Hi-I'm new

Hi everyone-my name is Kathy and I'm 62 years old. I used to be a competitive swimmer, and am embarrassed when I look in the mirror. The fact that I am short doesn't help. I have a lot of medical issues (weird, since I can't remember being sick as a kid). But since 1989 I've been diagnosed with: lupus, fibromyalgia, breast cancer (still in remission, thank God), degenerative disk disease, LCH (a blood disease similar to leukemia, but not cancer), and in 2009 I fell and suffered a brain injury. I tripped over my dog and hit my head on the cement floor in my basement. Didn't think much about it until I didn't know how I got from my basement up to my kitchen. My house is very old, and to get to the basement you have to go outside and lift up this big metal door. That injury has affected my short and long term memory, balance, dizziness, eye problems, attention, concentration etc. I was just approved for SSD, and can't work due to the problems from my fall as well as the other illnesses. But my doctor says I'm the healthiest sick person he knows.

Anyway, I mentioned all that stuff because it has had a big effect on my lifestyle. I've gained a lot of weight from the steroids and pain meds I've been on, and since the brain injury I haven't been able to walk or exercise much-I tried a couple of times, but because of how my eyes were affected (when ever they focus on things that are moving I get dizzy and nauseous), I've had to turn around and come home. I used to go out walking with my dog all the time, but now if she pulls, I may fall, and the dr. says if I hit my head hard again, it could be fatal. So, as I'm sure you can see, I've been pretty much just sitting and working on my computer-I try to do freelance writing doing articles for different clients blogs, etc. While before the fall I could type close to 100 words a minute, now I can do barely 30wpm. It takes me perhaps 3 days to research an article, outline and types it and edit it. Though I can't make much money because of my lack of speed, I keep doing it hoping some new connections will be built in my head. But all of this is done sitting down.

I just need to take charge, and admit I have a different "me" now, and find new ways to eat and exercise so I can lose all the weight I need to (I want to lose 20-25 pounds I've gained in the past 3 years). I saw this site, and it looks like a place where I can find support and won't be looked down on because of my disabilities. I'm hoping that with your help I'll be able to finally make friends who will encourage me. I have no family anywhere near me-my husband had an affair and left me in 1990, and my two wonderful kids are also grown and gone-my son lives in Spain (couldn't find work here, and doesn't want to come back) and my daughter lives in Washington DC having just graduated with her MA in anthropology and BA in archeology. I see her twice a year-at Christmas and for a couple days in the summer (if she's not off on a dig somewhere). So basically, it's me and my dog (I still love her even though she's the one who caused me to fall! I'm trying to teach her to be a service dog, helping me if I drop things and can't pick them up, etc.)

I'm so sorry this got so long-it was just going to be a short introduction! That's me-I always write too much-but I guess it helps me with my freelance jobs! Thanks for reading, and I hope to get to know all of you. Kathy