Young and RNY: Insane or Good Idea?

I know exactly how you feel. I started looking into WSL when I was 23 and decided it wasn't for me. I spent the next 2 years gaining more weight and finally when I was 25 I got a referral. I had surgery this year when I was 26 and recently turned 27. I'm not really in my early 20s any more but it does freak me out a bit that I have had the surgery so young. That said, I know it was absolutely the right thing to do and I'm so glad I have had it done. I have my whole life to look forward to.

I have a shot at a healthy pregnancy and not being the overweight mom. I have a few more years before I hit 30 to not be obese and maybe have some fun. Hopefully I have even reversed potential health issues; I had this surgery before I got diabetes or any other condition. I have no doubt I would have developed diabetes without this surgery. No doubt at all.  

Think long and hard and make the right decision for you.

There are serious positives to it if you plan to have children in the future:

http://www.decodedscience.com/bariatric-surgery-weight-loss- healthier-babies/19293

I guess I'm a pre op old dog eh but as others have said it sounds like you have made up your mind I wish this was an option when I was younger just saying.   

I too wish I would have done it sooner. I feel like I am living life now and not hiding in the shadows anymore.

When I had foot surgery in Aug. not being able to take anti-inflammatory meds sucked but I'd trade it for being thin any day.

The only issue I could see would be if I had a chronic condition where I might need to take them daily. But then again I was not doing my health any good by being morbidly obese. 

 

It is a life long commitment.

The weight comes off fast- it's like a dream, you can't nearly eat as much as you used to. Then your weight eventually will 'level'. 

As time goes by you can eat more than you originally could and can eat 'not so healthy' things. So what I'm saying is you do need to develop good habits and change the way you chose to eat. For me it would be easy to gain back weight. No, I can't sit down and eat a  pizza like I could before but I certainly could eat a slice here and there and it would be gone by the end of the day.

 

Long story  longer... YES I wish I would have done it sooner!!! I am living life. I will have to watch my weight "forever and ever" but then who doesn't?

 

Being young you have so many things on your side, so much life to live. I'm 2.3 years post surgery and the positives keep coming!!!

Hi Sabby

 

Its good you think of this.....this is a big irreversible decision

 

I don't know how much you have to lose....whether you are obese - or morbidly obese....or super morbidly obese

I also don't know how many times you have attempted to lose weight and with what degree of success

This is just my opinion ok.....but if I had  over 100 pounds to lose....and I had repeated attempts at weight loss and weight gain....I would likely look at a VSG.......

If I had less then 100 pounds to lose.....and I didn't have 5 or more serious attempts to lose....( Weigh****chers for example)....then I think I would make a last very serious attempt to lose on my own

I would have RNY if I had over 120 pounds to lose - and DS if I had over 150 to lose.....

The thing that would concern me long term is malabsorption....and deficiencies therein....to me this is mitigated if you are super morbidly obese...because getting the weight off with malabsorption long term would to me be the lesser of two evils

I should have done this sooner....but I was 53 when I had surgery.....wi**** has been available when I was in my mid 30's.......

 

My honest worry for those so young is managing deficiencies long term.......that is why I like the VSG for those in there 20's and early 30's.....this is just my opinion....if you were my daughter, that is what I would be fighting for....

....but a caveat with the VSG.....it requires more effort to ensure you get all the weight off.....the same effort to keep it off, as malabsorption diminishes with time in the RNY......but you would have to really follow the program to get the weight off initially....without the physiological assistance of malabsorption...

 

I think when we are obese....all we can think of is getting the weight off....and we will worry about the rest later....its difficult to see past the emotions of fat....the thought of being thin can blind us to anything else...

This is just my opinion....again....its all about managing your lifetime of potential deficiencies.....if you are confident you can do this.....then any of the surgeries are great for you.....but you must commit to the lifestyle

 

Good luck

 

Good response Barb.

I wish I had also done rny alot sooner !!


I am so much more free to do many things that I had a hard time with for many years. LOVE my RNY

I have a cousin that had RNY when she was 18. I don't talk to her much about her journey. I know she is almost 6yrs out and she looks great.

My one and only comment is..........don't get a RnY at such a young age. If you want WLS, try for a Sleeve

you have no idea how your body is going to age.......and if you end up with any form of arthritis, you are screwed.

 

I agree with Barb and Mermaidz, I would look into a VSG at your age.  All the best!

Have you considered VSG?  There aren't the same restrictions medication-wise.  If, in the long term it was not enough, they can then do a different procedure (ie DS, RNY)...just my thoughts