Am I eligible?
Hi. My name is Janet and I am looking very seriously into wls.
I want to get it done at either White Plains hospital or New York
Presbyterian. I’ve already begun making calls. How long will this
process take me? It seems like forever. And even after that, it takes
a year or so to lose all my weight. I guess time will tell. I am 243
pounds and only 5′1. I am also fourteen but I have evidence that my
growth has stopped. Does anyone know any good surgeons in the New
York area that will do the surgery for a 14-year-old and that takes
the 1199 insurance union? My mother approves and is seeing me through
every step of the way. We are all in this struggle together.
Thankyou. 
October 25th, 2003 at 8:12 pm
Kimberly,
Actually many surgeons go by the NIH guideliens which state a BMI of 35 with
serious comorbidities or a BMI of 40 without. Your surgeon may have gone by
the ones below but the NIH guidelines are a bit different. They do require
that a person be mature enough to deal with the changes brought about due to
surgery and to understand the ramifications of having WLS. Also you need to
be physically mature. The surgeons I know of have operated on 16 year olds
and up but it can’t hurt to try finding a surgeon at www.obesityhelp.com
Also Janet would need to prove that she has tried dieting. Janet keep
finding out information and be as informed as possible. You definitely don’t
want to rush into making this decision — I would say that regardless of
your age. Keep asking questions and learning about it both the positive and
the negatives. Talk to a surgeon or two and see what they say. You may have
to wait until you reach 16 or 18 or you may not. It is good that your mother
supports you in this but realize this will not change only your looks but
also how you interact with food and food situations.
Denise Rasley
mailto:drasley@…
BTC, Columbus, 10/7/98
Lost over 90% of excess and maintaining
Gained a beautiful daughter on 8/9/00
October 25th, 2003 at 11:58 pm
i feel alittle conflicted by the post from a 14 yr old wondering if she is
eligible for wls. i am a high school teacher and had a conversation with a
lovely 18 yr old today that has gained about 60 lbs onto her already very
large frame in the last 6 months and can no longer move. she has heart
disease and was on prednizone, has trouble exercising and with fluids. she
is a candidate as the surgery might help to save her life. she was asking me
about it because she has been following my progress and felt i would be ok
to talk to. this 14 yr old does not say if she is sick or if there are any
co-morbidities.
this is a hell of a decision for a 14 yr old to make. i’d love to have good
advice to give but am at a loss. anyone else feel this way?
ida and george the wonder beagle
October 26th, 2003 at 4:16 am
Sorry, Kim, but it is 35 BMI with co-morbidities and
40 with no co-morbs. But the part about a surgeon is right just now the
numbers.
: )
Kalyn