Question:
I'm only 17 - am I crazy to be thinking of this?
I am 17 years old and weigh 220. Both my mom and my dad had surgery and have problems with gas and bloating and take laods of vits, so I see what can happen every day. However, I still am pretty sure I want to do this. I have tried different diets and always lose some weight, and then gain it and more right back. I also know I eat better than my friends because whenever we hang out together (guys and girls) I see that I eat less than them and healthier than them. Yet they are all skinny and I'm not! I'm tired of being so big, not being able to keep up with other people, not being able to share clothes with my friends, being afraid to meet new people because of my weight.... When I talked to my mom she asked me how often I think about my weight. Duh! Only every time I put on some cloths, meet a new person, go to work, try to lift something heavy, try to slip past someone, bump into things/knock over things with my hips. My family has a history of anything you can name resulting from being overweight and I don't want to live my life like that. I already have bad knees (which means I can't squat or kneel, and the Dr. says it wouldn't be bad if I lost weight) and often when I come home from work after being on my feet for 5 hours, my feet hurt so bad I can hardly stand. If I did have the surgery now, it would have perfect timing because I don't have a husband and kids to worry about. Also, I would be able to go to college at a great weight, which would be a dream come true. So I guess my question is, if you where in my situation, what surgery would you have, and am I crazy to be thinking of this? — snoopy6588 (posted on March 30, 2006)
March 30, 2006
Hi Alyssa,
You have to do what you think is good for you. I am so happy I had it done.
I would do it again if I had to.Keep in mind thier age and your age. You
are very young so recovery should not be as bad for you. I am 38 years old,
I had mine done 10-25-05 and I have lost 96 inches(68lbs) But I feel super.
As a women we should be taking calcium and Vitamins. As to take them after
surgery is no different. I went from a size 24 to a 18/16 I love it. I
wish you the best.
— bntfive
March 30, 2006
Honey, I say "go for it" - if your own insurance will cover it,
or if you are under your parents insurance, and it will cover the surgery,
I suggest you get started ASAP. Every child/adult going through life,
college etc should have the chance to do and be the very best they can be-
and your life would be so different, you would stand taller, and be happier
in the next phase of your life if given the chance. Again honey i say Go
for it, start the ball rolling, and start making those changes now. Keep
us posted with lots of pics. Huggs Cindi -221#
— DollyDoodles
March 30, 2006
I was looking at te before and after photos and ran across a boy who had it
done at the age of 14 of course his BMI was over 60. I don't think your
crazy, im 20 yrs old and am really wanting to have WLS. I've been big all
my life and never really cared until 3 yrs ago when my grandpa died from a
massive heart attack. My family has a lot of health issues and obesity is
one of them. So for 3 yrs i've ben dieting and working out with
dissappointing results. My mom had the surgery done 3 yrs ago as well as
two other women in my office. So right now i'm just doing a lot of research
and will hopefully be setting up an initial appointment. But i would
encourage you to do a lot of research. Good Luck!
— phranny19
March 30, 2006
To be honest, I wish I had this available to me when I was your age. It
would have saved me a lot of heartache and illness and lonely times. Go
with your heart.
— Sandy~Diamond
March 30, 2006
Hi Alyssa, I'm 23 years old and am wanting to (and going to) have this
surgery soon. As you peruse this site you will find several young people
who have had great success with both the RNY and the Lap-Band, and many
older people who say "I wish I would've done it sooner" and
"I wish this was available to me when I was younger". Just make
sure you do your research and understand all of the possible risks and
complications, as well as all of the possible benefits so you can make an
educated decision. As far as which surgery to choose, that really depends
on you and your lifestyle and what's going to be the best fit for you,
physically and emotionally. If you are serious about this, I would meet
with a Surgeon for a consultation; they can discuss all of the different
options with you and help you choose the right path. I wish you all the
best in your journey; feel free to e-mail me anytime. :)
— kjoy
March 30, 2006
I agree with Sandy - if I could have had WLS at 20 vs. 40, I wonder how my
life would have been different. I wouldn't have "wasted" my 20's
& 30's being morbidly obese. Good luck in whatever you decide.
— Lori J.
March 30, 2006
My only suggestion is that before you have the surgery, have your doctor
run a full run of hormone tests. My Younger sister has a hormonal problem
that caused her to be heavy even though she ate healthy and worked out many
times a week. So make sure that there are no other health related issues
that could cause the weight and if their are none, I would seriously
consider the surgery , and the type of surgery that would best suit you.
— Stormchild
March 30, 2006
I haven't had surgery yet, surgery date 4/14/06 but if I had it available
to me at 17, I would have jumped at the chance. Maybe I wouldn't have gone
with the RNY but definitely the lap band as it is reversible. This is a
very personal decision. Do your research and do what you feel is right for
you. It sounds to me like you have a family hx of obesity like myself and
no matter what I have tried I always lose and gain. Good luck in whatever
decision you make.
— classite
March 30, 2006
My young friend-- you express a clear understanding of the risks and
benefits of bariatric surgery and an appreciation of the hazards of living
with obesity. You certainly have every right to want to get this problem
behind you so that you can enjoy all that awaits you.
The RNY works well-- given that you are hopefully years away from even
thinking about having a baby, the RNY would provide lots of benefits. The
LapBand is highly touted for teenagers because you can adjust the fill
level (which would allow you to eat more were you to find yourself in an
unexpected growth spurt). The important thing is to find someone
experienced with both surgeries and find out what each procedure would
entail for you.
I had a full college and graduate school experience-- but my obesity did
hold me back: gaining and losing weight all the time was a drag, it
hindered me a little socially and definitely was a factor at 25 when I was
job hunting. Plus, there were lots of activities and adventures I never
even thought about because of embarassment about my size and concerns about
my level of conditioning. You have the maturity and poise I wish I had
possessed at 24 years ago.
Good luck in making the best choice for you.
— SteveColarossi
March 31, 2006
Alyssa. We are in *mostly* the same boat. I am 18, and weigh 304. I have
been trying to get this surgery since i was 16, but since I wasnt 18, I
couldnt find a surgeon to preform it. I would definitley go for the
surgery. I am having a problem with my insurance, I am approved, but my
insurance is going to be cancelled may 1st. My surgeon is hoping to get me
in before then. It sounds like you know all there is to know about this
surgery, but I would still do some more research, find out which one best
suits you. I have only talked with one other person younger than me, and
she was 16, but she had a lot of problems also. But if you have ANY
questions, please email me. You can access my email from my profile. I
really hope all goes as you want it to! Good Luck! Steph :)
— squeekypete
May 10, 2006
As far as your feet hurting so badly, I had the same problem. Go to a foot
Dr. and have a pair of foot orthotics made. They are inserts that fit in
your shoes. They have been a great help to me and i don't have foot pain at
all now.
— bufordslipstick
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