WiredSimon

Where do I start. I guess to just jump in with a robust HELLO! I'm 57, weigh 341# and have been gaining weight steadily for the last 2 years. Lots of factors: closed business of 30 years, moved for first time in 30 years, a series of 2 HORRIBLE, stressful jobs (have a great one now) and finally a fall in April of 2008 (I actually tripped over a speed bump in the parking lot of costco while trying to walk and get my membership card out at the same time). I landed almost entirely on my right knee cap. Didn't break it, but might as well have for all the pain and damage it caused. Flash forward to November 2008. We've farted around with PT etc. and nothing is helping. I suggest a bilateral MRI, we get it done and WOW, both knees are completely shot with osteoarthritis! I mean I qualify for bi-lateral total knee replacements. I hadn't really had any symptoms before the fall. Now I'm barely ambulatory and just getting washed up, much less showered feels like an Olympic event. So the suggestion of finding the time to get to the pool, undress, walk/dog paddle, play around and then get out of a wet suit that's 2 sizes too small, dry all the parts I have to dry with a hair dryer that aren't hairy, powder all those dry places so they don't start a fungal farm, struggle back into my clothes (it's so much fun pulling clothes on over the damp parts you didn't/couldn't get dry:o), limp out to the car and drive back to work where the only way to get to my office is up 7 steps to the loading dock, take the freight elevator to the kitchen, walk through the kitchen, back down 7 more stairs and then 3 more on the way to my non-handicapped accessible office (or take 3 flights of stairs up from the parking lot). So after another night of sleeplessness, I woke up and decided to have the lap band procedure. Wait:omg_smile: you're thinking now, that I've got my body parts mixed up! It turns out that to get new knees, the docs like to have you loose weight first. Apparently if they give you new knees that are supposed to last 20+ years and you loose weight, the implants get loose. Yikes! There goes the warrenty. So in two weeks I get a series of 5 weekly injections in both knees of artificial lubricant that is supposed to reduce inflammation and pain so that I can become more mobile and perhaps loose weight. Well, I know I can't loose weight with knees that don't hurt. I've tried for years. I need help. So here I am! I have 4 children, two bio-daughters who are almost 28 and 30, and two about to turn 11 and 12 that we adopted when they were 3 and 3 1/3 from China. I'd REALLY like to be around when they adopt their own children from China (which they've both said they'd like to do! My Mom was 72 when we made our second trip the China to get our son, and she got so many compliments from the Chinese people on how wonderful she looked for someone of her years. She's my inspiration. If she can do it with two new knees, I can too. Oh, I forgot. Both little kids want very much to visit China. I told them when I could walk to Margaret's house, we'd go. Margaret lives 3 1/2 miles away. I'm feeling like it's all within reach today, and yesterday I was ready to curl up in bed and order delivery food until I died in my sleep. Everything seemed so hopeless. I'm living in Grand Rapids, MI now. Anyone have any experiences, good or bad with docs, hospitals, surgery and support care in GR? I'm also curious, I'd read a little blib somewhere that there were "life-time" negative consequences to the lap band proceedure. Anyone know what that's about? Hugs to all you wonderful folks. Kathy, AKA WiredSimon (the breed of dog in my avatar is a Standard Wirehaired Dachshund, with his fur untrimmed)