Matt

well, sorry everyone but i still haven't been to the doctor; school started and my life is pretty hectic, which has only increased my attachment to food in stress related times :-( i did however do some searches on bariatric surgeons who specialize in my area (Grand Rapids, MI) and they sent me some info about them and the procedure. They were having a lap band seminar but unfortunately that was the day i was going to be in florida so i had to miss it. one thing i noticed though was they said they only operate on people 18+. now does that mean i have to wait till I'm 18? or is that just the average age of the person they work on? i guess i could wait till i'm 18, and chances are i'll probably be 18 when i get it (turn 18 in JAN) if there is any banded teens out there who could give some input on their situations leading up to getting banded (confronting parents, talking to doctors, getting the money, insurance coverage (if applicable) etc) would be greatly appreciated. i promise guys, i'll see a doctor soon.

hey! welcome to the forum. while i haven't been banded (hopefully i will) i too am an over wieght 17 year old, and this is your first step to a healthier lifestyle, so congratulate yourself. but dont pat to hard on the back the journey has just begun. I can relate with you on a lot of things, im sure others on the forum can too. If i get the surgery i will not be telling my friends either. its probably better that way. again, while i haven't been banded i think i could help with some of your questions and the other members can jump in where i left off or correct me (sorry in advance if i am) on things i got wrong. "DO U HAVE ANY PAINS AFTER SURGERY??" like any surgery you are bound to have some sort of pain, nothing to serious i assume. "IS THE LIQUID DIET REALLY HARD CUSE I EAT A LOT AND IM KINDA SCARED TO SE HOW ILL DO WITH LIQUIDS??" you and i being so attached to food it will be hard, you're going to want to eat normal food because its habit, but just keep in mind you're doing this for you and that feeling is going to be worth more than food will ever be. "DO U LOOSE WEIGHT DURING THE LIQUID PHASE??" yes. i wish you luck on your banding, if you want to know a little bit more about me and my back story feel free to visit my topic i started a few months back: "Should i Get Banded?" don't be too afraid, you'll be fine. if you would mind, i have some questions i hope you would answer. like how tall are you? your weight? did a doctor recommend the lap band? and is your insurance (or your parents) going to cover it? if so which?

hey, congrats on the banding! i'm 17 too (going on 18) and i'm considering getting banded, and its good hearing some positive stories from some people my own age.

hey everyone, thanks for your replies, i'm going to set myself up with a doctors appointment soon to get his two cents on the subject. i would have made an appointment sooner but my family went on vacation... where you ask? well every big persons nightmare of course... Disney world. sitting in an airplane seat that was made for someone almost half your size is, to say the least, uncomfortable. and being as tall as i am it was murder on my knees, surprisingly i fit in most of the roller coasters and rides which was really worrying me, but one of them i didn't, and it was embarrassing to have to get off and tell my parents.. i understand what everyone is saying about the diet and exercise in conjunction with the lapband and i feel that i would be devoted to the change in lifestyle, and i feel like its my last chance. I cant graduate this year knowing that i may go off to college and balloon even bigger and be ostracized from the opposite sex more than i currently am. I need the change, every day could be an hour or day shaved off my life that i'll never get back. i'll keep you updated

thanks everyone for your input, i finally told my parents that i was concerned about my weight and asked them to look into lap banding. my mom right off the back tried to force a diet (which i knew she would) but my dad agreed with me that i should take a trip to the doctor and have his opinion on the matter. my dad understands because he's a big guy too and i know he doesn't want me to go through what he did when he was younger. what my mom doesn't get is the lapband isn't a quick fix to my problem, i'll still have to diet, but i need this to HELP with my large apatite. if i just diet alone i'll be unhappy and feel deprived and as soon as i get to my target weight i'll relapse. do you think the doctor will agree with me getting banded? even with my high BMI (around 400) and my high risk for diabetes and other problems? i want to leave all this behind me

hey everyone, i've been skimming around the forum for a while and wanted some input on whether you guys think i'm a good candidate for the procedure, if i should get it, and any extra information and opinions by people who have gotten the procedure will help me convince my parents, here's my story: i'm a 17 year old male, going into my senior year of high school, currently i am 6'1 and top the scales at about 310 (i know ), well that gives me a BMI at about 40 or more, and that is just outrageous for a teen, diets never work because in all honesty i just lack the will power, and i never can seem to be full, and that has caused me to be how i am since a young age, in middle school i was always teased for being the biggest kid and now that i'm in high school i'm not picked on, but you can tell being obese is like having a disease; people will be nice, but they will never fully accept me. don't get me wrong, i have friends, but even with them i feel like me being as big as i am makes them feel weird. i live in grand rapids, MI and i heard that Blue cross blue shield heath care would cover the cost of the surgery. is that true? i'm a borderline diabetic, my blood pressure ain't to hot, and being as big as i am limits me in my everyday life, and i have back problems, i get winded walking up the stairs in my house . my dad is a big guy too, but i even out weight him, and my clothes are too big on him, and that makes me feel horrible. i think it would be in my best interest to get this surgery to improve my quality of my life, but i think my parents wouldn't agree and would rather push a diet on me, but i know as soon as the diet get over i'd just balloon back up again. i've spent my whole life being the fat kid, and i would really like to know what it feels like to be a new man. maybe get a girlfriend for once, play some sports, sit on plastic lawn chairs (which i always break) or sit in regular chairs and restaurant booths without wondering if i'll fit. i would love to not have to wear 4XL tshirts and 58 waist jeans that cost way to much. i would love to just walk into any clothing store and pick out some clothes at a reasonable price instead of driving out of my way to go to a big and tall store. i've tried diets, they work for a little while, then i always relapse; eating at a restaurant is always a chore too, if i eat what i want, people think i'm a pig, if i eat healthy people think i'm a weight conscience loser. in my opinion i'm costing my parents more money being obese ( my clothes, all the food i eat etc) than the surgery would cost. i don't want to grow up being one of those guys on "Big Medicine" who cant walk, or take care of themselves, but i feel thats where my life is going to go if i don't get this. before i thought weight loss surgery was like giving up, but now i see it for what it really is, an aid. and i feel its just what i need, do you think i should go to my doctor and see what he thinks? or do you think he would concur with you guys? Edit: sorry for double posting

hey everyone, i've been skimming around the forum for a while and wanted some input on whether you guys think i'm a good candidate for the procedure, if i should get it, and any extra information and opinions by people who have gotten the procedure will help me convince my parents, here's my story: i'm a 17 year old male, going into my senior year of high school, currently i am 6'1 and top the scales at about 310 (i know ), well that gives me a BMI at about 40 or more, and that is just outrageous for a teen, diets never work because in all honesty i just lack the will power, and i never can seem to be full, and that has caused me to be how i am since a young age, in middle school i was always teased for being the biggest kid and now that i'm in high school i'm not picked on, but you can tell being obese is like having a disease; people will be nice, but they will never fully accept me. don't get me wrong, i have friends, but even with them i feel like me being as big as i am makes them feel weird. i live in grand rapids, MI and i heard that Blue cross blue shield heath care would cover the cost of the surgery. is that true? i'm a borderline diabetic, my blood pressure ain't to hot, and being as big as i am limits me in my everyday life, and i have back problems, i get winded walking up the stairs in my house . my dad is a big guy too, but i even out weight him, and my clothes are too big on him, and that makes me feel horrible. i think it would be in my best interest to get this surgery to improve my quality of my life, but i think my parents wouldn't agree and would rather push a diet on me, but i know as soon as the diet get over i'd just balloon back up again. i've spent my whole life being the fat kid, and i would really like to know what it feels like to be a new man. maybe get a girlfriend for once, play some sports, sit on plastic lawn chairs (which i always break) or sit in regular chairs and restaurant booths without wondering if i'll fit. i would love to not have to wear 4XL tshirts and 58 waist jeans that cost way to much. i would love to just walk into any clothing store and pick out some clothes at a reasonable price instead of driving out of my way to go to a big and tall store. i've tried diets, they work for a little while, then i always relapse; eating at a restaurant is always a chore too, if i eat what i want, people think i'm a pig, if i eat healthy people think i'm a weight conscience loser. in my opinion i'm costing my parents more money being obese ( my clothes, all the food i eat etc) than the surgery would cost. i don't want to grow up being one of those guys on "Big Medicine" who cant walk, or take care of themselves, but i feel thats where my life is going to go if i don't get this. before i thought weight loss surgery was like giving up, but now i see it for what it really is, an aid. and i feel its just what i need, do you think i should go to my doctor and see what he thinks? or do you think he would concur with you guys? Edit: sorry about the title, didnt notice that till after submission