WLS for 12 and 14 yeaar olds - advice/input needed
Thanks Michele - you made a point I keep coming back to over and over again when I'm considering this for my girls - damn I wish this had been available when I was 12. I sometimes wonder who or what I would have been had I not grown up obese, it definitely shapes a huge part of your personality and identity.
I hear you with the early diets too. My first weigh****chers meeting was at 8 years old in a room full of middle aged women, I almost cry when I think about it and wish i could go back in time and hug my 8 year old self. It was 30 years before I had my DS and cured my obesity. God, I don't want that for my kids....
lots of love and luck to you and your continued success with your DS.
I hear you with the early diets too. My first weigh****chers meeting was at 8 years old in a room full of middle aged women, I almost cry when I think about it and wish i could go back in time and hug my 8 year old self. It was 30 years before I had my DS and cured my obesity. God, I don't want that for my kids....
lots of love and luck to you and your continued success with your DS.
5'7" SW 268lbs BMI 42/ CW 132lbs BMI 20.7 / GW 140lbs 136lbs Lost
I Ymy duodenal switch
Jane,
Count me as another who feels I would have done well with the sleeve at age 12 or 14.
My entire life until I had my DS, I felt this very intense hunger, never a full sensation, even after 3+ helpings of food.
My metabolism was seriously broken, and I honestly think a lot of us who have obesity are born that way. Research is uncovering more and more every day about the causes, but a lot is largely unknown. What is apparent is not always a matter of "healthy eating habits" or even "calories in calories out".
Anyway, if I could have lived the last 20 years of my life without the debilitating hunger and reliance on food, the social stigma, and the serious medical issues, I'd have gladly signed up.
Jenna
Count me as another who feels I would have done well with the sleeve at age 12 or 14.
My entire life until I had my DS, I felt this very intense hunger, never a full sensation, even after 3+ helpings of food.
My metabolism was seriously broken, and I honestly think a lot of us who have obesity are born that way. Research is uncovering more and more every day about the causes, but a lot is largely unknown. What is apparent is not always a matter of "healthy eating habits" or even "calories in calories out".
Anyway, if I could have lived the last 20 years of my life without the debilitating hunger and reliance on food, the social stigma, and the serious medical issues, I'd have gladly signed up.
Jenna
Oh Jenna - me too!!! Intense painful gnawing hunger. It was one of the most amazing feelings out of the many I experiened in that initial period after having my DS. I didn't feel hungry anymore! I didn't reliaze that I was STARVING hungry all the time pre-op as it had always been my life - I didn't know that other people didn't feel that way. I just wondered why other people could diet and ignore their hunger when I couldn't. I didn't know they weren't feeling the kind of hunger I was. Eating well is easy when you're not starving!
For me it's another plus for the sleeve over the lap band - the removal of the hunger hormone producing part of the stomach.
I'm so happy for you that you have succeed with the DS. x
For me it's another plus for the sleeve over the lap band - the removal of the hunger hormone producing part of the stomach.
I'm so happy for you that you have succeed with the DS. x
5'7" SW 268lbs BMI 42/ CW 132lbs BMI 20.7 / GW 140lbs 136lbs Lost
I Ymy duodenal switch
In addition to pursuing a surgical option, I would encourage you to look into Wellspring weight loss camps for teens.
The program is lightyears ahead of the starve them and work them hard mentality of yesterday's fatcamp. (Like the one I went to as a kid)
My DD had a BMI of 31.4 as a an 11 and 12 year old.
She was able to lose about 5 pounds on her own, and then dropped 16 pounds at camp. In the months following she has lost another 10 pounds.
Between the weight loss and her getting taller, her BMI is now 24.1.
Still high for a 13 year old, but well out of danger.
Best of all, her confidence and mood are terrific.
Good luck in all you are doing to improve your childrens health.
The program is lightyears ahead of the starve them and work them hard mentality of yesterday's fatcamp. (Like the one I went to as a kid)
My DD had a BMI of 31.4 as a an 11 and 12 year old.
She was able to lose about 5 pounds on her own, and then dropped 16 pounds at camp. In the months following she has lost another 10 pounds.
Between the weight loss and her getting taller, her BMI is now 24.1.
Still high for a 13 year old, but well out of danger.
Best of all, her confidence and mood are terrific.
Good luck in all you are doing to improve your childrens health.
Thanks Ellen, I'll look into it, but I honestly can't see me EVER sending them to a weight loss camp again. It shattered their self esteem, they were hungry, and felt sick when they were there. The daily phone calls when you children are miles away crying on the phone and begging you to come get them are not something I think I could ever handle again, much less them.
Oh, plus for this hideous experience I paid out $9,000!!! The very thought of another camp leaves me cold.
Oh, plus for this hideous experience I paid out $9,000!!! The very thought of another camp leaves me cold.
5'7" SW 268lbs BMI 42/ CW 132lbs BMI 20.7 / GW 140lbs 136lbs Lost
I Ymy duodenal switch
OMG!!!
Your poor girls!
Actually, now that I think back on it, the fat camp I went to when I was 14 was also a bit of an ordeal, and yes, I gained all the weight back.
But believe me when I tell you, Wellspring IS different.
I won't push the issue, but if you want further info, just PM me.
And again, all the best in your quest to help your Daughters.
That is what it's all about, right?
Helping my daughter was a big part of why I had the RNY, I knew I needed to lead or get out of the way.
Your poor girls!
Actually, now that I think back on it, the fat camp I went to when I was 14 was also a bit of an ordeal, and yes, I gained all the weight back.
But believe me when I tell you, Wellspring IS different.
I won't push the issue, but if you want further info, just PM me.
And again, all the best in your quest to help your Daughters.
That is what it's all about, right?
Helping my daughter was a big part of why I had the RNY, I knew I needed to lead or get out of the way.
Well, everyone is entitled to their opinion, and quite frankly I think it is outrageous to even want your kids to have weight loss surgery. They are CHILDREN. If anything, teach them healthy habits as a family. I would never let me kids go through with something like that. That's just crazy. not only that, but their self-esteems are probably even more low now that they know their own mother thinks they need weight loss surgery.
I understand how hard it is to be overweight at that age because I was but I would not let my 12 or 14 year old have weightloss surgery. I had rny 6 years ago and it requires a lot of life changes,behavior changes and discipline that is hard even for an adult to handle and I do not think someone that age could handle it.
I hear you. It''s one of the reasons I wanted some input from other people who have had WLS, yes it does involve lifestyle changes and it's definitely one of the issues I'm pondering. It's a really valid point.
To be honest it's also one of the reasons I feel more comfrtable with the idea of a sleeve rather than a band. As a DSer I already live with the stomach of a sleeve so I feel I would be better able to guide my girls and help them make appropriate choices regarding eating post op.
To be honest it's also one of the reasons I feel more comfrtable with the idea of a sleeve rather than a band. As a DSer I already live with the stomach of a sleeve so I feel I would be better able to guide my girls and help them make appropriate choices regarding eating post op.
5'7" SW 268lbs BMI 42/ CW 132lbs BMI 20.7 / GW 140lbs 136lbs Lost
I Ymy duodenal switch
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