Young Gastric Sleeve Patients

[Seamster44 20]

Hi I'm Kayla. I'm 22 years old, 340lbs and my surgery is schedule for April 15th 2015. The clinic that I'm having my surgery done with doesn't have ANYONE who is around my age that is going through or has gone through this process. I just wondered if there are any young adults that have any advise. How did it go for you? Did you tell your friends? Was it hard to adjust back into the "young adult/college life"?? Any info would be great!!

[livingstone 137]

Hi - this is the awkward bit where I don't know if I'm 'young' but I'm 28 and three weeks out.

I will say that I think I would have found this much harder in college - back then, so many people around me were eating unhealthy but delicious food that I think it would have been difficult to avoid it. Also, you probably drink more than older people who have a sleeve - now, you will be able to drink afterwards, but you'll need to leave yourself enough time to heal, and you might find that you get drunk faster (or you might not - people seem to differ on that one).

So you will have challenges that older people won't.

In terms of telling friends - I didn't, but I did tell my best friend just a day ago because I didn't like lying to him. But aside from him, my partner and my family, no one knows.

I don't know what your living arrangements are - but if you're in a shared house or a dorm, you will probably be very emotional. I couldn't have done this when I shared with flatmates - it was only having the emotional support from my partner that helped me get through the emotional ups and downs. So make sure that you have that support around you.

If you do live in a dorm, perhaps consider scheduling your surgery during the summer if it means you can be at home with supportive family.

[SaraJay425 12]

I'm 25 and a week out. I have only told a handful of people. It was embarrassing for me being so young and needing WLS. I have found the people I have told to be very supportive. I am worried about adapting back into my social life as well. I am a social butterfly and went out for dinner and drinks often. I don't know how that is going to fit into my new lifestyle. It's good to have a good support team. Good luck.

[burtonbn 19]

Hi @@Seamster44,

I'm 25 and hopefully going to have my sleeve done in early June. I'm in the middle of the process and have the nutritionist and psychologist appointment left and then hopefully my insurance will approve I haven't quite decided who I'm going to tell yet. I'm usually a pretty open book, but this might be a little too personal to share with the world. I do take a lot of pictures tho, so I'm sure people will notice such a drastic weight change. How were you planning on handling this?

[jessica.lee91 13]

Hi ???? I'm 23 and have the same feelings about telling people. The people I have told, all of my family, who have been very supportive friend and a few work mates some of which are not supportive at all. I'm am worried about my future social life and scared about loose skin, but am so excited to be healthy for the first time since my teenage years. I'm halfway through pre op and have 1 weeks to go until sugery.

[SaraJay425 12]

I have my first day back to work tomorrow I'm really nervous I have lost 30 pounds total about 19 pounds since surgery so I wonder if people are going to notice and it's always hard to come back to work after being out because people want to know what happened where did you go what did you have done and I'm really struggling with the answer to give them even though I don't owe them an answer at all it's really tough being so young and having issues that a lot of young people have and don't deal with or older people are dealing with in the way we are having the weight-loss surgery. I'm just nervous and kind of apprehensive I was talking to my mom earlier tonight and I probably should have this question way before have a surgery but would like to young we should've done something else only being 25 just something I've been thinking about looking at other 20 some-year-olds and they're really healthy and in shape or they don't even know they can get weight-loss surgery. I guess I'm just venting on here don't have a lot of people to talk to about this I did find that the few people I did tell family members and friends were very supportive however I don't feel comfortable going out or eating with them or exercising with them or the above I kind of just been going and experiencing things by myself

[lauren8486 48]

Hi Kayla

Congratulations! I wish I had made this decision sooner - I'm 28 and will be sleeved in July of this year. I have told a select group of people. I work full time (and have a high stress job) so I've told my boss and 3 co-workers. I've told about 5 of my closest friends and will possibly tell more as I get closer/need support. I think you'd be surprised with how supportive people may be -- I was shocked. Everyone I've told has been so wonderful and is so excited for me. I was incredibly embarrassed and ashamed but then I realized it would be more embarrassing to allow myself to be so miserable when I have such a great tool at my fingertips.

[Stacyc311 36]

Congratuations. I'm 29 and I am being sleeved on 6/15. I too wish I would have made this decision years ago. I was married last year and would have loved to be thinner for my big day! I have decided to tell my immediate family, 2 close colleagues at work, and about 5 close friends. All but one of my girlfriends (surprisingly she is more overweight than me) have been supportive.

I am really doing this because my husband I want to start a family. And the thought of gaining even more weight is terrifying. I don't want to be the "fat mom". I want to be able to go out and do things with my kids, not just sit on the sidelines. Even though we will have to wait a year or so to have baby, this is the best choice for me and my body.

Good luck to you!