Continued SUCCESS!

I have been on WW many times over the last 20 years every time losing weight but never sticking to it thinking I could do it on my own.  When I started having severe hip pain.  My orthopedic Dr said I needed a total hip replacement but she could not do the surgery until I lost 25 pounds…I bought a scooter, a cane and kept doing what I was doing until I could barely walk.  I FINALLY decided if I wanted to have any quality of life I needed to listen to my Dr.  I started using WW app and went to our neighborhood pool and with the help of a floatation device swam laps 4-5 times a week.  I could not walk due to hip pain…When I went back in to tell her I was ready she was surprised with the -25 + loss and set the date.  I had the surgery and continued to lose weight.  I was using the WW App at home doing it on my own.  After a 70 pound loss I decided to drive the 20 miles to a meeting each week to help me make it to my goal weight.  I made Lifetime in August 2022 and have maintained the -110 pound loss.  I give God the Glory.  I could NOT of done it without Him.

On My Way to Success

 

 IT’S NOW JAN. 2022

On Jan. 2021 I finally decided to lose the weight.  I tried on my own for 4 months and lost 12 pounds. In May I joined WW and in August my Orthopedic Dr says it time to replace the right hip. I had lost around 25 pounds.  She sent me to get my left hip Fluoroscopy to help me get thru the right hip recovery.  SO Sept 1st I had a complete right hip replacement. It was worse than I ever thought and it was OUTPATIENT!!!  I spent the next month with PT coming to my house 3 times a week. I won’t go through all the good and bad and sleepless nights and pain…But it was a lot.

Today Jan 27, 2022 I am down -55 pounds and although there is still stiffness and some pain mostly at night.  I am doing good and glad I went through with it.  My left hip is not keeping me down. It also has pain and right now mostly at night or if I have a busy day.

This year I had 3 Basil Cell Carcinomas removed 2 were about 15 stitches and the 3rd on my neck was a MOH surgery and it was 35 stitches. OUCH!!  I had 10 other ones froze off.  

I have somehow managed to escape Covid thus far.  We both have been vaccines and boosted. We have pretty much not done anything or gone anywhere.  We started back to Sunday School only in small group last Sunday after being out of church 2 years….Praying that goes well as the pandemic rages on.

Lupus is staying the same.  I continue to take my meds and see my PC Dr as needed.

I continue my weight loss journey.  Hoping to reach my goal this year.

Motivation where are you?

Long time since posting...

I had a Flouroscopy in September in my left hip and December in my right hip.  I have had little to no hip pain sine then YAY!!!!!  until the last couple weeks......... This week being worse...The hip pain I am referring to is actually in the groin area. It started in the right and now the left.  It is amazing how these injections can work so good but wear off and the pain comes back. Seems 3-6 months max.   It is not a fix it is a bandage...Depressing...I don’t know how much longer my Dr will keep giving them. The last 2 visits she told me I needed to lose 20 pounds to insure if I needed hip replacement surgery I would be a candidate...I have no intention of getting hip replacement and I have not lost the weight...So hard and no motivation.  Not good but just saying it like it is......Hate winter.  Will be glad when spring is here.  Maybe that will be a motivation.

Both Hips

Sooo I made it thru the summer with 2 skin cancers treated and healed, less of an interest in the pool and waiting for Fall weather..

It has been a rough few months with my hips... I have my 1st Fluoroscopy on my left hip is scheduled in 10 days.  Earliest I could get it was the 29th.. I will be able to schedule my right hip once I have my 2 week recheck of my left hip..... What a nightmare.... They both hurt.  Both in their own different way...

Right hip is painful in groin area.  Radiates down to knee and sometimes ankle at night.  It will occasionally go out on me causing my leg to just give out for a quick minute.

My left hip hurts in groin as well it has not radiated down but it will not let me sit down or bend over with out severe pain.

Both hurt of I lay on my side at night.... I am a side sleeper.

Rarely does it start out that way in the morning but if I do ANYTHING.. It starts and by noon I am pretty much either in tears, crippled or in my recliner for the day... It is depressing... Especially on days like today or yesterday or day before....

I get up with plans to go to the pool, or shopping or to clean house... End up in severe pain, have to stop and can’t do anything...... so frustrating.....Went to Kirklands this morning... I have all day to shop, eat out do whatever.  I left at 11:00. I was home by 12:30.....

Went in TJ Maxx.  Browsed a bit.  Looked at Fall Decor.  Went in Kirklands (next door) Walk thru 1/4 of the store. No place to sit.  Back to car.... Hard to get in because of BOTH HIPS!!!!  Wanted to go in Target (I could use their scooters) just didn’t have it in me... No mood for lunch at this point... GO home. I am in recliner...

Want to get Fall Stuff out of closet... Closet is upstairs...If I go up there I will be in severe pain the rest of the day..................

My strength is in the Lord. The Maker of Heaven and Earth.

Life Lessons in a Bottle

Growing up in Ohio the first 17 yrs of my life we had no pool, no lake, no river and no ocean.  Just a little creek. Up to your knees.  Enough to cool off and have fun.  We knew little about the dangers of the sun.  Mom warned us not to get burned but a tan was a young girls thing to do back in the 60’s....  I never learned to swim but I did love to tan as I got older. Suntan lotions were made to enhance your tan not keep you from getting one...  I spent a few weeks one summer in Upper Sandusky, Ohio and we played in Lake Erie.  My cousin and I used mercurochrome and baby oil to tan! We had no idea what we were doing......

When I was 17 we moved to Florida and I continued the baby oil process until I had 2nd degree burns complete with blisters on my chest.....I remember many times using vinegar cooled clothes to take the burning from my legs...I worshipped the Florida Sun year round....

Once I had kids I realized the importance of sunscreen. I used it on them at the beach and pool. They learned to swim and to use sunscreen on themselves and their children.  

Through out my adult years I still loved to tan and went through a tanning bed phase in my 40’s...we then moved to a swimming pool community where we have lived for 21 years.  I continued to go to the pool from May to September several times a week and use sunscreen. I now had grandkids and used sunscreen religiously. I started to understand the consequences of my neglect...

Fast forward to my 60’s... 

I have had 7 Basel Cell Carcinomas.  2 Squamous Cell Carcinomas. The worst one I had was a squamous cell on the front of my neck in the early 90’s... It was my first skin cancer. It was the size of a quarter and looked just like a hicky. That was the worst experience with a dermatologist and the procedure and the healing.  He cut around about 1/4 of my neck to be able to lap the skin back over so not to leave much of a scar..... It was horrible....So much pain.....

Now here I am home from having two biopsies that my (new and improved) dermatologist suspects are 2 more squamous cells. One is a little crater in my forehead. The other one is quarter size on the side of my  neck...praying my experience will not be the same as the first one I had.......Trying to turn it over to God.....The pool opens in a week and......Results will be back in 7-10 business days...Sunscreen has been purchased...Losing the longing to go to the pool.............

Mercy.....

The Lord is my strength.  My ever present help in trouble.

Scooting Around

Well I have had basically a month of no hip pain.  It has been wonderful.  Wonderful!! Today is April 29th.  I had the Floroscopy March 28th.  Today I felt the first twinge of pain returning to my right hip.  Weakness and pain... Not a lot but enough to know it’s coming back.  Of course I knew the injection was ...a bandaid...Not a fix.... Dr Albert discussed that with me before both of my Floroscories... It relieves the pain... Not sure how long it will last.  The first one lasted 2 months... I expected this one to be at least that long.... Hopefully it won’t get that bad too fast because you can only get the injections every 6 months...

Before my injection I was hurting so bad I could barely get around.  I was using a cane and still struggling.  Walking in Walmart was not even possible. I had to resort to a scooter cart which I hated using cause I know how people judge you....... Or not go.

I had talked to my Rheumotologist about this and she said she would help me fill out the paperwork to order a scooter.  I could no longer do extended walking. Around the house I was ok. But a Scooter would be great for fall festivals, craft fairs, camping, lake house and going to the park or pool etc.  I was considering it but not sure how much Medicare would pay and can’t really afford it right now.  But need it. Want it.

A friend told me about a place called FODAC.  Famlies of Disabled Adults and Children.  They get donations of wheelchairs and walkers and scooters. Fix them up and donate them to people who need them. She told me to call and check on them and see what they say.  Well Praise the Lord they said there was no charge except for batteries and there was no paperwork or prescription needed.  I got an appointment for the following week and left there with a Blue Pace Saver Scooter.  It’s not new but it doesn’t need to be. It works and it is just what I needed I am getting used to driving it although I have not needed it because my pain has been minimal I am using it to ride around a bit outside. I did go to our Neighborhood Garage Sales on it and it worked GREAT! Much easier than getting in and out of the car which is difficult with a painful hip.  I just drove right up to the sales and most of them I didn’t even have to get off.

So there it is... Praying the pain will stay away longer and fortunate to have a scooter...

REMINDER: MAY is LUPUS AWARENESS Month.

My God will supply all me needs in Christ Jesus.

#Mayislupusawarenessmonth #Lupus #SLE #KnowLupus #NoLupus #LupusSTRONG #LupusAwareness#FightLupus #Findacure #mylupusjourneymylife #ineedacure