88 pounds later...New Knees At Last

Hanfordrose · December 2013

One week from today, I will be at the Fresno Kaiser Hospital, being prepped for my double knee replacement surgery. It almost seems like a miracle after so long. It was November 2012, when my surgeon in San Diego said, "You are a great candidate for knee surgery. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO is lose another 70 pounds."

At that time, I thought that 70 pounds was a nearly impossible goal for a lady who had weighed in the high 200's for most of her life. Now, a year has passed; and I am beyond my surgeon's original goal. My new surgeon in Fresno broke his finger, while playing golf last week; but another surgeon is going to take his place on Monday. Happily, this new surgeon comes highly recommended by a couple of ladies that I met in my Total Joint Replacement Class last week.

I am both eager and apprehensive about this double knee surgery. I want so much to be freed from my wheelchair and walker confinement...to be free to go where I want without limits...to be able to drive a car again...ride a bike or walk with my hubbie. It has been a couple of year, since I became dependent on my wheelchair.

As much as I am looking forward to new knees, I know that this surgery will require a painful recovery and lots of physical therapy; but I am not a sissy, when it comes to pain. So, I just want to get on with it. The sooner...the better is my thinking.

The commitment to my food plan each day and the support of my MFP friends has brought me to this important point time. I am about to begin a new life in 2014. That new life is due in part to the help and encouragement of all of you on MFP that are my sisters and brothers in the journey to a healthier way of living. I so grateful and feel blessed that I found MFP and all of you.

MGreensides · December 2013

You've come a long way Sister, and you deserve the freedom so much. Congrats on every single pound lost and prayers for a speedy recovery. I hope SpecialEd will be able to keep up with the new and improved Mama

popflying · December 2013

CONGRATS! Seriously! You had the strength to change your habits, face your weight head on, and lose so much weight for your surgery. And by the looks of it you still want to work towards an even healthier weight. I absolutely wish you the best with your surgery and recovery, but I think with your immense willpower you will definitely make it through!

Thanks for the great story

cheering for you!

kristyrae24 · December 2013

Truely amazing and so well deserved! Amazing job and I wish you the best of luck with surgery and recovery!

red_road · December 2013

great job!

hoyalawya2003 · December 2013

Way to go. Best of luck to you and enjoy those walks to come. The pain will be so worth it.

JenRunTriHappyGirl · December 2013

You have been an inspiration to me. There are so many reasons why people "can't" change their lifestyle, lose weight and become healthy. Well you, girlfriend, have taken all of those reasons and excuses and shoved them right back into their face! You are amazing. Thank you for all of the inspiration.

deksgrl · December 2013

All things are possible.....

sbro32 · December 2013

Ah, what wonderful news! Congratulations. All the best to you!

irrsha · December 2013

no doubt, you are a brave, great woman. I'm also waiting for that day.may GOD give you your health and smile back. as soon as possible,upload your victory....we all are waiting and wishing a healthy long life for you.
best of luck.

qtgonewild · December 2013

cheers to new knees

sarahthin · December 2013

Time is drawing closer and I'm so happy for you. You have worked so hard to accomplish this and the end is near. Yes it will be painful following surgery and the rehab is also. The is worth it

NoTry_JustDo · December 2013

It is an honor to know you, my friend, and you will be in my mind and heart and prayers. You are one strong lady, no doubt about it, and I predict that you will be the pride and joy of your physical therapists, who will point all their other patients toward you and say, "See that lady over there? You won't believe how fast she has progressed with a combination of rest and disciplined exercise."

I hope that at the end of next year I can look back with the same good feelings and justifiable pride with which you look back on this year.

Here's wishing you a joyous 2014. I can't wait to see pictures of you riding on Ed's contraption!

Emma

disneygallagirl · December 2013

you are amazing and clearly demonstrate that excuses are useless. Just look at what you have accomplished!!!!

bookworm_847 · December 2013

Congratulations!:flowerforyou:

emjaycazz · December 2013

I have loved hearing about your journey and feel privileged to be able to read your updates. Thinking happy new knee thoughts, and looking forward to hearing about your surgery!

bstevens1021 · December 2013

Congrats on such an incredible accomplishment! Best wishes to you as you go through surgery and recovery!

lynty2 · December 2013

All the best for your op - will be thinking of you

Masonless · December 2013

Great news. What an inspiring story. Will be thinking about you on Monday.

mjharman · December 2013

I am so looking forward to reading your posts next year at this time. How much more you will be able to lose when you can ride a bike and walk with your hubbie once again...free of your chair and your walker! You are an amazing woman, my sister.

:flowerforyou:

lcransaw · December 2013

Congratulations! I pray that your surgery goes well! You have made awesome progress, and I am sure with your increased mobility, you will continue to lose! All the Best!

knightreader · December 2013

having been there, i know how excited you must be. and a new life is soon to follow, one full of an active lifestyle that you deserve.

my unsolicited advice is that your mind is about to go through just as much, if not more, than your body. and while everyone has a post operation physical therapy plan, many do not realize they need a plan for their mind too. there will be longer days and longer nights than you thought. the physical therapy will have moments where it is worse than you thought it would be. and your recovery will take longer than you expect. there will be times where you take one step forward and two backward (figuratively and literally, actually) but it will all be worth it.

i feel like myself, finally, after having my knees done. and i wouldn't change anything in the world for that. the stuff i am able to do now was worth all the aggravation, all the pain, all the disappointment, the annoyances (not being able to drive was killer), the frustration. all that is an after thought, a memory that fades a little each day as i make new memories i wouldn't have been able to if my knees were never fixed. while it might be hard to comprehend now, you will.

best of luck to you. i'll be thinking of you.

cmriverside · December 2013

Yay! :flowerforyou:

acpgee · December 2013

Congratulations. And best wishes with revalidation. I got really ill in 2011 and spent 3 months in revalidation re-learning how to walk after being bed bound for several months. I made miraculous progress according to the physios because I tried to exercise all the time, even when barely mobile. Attempts to sit up, attempts to bend knees, attempted leg lifts, etc.

GymPoet · December 2013

Congratulations! Keep us posted!

Flab2fitfi · December 2013

Have been following you on here and so pleased that you are now having the surgery.

Wishing you all the best for the operation and hope you have a speedy recovery.

cuinboston2014 · December 2013

That's wonderful to hear! I am genuinely happy for you. Congratulations. Wishing you well on the surgery and recovery

losingwhatican · December 2013

Congratulations, wow! I spent just a couple of months in a wheelchair last year, and walking again is no small feat. You are working so hard and undergoing so many changes all at once. I hope you find an amazing physical therapist who appreciates everything you've done so far and gets you on the path back to freedom!