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  1. #1
    Gastric Sleeve Member
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    Question Surgery for teens

    Hi there,

    My daughter is 18 yrs old with a BMI of almost 40%. Our dr recommended we look into a sleeve surgery, and we started the 6 months evaluation process with Stanford.
    While I undertand the positive impact of the surgery and the risks of not having it, I found little about long term impact and side effects, namely with teens.

    Can anyone share some experiences and long term impact of this surgery with teens?
    We need this angle badly - at 18, she has her entire life ahead of her and this surgery is non reversible...

    thank you for sharing!

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  3. #2
    Gastric Sleeve Member KiwiGal's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
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    Lisa
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    Stephanie Ulmer
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    Default Re: Surgery for teens

    Congratulations on doing your research and looking for answers. You are right this is irreversible.
    Sorry I can't help with this. I was sleeved at 54 years of age - I wish it had been available when I was 18 - how different my life might have been.
    I hope that you find the answers.



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  5. #3
    Gastric Sleeve Member kenson's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
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    Default Re: Surgery for teens

    Raviv,
    Oh how I wish the sleeve had been available to me as a teen. I'm not sure of anyone on the board who had the surgery as a teen. I am 6 years out and I have nothing but positive things to say about it. I think if your daughter is ready and has the right mindset this surgery will have such a positive impact on the rest of her life.



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  7. #4
    Gastric Sleeve Member jerzeygirl's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
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    Default Re: Surgery for teens

    There have been many studies on bariatric surgery being done on teens and under recently and they have shown that it's very successful and has even reversed Juvenile diabetes in some patients. It is also recommended that the family also change along with the child and it becomes a lifestyle. I would suggest the surgery will work especially during the honeymoon period(first year), however; unless behaviors are modified and lifestyles changed, i.e., fitness added, etc. it's a challenge for long-term maintenance.
    My only regret being 8 1/2 years post-op is not having had the surgery sooner as I was obese my whole life before surgery. I truly believe the entire course of my life would have been different in a positive way! Personally, I'm all for it and I admire you for even thinking about it for your child and doing your research, kudos!
    Robert Woods Johnson in NJ does the surgery on children and you might want to check their website. Good luck to you and your child!!



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  9. #5
    Gastric Sleeve Member Katrina's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
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    Katrina
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    11/04/2014
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    Dr. Borland
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    Default Re: Surgery for teens

    My daughter had the sleeve at 19. She has been left permanently disabled as a direct cause. She suffered a traumatic brain injury from persistent vomiting about 2 months after surgery that left her with a vitamin B1 (thiamine) deficiency. If doctors had listened and helped her, this may not have ended up so horribly, but they said she was faking. She is now 23 and mostly in a wheelchair. She can walk a minimal distance in the house with a walker. She has nystagmus causing her to be unable to see very well. She almost never leaves her bed from the severe anxiety and depression from all she went through and continues to go through.

    Now, having said that, this isn't specific to teens. It is a fast growing problem that can hit anyone who has this surgery. The key is to find doctors who are willing to help and help fast. We weren't fortunate to have those doctors for my daughter. You can look up Wernicke's Encephalopathy and Wernicke's Kosakoff. That is her specific illness, and the one that has been seen more and more frequently in the WLS community. You won't find anyone here with it because those that have it are no longer able to communicate like the rest of us. There is a Facebook page for it, and that is how I've become familiar with how many people it is affecting.

    Keep in mind that the majority of WLS patients do well. It is a crapshoot on how it will turn out for each individual. I would never allow her to have it had I known her life would be destroyed. Sure, shes skinny at 112 pounds now, but shes just a skeleton in the bed. No life at all. It wasn't worth it.
    No pre-op diet
    Day of surgery 11/4/14: 5'4" 213lbs
    1 month: 187
    2 months: 171
    3 months: 155
    4 months: 148
    5 months: 142
    6 months: 136
    7 months: 131
    8 months: 125
    9 months: 120
    10 months: 114
    11 months: 111
    1 year: 109
    1.5 years: 105
    2 years: 108
    2.5 years: 102
    3 years: 113
    4 years: 115
    5 years: 115
    6 years: 117



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  12. #6
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    Default Re: Surgery for teens

    So sorry to hear about your terrible experience. Thank you so much for bringing this issue up. It will definitely influence our research and final decision

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