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Wls is renowned for making infertile women, very, very fertile right after surgery. Even those with PCOS. So if you suspect pregnancy is a possibility, take a test. And what others have said, double up on birth control. As Arabesque said, wls changes our hormones and rarely it can even induce menopause in those women who are perimenopausal. This forum is full of threads of previously infertile women becoming pregnant in the weeks and months after wls because they weren't expecting to become fertile so quickly after surgery.

If you've accepted the risk then you wouldn't be prepared to beat yourself up for making a decision that resulted, completely out of your control, in a less than positive outcome. Accepting the risk means making the best of any result. I don't think you realize it but you are loaded with conflict, the result of which is you can't win: "I have been blessed with good health, despite obesity" except: "I want to get healthier, " and "I want to be able to exercise without getting so winded," and " I had to run to catch a plane a few weeks ago and I just couldn't keep up with my family," and " I want to be able to roll over in bed without it causing earthquake motion", and " I would love to get off of my CPAP." Are you "healthy" or not? pick one. Then there is your selfish desire to "My husband and I go to Disney all the time and I would like to take them [the Grandkids]" You've talked yourself into a fine no-win scenario: You talk about surgical horror stories you've read that lead to death, stroke, being sick forever. Not unsurprisingly these are also major complications of morbid obesity. You can kick yourself for getting surgery and not getting surgery! Which path will you regret more? Trying and failing or not trying at all. My philosophy is that the path I choose will work out for the best. It's this philosophy or living in regret. Good luck, Tek

I had only heard of this on passing so I googled it. It says it can cause “stomach problems” as a side effect. Because of this I would definitely ask the surgeons opinion about when it’s okay to continue treatments. And maybe research a little further to figure out what “stomach problems” they are speaking of and how surgery will impact them.

Yeah, just because something doesn't work for you a month or two after surgery doesn't mean you will NEVER be able to eat it again. I'm 8 months out and I still can't eat salad, but I can now eat everything else. Slider foods to me are things that are so heavily processed that they break down into nothing in the stomach, so they don't make you full. For me, things like cookies or desserts. I can eat them after I'm "stuffed" with protein. I try to be careful about eating those, for lots of reasons.

That’s a good point too about the drinking. I am guessing the OP will have to take more breaks somehow. Maybe split it into two so it’s not AS bad. This will be less of an issue the further out you get when you can drink a glass of liquid in a reasonable amount of time.

I second the protein shake. Or maybe meat and cheese squares. Everyone worries about “grazing” but I’m not sure if it really is bad if you actually portion out a lunch or dinner and only eat that amount just over a longer period of time?? By definition it may be grazing but that doesn’t mean it is necessarily problematic?? It could be but I would ask my surgeon about this. Given your schedule it may be the only way you can get in enough protein.

During the pre op diet and the post op life do not compare your progress to others. Just stick to the plan your team lays out for you and trust the process. We are all here to cheer one another on but we are all so different that your journey will be unique to you.

Write a list of all your questions to take to your appointment

When I had my surgery done, I knew I wanted it and it was almost a life or death decision for me. I wanted a life that did not include bad knees, breathlessness and diabetes. I was so embarrassed of my weight that I never went outdoors. For me it was a no brainer. I paid as quick as I could. I had a rough ride in the beginning but I am over it now and away and pacing. I am so happy with my choice. I cant make your fears go away but I can show you some more success stories. Go and look at the before and after threads. They go back 20 years and give wonderful motivation. Millions of people have had this done and very few of them have problems. I don't know the numbers. All I can say is if you have doubts, wait until you are 100% ready. You know when you know !

When I had the surgery, I was 41, 6'1", HW of 505, CW 490, surgery day weight of 460. I had sleep apnea, prehypertension and a BMI of ~60. I also had to take blood thinning injections post-surgery. I also had bypass surgery (which has a higher risk of complications). So you and I are/were in roughly the same ballpark. I came through the surgery fine. Definitely sore. But it drastically improved my life and I would make the same decision in a heartbeat. Heck, I was able to look down today and see my toes, instead of them being covered by stomach. I've gotten to experience stepping on a scale and having the first number be a 2. I am approaching the nine-month mark and I weigh 295 and wear 2xl/3xl shirts (I'm like a 2.5xl at this point, I was a solid 6xl pre-surgery). Do you have risk factors? Yeah. But here is what I noticed from that list: you don't have a major condition that will obviously cause complications (like some disease that makes it difficult for your blood to clot or something like that). Do you have a higher potential for complications than someone who only weighed 400 pounds? Yeah. But its a generalized risk, not a specific risk. My recommendation, if you are still interested in the surgery, is to determine right now that you are going to follow your surgeon's post-surgery advice to the letter. If you need 28 days of injections, decide right now that you will do all 28 days. Whatever meds or vitamins he tells you take, take them. Commit right now, "I am not going to disobey my surgeon in a way that increases my risks." You cannot eliminate the risks entirely and if I am being honest, those risks will come to mind when you are being wheeled around on the gurney. You have no guarantees about what the other side of the surgery will look like and feel like. And you will wake up from the surgery in pain. But if you decide that you will do everything you can control to minimize the risks, I think you will be happy with a decision to have the surgery.