I was thinking.... I know there are a lot of teenagers being banded now and they deal with a lot of issues with support and advice that we (adults) don't deal with. I thought it would be nice if I created a thread that they can all identify themselves on and share amongst themselves. Hopefully this will allow them to maybe come in contact and exchange their info in private. I absolutely do not mind giving advice or chatting or whatever, I am just thinking that it might be nice to know of other teens on the site for them. Since we are a big group, sometimes they get lost in the crowd.

So if your a teenager and maybe looking for other teens to ask and advise and support, you can post here too!!!

Yay! im glad i found this thread! Im 20 in boise!

ME TOOO!!! Thanks for starting this one, hopefully more will come along cause I would like to ask others among my age, of there effects of the band

Jenna-

Thank you for this! Like we were talking about, it is different for teens! Hopefully theses teenbandsters will all come forward and we can get to know each other!

Maybe not just "teen bandsters" I know that there are a lot of us that are in our 20s that are banded! Can we retitle this??

I'm still in school and it is really hard to deal with some of the comments of people that think banding is "the easy way out" and "not safe for your body". Well, being fat isn't safe either.

Glad to see some more youthful bandsters!

Kristin

Maybe not just "teen bandsters" I know that there are a lot of us that are in our 20s that are banded! Can we retitle this??

I'm still in school and it is really hard to deal with some of the comments of people that think banding is "the easy way out" and "not safe for your body". Well, being fat isn't safe either.

Glad to see some more youthful bandsters!

Kristin

Please don't take this the wrong way, but being 24 and having the band is probably nothing like being 14 and having the band, but I really doubt it's that much different than being 34+ and having the band.

Trust me when I tell you that it's not just people in school that think banding is "the easy way out" and "not safe".

Teenagers who are still in highschool (or younger, if any such people exist) clearly have some specific issues that are unique to thier age bracket. Dealing with ignorant people, however, isn't one unique to ANY age bracket.

Jonathan

Sorry, but I do think your post was a bit rude.

1) How many 14 year olds do you know with the band? I don't think that the FDA allows anyone over 18 to be banded.

2) It's been awhile since you were 24, so how do you know that the issues I face are any different from those that a nine-TEEN year old faces??

Sorry, but I do think your post was a bit rude.

1) How many 14 year olds do you know with the band? I don't think that the FDA allows anyone over 18 to be banded.

2) It's been awhile since you were 24, so how do you know that the issues I face are any different from those that a nine-TEEN year old faces??

I'm sorry you took it that way. I was referring to "justbeingme", who posted in this thread, who is 15 years old. Jenna started this thread, evidently, after discussing the issue with "justbeingme". I make that assumption because she said, "Like we were talking about, it is different for teens."

Really, I was just trying to keep the thread on track for Jenna. I'm sorry that what I wrote seemed rude to you.

Jonathan

I don't think there is an age limit with parental consent. Teens today tend to be much more overweight, because they don't exercise like they did in the "olden days". We actually had PE in school and played games at recess...anyway I know a 15-year-old that was horribly depressed over her weight and got the band, so I have to say there isn't an age limit that I know of. Maybe different states have different rules...not sure.

Johnathan- I saw that the other posters were 20 which is why I suggested "youthful bandsters".

Dody- That is awesome! I wish that the band had been around when I was that age. I would have loved to have had a more normal childhood, without the constant ridicule of being fat. Of course, I'm from a small town where doctors don't want to do WLS, so I would have probably never known about it.

Kristin

Im 17 and getting the band done in April, I dont think there is an age limit at all, why would there be? If your depressed and overweight and you have so many self image issues why not change what you see in the mirror? If you can afford it then whats the problem? This islife changing and I think that if you get it done when your younger then you wont have that weight lose and gain when your older, its keeping you from experiencing some horrible self image issues in the future. This is an amazing oppurtunity. I have diabetes and obesity running through my family genes, I dont want to have the risk be there anymore.

I think if you have weight and health issues at any age you should be allowed to be banded. The younger and healthier you are the better the process of healing goes. Teens are very resiliant and heal quickly. More parents should be 100% behind their teens. There are so many teen suicides and depressed and unhappy teens who are made fun of by their peers. Kids can be cruel, but then so can adults. I think banding at a young age is a wonderful thing. If I had a daughter with an obesity problem I would be 100% behind helping her, just as my kids are backing my decision and I'm surely no kid. It can give a teen a new life at a most vulnerable time in their lives. Peer pressure is horrible for young adults who want to fit in. Good luck to you teens on your journey.

Sorry, but I do think your post was a bit rude.

1) How many 14 year olds do you know with the band? I don't think that the FDA allows anyone over 18 to be banded.

2) It's been awhile since you were 24, so how do you know that the issues I face are any different from those that a nine-TEEN year old faces??

Hi this is not being rude I just wanted to let you know there are 14 year old who have the band, this is just to let you know, actually there are about two that I have met on here. Well one is 15 now.

Yes, Dody pointed out that I was mistaken earlier. I think you're right, it's wonderful that younger teens are able to be banded and head off problems early.

I was apparently misinformed by a surgeon who doesn't do them because he doesn't believe that they would be able to handle the dramatic behavioral changes associated with the band. I didn't agree with the surgeon, but that's what I was told when I initially looked into the band about 3 years ago.

I think it is absolutely wonderful!! I shudder when I look at my high school graduation pictures and remember how miserable it was. If anyone can do something within their power to avoid that, then there should be no obstacle in their path to freedom, health and happiness.

Kristin

Hey everyone!! I'm new on this site and I love it! I am so excited to know that there are more teens like me out there getting banded! I am 15 years old and I was banded on January 17th. What a blessing! I am so glad that I had the opportunity to do this and I hope that joining this little group will help me through every step. Please write back!

Michelle

Hi just wanted to know did you have a lot of pain

Hey everyone!! I'm new on this site and I love it! I am so excited to know that there are more teens like me out there getting banded! I am 15 years old and I was banded on January 17th. What a blessing! I am so glad that I had the opportunity to do this and I hope that joining this little group will help me through every step. Please write back!

Michelle