15 year old Teen going to get LAPBAND

My name is Nate and I am 15 years ( Just turned 15 in Oct. ) and I am in the process of getting the Lapband Surgery in Cleveland, Ohio at Cleveland Clinic... I have been to the workshop ( a 3 hour session where you listen to doctor, videos, and info about lapband and gastric bypass, I have already had the visit with the surgeon and this Tuesday I go get blood work, x rays, and meet with the nutritionist. Then Feb 1, I go see the Pedatric and then they will send information to get accepted from Insurance. These are the steps I have to follow, I am already on STEP 8 after Tuesday I will be on STEP 9: STEP 1: Complete Initial Patient Worksheet Questionnaire--------DONE STEP 2: Send the Initial Patient Worksheet Questionnaire to the Weight Management Program Office-----------DONE STEP 3: Insurance Coverage for Weight Loss Surgery-------------DONE STEP 4: Medical Qualification for Weight Loss Surgery---------------DONE STEP 5: Appointment for Weight Loss Surgery Patient Workshop-------------DONE STEP 6: Weight Loss Surgery Workshop--------------------------DONE STEP 7: Visit With the Surgeon----------------DONE STEP 8: Medical Consultations and Assessments-- TUESDAY STEP 9: Acquiring Insurance Approval STEP 10: Scheduling the Surgery Date and Pre op Clinic Visit STEP 11: The Surgery STEP 12: Follow-up Visits I was looking for teens who already had Lapband surgery and have any pictures before and after even if it is just 2 weeks after. QUESTION:??? So I am pretty much getting the LAPBAND surgery and I want to know if you told all of your friends before or after ot neither---you had surgery. Here is my problem, my friends want me to play football and workout everyday, however with my surgery I will be missing alot of practices and games. They think I am just being lazy and I was wondering what you think, if I should tell them that I am getting A surgery and tell them it is like back surgery or tell them I am getting Lapband. Thanks [email protected] Nate I was wondering if I should

Hi Nate. I thought I might be able to help a little bit. First of all, I didn't have lapband, i had rny about a month ago, at the cleveland clinic too. who's your surgeon? i had dr schauer. anywho, as far as telling your friends, especially when it comes to activities like football, it's really your choice to make. i chose to tell my close friends because it impacted a lot for me because i'm very active. i'm 18, in college in boston, but originally from cleveland (i had the surgery over winter break) so i knew my roommate and close friends needed to know in case i needed any help when i got back. also, i knew i wouldn't be able to get right back into dance and capoeira very quickly either. suprisingly, everyone was really supportive, including the people i didn't expect to be. the only thing is that a lot of people don't know exactly what the surgery is all about, what they do and how it will affect you and help you as a tool to weight loss, not the easy way out. its really important to have a few minutes to go through that with your friends, especially because we're so young and a lot of kids don't know about it. they might have preconceived notions about it that would translate into preconceived notions about you and that would suck. my opinion? tell them!! they want to be there for you, and don't lie to them because that's just worse. just take time to explain it to them and help them understand how this is important to you and one of the best things you could do for yourself at this point in your life to have a great future. miriam

Thank you for your reply......My surgeon will be Dr. Schauer too, I have already met him however we have to send the insurance packet to Blue Cross Blue Shield How much weight have you lost so far? I can't wait until I get this surgery done! Talk to you later Nate [email protected]

Cool. I've lost about 25 pounds so far. It's soooo much harder at school though because college food is so bad for you... all carbs, everywhere. Good luck with your surgery!

Nate, My question for you is a bit diferent. I am wondering why you think that you will have to miss so many games and practices. I know that you are having surgery, I had it too (RnY 5/10/06), but I think that you are anticipating the worst when it comes to your availability to participate in your activities. I know for me, I was in the hospital for only 28 hours. Being young, our bodies are quicker to heal. I was out of my job for 3 days, two days after my surgery I was hiking, three days after I was at a fashion show all day long, and five days after surgery I was doing my cardio workout, two weeks after surgery I felt comfortable doing strength training (including my abs). My surgeon gave me clearance to do ab workout as soon as 5 days out, but he warned that it might be uncomfortable. I do realize that football is a touch sport, and your coaches should be told to tell other players to take it easy when you are practicing with pads at full force, but I think that you should be okay. Most 15 year olds don't know anything about weight loss surgery, so if you feel like you need to tell your friends that you had surgery because of your inability to play, I would just tell them that you had abdominal surgery. Don't lie and tell them that you had back surgery, but you don't have to tell them exactly what you did. I have told people that I had "just had surgery," that "I had abdominal surgery," that I had a surgery that "effected my digestive system," (I use this one when people ask questions about the foods that I am or am not eating specifically), and then I have told people that I had "bypass surgery." If you feel like you want to tell your friends, you should sit them down and tell them more about the surgery, because all they are going to do is assume what it is, and it is VERY likely that other HIGH SCHOOL boys will have absolutely no idea. Good luck and if you have any questions, feel free to ask questions ect.

Hi hi ^___^ Wow, 15? When I was 15 I wished to God everyday he'd let me get WLS. Didn't happen until 4 months ago when I was 18 (though I'm 19 now) but I'm still so thankful, even if it did take an extra 3 years. But it's worth it, having lost a little over 100lbs in just that short amount of time. I had the RNY so I don't know how much help I can be about the LapBand, but let me just say this: you rawk, dude ^____^ So much courage it must take for you to plunge right into this. Props. And more props! *bows* If perhaps there is anything I can help with, don't hesitate to ask. =3 -Liz