[auntie_ray_ray]

I know how stomach stapling is done for the most part and I know how much it cost. What I don't know is if you have to be a certain age to get this done or how long recovery takes. Anybody know?

[J_9]

It is different for every situation. I have seen some as young as 16.

Now, understand that when and if you do it, you will be on medications for the rest of your life as your body has a much harder time absorbing nutrients.

Recovery can take as short as 2 weeks, I have seen it take up to a year. I have also known a gal that had it done at age 18 who ended up dying. So this is nothing to take lightly and many doctors should be consulted before you find the right one for you.

[shygrneyzs]

I agree with J_9, this is nothing to be taken lightly. My daughter had this done and my best friend's sister had this done. Part of the requirement was for them to go for a psych eval and counseling before the surgery. Also part of the requirement is that you have to be at least 100 lbs overweight before the surgery will even be considered.

As J_9 said, everyone's recovery rate is different. My daughter was so sick the first three months after surgery. She barely keep down the protein drink they had given her. It took her a year to finally feel well. She was 340 pre surgery and a year afdter surgery, weighed 118. That was 6 years ago and she has kept her weight between 115 and 120 and is happy and feels great. My best friend's sister had a more quick recovery time but to this day (and that was five years ago) she cannot eat more than a cup of food total for one meal. So she adjusts and has six or seven meals a day. Which is healthy anyway. No stomach overload. I have known people who have died - one of my co workers died three months after her stomach stapling due to complications. I once cared for a patient in the hospital who made it through the first 48 hours very well. But died the next day. Too much stress on her heart.

Many things can happen. There is a standard of care involved in the procedure and care in the hospital but no one can predict the eventual outcome. Good luck to you. May whatever you choose to do be the best choice.

[auntie_ray_ray]

Thanks guys... I have another question... do you know the probablity of someone having complications or having this procedure result in death? If not that's fine... I can dig up stuff and see what I find. I am going to talk to my doctor about it. She's put me on many diets and none have worked. I'm not doing this to just look good I'm sick of being overweight and being unhealthy. Its like no matter what I do I can't lose anything. I even tried diet pills. I've been struggling with my weight since the 6th grade and in the 7th grade I became anorexic. That was the only way I ever lost weight and I'm not going to do that to myself again.