WLS for 12 and 14 yeaar olds - advice/input needed
Jane -
I have been overweight since I was 9 or 10 years old - and kids are even meaner today than they were 30+ years ago to "different" kids, whether they are fat, slow, have acne, a disability, whatever ... So I understand why you would be considering such drastic measures for your girls at such a young age. I also am not saying you should drop the consideration of surgery - but, I do worry that they are a little young to handle these tools correctly. I am not familiar with all of the rules with a VSG, so I can't speak to that, but with a lap band, are they old enough to follow all of the rules for supplements/protein and to avoid dumping and stretching the pouch? I can't imagine a teenage girl eating the wrong thing at a party and getting sick because of the restrictions of WLS.
You said the girls are "keen on the idea of WLS" - is that because they saw Mom have surgery and didn't really experience the work that went into the weight loss? I know that many people who haven't had surgery thing this is "the easy way out", but I have fought for every pound I have lost, and I wouldn't wish my heartburn on anyone!
I would have loved to have been a "normal sized" teenage girl, but I can't imagine a 12 or 14 year old with the discipline to follow the protein/vitamin/bloodwork schedule that I am doing now at the age of 42. I know that my own daughter (who is now 19) wanted all kinds of piercings and tattoos at 14 - some she has had now that she is old enough, but some she is glad she waited for. Although a piercing can be taken out and life goes on, it's not as simple for a lap band - it's still surgery.
I think its great that you are concerned about them, and you are so wiling to explore options for them - I hope you will be very cautious as you proceed and take the advice of the ALL the surgeons into account. I am in no way trying to flame or offend you - just expressing my opinion and concerns for how girls that young would handle the responsibilities that come with WLS.
Best of luck to you and your girls in finding the right solution!
Diane
I have been overweight since I was 9 or 10 years old - and kids are even meaner today than they were 30+ years ago to "different" kids, whether they are fat, slow, have acne, a disability, whatever ... So I understand why you would be considering such drastic measures for your girls at such a young age. I also am not saying you should drop the consideration of surgery - but, I do worry that they are a little young to handle these tools correctly. I am not familiar with all of the rules with a VSG, so I can't speak to that, but with a lap band, are they old enough to follow all of the rules for supplements/protein and to avoid dumping and stretching the pouch? I can't imagine a teenage girl eating the wrong thing at a party and getting sick because of the restrictions of WLS.
You said the girls are "keen on the idea of WLS" - is that because they saw Mom have surgery and didn't really experience the work that went into the weight loss? I know that many people who haven't had surgery thing this is "the easy way out", but I have fought for every pound I have lost, and I wouldn't wish my heartburn on anyone!
I would have loved to have been a "normal sized" teenage girl, but I can't imagine a 12 or 14 year old with the discipline to follow the protein/vitamin/bloodwork schedule that I am doing now at the age of 42. I know that my own daughter (who is now 19) wanted all kinds of piercings and tattoos at 14 - some she has had now that she is old enough, but some she is glad she waited for. Although a piercing can be taken out and life goes on, it's not as simple for a lap band - it's still surgery.
I think its great that you are concerned about them, and you are so wiling to explore options for them - I hope you will be very cautious as you proceed and take the advice of the ALL the surgeons into account. I am in no way trying to flame or offend you - just expressing my opinion and concerns for how girls that young would handle the responsibilities that come with WLS.
Best of luck to you and your girls in finding the right solution!
Diane
389 / 310 / 226 / 165 / 140
Consult / Surgery / Current / My Goal / Ideal Weight
-25.5 BMI Points / -158 Pounds
~*~*~*~Diane~*~*~*~ I can do this - I AM doing this!
Consult / Surgery / Current / My Goal / Ideal Weight
-25.5 BMI Points / -158 Pounds
~*~*~*~Diane~*~*~*~ I can do this - I AM doing this!
Thanks so much for your input Diane, I have no family to turn to for advice and you made some great points, I really appreciate all opinions, . I don't think your flaming me at all and I'm certainly not offended, I truly want genuine thoughts from people, it's such a huge decision. I also think I'm biased as I've had WLS myself and know how it changed my life so much, I would do it again in a heartbeat if I had to, so I'm trying to keep my opinion in check too.
5'7" SW 268lbs BMI 42/ CW 132lbs BMI 20.7 / GW 140lbs 136lbs Lost
I Ymy duodenal switch
Midwestern girl...Thank you, thank you, thank you....invaluable advice! I can't tell you how grateful I am.
To everyone else, thank you all for your thoughts, it's really what I needed to get my head around all of this, such a difficult decision. The concensus of opinion seems to be that I know my kids best and you're all correct, I suppose I forget that sometimes. They are VERY mature for their age, and also incredibly intelligent (both have IQ's over 150!) so I'm pretty confident that I'm discussing this with them on a reasonable level. More research I think...
To everyone else, thank you all for your thoughts, it's really what I needed to get my head around all of this, such a difficult decision. The concensus of opinion seems to be that I know my kids best and you're all correct, I suppose I forget that sometimes. They are VERY mature for their age, and also incredibly intelligent (both have IQ's over 150!) so I'm pretty confident that I'm discussing this with them on a reasonable level. More research I think...
5'7" SW 268lbs BMI 42/ CW 132lbs BMI 20.7 / GW 140lbs 136lbs Lost
I Ymy duodenal switch
I would not do a band on a kid. But I am actually ok with teens getting WLS. But perhaps you could teach them sleeve eating for a couple years. 12 and 14 do seem on the young side for sure. But if you gave them a couple years of learning about sleeve nutrition, working with a trainer, etc then they would be totally sleeve ready in 2 years and I would be willing to bet alot more docs would be willing to do it.
Come over the the sleeve board and maybe you could get some ideas how to start getting them ready. There are adults who have had to wait a couple years for their sleeves, so I think its not such a bad thing. Just more time to get ready.
Come over the the sleeve board and maybe you could get some ideas how to start getting them ready. There are adults who have had to wait a couple years for their sleeves, so I think its not such a bad thing. Just more time to get ready.
Missy
Here's a link to an article about the teen WLS surgery program at the Toronto Hospital for Sick Children, a world-renowned facility. They are using the band precisely because it is easily reversible. (Not that I'm a fan of the band personally; my wls surgery choice is the DS.)
http://www.sickkids.ca/AboutSickKids/Newsroom/Past-News/2010 /STOMP.html
D.
http://www.sickkids.ca/AboutSickKids/Newsroom/Past-News/2010 /STOMP.html
D.
I'm not for WLS for anyone with a BMI of just 32. Does you 12 year old have comorbidities?
If you are going to do WLS for teens, I would want the sleeve. Why does the surgeon recommend the band over the sleeve? There are so many mechanical problems with the band. Even if it doesn't slip or something, it's not made to last forever. So they would certainly have to have another major surgery at some point to remove it or replace it.
Kelly
If you are going to do WLS for teens, I would want the sleeve. Why does the surgeon recommend the band over the sleeve? There are so many mechanical problems with the band. Even if it doesn't slip or something, it's not made to last forever. So they would certainly have to have another major surgery at some point to remove it or replace it.
Kelly
My 14 year old is having back/knee issues although she is very tall too, 5'10"
My 12 year old has back/ankle probs and blood work has shown metabolic disease so diabetes seems to be something she has to look forward to.
Not to mention the comorbidity of growing up and developing your personality and sense of self esteem in a world which worships skinny. Do mental health issues qualify as comorbidities? They should!!
It sucks and I hate the way I passed my family "fat" gene on to them.
I also totally agree with you on the band not lasting forever - God willing my girls have at least another 80 or more years on this planet...how on earth could the device last that long?!!
My 12 year old has back/ankle probs and blood work has shown metabolic disease so diabetes seems to be something she has to look forward to.
Not to mention the comorbidity of growing up and developing your personality and sense of self esteem in a world which worships skinny. Do mental health issues qualify as comorbidities? They should!!
It sucks and I hate the way I passed my family "fat" gene on to them.
I also totally agree with you on the band not lasting forever - God willing my girls have at least another 80 or more years on this planet...how on earth could the device last that long?!!
5'7" SW 268lbs BMI 42/ CW 132lbs BMI 20.7 / GW 140lbs 136lbs Lost
I Ymy duodenal switch
(deactivated member)
on 4/5/10 2:20 am
on 4/5/10 2:20 am
Jane,
I wish that the sleeve would have been available when I was 12. I remember being 12 and I know I would have been compliant with the requirements. It may have saved me from a lifetime of obesiity. I went on my first diet at 10 and dieted for 40 years. I was 279# at the time of my surgery but if I had not been dieting I probably would have weighed over 400.
Dr. M performed the DS on a 17 year old with a BMI of 95. You might talk to him about the VSG.
[email protected]
Good luck to you and both of your girls!
Michele
I wish that the sleeve would have been available when I was 12. I remember being 12 and I know I would have been compliant with the requirements. It may have saved me from a lifetime of obesiity. I went on my first diet at 10 and dieted for 40 years. I was 279# at the time of my surgery but if I had not been dieting I probably would have weighed over 400.
Dr. M performed the DS on a 17 year old with a BMI of 95. You might talk to him about the VSG.
[email protected]
Good luck to you and both of your girls!
Michele
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