VSG for under 25? -- lapbandits and rny kids please read too!

I need some adivce, ladies and gents.  I will be 19 in a few months and I am lookinng into getting a VSG. I will be going to college in the spring and i'm really interesting in hearing how college life and WLS mesh.

  My main request/deasperate plea is that if you are under the age of 25 and have gotten a VSG done that you come forward and share your experience. I could really use some support with this.
i feel rather alone as I am not really part of a popular age group to get a VSG.. or any weight loss surgery for that matter


I change my mind..I would really be interested in hearing about everyone's experiences, not just people with a VSG (although i am still intrested first and formost with their experiences!).

Now, i know that everyone is different and thus how i will be pre,post and during op will be impossible to compare to anyone else.. but could we forget that for a moment? lol

i need some feedback from my age group to know that i'm not insane for wanting to take this huge step to better my health and elongate my life.

 I am currently 21 .. started looking into RNY when I was 19 and decided on/got my Duodenal Switch when I was 20.  I am currently in college and I have to say I love it.  College for me started a little bit over 7 months after surgery and I can do anything that a normal student can.  

The meal plans here are great!  They have the nutritional facts posted for every dish so it makes it easy to figure out what fits into my 50g carb limit each day [and I discovered that belgium waffles have nearly 4 times the amount of carbs I eat in a day].  

If there aren't many good protein options you can always just get like a hamburger and ask them to hold the bun.  All your protein without those pesky carb calories :)  

Have you looked into the DS at all?  As far as long term results go it has statistically proven to be the best for keeping the weight off and at 19/20 I wanted something that was going to stick with me and work for me for the rest of my life.  Its based primarily in malabsorption, however, so you need to learn to be persnickity as hell with your vitamins.  Basically of the foods you eat .. you would obsorb 20% of the fat .. 50% of the protein .. and almost any carb, but low carb lifestyle isn't bad [AND I have a higher fat/low carb faux cheesecake that tastes SOOOOO good].

Good luck :) and college is TOTALLY doable after wls .. just make sure to send out an email to your professors saying that you have a medical condition requiring you to sipsipsip all day and would appreciate their permission to have water.

I am 25 and am in the insurance approval stage for VSG.  There are a few of us on the VSG board that are in that age category.  I think that any weight loss surgery is a good step towards better health.  I am in a stage in my life where I wish I was a "normal" weight.  I am going back to college next week and I am dreading the first day.  I always am uncomfortable knowing I'm usually the big girl in class.  I wish my life events would have allowed me to get VSG sooner.  I would have liked to experience my wedding day and my pregnancy with my son at a healthy weight.  I wish you the best in your journey.  Be sure to post your question on the VSG board too!  Be sure to say that you've already posted this question on this board b/c people will tell you to come here, when you already did!


  Angel
  

Hi, I started looking into WLS when I was 16. After going to the seminar I knew I wasn't ready to commit to such a huge life altering choice....When I turned 21 and realized that I weighted 298lbs I decided I DID NOT want to waist my life and become susceptable to extrem health problems like diabetes, heart  conditions, joint issues, back problems or any other issues out there. That's when I decided I was really ready to have WLS. Now for me, the idea of someone cutting me open and rearranging what God gave me was just a scary idea. I did not want anyone cutting up my interal organs and switching up how it worked. That is why I chose to have the lapband/ realize band.
 
This choice has honestly been the best thing I have ever done for myself. I ended up having the realize band surgery in March of 2009 and have been doing well ever since. I have lost just over 100lbs including some preop weight loss;however, I still have more that I would like to lose. I was 22 when I had my surgery.

As far as being in college and doing this procedure it can affect your social life, you have to watch what you eat, how much you eat. For me not drinking when I eat ect.... also going out to bar (when your old enough) can be a little bit of a challenge... you get drunk a lot quicker because you have less of your stomach to absorbe the alcohol. so now it might take 4-10 drinks to get you buzzed or drunk and after surgery it might only take 2-4... good news is it saves you money by being a cheap date.

This is a huge LIFE TIME commitment and you really need to do your research before jumping into it. Not trying to scare you out of it because I don't regret it at all, just make sure you go in with all your questions and concerns answered. Good luck!

 hi girl, wellcome to the board!

I had my RNY when i was 22. im now 25 n i love it! so far no complications at all or anything. verry happy and mantainin.

I think  VSG is a great choise for you! cuz it doesnt have the malabsortion part of the RNY but has the restriction. about the lap band idk, it was not for me, the idea of having an extrange objet in my body dint make me very happy. lol, but either chooise would be a good one!
all WLS works you just have to work it and lear how to use ur tool in your favor.

you may wanna check out  "  blair94 " profile, she had VSG 3 Months ago (her sister boonie that is a couple of years older had it too) and i know she is a member of a sororoty and very active in college so you might find her inspiring and helpful trough your journey. here is her profile:  

so good luck!

and keep us posted. if you have anyother cuestion please feel free to ask, everyone heres is soo supportive.

hugs

 I'm 24, but have been a full-time nursing student throughout my decision-making process and now during my weight loss.  I lead an active dating and social life and my surgery has made absolutely no difference whatsoever, except that I have more energy, feel great, and save money by eating and drinking smaller amounts when I go out.

I am 22 years old, I havent had surgery yet working through all the insurance requirements as we speak I was very unsure when I first started I was looking at either RNY or the lap band but then was suggested to look into VSG and DS, after alot of thinking I have decided to go with VSG! Since I havent had surgery yet I cannot really say but I do believe it is the best choice for me! Also dont feel out of place I post to the VSG board all the time they are so helpful and nice, and all they say about age is they wish they would have done it when they were our age!

Please go to midwesterngirl's blog below she had the lap band and then a revision to VSG, but really lays out all the facts about all the surgies without being biast....

http://wasabubblebutt.blogspot.com/2010/03/body-scan-of-pers on-250-vs-120.html

Otherwise if you want info purely on VSG here is another link to another bloggers appeal to her insurance company

http://vsgappeal.blogspot.com/2010/07/summary-appeal-letter- studies-and.html

HERE IS A QUESTION FOR EVERYONE THAT HAS POSTED UNRELATED MAY HAVE TO POST A TOPIC MYSELF, BUT I WAS WONDERING HOW MUCH EXCESS SKIN YOU ALL HAVE? THEY SAY AGE PLAYS A ROLE IN HOW MUCH YOU HAVE, TRUE??

 I have tons of excess skin .... and have been told that my only hope is going to be plastics ....

That said .. I don't mind the excess skin quite as much as the fact that the stretch marks I had from yoyo dieting BEFORE surgery are way more noticeable now ..... yay 1/2 length sleeves

 I had VSG at age 19 (just May, 26th 2009) but I had just finished my sophomore year of college (I am young for my age). I am now a junior at a state university with a huge campus. I walk all around campus from class to class. I am greek. 

The only thing I can tell you is make sure your surgery is at least a month before you have to start attending classes. I felt like doing absolutely nothing for a good 3 weeks, I can't imagine going from class to class with a heavy backpack on my shoulders only to come home and do some homework. You sleep A LOT after surgery. You feel nauseated A LOT after surgery. 3 months out and I have no problems with being abnormally tired or exhausted from physical exertion. I get nauseated randomly for weird foods (smells, tastes, and the occasional thought of a certain food). I don't eat on campus much but if I do, it's not too socially awkward. Ex: today I went to Pita Pit, ordered a small gyro. Pealed off most of the pita slowly then began to eat the insides and explain "I am more of a meat person". If you're living on campus/dorms, eating might be a problem for you. 
Also, I don't talk about my surgery. Personal preference. Yes, my sorority sisters will notice a difference, but when they say something (and people haven't yet, even though I'm 3 months out, a good 2 sizes smaller, 55 lbs-- I think people are afraid that asking a fat person if they've lost weight is offensive.. like admitting I had weight to lose) I plan on saying "yeah, I've lost weight. How did I do i****ching what I eat and exercising!" Everyone and their grandmother needn't know your private medical history.

Message me for my Instagram/Facebook/Twitter details.

I just turned 24 on Saturday and I had the VSG 12 days ago. I feel amazing. I have already lost quite a bit of weight in 12 days, so that just makes it even better. I know that I did the best thing that I could do for myself in order to have a happier healthier life. I wish I would have gotten it last year when I first was introduced to VSG, but I waited and gave it one more go with diet & exercise, which was a joke, lol!

There are so many things I want to do and I have always felt my weight hold me back. I am excited at the possibility of being able to do all the things I have until recently only dreamt of! If you want, you can follow my blog (link in my signature) to get a more in-depth detail of my life and what's been going on in my world. If you have any questions feel free to PM me.

Best of luck with your decision!