Lap Bands For My Teen

As a 200 pound 8th grader and then a 250 pound high school kid, I would have leaped at the chance. I would have done anything....as a matter of fact, I did try anything. I ate tons of boiled liver (torture for a kid), an ocean of tuna (covered in ketchup), floods of skim milk, enough carrots to satisfy even Bugs Bunny and enough apples to appease every teacher in the world. And don't forget, as a treat, a delicious but satisfying Tab or Fresca....yum yum!

By the time I went to college, I had tried most fad diets and even prescription diet pills. Yes, I would have tried anything...even a drastic sounding surgery. Poor kids, I wouldn't want to ever redo that, it was hell!    Connie

You are not going to like me then. My 14 year old is 6'3 and weighs over 350 pounds. Currently has high blood pressure, high cholesterol, pre diabetic, severe sleep apnea that requires him to wear a c pap machine (which he hates) and is up to taking 5 medications. Last October we went to a seminar for surgery but my son decided he wanted to try one last diet before taking such a drastic step.
Fast forward to May 4 and only having lost 14 pounds my son is now researching getting the sleeve. I am behind my son 100 percent. People are so judgmental but what am I suppose to do I am watching my son slowly die before my eyes.

 Why wouldn't we "like you?"

No judging.

Your child needs help.

My concern is surgery done for vanity - the 175 lb 14 year old who wants to be 100 lbs.

350 lbs and sick is different.

Please continue working toward the sleeve.

You have my support -- you don't have to hide behind a fake name.  

I am behind you 100% as well.  I think the band is a horrible device.  Most people suffer horrendously with it, and that is my main objection.  The sleeve is an excellent choice for anyone and I wish your son every success.  I was MO as a teenager, and it is not fun at all.  

I am glad you are helping your child get surgery.  Altho I have to say I am glad it is not the band.  I hope the sleeve helps him and solves his medical co-morbidities.

Let us know how he does.

~Becky

I think the Sleeve is an EXCELLENT choice for a 350 pound 14 year old.

That's a whole different ball of wax. Your son is an excellent surgery candidate, and I am THRILLED that nobody needs to talk him out of a band (for which he is MUCH too heavy in the first place). As MM pointed out, Allergan is marketing to less obese people now. So combine moderate obesity with teen angst and their baldfaced lying marketing and you get a problem.

It's great that he's making such concerted efforts on his own behalf. Fantastic!

Thank you M M. I was to scared to post under my real user name I had Rny done in 2007 and am very happy with my results. I just feel like such a lousy parent though. Both dad and I were not petite it is not an excuse for my son but he was always the tall big kid in class, even in school photos it is so noticeable the difference.

 Obesity is very often a family thing.

All of my kids are overweight.

My DH and I were both MO.

His parents = both MO.

Mine = one MO, one not.

It happens, genetically and enviromentally.  Having WLS ourselves is a big component of change, but it doesn't always work. 

Hang in there.  

Loving your child is not wrong in any way!

It hurts me to see my grandson suffer. He's a cheerful heart, but even in cub scouts, the other kids could run circles around him.

My ex died at 49, his first heart attack at 39, fatal at 49.

My son will be 41. His wife had a distal RNY like mine and lost, I think, well over 200#. Both her parents are MO, both my son's. Back a generation and we start getting mixed MO.

My ex would be alive today, had he done any malabsorptive surgery. His cholesterol killed him. That is also genetic, so what are my grandson's chances?

Over the years, I've seen all types of surgeries done on teens. One girl at 15 did phenomenally well. Her dad and sister (older) did not. they struggled with saying no to themselves about anything, and they didn't stay on their nutrition plan at all. They were a loving LDS family, but the other daughter got involved with alcohol (confirming the stats, 1 out of 3 of us).

1 boy was 16 and he wouldn't take responsibility for his own supplementation. His mom did it all, buying it, tasting proteins to decide for him...... I guess I don't need to tell you how that turned out when he got old enough to HAVE to make his own decisions.

It totally depends on the person, I'd have been OCD,, er, dedicated enough to follow instructions, had there been such a thing back in the cave woman days when I was a teen.

I have 2 DIL with surgery. The one who lives far away follows my exact eating and supplementation program. The one is near me, used the same doc, has the same procedure thinks I'm nuts, and is rapidly regaining, and I suspect some is the self induced malnutrition. Both of them were in their 30's.

The ONLY reason I wouldn't encourage her son's WLS would be that I think she might sabotage it. That's not a risk you are facing.

But, as best you can, fast forward. Will your child stay on vites? Is restrictive enough? Would you support adding a malabsorptive component down the road if he seems to get the hang of self-care? All of that plays a part in your final decision.

As for anyone judging you for wanting to save your child the horrors of being an MO teen, that would certainly not be ME. I just don't care for the bands as anything other than a "first procedure", since there are too many mechanical parts.