Question:
Has any parents here allowed their children/child to have WLS?
I posted the question this question last year sometime and wanted to go into the library to find some responses,but I couldn't locate it. My daughters is 13y/o now and is now weighing 315lbs I have tried every diet/change of eating habit I can think of, but she loses about 10-20lbs and then gains that and 10lbs more back, so I am really and truly considering the surgery for her. She is so sad all of the time and shes starting not to care what she looks like and I can see the poor self esteem peeking through. We have no ins. but her grandfather would be willing to pay for the surgery if I would find a Dr. that would do it. Mothers can you give me some advise especially those whose children have already been there, done that--and tell me how has it affected their life. — mischief85 (posted on May 21, 2003)
May 21, 2003
Sorry to say, but no surgeon is going to operate on a 13-year-old...JR
— John Rushton
May 21, 2003
I am not sure if you will find a surgeon that will perform the surgery but
you might I would check into it,she is definitely a candidate and I guess
if she has parental consent things might work out especially since she is
so young and has alot of weight to lose.
— TotallyTori
May 21, 2003
I would call your nearest childrens hospital and ask them if they do
bariatric surgery on children and if so to refer you to a surgeon. You
might also ask your pediatrician and ask if he knows of anyone who does
pediatric bariatric surgery.
— thesaurkratkid
May 21, 2003
Hi Stephanie,
I just want to tell you, don't give up! I was watching a special on
TV a few weeks back and it focused on a young lady who had the surgery and
I beleive she was 13. It was awhile ago so I don't remember the details but
I do remember that she was under the age of 16 so keep up hope and keep
researching!! Keep me posted! I would love to know how everything goes for
you!
— Carrie-Ann B.
May 21, 2003
You might not be able to get a surgeon to do the RNY (or any other
malabsorbtion surgery) but you could probably find one to do the LapBand.
— SJP
May 21, 2003
I agree with Sheryl, call a childrens hospital. I do know for a fact that
wls has been performed on children UNDER 18. Just last week on that Fox
news show (can't remember the name, but it's a "Dateline" type
show) they had a story about a 14 yo girl who had RNY performed. There was
also a 17 yo girl from another group I frequent who had it done about 2
weeks ago, so, it is very possible. Good luck to you, and your daughter,
and don't give up!!
— Cat S.
May 21, 2003
Hi Stephanie- Your post made my eyes water, I really feel for you and your
daughter. I did see a few months ago a "Dateline" or
"20/20" type of show about 2 teenage sisters who'd had the
surgery together and it was helpful to them. Since her grandpa is willing
to help out, it wouldn't hurt to go talk to a surgeon, or ask him/her to
direct you to a facility that could help. Good Luck, and please post again
when you have the answer. MEA :o)
— Mea A.
May 21, 2003
Hello. I am a mother, and can not imagine what it must feel like not to be
able to help your child. I had the Lap-band 2 weeks ago, and one of the
surgeons I had a consultation with had just started a program for minors. I
am not sure of the ages he was working with, but it would be something to
look into. The lapband is not as drastic of a change for someone so young.
This Dr. is in Dallas, TX, named Richard Benavides.
— Jessica P.
May 21, 2003
Stephanie-
Just looked at your profile and noticed you are in Houston. Dr. Benavides's
main office is in College Station, and has many patients from Houston. FYI.
— Jessica P.
May 21, 2003
I have 3 small children and both my boys are thin, but my daughter who is
only 3 is already having weight issues and im trying to get it under
control now. She has my body structure and my weight problems. My husband
already asks me what if she has my problems would we let her do this when
she's old enough and I have mixed emotions about it, just b/c I don't want
her to need it. I was fine and im happier than ever, but it's still been
hard. I feel for you and your daughter and I agree with everyone else on
talking to a surgeon. I do know a mother and son who had it done and he was
16 and weighed close to 500lb and now he is happy and doing fine. I hope
someone can help you find the solution, good luck to both of you :o)
— Sandy M.
May 21, 2003
It's my understanding that Children's Hospital in conjunction UAB Medical
Center (both in Birmingham, Alabama) are doing a research project on RNY in
children. Not to contradict any of the previous posters but the surgery is
done on children as young as 13 in several places in the U.S. The thing
that would attract me to this research program is that they are being
totally comprehensive and leaving nothing to chance. UAB (University of
Alabama at Birmingham) is one of the most widely respected teaching
hospitals in the United States. You could call the office of Dr. Ronald
Clements for more information at 205-934-999 or Children's Hospital at
205-939-9100. Bariatric surgery on children is widely debated as there are
many ethical issues involved. I know you will make the decision that is
right for your circumstance. Best wishes to you and your child.
— ronascott
May 21, 2003
I'm sorry for leaving off a number for Dr. Clements office. The number is
205-934-9999 (this is the physician referral number and they will forward
you).
— ronascott
May 21, 2003
Stephanie, I hope you get some parents of teens that respond to you.
Talking to a childrens hospital for a referral to bariatric surgery for
kids might provide you with some referrals/sources to talk to. I would
advise you, though, to be very cautious when thinking about this type of
surgery on someone so young. There are long term problems that can develop
if we do not take our vitamins, supplement calcium and eat protein for the
rest of our lives. It takes a mature person to be able to do all that
consistently and most young teens just are not mature enough to do so.
They tend to live in the moment and don't think ahead to the rest of their
lives. While I sympathize with your daughter's issues and your desire to
help her, perhaps a reversible procedure, like a lapband might be a better
interim step until she is old enough to handle such a drastic change as the
RNY and its lifetime committments.
— Cindy R.
May 21, 2003
I too was MO even as a 13 y/o, so I can understand how hard it is for your
daughter. However, has she actually asked for weight loss surgery (I assume
she knows you're pursuing it for yourself)? If she doesn't yet show an
interest in it on her own, I would be reluctant to encourage someone so
young to pursue such a serious lifetime commitment. Even many adults have a
hard time with remembering to take the necessary supplements and to eat
right after WLS. I also wonder if such a young person would be emotionally
prepared to cope if she experienced severe complications.
I am 20 years old and just got the lapband last Friday. It was hard to grow
up fat, but I don't regret that I waited until adulthood to get surgery.
I'm not sure if I would have had the strong focus and determination I will
need to succeed with my tool if I had it done any younger.
Anyway, this is just my opinion. Good luck to you both.
— K M.
May 21, 2003
Childrens Hospital in Cincinnati Ohio does gastric bypass on adolescents.
http://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/svc/prog/weight/default.htm
Here is a link for you. Best of Luck! Andrea
— Andrea F.
May 21, 2003
As an obese child I can definitely identify with the pain your daughter is
suffering. I will not lie--being obese most of my life was frightening and
depressing. I don't think a 12 yr old would ask for WLS only because kids
probably don't know much about it or understand it. If my daughter weighed
that much I would run, run, run to the best surgeon I could find to at
least consult with her/him about the topic. I would assume that a good,
concerned surgeon would only do a LAP BAND on a child due to the chance
that it could be easily removed if problems occurred. It's such a personal
decision so I hesitate to encourage any type of surgery but I will tell you
that if i could have had WLS at 13 I would have!!!!!
— jenn2002
May 21, 2003
This is such a tough question. If she is interested, then it would
certainly help her self-esteem and health. But there are two concerns: as
a 13 year old, would she be able/willing to comply with the strict
supplement/water/protein/exercise schedule? We all know teens! Also, some
parents opt to wait until their teen is done growing so the malabsoptive
component doesn't cause harm. At least with most girls, growing stops
fairly young, so she may not have too long to wait. Good luck on this
hardest of decisions!
— [Deactivated Member]
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