Question:
What is the youngest age to have this surgery?
My daughter is 13 and 300 lbs.! We have tried many things and had her blood tested for everything! I had the surgery almost 2 years ago and we have all changed our eating habits, but she hasn't lost any she stays the same or gains some? She has had a real hard time with seeing me lose all my weight but I know she is happy for me but jealous at the same time! I want her to lose so bad she has such a hard time in school and can't wear clothes like everyone else and can't do things that kids her age can do! She is beautiful and is very outgoing but still very self concious! We live in Michigan and in one of the highest percentage for obesity! If anyone knows of a doctor that will do this PLEASE let us know! We have BCBS Teamsters Insurance. Thanks — Kathy G. (posted on June 2, 2002)
June 2, 2002
This is my 2 cents worth. IF a surgeon will take her and your insurance
will pay for it I say GO FOR IT. Why allow her to suffer the years of
being over weight that we have. How I wish I would have done this in my
early 20s instead of waiting now. ( well not really cause the surgery is
so much better now, but you know what I mean)
— Diane Rhoads
June 2, 2002
Greetings! There is a mother and Daughter in my wls support group and the
Daughter is 17 and I believe her surgery is early this summer after school
gets out
— karenrose
June 2, 2002
My Doctor did a 13 yr old girl who weighed #400 pounds
keep looking for a doctor
why should your daughter live this way
it is genetic...
we know that
its not totally her fault
yes we must accept some fault..
but only some
not all
good luck
my surgeon in CA charges 16,000 dollars
maybe you can remorgage the house
this is a investment in your daughters life, future happiness
move heaven and earth to find a way
My Doc in
FResno, California
Doctor Paul Frye
55-449-3040
he is wonderful..
absolutly the best
the most caring Doctor I have ever been to
he follows his patients for years and years
your his patient for life
Kathy McAlister
— Kathleen M.
June 2, 2002
My doc did a 13 year old boy 7-8 yrs ago. He followed the program that we
use and I saw him last year (2001). He was a tall, handsome & healthy
20-something with wife and child! And he is of normal body weight. Is that
exciting or WHAT?
— vitalady
June 3, 2002
Every Doctor is different. Mine will not do the surgery until the age of
17. However, I did read a stories about a 13 year old girl...it is very
interesting. I went to Yahoo and did a search under "Gastric Bypass
stories" and it is the 4th or 5th one down. Her name is Megan
Anderson. Hope this helps.
— Sharon H.
June 3, 2002
After you find a doctor to do the surgery, it will be important to find
someone to help her psychologically before and after. Thirteen year olds
are just entering puberty- hormones are very unpredictable. Add the weight
loss surgery and she may have a hard time. Counseling/therapy would
probably be very helpful. I've worked with kids now for 20 years and have
a 25 year-old daughter myself. I wouldn't have done it when she was 13
without the psychological support. Good luck to you and her!!
Loretta
— Loretta E.
June 3, 2002
I had Dr. Wood. He is WONDERFUL and does some younger people by
consultation. www.micropouch.com I live in Michigan also. :)
— Paula Prichard
June 4, 2002
Dear Kathy ~ I just wanted to reach out and give you & your daughter a
big hug. I know how difficult it is to grow up with a weight problem.
Kids can be so cruel and it breaks my heart to think about what your
daughter has been through so far. What I never realized as a fat child is
that no matter who kids are and what they look like or their size, they're
ALL getting picked on. Kids can just be mean - I listen to that country
song that sings about one day we'll all have special wings and that we'll
all be the same and it takes me back to my childhood days. I am going to
send some extra prayers in yours & her direction and I hope she gets
the help that she needs - for her confidence, if nothing else. Please tell
her someone in Oregon truly loves her and feels a sisterhood with her. I'm
an email away if you or her wants to visit. Bright Blessings ~ Lisa J.
— Lisa J.
June 4, 2002
I cannot believe that so many people are saying that this is a good thing
to do for a 13 year old child! My heavens, she hasn't even gone through
puberty yet. This is a life altering decision and it's forever. I know
that the odds are in her favor that she will have a good outcome
but....what happens if she turns out to have an outcome like mine? We're
talking the rest of her life here folks. Maybe some deep counseling and a
great nutritionist can at least keep the pounds at bay until this child is
18 and can make her own informed decision. I know that this is an
unpopular stance but I just don't know that at 13, this child has the
willpower and the determination and the tools to use the surgery correctly
forever. I won't even allow my teens to get a tattoo which I feel is
permenant. I don't allow them in the sun too much without sunscreen for
fear of skin cancer later in life. I am trying to do everything I can, as
a mom, to make it so that they don't say "what did you let me do to
myself as a child" when they are older. This is a very permenant step
and I would think twice, if not three times before doing this to a 13 year
old. "If" you are determined to do it, please think about the
ABG. At least this is removable if need be and doesn't permenantly alter
the child for life. Just my opinion.
— Barbara H.
June 27, 2002
I do know of one case where a 15 year old had the surgery done and he is
fine. I believe there are exceptions to any surgery man has created, and
if the doctors see it as a chance to help her and are willing to do
it.....I say go for it! Give her a big hug... I have been in those shoes
and know what it is like.
Sincerely, Angypi
— Angy P.
January 24, 2003
I don't want to say this because i know how hard it is to be obese, but my
sister had the surgery at 16 yrs old. i am sorry to say that it really was
too young.she did lose her weight, but then she was finally thin and she
went wild. she made really bad diet choices, as most kids do, The problem
with this is simply that after high school and into her sophmore year of
colleg the activity level did a nose dive, but she was still eating the
foods that are not good for you she proceeded to gain all of the weight
back plus more. She tried to get the surgery redone, but no one would
approve her. please think very carefully beforeyou decide for sure that
this is for your daughter. Kids have a had time thinking that they are not
indestructable. they have a tendancy to think that it won't happen to me.
please make sure she knows that the weight will come back plus some if she
doesn't always watch her intake and exercise. this is just a tool to help
lose the weight not a cure all. best wished to you and her. i pray it all
works out for the best.
— eva Z.
April 9, 2003
When I was 13 yrs old and overweight I would have killed for something like
this to help me. It's unbearable when you're young and overweight. Kids are
so very, very cruel.Not to mention what your social life is like in school.
The only thing that I would do is make sure that she fully understands 100%
what she is getting into with this. And how it will affect her the rest of
her life.
Make her go to support group meetings and have a few different sessions
with a psychologist before actually dpoing it. BUt if she has you to help
her then it should be easier for her to handle.
— Beverly S.
April 9, 2003
I feel for both of you!! I know how rough it is in this day and age to not
feel 'normal'in school. I'm now 21 years old and 2.5 weeks post opp. I
know how hard this is, but I really feel like not only are you still
growing as a teenager, but that those years are where you really have to
give it a huge effort every other possible way. I know it's frusterating,
but this is a HUGE decision. My own parents were supportive, but made SURE
that this was MY choice, how would they have felt if something had gone
wrong? At 21 I still feel like it's terrific to do this young, my recovery
was a snap compared to others, but 13 is SO young. I also think it took me
those years to be SURE this is what I wanted. So is young a good idea,
YES, but I just am not sure about young teenagers. Good Luck!!!
— Eryn G.
April 9, 2003
Your poor daughter. I also was obese all of my life -- but I also know I
couldn't have dealt with this surgery when I was 13; I'm having a hard
enough time at 34! Encourage your daughter, remind her that she is
beautiful, EXERCISE with her! If she doesn't grow out of this, she can
have the surgery when she is older. Seriously, think about the permanent
changes we have done to our bodies....and consider waiting until she is
just a little older. Give her a kiss for me.
— Tamara K.
June 10, 2004
im 14 yrs of age and i am having the surgery. i have tried everything and
my mother has payed thousands of dollars and nothing worked. although your
daughter is youn like me, you have to talk 2 her and she agrees with you,
you could improve her life, and that is what my mother and i are hoping for
— kiah N.
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