 16 is not a bad factor. You actually may recover faster and
easier than us that are older. As long as you know you will be married to
this surgery, and it is not something you can say "I don't like it
anymore"- then get yourself going, figure out your game plan and just
do it. However-you MUST MUST MUST educate yourself on this surgery!
Knowledge is power.
— Karen R.
January 30, 2003
Like another poster said, there was an article on ABC 20/20 reguarding WLS
on teens. One of the girls was 14 and one was 17 years old. You might want
to go on-line to ABC website and see if you can purchase a copy of that
program to take to your PCP. You have to keep in mind the reason they
hesitate on teens, is not because they do not deserve to be no obese or
diabetic, but because of the maturity level of understanding this is a
lifestyle change, so if you do alot of research and are very knowledgable
this would help to prove you are mature enough to understand what will be
happening. Good Luck, and God Bless
— cindy
January 30, 2003
Hey Ashley. Girl, I feel for ya. I'm 21, and hoping to have surgery over
spring break. While I didn't reach my peak weight untill this fall, I was
definetly struggeling with it all through highschool. I tried everything,
and after being a counselor at a 'fat camp' this summer and coming home and
gaining it back I knew that WLS was something that I had to do some serious
thinking about. While I personally probably wasn't ready for it at 16 (and
neither were my parents, with out whom I would be completely lost for so
many reasons!), if you've tried everything, and your health is starting to
suffer, go for it. Looking back now I'm glad I took the time to try
everything else, but I also can't help but wonder what prom, graduation
freshman year of college ect. would have been like in a body I was happy
with. Good Luck! Feel free to e-mail me if you want!
— Eryn G.
January 30, 2003
Start by talking to your doctor. I believe you probably possess the
maturity to deal with this type of surgery because you found this site,
asked the questions and recognize the impact of the problems you are seeing
now on your life later on. Not many teenagers are worried about how their
health will be affected in a few years! You may have a hard time finding a
surgeon to operate on you, but I do know that Cincinnati Children's
Hospital Medical Center has a bariatric surgery program for adolescents.
You may be able to contact them for information on other surgeons who might
operate, who would be covered by your insurance. I know they have a web
site and you could probably do a search in the internet to find it. Good
luck!
— koogy
January 30, 2003
Hiya Ashley! My name is Georgina and I just had a couple things I wanted
you to know. I myself am only 25 years old and I have a BMI of 57/58. I
have had a weight problem all my life. The biggest I was in high school was
180 @ 5'2. I know how hard it is to be in school and wanting to do certain
things but can't because the wieght holds you back. Honestly at 16 if I
could have had this surgery then I totally would have!I tried everything by
16 weight watchers, slim fast, diet pills you name it I did it! Here I am
now almost 10 years later and 150 lbs heavier. I think with all my heart if
you have genuinely tried many different things to help, I would definitely
give it a go. Only if you have made many attempts because the insurance
company want to see proof of effort in weight loss before the even consider
it. I am sure especially because of your age they will want to see that. I
personally have been researching it for almost 2 years and am finally
getting what a big life altering change this is going to be. It is a full
hearted life long no going back huge change if your life not just your
eating. I hope you really do lots and lots of research and check all
avenues before making your choice. I absoulutely wish you the best. My
prayers go out to you!
Georgina Olson
— Georgina O.
January 30, 2003
Ashley you don't say if you have been on other types of diets before,
especially doctor supervised diets. Most insurance companies require a
history of dieting attempts to include doctor supervised ones. If you have
never tried Weight Watchers and other types of diet programs, you may have
to go that route first. Next, think long and hard about this committment.
For the rest of your life you will have to take extra vitamins, calcium,
b-12, iron, and lots of protein EVERY day. To not do so will mean that you
will have traded in the fat for other life long medical problems like
osteoporosis. Most teenagers do not have the maturity to eat right and
take proper care of themselves EVERY DAY for the rest of their lives. Its
a committment and you have to be emotionally ready for it. Good luck.
— Cindy R.
January 30, 2003
Ashley, I see that you are from Bellevue, OH. I wanted to let you know that
Cincinnati Children's Hospital has a program for weight loss surgery and
teens. It is a wonderful program!! With your medical problems it sounds
like they would be extremely willing to help you.I would start by giving
them a call and finding out what steps to take next. They would be the most
experienced in insurance matters and teens needing this surgery. I think
that I would let them handle the insurance issues. I'm not sure where
Bellevue is in relation to Cincinnati, but to have this wonderful program
in your state is a real bonus for you and may be an answer to your prayers.
Give them a call!! Shelley
— Shelley.
January 30, 2003
Cindy wrote "Most teenagers do not have the maturity to eat right and
take proper care of themselves EVERY DAY for the rest of their lives. Its a
committment and you have to be emotionally ready for it." Funny thing
is (IMHO) I think you could easily subsitute the word TEENAGER for a number
of members found here! It's a struggle every day for some folks.
Regardless of age....
— Karen R.
January 30, 2003
I say go for it. All they can do is say NO. I remember being overweight in
high school and it sucked so much that I would do anything to avoid it. I
just wish I had known about this surgery so many years ago. Go For It.
— dkinson
January 30, 2003
Hi Ashley! I had my surgery on June 7th and the next week the daughter of a
good friend had the Surgery. She was 17 and between her junior and senior
year of high school. She was around 300 lbs and 5'4" she wore a size
28. 7 1/2 months later she had lost 130lbs, is a size 16 and only has about
25 lbs to goal. She will go to her prom in april, graduate in June, and
start college in the fall a normal, active teen, of normal weight instead
of the biggest girl in her class. Good luck and God bless you in your
journey!
— karenrose
January 30, 2003
Hi Ashley! I had my surgery on June 7th and the next week the daughter of a
good friend had the Surgery. She was 17 and between her junior and senior
year of high school. She was around 300 lbs and 5'4" she wore a size
28. 7 1/2 months later she had lost 130lbs, is a size 16 and only has about
25 lbs to goal. She will go to her prom in april, graduate in June, and
start college in the fall a normal, active teen, of normal weight instead
of the biggest girl in her class. Good luck and God bless you in your
journey!
— karenrose
January 30, 2003
My own honest opinion here. Any one who is mature enought o go thru all the
hassles of consults and insurance approvals probably can do what they have
to for long term maintainence. WHY SHOULD ANYONE HAVE TO SUFFER FOR YEARS
ON END BEFORE HAVEING SURGERY. WE ALL KNOW THE DIET AND EXERCISE ROUTINE
WORKS < 5 % OF THE TIME. THAT IS WHY WE HAD SURGERY. MAYBE EVERYONE
SHOULD GET BEAT DOWN MENTALLY TO QUALIFY! HECK NO I DON'T THINK SO. Any
one who is morbidly obese should qulify for this surgery if they want it in
my opinion. even if they never went on any diet in their life.
— **willow**
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