Question:
Whats it like having the surgery at 16 ?
I wanted to know what it is like having the surgery at a younger age. I am 16 and this is my 2nd question to be posted I loved the responses I got from the last one so I figured I would do it again. I have a BMI of 57.9 and I am wanting the surgery done very bad. My parents are very supportive and I have done hours of research. But, not even all the research can give you an honest opinion of how you may feel after the surgery. I am very mature about this whole thing. I have made sure my homework was done before I took any steps toward getting this surgery. But, I would just like some responses from anyone from the ages of 16-20 of how their life changed when they had it done. Thank you all very much for your time and support. If you would like to email me please do at [email protected] — Ashley G. (posted on February 5, 2003)
February 5, 2003
Ashley,
My niece has surgery at age 20
I could not bare the fact of her living her life FAT
Fat stops your life
since surgery she has just bloomed
she will not have to experience the grief I did
she will not have her self esteem kicked out beneath her feet
she will not contemplate suicide
like I did everyday for years
I supported her 100% in this
she is so happy
there is a life after surgery
there is eating after surgery
just not in the quanities you consume now
and it is a total dedication to a lifestyle change
but so worth it Ashley
I would have give anything to have had this surgery at age 16
you will have choice now
choice in clothes
choice in Men
choice in jobs
choice in Friends
a entire world awaits you
and let me tell you this
LIFE IS WONDERFUL
Kathy McAlister
268 to 148
size 3X to size 12
nothing feels as good as being normal
you will have a 4 month window of oppertunity
use it wisely
move your butt
at age 16
you should be walking 5 miles each day
start the walking now
good luck
keep that light at the end of the tunnel in sight
in 1 year
you will be thin
just thin about it
dances
Dates
woow
clothes
clothes
clothes
— Kathleen M.
February 5, 2003
Well... I am old enough to be your mother or your grandmother....I would do
it for myself with the support of your parents...i just wish that my
daughter had this wonderful tool to use at your age. She is 27 and still
can;t have it done.
God luck to you what ever you have decided.
— Mary H.
February 5, 2003
Ashley,
I just wanted to tell you that some insurance companies, including mine -
Aetna - have recently put in restrictions limiting WLS to patients over 18
years of age. The only way you could get it with Aetna at a younger age is
if your PCP supplies medical proof that you have stopped growing. I
certainly wish you well on your WLS journey. I've been heavy as long as I
remember, but I didn't go over 300 and then 400 pounds until after my chemo
treatments for cancer in 1995. But I do remember what it was like to be a
fat teenager and to constantly be teased...JR
— John Rushton
February 5, 2003
Ashley, I had surgery the VGB in 1992 at the age of 18. I thought I was
mature enough to handle surgery and how it changes your entire life. Things
were wonderful for the first year. But I had what I will now call
complications...I was able to eat more, things in my life were going crazy
and I thought that my bad eating habits returning were the cause for my
weight gain. I had lost about 90 pounds and it all came back including
another 70. I was so embarrased that I had failed surgery just like all the
diets I had been on since I was a small child. I did not approach my
surgeon about my weight gain until 2000. I wish I would have swallowed my
pride and communicated with my dr long before that. Turns out that my
staples all came out allowing me to consume much more...so it wasn't
entirely my fault. Earlier in 2001, my mom found out about Gastric
Bybass...RNY. She did some research and found out that I could have a
revision from the VBG. I met with a new dr and we got the ball rolling.
April 10 2002, I had the RNY. That was about 10 years later...and at age
28. I have lost 141 pounds so far. I am almost done to what I was at with
the VGB...about 10 pounds...but I do intend to lose another 35 on top of
that. My best advice for you is to really seek out all the info you can
about the surgery and how people's lives are post op. Long term post op
info I would say is the most important. I think psych evaluations are
important as well. This is a life changing choice to have surgery and being
well prepared is key to success. I thought I was mature enough at 18. I
don't think I really will ever know if I would have consulted my dr when
things changed how my life would have been different. I do know now that my
life will never be the same, that I will always have to be aware of my
eating habits and that I and anyone else can gain weight back if the wrong
diet choices are made. Hope I have helped. Check out my profile if you
need more info or want to email me.
— bevewy
February 5, 2003
It seems most of the responses here are from people that are older. I am a
little older than what you wanted (I'm 22), but I'm still in college so I
know what it's been like to adjust being around friends and life in
general. I know I feel so different than a lot of the posters here - I'm
not married (I do have a bf), I've never had kids, I don't have a full-time
job (yet - fingers crossed for May lol), I'm in school full-time (graduate
in May), I'm constantly around all kinds of different people (I'm quite
active in student activities - was even president of my sorority)....
Anyways - getting to my point, I'm 7 1/2 weeks out from surgery. I don't
regret my decision, but to be honest - I kinda miss being normal at times.
It's hard to go to parties and have to turn down alcoholic drinks and pizza
and subs. It's hard to go out to a restaurant and just get soup (mostly
broth so far) instead of a cheeseburger and fries. It's hard to watch my
friends snacking on popcorn, chips, soda, and chocolate while I drink my
bottle of water. I am pleased with my weight loss, but I'm not so sure I'd
go so far as to say this was the best thing I've ever done like I've heard
so many times here. I made a decision to change my life and I have done
so. Talk to me in 6 months, maybe I'll feel different. You can do all the
research in the world to prepare for this, but you will have no idea the
games your head will play until you've gone through it. I am not trying to
talk anyone out of the surgery, on the contrary I am a big supporter of it
- I just want people aware that life WILL change.
— Toni C.
February 5, 2003
Hi Ashley, Im 21 years old and I had surgery December 3, 2002. Ive lost 35
pounds so far. i had no complications. i was out of it the first few days
of surgery and there wasnt much pain because i had the morphine drip. Im so
happy I did this. I feel healthier. I am off all my diabetes and blood
pressure meds. I excercise everyday and eat healthy. the first month out
was the hardest because I was so used to eating that I had horrible head
hunger. I regreted it everyday then. Now that is gone and I am so glad I
had surgery. Its worth it! You have to decide what is right for you. GOOD
LUCK!
— Lindy L.
February 5, 2003
Hi. I used to be totally against the idea of teenagers having this surgery
and would rail against it on the Q & A board. However, based on my
personal WLS experiences, I have now changed my stance. One of the biggest
myths (IMHO) about the RNY is that you will never be able to eat more than
two bites of food in once sitting again. (I'm exagerrating, but you know
what I mean.) I have found that to be so not the case. I am now nine
months out and find myself eating normal, healthy portions of
food...probably even more than your average size "normie" would
eat. I mean, I can no longer level a buffet, but I believe I am getting
adaquate nutrition from the food I consume, and I find myself inclined to
make better choices. (And, of course I still take my vites, every day.)
Anyway, my point is this...if as a teen you feel you have the maturity,
where-with-all and commitment to get through the first few post op months
of testing the waters (which can be difficult), then you should go for it.
I would just recommend doing it over the summer so that you have plenty of
time to acclimate yourself and heal. With the advancements they have made
in this surgery, there is no reason why a young person should have to go
through the misery of being MO. Whatever you, your family and doctor
decide, I am rooting for you.
— rebeccamayhew
February 5, 2003
Ashley~ I am 21 (as of 1/31/03) had an OPEN RNY on November 15, 2002. The
BEST decision I have ever made in my life. When I told my family they were
estatic! About 99% of my friends were supportive...some were upset
thinking I was "cheating" my way out or I was crazy for doing
something so drastic. Well now I have ALLLL the support from my friends
along with 52 lbs gone! Glad to hear you did all your homework. I felt
that was the most important to have done before I went it...I went in that
hospital very positive and knowing what COULD possibly happen but I made my
self get up and do things everyday after surgery and at 2 weeks (right
before staples came out) I was back to work! Im not gonna say the surey
was a breeze and it didnt hurt! The first 2 days were killers...but
everyday gets better...When I got home I didnt even touch the pain killers.
You should be fine...this surgery was my FIRST time in a hospital or
having any medical proceedure done and for being my first..and hopefully
last...it went well. Best of Luck to you!
— sandrac131
February 6, 2003
I had surgery Sept. 25, 2002...I am 20 years old. I am happy i had the
surgery but it was not easy. I had open gastric bypass and was in the
hospital for 4 days..I was feeling pretty good. I came home and did not
feel great. My mom stayed home w/ me for a week to make sure i'd be ok. I
was just drained of energy. Going to get blood work done and seeing my
doctor really took a lot of energy out of me. Now at almost 4 months out i
am much happier about my decision. I can eat more normally..(well, not
normally but more than two or three bites) and i can go out to eat and
stuff w/ friends. I weighed 257 and was 5'4" and now I am down to
around 205. It definitely isn't coming off as fast as i hoped but i have
really being doing better w/ my protein and water in the past two weeks and
i've already started to notice a difference. If i could have, i definitely
would have had the surgery at 16...i say you should go for it...but if i
were you, i'd get it done lap...i hear it's an easier recovery..good luck
to you and feel free to email me w/ questions.
— Becca P.
February 6, 2003
Hi, I am 21 yrs old and I had Lap Rny on 8/7/02. As of today I have lost
110 pounds. I am VERY happy I did this. Yes, there are hard times too, like
when everyone is gorging on fresh bread (I can't eat it, I get sick) or
when my family goes to Olive Garden and I can't go because almost
everything they have there is really bad for you. The only things I CANNOT
eat is fresh bread (I can eat toast though!), tater tots, and lots of sugar
at one time. Other than those things, I can eat whatever I want. Like I
said before I am only 21, but if I would have had the chance to have wls
when I was 16, I TOTALLY would have. My life would be so much different now
if I would have had it then. I hope you find a surgeon that will give you
wls, feel free to email me anytime. :o)
— fropunka
February 6, 2003
Hi, I am not a teenager, but just wanted to add some cautionary notes to
your decision. I know that at 16, I definitely would not have been mature
enough to handle the aftermath of WLS. Its not just a rough first few
months, its a complete lifestyle change from what you are used to and you
will be making this committment for life, because if you do not make the
committment, you may have a lifetime of medical problems. And teenagers
are not very good at thinking one day in advance, they live in the hear and
now, never mind the rest of your life! Are you mature enough to take
vitamins, water and protein, EVERY day for the rest of your life? Will you
be able to resist some of the things that teenagers/college kids do, like
skipping meals or eating just pizza meal after meal? I mean, you have to
get in sufficient protein every day and that takes planning and details,
something that a young person is not very good at. You have to get your
blood checked regularly, without fail. And continue to make wise food
choices(though occasional junk food is OK). If you don't do all this, t he
consequences can be brutal, like early osteoporosis,
dehydration-hospitalizations etc. I'm not trying to turn you away, just
ensure that you really know what the after care for this surgery entails,
FOREVER. Good luck with whatever decision you make, sweetie.
— Cindy R.
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