benefit of lap band surgery on 16year old
Like 99+% of the posters here, I beg you not to inflict a Band on your child. I too recommend researching both the VSG/Sleeve and the DS(duodenal switch). Which would be best for your daughter depends a great deal on HER.
We do have some very young posters over on the DS board. The one that always springs to mind is Jessy, who had her DS at age 17, with a BMI of 94. She's done amazingly well, and has already lost something like 250 pounds in something like 18 months. Jessy is a VERY level-headed, amture young woman, quite capable of understanding and following the post-op supplement and bloodwork requirements of the DS, and I have no foubt she'll be a wonderful example of how much this surgery can benefit teens. Go to the DS board and read up.
We do have some very young posters over on the DS board. The one that always springs to mind is Jessy, who had her DS at age 17, with a BMI of 94. She's done amazingly well, and has already lost something like 250 pounds in something like 18 months. Jessy is a VERY level-headed, amture young woman, quite capable of understanding and following the post-op supplement and bloodwork requirements of the DS, and I have no foubt she'll be a wonderful example of how much this surgery can benefit teens. Go to the DS board and read up.
First off, my heart just breaks for your 16 year old daughter! I have been living "large" my whole life, and was teased from elementary school thru high school because of my weight, and I didn't even have PCOS!! You are an awesome Mom for wanting to help her! But, believe me, the lap band is no way to help you daughter!
Like the majority of posters have said, it simply does not work for everyone. I would have to say that it works for very few, and if she is already depressed, do you really want her to be put through that failure?
I, too, speak from experience. I was banded in November of 2006, lost a little weight, and then began the regain!! I cannot even begin to count the times that i have gotten food caught in my band, and had to throw it up! Foods like baked chicken, pork, raw veggies, and fruit! Even scrambled eggs! Talk about depressing!!
So, I began a life of eating anything that would go down my band-and you wouldn't believe how many of those foods were processed foods-not so good for my waiste line.
I also developed horrible Acid reflux, and other crazy complications, as well as pain in my shoulder and chest when I would eat!
So, I would say NO, NO, NO to lap band. Mine is being removed, forever, this coming Monday, and I can not even begin to tell you how happy that makes me! I want to live a life where I can choose to eat healthy foods, and be able to chew them up and swallow them, without them getting stuck!
I also have a friend, with PCOS, who had lap band about 2 months after I did. She initially lost about 20 pounds, and has sadly regained that 20, plus about 40 more!
Have you thought about seeing a nutritionist? They would be a great benefit to her, as they understand PCOS, and can help get her on an eating plan that might work for her, and then revisit WLS when she becomes an adult.
We are all here because we have weight issues. Good luck, and (((HUGS))) to you and your daughter! I just don't want your daughter to fail because of the lap band!
Like the majority of posters have said, it simply does not work for everyone. I would have to say that it works for very few, and if she is already depressed, do you really want her to be put through that failure?
I, too, speak from experience. I was banded in November of 2006, lost a little weight, and then began the regain!! I cannot even begin to count the times that i have gotten food caught in my band, and had to throw it up! Foods like baked chicken, pork, raw veggies, and fruit! Even scrambled eggs! Talk about depressing!!
So, I began a life of eating anything that would go down my band-and you wouldn't believe how many of those foods were processed foods-not so good for my waiste line.
I also developed horrible Acid reflux, and other crazy complications, as well as pain in my shoulder and chest when I would eat!
So, I would say NO, NO, NO to lap band. Mine is being removed, forever, this coming Monday, and I can not even begin to tell you how happy that makes me! I want to live a life where I can choose to eat healthy foods, and be able to chew them up and swallow them, without them getting stuck!
I also have a friend, with PCOS, who had lap band about 2 months after I did. She initially lost about 20 pounds, and has sadly regained that 20, plus about 40 more!
Have you thought about seeing a nutritionist? They would be a great benefit to her, as they understand PCOS, and can help get her on an eating plan that might work for her, and then revisit WLS when she becomes an adult.
We are all here because we have weight issues. Good luck, and (((HUGS))) to you and your daughter! I just don't want your daughter to fail because of the lap band!
HW-305 SW-271.5 CW-188 GW-150 Ticker includes -14 lbs pre op diet loss
I currently am revising from the band. I had my band placed in 2008 and had lost about 40+ pounds or so, until out of the blue, the band slipped 7 mns after surgery! No rhyme or reason.... just couldn't eat one day and vomited on my own spit and horrible reflux. I couldn't even sleep in bed, I had to sit in a recliner almost sitting straight up and still would wake up several times in a night coughing and choking on hot acidy fluid! It was awful. I had a complete unfill, and gained back all my weight, plus 10 additional pounds. I slowly started to try again with the band, having my fills very, very slowly, but to only have the same result after about 6 mns! The only foods I literally could eat with the band and not have pain were all the bad foods you should avoid. Ice cream went down easily, chips and crackers were easy to eat. I couldn't even THINK about eating some chicken and fruit and veggies were "OUT THE WINDOW".... they just hurt awfully or woulnd't go down and to eat, only meant you would vomit back up everything! It was an awful and vigious cycle and a misery I would wish on no one!
I do wish you luck with your daughter, but I was definitely look into another option before I would ever recommend someone have a band placed!
Good Luck!
I do wish you luck with your daughter, but I was definitely look into another option before I would ever recommend someone have a band placed!
Good Luck!
Hello
I have PCOS and I had a lapband.I was revised to the RNY 4-4-11.Has she tried metformin?It does help a little and would be worth a try.Please understand not only didn't the lapband work for me ,but it does not restict candy,chips and other carbs,they go right thru with no problem.I wouldn''''t reccomend the band for anyone but especially not for a PCOS person.I feel for her because it is alot harder for us to lose.If you are going to do a surgery,please find someone that has done this on children as it is a huge lifestyle change.I really think I would wait till she is 18 or have a good therapist invovled.So hard for a young kid to go thru that.Im a mom and it would break my heart.
I have PCOS and I had a lapband.I was revised to the RNY 4-4-11.Has she tried metformin?It does help a little and would be worth a try.Please understand not only didn't the lapband work for me ,but it does not restict candy,chips and other carbs,they go right thru with no problem.I wouldn''''t reccomend the band for anyone but especially not for a PCOS person.I feel for her because it is alot harder for us to lose.If you are going to do a surgery,please find someone that has done this on children as it is a huge lifestyle change.I really think I would wait till she is 18 or have a good therapist invovled.So hard for a young kid to go thru that.Im a mom and it would break my heart.
Denise M.
on 5/18/11 6:16 am
on 5/18/11 6:16 am
Kudos to you for being supportive to your daughter and wanting to help her. I wish I had that kind of support when I was her age!
But the Lap Band doesn't really restrict carbs and if she eats junk now, she'll be able to eat junk after. If she ends up too tight, sometimes junky carbs will be all she can get down (aka slider foods). So yeah, that translates to a huge waste of money and a lot of emotional stress to boot.
I personally feel 16 is too young. I was 41 when I got my band and I thought I knew what I was getting myself into. Boy was I wrong! I don't know that teenagers can truly, cognitively grasp the concept and seriousness of WLS. I think it is better to wait until she's at least 18 before moving forward on the WLS front.
And do NOT let her get a lap band!
There's a really great book I just found and it should be mandatory reading for all WLS patients. It's called the Weight Loss Surgery Workbook by Doreen Samelson and it does include a section on WLS for teens, and has some serious questions for you and your daughter to address before moving forward with the surgery option.
I have knee problems and there are things you can do to get around them. Stationary bike. Walking. Resistance bands. Water aerobics. Heck, even get physical therapy so they can show her how to do exercises that will strengthen her quads and hamstrings and provide stabilization to her knees.
No matter what surgery you choose, odds are your clinic is going to have you do a three pronged approach: surgery + healthy diet + exercise.
Surgery is a tool, not a magic bullet (though some tools are more effective than others). With the lap band you HAVE to have an amazing clinic for follow up. Though the band may be less risky with respect to surgical complications, it has the most long term risk because of its poor success rate compared to other surgeries.
Personally, I have adhesions, my port is nearly flipped, I have awful scar tissue around my port which makes adjustments super fun (NOT!), I get that weird left shoulder referred pain, still hungry all the time (literal hunger pangs), and am unlucky and don't get those soft stops that some bandsters get (a hiccup may be a signal to stop). So I don't realize it's one bite too many until I'm sliming and getting sick from it. Slime tends to clog the ol' blow hole.
I have PCOS and have since I was your daughter's age. Still have it. Still have diabetes. Still have sleep apnea. I just vomit a lot more than I used to.
Good luck to you two and your decision. You can't take surgery back, like a sweater that doesn't look right on you when you got it home. It's a serious, life altering decision and should not be made lightly. The changes it brings will be with her the rest of her life.
I think the biggest positive on her side is you being such a loving mom, listening to her when she's upset or scared and being supportive.
But the Lap Band doesn't really restrict carbs and if she eats junk now, she'll be able to eat junk after. If she ends up too tight, sometimes junky carbs will be all she can get down (aka slider foods). So yeah, that translates to a huge waste of money and a lot of emotional stress to boot.
I personally feel 16 is too young. I was 41 when I got my band and I thought I knew what I was getting myself into. Boy was I wrong! I don't know that teenagers can truly, cognitively grasp the concept and seriousness of WLS. I think it is better to wait until she's at least 18 before moving forward on the WLS front.
And do NOT let her get a lap band!
There's a really great book I just found and it should be mandatory reading for all WLS patients. It's called the Weight Loss Surgery Workbook by Doreen Samelson and it does include a section on WLS for teens, and has some serious questions for you and your daughter to address before moving forward with the surgery option.
I have knee problems and there are things you can do to get around them. Stationary bike. Walking. Resistance bands. Water aerobics. Heck, even get physical therapy so they can show her how to do exercises that will strengthen her quads and hamstrings and provide stabilization to her knees.
No matter what surgery you choose, odds are your clinic is going to have you do a three pronged approach: surgery + healthy diet + exercise.
Surgery is a tool, not a magic bullet (though some tools are more effective than others). With the lap band you HAVE to have an amazing clinic for follow up. Though the band may be less risky with respect to surgical complications, it has the most long term risk because of its poor success rate compared to other surgeries.
Personally, I have adhesions, my port is nearly flipped, I have awful scar tissue around my port which makes adjustments super fun (NOT!), I get that weird left shoulder referred pain, still hungry all the time (literal hunger pangs), and am unlucky and don't get those soft stops that some bandsters get (a hiccup may be a signal to stop). So I don't realize it's one bite too many until I'm sliming and getting sick from it. Slime tends to clog the ol' blow hole.
I have PCOS and have since I was your daughter's age. Still have it. Still have diabetes. Still have sleep apnea. I just vomit a lot more than I used to.
Good luck to you two and your decision. You can't take surgery back, like a sweater that doesn't look right on you when you got it home. It's a serious, life altering decision and should not be made lightly. The changes it brings will be with her the rest of her life.
I think the biggest positive on her side is you being such a loving mom, listening to her when she's upset or scared and being supportive.
I have to agree with the others the band is definately not going to help your daughter. I understand her pain because I was a fat little girl myself as a teen altho I didn't have the PCOS which adds another reason not to do the band. I don't want to dicourage you or her but if she can't exercise the band just won't help. I have a lung disease so also wasn't able to exercise and the band just didn't work for me because I had already cut down to 1000 cal a day so with both of those conditions in place I was only able to lose about 25 lbs. with the band plus the last couple of years I've had a horrible issue with the band tightening on its own with no fills, which may sound good but it's not really because I get too tight and can't eat.
I stronly suggest the gastric sleeve, while it is a bit more drastic it has a better chance of working with out all the fill issues and constant adjusting. No matter what surgery she is still going to have to control what she eats because you can "eat around" the best of surgeries. Many docs won't even consider surgery on one so young but if you do find good surgeon have him explain all the surgeries and make sure you and she both understand the pros and cons of each one. She will still need to make the eating and lifestyle changes required by all the surgeries but if she can commit to that then she should go ahead and start trying now. It can only help her get ready for the actual surgery.
I found riding a stationary bike a good exercise when I could breath better, it doesn't cause the pressure and pain that walking does. I truely wish you both the very best luck and just advise you both to think and study long and hard before making a decision. If we can help in any other way please post again.
I stronly suggest the gastric sleeve, while it is a bit more drastic it has a better chance of working with out all the fill issues and constant adjusting. No matter what surgery she is still going to have to control what she eats because you can "eat around" the best of surgeries. Many docs won't even consider surgery on one so young but if you do find good surgeon have him explain all the surgeries and make sure you and she both understand the pros and cons of each one. She will still need to make the eating and lifestyle changes required by all the surgeries but if she can commit to that then she should go ahead and start trying now. It can only help her get ready for the actual surgery.
I found riding a stationary bike a good exercise when I could breath better, it doesn't cause the pressure and pain that walking does. I truely wish you both the very best luck and just advise you both to think and study long and hard before making a decision. If we can help in any other way please post again.
I am a totally happy and successful bandster and all the people I know personally (as opposed to on a message board) have also been successful.
But NO! I wouldn't recommend the band for your daughter. Or any other surgery unless she is so obese she is at risk of life-threatening conditions. At 16 she is young enough to be taught to eat properly and not use PCOS as an excuse. Just because she has a condtion which makes weight gain easier and loss harder, doesn't mean it is inevitable. If she got the band, she would have to change her eating habits - carbs slide down only too easily. While she is living at home and you are buying her food (I assume) is a good time for her to learn to eat properly. Your support would be able to keep her eating as it should be.
I don't mean to sound harsh! I am just concerned that a young girl may not be able to make the necessary changes and it is an unnecessary risk to health to have any surgery if you can't alter your lifestyle. Has she tried some form of counselling?
Kate
Highest 290, Banded - 248 Lowest 139 (too thin!). Comfort zone 155-165.
Happily banded since May 2006. Regain of 28lbs 2013-14. ALL GONE!
But some has returned! Up to 175, argh! Off we go again,
Hi
I am the daughter with PCOS and all the other problems that come with it. I was wondering if there are any other alternatives instead of Lap Band. I've heard about both the good and the bad and i'd like to know if there is anything that works? I'd also like to know, if you get this surgery done, if it affects your kidneys because I was only born with one kidney and no one seems to know if it will be affected.
I'd really like some information PLEASE!!
I am the daughter with PCOS and all the other problems that come with it. I was wondering if there are any other alternatives instead of Lap Band. I've heard about both the good and the bad and i'd like to know if there is anything that works? I'd also like to know, if you get this surgery done, if it affects your kidneys because I was only born with one kidney and no one seems to know if it will be affected.
I'd really like some information PLEASE!!
On May 19, 2011 at 1:02 AM Pacific Time, mum_of_PCOS_teen wrote:
HiI am the daughter with PCOS and all the other problems that come with it. I was wondering if there are any other alternatives instead of Lap Band. I've heard about both the good and the bad and i'd like to know if there is anything that works? I'd also like to know, if you get this surgery done, if it affects your kidneys because I was only born with one kidney and no one seems to know if it will be affected.
I'd really like some information PLEASE!!
It's great that you are open to learning about other surgical options besides the Lap Band. In my opinion and from what I've seen through my many years of reading this website, that the Lap Band is the worst weight loss surgery that is available. I have a feeling that it will not even be offered 10 years from now because of all of the problems that most end up having with it.
Listen and read all of the stories from these people who have had it. There is a reason some call it a "diet with a choke chain." While there are a few who do well, most Bandsters have to be revised (usually to the Sleeve) when their bands cause problems such as: band erosion, band intolerance, band slippage, leaks, esophageal dilation, GERD, vomiting, indegestion and port problems. Not to mention all of the fills and unfills just to find the "sweet spot" of restriction.
The VSG or "Sleeve" is another weight loss surgery that basically removes about 80% of the stretchy part of your stomach. It restricts that amount of food that you can eat. As a weight loss surgery, it has been performed less than 10 years, so there is still no long-term results. Some insurance companies deem it "investigational" and will not cover it. Lots of people self-pay and/or travel to Mexico where it is much cheaper. The Sleeve is a great option for those who only need restriction to help them lose weight.
There is one more surgery option called the Duodenal Switch or DS that combines the restrictive part of the Sleeve and a malabsortive part that causes us to not absorb some of the things we eat, for example about 80% of fat. The DS has been performed for over 20 years and has the best statistics for losing the weight and keeping it off in the long run. Since we malabsorb nutrients, we have to take vitamins to compensate. These are non-negotiable and very important. I thought it would be hard, but I have gotten used to taking my vitamins (about 14) every day. Check out www.dsfacts.com if you'd like more info. This is also the most complicated surgery so you have to be sure you have an experienced DS surgeon. A list can be found at the dsfacts website.
I chose the DS because I knew that I needed more than just restriction to lose weight. I wanted to keep it off in the long run. When the restriction from my Sleeve loosens up (which it will over time), I will still have malabsorption to help keep the weight off.
No matter which surgery you choose, or none at all, I wish you the best of luck! Just make an informed decision. Think twice, cut once!
Take care,
Jules
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