erica hall

I am a 38 year old morbidly obese female who is 5”7 tall and weigh 260 lbs., giving me a body mass index of 39.7. With my abnormally high BMI, I am at an estimated 190 percent increased risk of death at my present weight. In addition to morbid obesity, I am suffering from the following co-morbid conditions:

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
HYPERTENSION
OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA
HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA
HYPERLIPIDEMIA
URINARY STRESS INCONTINENCE

Complicating my case along with my co-morbidities is my thyroid condition. In 1994, I was diagnosed with a toxic goiter, which was identified as Graves’ disease, which is an autoimmune condition and the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. The body’s immune system over stimulates the thyroid gland to produce excessive amounts of thyroid hormone. I received a strong dose of radioactive iodine to destroy cells in the thyroid gland. This procedure attempts to halt excess hormone production by thinning the ranks of cells responsible for manufacturing the hormones. Up to half or more of patients who receive radioactive iodine treatments for an overactive thyroid develop permanent hypothyroidism within a year of therapy. This is the standard treatment for Graves' disease, which is the most common form of hyperthyroidism, a condition caused by excessive secretion of thyroid hormones. Then I was put on PTU and Inderal medications. Treatments for Graves' disease include radioactive iodine, antithyroid medications such as [b][u][url="http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=16379"]methimazole[/url][/u][/b][b][u] (Tapazole)[/u][/b] and [b][u][url="http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=16378"]propylthiouracil[/url][/u][/b][b][u] (PTU)[/u][/b], and [b][url="http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=7531"]beta-blockers[/url][/b][b].[/b]

Once my Graves Disease was treated with radioactive iodine and meds, I became severely hypothyroid. Hypothyroidism is the most common of the thyroid disorders. It occurs when the thyroid gland becomes underactive and does not produce enough thyroid hormones. The metabolic rate falls and normal bodily functions slow down. Weight gain and difficulty losing weight are common symptoms of hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism slows metabolism until the body gains weight at an incredible rate. I have gained over 120 pounds since being diagnosed in 1994 and there was no way to stop it. I did it all. The doctor recommended diets, pills, exercises, you name it. Nothing worked. I have made many, many attempts to lose weight and this has gone on all my life. I am having significant adverse symptoms from my obesity. I have difficulty standing. I have difficulty performing my daily activities, and in participating with my family in recreational activities. I have arthritis and pain of my weight-bearing joints. An increase in body weight adds trauma to weight bearing joints and excess body weight is a major predictor of osteoarthritis of the knees. This is a mechanical problem and not a metabolic one. Weight loss will markedly decrease the chance of developing osteoarthritis. I have used my Flex Savings/Health Account funds to pay for diet pills, medically supervised diets, gym memberships, and personal trainers. I have been put on medications over and over again. I would lose some weight then gain it all back, and more. I have also tried many exercise programs. As you can see, I have spent most of my adult life trying to lose weight.

I am now at the very edge of complete disability and am at a point where everything is an effort. My neck and back still hurts, my back cramps up all day every day. I can barely walk, I can’t stand and it hurts to walk. Every day it is harder and harder to get up for work. I can’t exercise. Ever since my slip and fall at work in September 2010 and hurt my back, I suffered cervical spine strain and lumbosacral spine strain. I was in physical therapy for six months and when it ran out, Workers Compensation refused to pay for my PT sessions, the pain in my back, neck and shoulder got worse. My stomach protrudes, my breasts are heavy and hang, and I suffer from constant back spasms and muscle spasms. The extra weight makes it hard to walk, hard to move around. I suffer every day from severe muscle cramps in the arms, legs, neck, shoulders, and back.