Amy- I agree with you- greatest thing I ever did for myself... My big slip up is exercising- start doing a little and then find it way to easy to stop- then I start again and then find myself stopping again. Wonder if anyone has gone to Curves? I am going Sat to learn all about it- have heard lots of good things about it from the over 50 site. I know me and I will need to go right after work- once I get home- thats it- I don't want to leave again..... Keep up the good work, Amy---- Victoria 350/232/180

Well, I've had a LOT going on health wise. I've been going back and forth on whether or not I should post about it, but then I just decided to go for it. (I've learned about internet posting, and I wouldn't share anything that I wouldn't want my absolute WORST enemy to know. kwim??) Anyway, I saw my neurologist 3 weeks ago b/c the dizzy spells were just unbearable. He told the dizzy spells were from an ocularvestibular disorder. I am now taking diamox for that. The spells weren't related to the optic neuritis, but my left pupil doesn't react to light the way it should and I have more permanent vision loss from the optic neuritis. Then, the joint pain got so bad that I spent nearly two weeks in bed. I could barely function enough to get my youngest to head start. I called the rheumatologist and made an appt. He decided that the progressive nature of the psoriatic arthritis justified beginning chemotherapy drugs. I take methotrexate every Wednesday and folic acid every day. He also gave me a high dosage of steroids injection. The first two weeks of the methotrexate were a NIGHTMARE. I was so sick. Then, like magic, I started feeling better. I can bend my fingers again. . I can type again. I can bend over and movie again! The back pains are still a horrid nightmare, but my PCP gave me a referral to a pain management clinic. Unfortunately, the X rays taken by the rheumie came back abnormal. There was a lot of inflammation around my lungs and heart. So, yesterday, I had a CT scan of my chest. I don't know the results yet. I think the doc's leaning toward vasculitis, which could confirm the diagnosis of lupus. My tests for lupus were inconclusive. I have the DNA antibodies for lupus, but the ANA came back negative. So, we'll see. . . Living with chronic pain is just a nightmare. It would seem that somedays, I just didn't know how I could get through. I take soma and baclofen for muscle spasms. . . and lortab for pain. But sometimes, the meds just don't work. A shot of toradol is my best friend in this world! I'm really hoping the pain management doc can do something to help. Maybe he can somehow 'paralzye' the muscles that keep spasming in my back. So, anyway, that's where things are. Sometimes, I feel really down about this surgery b/c I haven't been exercising, and I eat far more often than I should (thanks to the ulcers), but then I think that I'm just DARN lucky to be losing at all. I truly believed this surgery saved my life. I would probably be wheel chair bound if I hadn't had it. There is no way I could have gotten up and around with this much pain if I still weighed 270 - no way. And being a size 16 is much better than a size 24. I just hope I keep on the path to wellness. I just keep looking toward the bright side. . . You know, having MS, Psoriatic arthritis, raynaud's and maybe vasculitis/lupus. . . . I guess Social security disability will have to approve my claim! LOL

Of course we remember you! I am glad you are back. We have so many issues the same. Outsiders don't really understand I don't think. They tell me I don't need to lose any more also. I am still obese by BMI standards. I want 40 more lbs. I hate those comments. I think the brain needs to catch up with the weight loss. I just can't beleive it is really me in the pictures I see. I love it though. I just smile and say thank you when someone compliments me. However my body changed but not my mind or personality and I feel like some of my friends don;t know how to relate to me and it really frustrates me. So you are not alone my friend. This is the place you will get support!

Heck yah I remember you. We all started out in the forum at the same time. You, me and Louisa. I am so glad to know how well u are doing with everything. I have lost 153 so far and am on a stall for now but still hanging in there. Just keep trying harder. Stay in touch with us on the forum here and keep us informed on things. I missed ya! Take care! Doreen

Its been ages since I have been here. Trying to catch up on posts but I doubt I'll ever catch up. LOL..I have been away for such a long time. This is Erin, if anyone remembers me. Well, my starting weight was 241 lbs and as my weight currently right now, I am 151.5 lbs. I lost 90lbs...just 10 more and I'll be in the BIG LOSER CLUB....I just got so off track and felt terrible about myself. Still trying to work out those issues. But I missed this board so much. So voila....here I am again. I need support. I guess I thought I could do this alone. Well, its lonely out there especially when people who never had the surgery cannot possibly understand. I went from a size 24 to a size 10. Actually, I think I am ready to move down to a size 8. But even though I have lost weight and pants size, I still look in the mirror and see that fat girl looking back. Trying to accept compliments makes me blush and I feel uneasy. Why? I should get more confidence. It should make me feel good. Maybe I'm just weird. ROFL.... I actually had someone at work tell me that I was perfect and not to lose any more weight. Where do they see this??? I still see the fat girl at 241 lbs. My mom who hadn't seen me since Christmas, back when I was 190lbs said to me "You are not becoming anorexic are you?" I said "No mom. My doctors would never allow that to happen and neither would I." She didn't mean it to sound mean and I didn't take it that way. But I just don't see where they see me as thin. Being fat all my life and never thin or pretty or attractive, I just don't see. Yes, I am sounding like a broken record. I just wanted to say "HELLO" to all of us Septemberites and hopefully all of our surgeries went off without any major problems. CONGRATS on all of your sucesses. I am so proud of you all. But I am back again and ready to be there for you all again. BIG HUGS & HELLOS! Erin