heavy child and gb surgery

April 10, 2003

Dear Kate: Your daughter sounds like she is doing SO WELL!! Really.

Has a social life, has a nice family, is active. This is all so good. I have

worked with kids her age who have none of these. Believe me, she is way ahead.

With regard to 'early surgery. " THis is just my 2 cents worth, even less, 1

cent worth.

It is an option.. .

There are more and more docs who are looking into its efficacy. There will be

new procedures coming along shortly too, you will see.

Though one always has to be careful of docs who do risky things because they

are just trying to increase their income margins and don't give a darn for

the patient, and because the surgery does carry a morbidity risk, it is a BIG

idea. But, with adequate study, docs who are beginning to specialize also in

teens, who are very competent, and who have done many surgeries, I think,

again, just my opinion, it is an option. For most teens, as with adults,

post-op compliance is more the issue than any other.

So, it is an option. Just that. It is up to her about whether or ever.

It is up to you and your hubby about when and if since she is your child.

From what I have read, most docs prefer the growth spurts be over, which

comes earlier for most girls than for boys. But, even in that, different docs

have different ideas. Bariatric surgery is a very tiny and not well post-op

researched or developed medical EXPERIMENT. But as more time passes, it

becomes less experimental in one way and a mass of data to show outcome for

teens, for instance, will be available.

The surgery from my point of view is for health, all kinds, physical and

mental and social. If you see how the untouchables are treated in India,

Heavy people in the Western world are sometimes treated as poorly. It is

astonishing and all of us have lived through many episodes of it. That's why

not a day goes by that I do not think of all gb patients as incredibly brave

souls who have the battle scars to prove it. That's why I say for any person

who has the genetic, appetite, satiation, metabolic mystery working against

them....gb surgery is an option.

I just re'cd an email from a beloved friend who I had told abut gb four years

ago. No, she would do it the 'hard way.' No, no surgery for her. She went to

WW, lost 130 lbs. As of this week, she as gained it all back. She is

exhausted, broken. I would nt wish this on any soul. People think its about

being thin. That is the least of it. Something we almost NEVER talk about is

that taking such a drastic step has helped to mend back up our souls, our

spirits, put hoe where there was despair, put happiness where there was

sadness, put us out of harm's way, not only physically, but also socially,

mentally.

Who would not replace the engine in a car with a great chassis? Who would

not replace a battered chassis over a good engine? Either way, you save WHAT

IS BEST, and make what is LEAST, STRONGER.

That's what we are all talking about here, regardless of all our ticks and

tocks and aches and challenges. save WHAT IS BEST, and make what is LEAST,

STRONGER.

save WHAT IS BEST, and make what is LEAST, STRONGER.

love,

ceep grandmother

> <<train them in skills no one else has, look for their gifts of heart,

mind, soul and body and DEVELOP them. Lessons in so many things are possible,

>>

>

> My daughter (15) is obese. She was big as a baby, bigger as a toddler, and

entered obesity at about 12. Today, at 5'6 " , she weighs about 210 (size

18-20).

> I agonize over her size, and the possible medical issues, and whether I

should encourage her to have surgery at an early age.

>> Kate

April 10, 2003