considering surgery..

I'm 17 years old and ill be 18 in january. I have tried everything to lose weight..and it hasnt worked too well. I am DESPERATE to lose it so i can finally be happy with myself. I hate the way I look and feel right now and Id do anything to change it. Have any of you teens had the surgery already? My dad had it 4 years ago,lost tons of weight and i told him i need help and he told me to consider this,..so i am!

Hey Amanda. My name is Jay and I am in the sam boat as you. My mom had gastric bypass in 2000 and lost most of her excess weight (from 260-280) and has kept almost all of it off. My uncle just had the same surgery this past November and lost well over 100 lbs and is at a healthy weight. I am looking in to the surgery and I am going in tomorrow to meet my a prospective Doctor for Roux en Y gastric bypass tomorrow. May I ask which type of WLS you are considering?

Hi! I'm not a teen anymore, but I've been obese for as long as I can remember (I was over 200 pounds before I even started high school). How great that your dad is supportive and has experience with WLS to boot!

Anyway, I'm now 26, so though I'm no teen, I'm still very young. All I can recommend is that you do LOTS of research. I would say don't even talk to a surgeon until you have researched the main different types of procedures (RNY, DS, band, and sleeve). You should know how they each work, what exactly is done in each procedure, and what can be expected after the surgery.

That said, I'm getting the DS (duodenal switch), and one reason for my decision on that type of surgery is my age. The DS has the best statistics for the amount of excess weight lost plus (more importantly, IMO) the best statistics of maintaining the weight loss with the least chance of significant regain--I don't want to have to worry as much about reganing my weight a few years down the road since I have a lot of "few years" left! When RNY, sleeve, or band fails for some patients, they sometimes seek a revision to a DS. I figured if others are getting revisions ot the DS, I might as well START with it--think twice, cut once!

Feel free to come ask questions on the DS forum here on OH if you'd like to find out more: http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/ds/a,messageboard/board_id ,5357/

Hi -

I'm not a teen, but my daughter had the DS when she was 17 and a senior in high school.  I actually had the same surgery a year after she did.  Anne went in for surgery right after Thanksgiving and went back to school after Christmas.  That was almost three years ago.  It has made a tremendous difference in her life.  She is able to wear clothes that are cute and youthful.  She can shop at all the popular stores and find things that fit.  Her starting weight was about 290.  She lost 140 pounds in about 12 months. She gained energy and confidence by having the surgery.  If you would like to contact her, let me know.  She doesn't come to this board, but I'm sure she would be willing to answer any questions and give you encouragement.

Blessings,

Caroline

Please come to the DS Forum and see what the DS procedure can offer you. What ever you decide, just make sure it is well informed and that you are able to make a decision on what is right for you based on what you've learned from others that have lived it.

Welcome and I wish you luck on your journey!!

Jillian

I too am going to encourage you to research the DS. I would give anything if I could go back and have the DS done when I was your age!

Xomanda:

I would give anything to be 17 and making the decision you are dealing with.  Taking responsibility for being obese is a big step.

I would encourage you to research the Ds and ask as many questions as you need to, in order to feel comfortable  with whatever WLS you select.  Compare all the available surgeries.  You will find plus and minus for each, but some will be more livable and suit you better than others.

I chose the DS because I didn't want my stomach to be bascially removed and function differently.  Yes, my stomach is smaller, much smaller but it functioms the same, and I can eat whatever I put in my mouth, without having pain later from my food choice.  The intestinal re-arrangement of the DS is also livable for me since I am committed to taking vitamins every day.  At my age I take Fosomax for my bones, once a week and a daily multivitamin; so adding a few others (vitamins) is really no big deal.  I place these supplements on the countertop under the dish cabinet, so I see them each time I reach for a plate, bowl or glass.  In other words, when I eat, I am reminded to take my supplements (which is three times a day).  I try to make it as routine as possible.   My hubby puts his vitamins by his shaving cream in the bathroom since he takes his one prescription and vitamin ONCE A DAY. 

With family members that have had weight loss surgery, I am hopeful you will have all the support you need in making your decision and plodding through the first year.  At the end of that time, you will have a routine established, a good relationship with your surgeon and basically "know the drill" for staying healthy.  AND you will look good and feel great.

I wish you well and invite you to the DS forum.  We will all be there for you to give you the benefit of our experience.  By the way, I had my surgery in January and I have lost 100 lbs; I'm smaller than I was in high school.  

See you around - now go do your research.

Well hello there I am 20, and I am starting the process of having the lap-band. Like everyone else said do your research. Both of my parents have had lap-band with tremendous success. That is one of my reasons for my decision. The other is that since I am still so young wanting to have another child, it was important for me to be insured that if something goes wrong this surgery can be reversed whereas most of the others cannot be.