My bmi is at 53.3 I'm 28 have really bad pcos problems, plus infertility problems. I went a fertility clinic and she said there was nothing she could do until I have the surgery. Any words of courage

It's a big step & I'm still figuring it out myself. All I can say is everyone here has been amazing with advice & patient in answering my questions. Do your research & take advantage of all the info you will find here. Good luck to you!

Hello, and welcome! You've definitely come to a place with lots of information, and a lot of us will be happy to answer questions! I haven't yet been sleeved, but I've been hanging around VST for about a year now, first researching and now waiting for all the ducks to finish lining up so I can have my surgery this summer. I can definitely talk about things from the pre-surgery side, and about the various theories and "how it works" sorts of things - I'm a bit of a research geek that way

First, do you already have a bariatric surgeon picked out? If not, you might see about attending whatever seminars the local bariatric specialists in your area may have and start getting answers. Additionally, look into having a 1:1 consultation with reputable surgeons after you do that research. Ideally, find a surgeon who will take time with you to make sure your questions are answered! If you've already picked a surgeon, you've made a great start.

There's no question that you should think about this carefully and weigh your options. No surgery is without risk, and this one certainly has risks for complications or even death. There are people on these forums who will tell you that they very much regret having the surgery because of the complications they've had to live through and are still dealing with, and that's a fair assessment from their perspective. There are many more who will tell you this isn't easy, but it is the best choice they could have made and they are very happy with the results. Make sure you understand the risks as well as what success really looks like. It sounds to me like you have a lot of motivating factors, but it's a seriously big decision.

Third, don't have unrealistic expectations. This isn't a magic bullet - you'll still have to work and diet and exercise. What it is, is a tool. If you do what your surgeon and/or nutritionist tell you to do, you will lose the weight. It won't be instant, but it will likely be pretty quick in the overall scheme of things. Realistically, they will tell you that most sleeve patients lose 60-70% of their excess weight and if you do that, you've been successful. Honestly, though, if you're truly focused and determined you can lose it all, it just gets slower as your overall weight gets lower - there are plenty of folks around here who are near or at their goal weight, and others who are still moving down the scale.

Finally, don't get hung up on comparing your decisions and your diet and your progress with everyone else. We all respond differently to this surgery, to the diet, and so on. Remember it's your personal journey, and if you're moving in the right direction, then you're probably doing just fine. We're all here to support each other. That doesn't mean we'll always agree with each other, but don't let that bug you too much. Mostly, the disagreements are because we passionately care that we all succeed.

Good luck in moving forward!