Hi, I'm new..

I'm considering lap band surgery. Ive read a few posts..some encouraging, some not so encouraging. I'm only 17, and I dont think that anyone in Delaware will perform WLS on a teen. If anyone knows, please let me know. I'm open for meeting new people, especially teens in a similar situation as mine. If youd like to know my story, check out my profile.

It says I have 1 reply, but I cant figure out how to get to it..

still cant figure this out

Hi. i'm 17 also, and will be getting the lap band surgery sometime near my b-day in April. Most surgeons will not do surgery on anyone under 18. They will make you wait until you're 18, but you can get the process started at around 6-4 months before your 18 b-day. Meaning you can go to a seminar, consultation, psych eval, see a nutritionist, ect. thennn by the time it's your 18 b-day you should have the surgery or maybe a few days, or a month later. How many months until your 18 birthday? I'm now only 8 months from my b-day whoo hoo! Good luck to you. If you're soon to be 18 (around 6 months until your 18 b-day) See your pcp see if she believes you should have WLS (band) then get a referral to the surgeon of your chose (make sure your insurer covers this surgeon) see him/her (most likely you have to attend a seminar first. BUT MAKE SURE THAT YOUR INSURER DOES NOT CALL FOR A 2-12 month supervised diet. It's better to start this early. If you already have a dietician see if she will put you on a diet now. Make sure she documents it correctly. Talk to your insurance company and tell them you are looking into getting the Lap band. They should tell you what to do from there. ~*Cole

thanks for the advice! I think my insurance requires a 3 months supervised diet..thats fine, too, because if it fails, the doctor will then realize its like impossible for me to ever lose weight.. and if i succeed on it--ill lose weight! The surgeon i have my heart set on [Dr. Wynn of Wilmington, DE] doesn't do surgery on anyone under 18. My bday is in December..so I image ill be well past 18 before im all set for surgery. I'm a little nervous..but I think this is all possible. I have had enough let downs in my weight throughout life..that if i am denied..well, it'll be true that there is NO hope for me! Thanks for your words of wisdom!

Hi i am 17 and when i went to soo if i would qualify the doc said straight up yes i was and that he did not want me to have the lap band he wanted me to have the gastric bypass...so i was happy but i still had to wait to see if i was covered by insurance and that took a long time...but i finally got approved...and im scheduled for august 17th...im really interested in hearing things...maybe we can talk Leann

im a bit intimated by the gastric bypass. Both my parents had it done and are doing GREAT..but its so permanent, and thats a good thing, but if something goes wrong--its not a real good thing. I would just have to really hear a lot of facts and things from my doctor. Good luck on everything though!

lol LUCKY I was scheduled for August 17th 2!!!! but i got reschedualed to September 14. Good luck to you!

huh?

I agree Vanessa. The G/B was a bit to severe for me. If I have medical problems like diabetes I would def. lean towards the DS (since that's said to be the best to treat diabetes). But since I don't I decided on the band. Plus knowing someone who had a RNY (G/B) 8 yrs. ago and all the problems she's had with weight regain it's sad. She worked so hard to get down to 140 and now she's back at 250+ at 8 yrs. ou****ching Carnie Wilson on Celeb Fit Club and watching how she's being so truthful with her her up and down with the RNY I love her for it. Also the other woman whos mother had a GB 11 yrs. ago and now has regained all her weight. It tells people that this is a tool, and that you must work for your weight loss. BUT there are options for the regain. My aunt is looking into getting a band placed around her pouch, or a DS.