Other MFPers with health issues?

I developed a rare autoimmune disorder at age fourteen (microscopic polyangiitis) that destroyed both my kidneys- I went from being a healthy, nerdy high school freshman to being critically ill in the space of about eight weeks. I'm extremely fortunate in that it hasn't recurred since then. I received a successful kidney transplant at age 16 from my mother (<3 u, mom!) and since then I've been able to live my life fairly unrestricted- I went to college out of state, work full-time, live on my own, am looking at master's degrees. The medications and treatments do have side effects, notably a substantially increased risk of cancer, and post-transplant recipients are at higher risk for cardiovascular disease. I have to take medication for hypertension, and reducing my CVD risk profile is one major reason I joined MFP.
The other big thing I deal with is chronic depression. I've been on Paxil for years and years and I've found myself sobbing on therapists' couches many times. (Fortunately they're all used to being sobbed on.) It's not a big issue right now, but I always kind of know it's back there, you know?

Weird, I also have hypermobility and used to have really bad IBS, although it is mostly under control now. I also have asthma, allergies, and pretty bad back issues that do put me out of commission semi-often and just bother me the rest of the time. I don't really think of myself as someone with health problems though...I guess that comes with being an optimist - I know it could be a lot worse (especially after reading through this thread!) I feel for all of you and kudos for doing what you can to work through your issues and towards your goals!

I was born with Hydrocephalus with an arachnoid cyst on my brain. During my childhood I have undergone things I shouldn't have lived through. I also have Sherman's Disease, an old vertabrae fracture that didn't heal right, sore and weak knees, sore and weak ankles, sore and weak wrists, most of my joints pop out of place easy but mainly my shoulders, exercise induced asthma, IBS, hormonal imbalances, but the thing that is stopping me the most from losing much weight is the unknown illness I have had for the past 7 years that makes me bedridden more often than not. The symptoms are extreme fatigue, fogginess, anxiety, twitches in the body, unable to connect thoughts, migraines, vision impairment, memory problems (I once forgot about $1000 someone had waiting for me to pick up, not once but 4 times I forgot), nausea and shakiness like I am lacking sugar in my body but my sugars are always fine. Finally got referred from my Neurosurgeon to a neurologist who may know more. But all in all I need to lose about 17kgs more at least and its been 3 months all I have lost is 2kgs. Frustrating! I have weeks where I work out hard, then I burn out for two weeks and can only work out a day a week. At times I go even when I feel sick but end up in a situation where my muscles literally just don't work at all, they dont feel tired or sore, just don't move and I black out every workout I have, without fail even if I am going light. ARRRGGGHHHH So frustrating. Sorry guys, I guess I have been wanting to find a group of people that can understand for a while. Bless you guys

Hi, thanks for this post, sometimes you think you are struggling on alone but from the messages I can see a lot of people are trying to loose weight and cope with health and mobility issues.

I have a chronic autoimmune disease, psoriatic arthritis, I have had psoriasis since I was a young child but the arthritis part started when I was about 40. I am 63 now and have had both knees replaced and one hip replacement just last year. The other one will need doing at some point as x-ray shows some degeneration.

Thankfully the pain is controlled quite well by medication but I still have stiffness and get flare ups which are totally random, can be from a big toe or one finger to bigger joints or my lower back. I also feel extremely tired most of the time. On the days were I feel reasonably well and even energetic I still tend to do too much, for instance shopping for 2 hours instead of my usual quick 30 minutes in town and then the day after I am wiped out... all the health professionals tell me to walk more but its easier than it sounds when you have arthritis even with the replacement joints I get tired very quickly so about 20 minutes is the most I can manage, we live in a hilly area, it would probably be easier on the flat.

I have managed to loose 32lbs since February but have stuck at this weight now for about 10 weeks.

I would like to have friends in the same situation but don't know how to do it on this site. Do I need to have Facebook.