5 1/2 years TTC and still counting...questions???

My hubby and I have been ttc since Nov 04.  I've been considering WLS for the past 4 years because my OB can't find anything else that is causing my infertility.  My WL surgeon seems to think that the sleeve will do the trick and I'm pretty confident that it will happen but I'm interested to know how long did you guys wait before trying.  I need to lose at least 80lbs but I have no idea how long it may take.  Any of your personal experiences are welcomed.  I'm so intrigued!! 

I had the bypass and loss over 100 pounds from my date of surgery in a little over a year. I was cleared to TTC at my one year appt as long as my cardiologist approved it. Good luck!

 I had PCOS before surgery and may or may not have had fertility problems (hard to know since I wasn't trying and always used protection, but my reproductive endocrinologist noted that I seemed to be ovulating.)  I started trying about 2.25 years after my surgery (after losing ~72 lbs), and it happened on the second try (although I think the timing was wrong the first time!)

Hi there!  I'm new to TTC, myself.  My best friend was morbidly obese when she delivered her son 2 months premature via emergency c-section.  She had such bad pre-eclampsia and her blood pressure was so insane, she almost died in childbirth.  That pretty much scared the holy bejeezus out of me, and I decided to start investigating weight loss surgery.

There are a number of surgeries out there, now.  If you decide that is the route you want to take, do your research and weigh the pros and cons of each one.  I have known people who have succeeded AND failed with both gastric bypass and the lap-band.  It truly is a lifetime commitment, and it IS possible to gain all of your weight back if you don't break old habits.

With me... I was an obese health nut.  Can you believe that?  I have always been super active and had a fantastic, healthy diet.  But at my highest weight, I was 303 pounds.  How does a person get to be 303 pounds when they work out and pour buckets of sweat, and eat grilled fish and chicken?  I had insulin resistance and a slow thyroid. 

I decided to have lap-band surgery because it seemed like the best choice for me.  I was considering gastric bypass, but chickened out.  At that time, the sleeve wasn't very mainstream, and I didn't even know it existed.

So far, I've lost 103 pounds in 19 months (I lost 80 in 11 months).  I'm thrilled!  And my husband and I started TTC 2 months ago.

Having a baby is one of my dreams in life.  I want to be healthy and set a good example for my future child.  Before I lost all this weight, I had major health problems: type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, poor circulation, high blood pressure, irregular periods, etc.  But now... ALL of my blood labs have come back perfectly normal, I am off all my medication, and I feel amazing.  Even my cycles have regulated!  It was really scary for me to have the surgery, but I was at my wit's end and I felt like I had tried everything else with no success.

Sorry this is so long. :)  I'm really excited for you.  I hope that whatever road you take leads you to your goal! 

At my highest I was 298 and was really bummed when I came to the realization that I had to have WLS to gain fertility. I was told that all my estrogen was going to my fat cells and I had to lose weight.  I had the RNY in 2008, 18 months later I am down to 140 and just recently had my first positive pregnancy test... It takes a toll on you, I know. We tried for 13 YEARS.... I still remember when we hit the 5 year mark, it was horrible, then the 10 year.... i was giving up, but still I pushed on... I know its hard... but after 18 months of losing it makes me regret not have the WLS sooner.  

My best to you sweetie...
Christina

I tried to get pregnant many years ago, and couldn't. I never ovulated. I had gastric bypass, lost 115lbs in one year, and started having fairly regular period (29-32 day cycle) I started TTC 15 months after surgery, when I hit my goal. I got pregnant pretty quick, lost that pregnancy and two months later I am pregnant again (11 weeks) Hopefully this one sticks, but the weight loss made a world of differnce for me.
However, it is a life changing decision for everybody in the household, and there is tonnes of things you have to think about. Good luck with your descision.

I've had the band for almost 5 years.  I lost about 55 pounds the first year.   I got pregnant two years later and I've pretty much been pregnant or breastfeeding since then.   I have managed to lose almost another 20 pounds since then though. 

I never tried to get pregnant before WLS, but I'm sure I would've had trouble.  My periods were very irregular.   With Hannah it took us 3 months to get pregnant.   I joke and say with Noah it took 3 minutes to get pregnant.  He was our surprise baby (a very pleasant surprise).

If the sleeve would have been available I probably would have chose it over the band.   I can't have a mal-absorption procedure (low calcium), so RNY or DS is out for me.  If I ever needed a revision I would choose the sleeve.

Good luck!   Having WLS is the single best decision I ever made!
Just do lots of research and choose the one that you feel is best for YOU.
Amy

 Thanks guys!  All of your stories have helped me more than you know.  I am set on doing the sleeve.  I think its the best choice right now.  I thank God for allowing me the time to really consider doing something about my weight first so that I can possibly avoid a very high risk pregnancy.  He always knows best even when I have no clue what he's doing or why I'm having to go thru stuff!  I am so glad for all of your bundles of joy!!  It's so encouraging to hear....or read! LMBO!

Blue cross blue shield of Tx is not yet covering it but I believe that by the end of my required 3 month diet they will.  I'm so excited I don' t know what to do with myself.  Thanks again!

Hey lady you sound like me almost to the date! DH and I started trying to concieve in Nov. 04 as well and everyone kept telling me that it was my weight because I have PCOS so the extra weight was not helping my fertility. I had gastric bypass April 2008 and lost 150 lbs.I lost my weight so quickly (110 in the first 7 months) that I was given the ok at a little less than a year to start trying and we just didn't use any BC from that point to this one.

Last month we found out I was pregnant and we weren't even TRYING! I had the surgery to raise my fertility and it worked for me. I'm now almost 13 weeks and so excited!!! Good luck!

 OMG!!!  Thanks girlie!!  And congratulations on your pregnancy.  I'm so excited for you.