I need support and prayers!

Hi all, I havent posted for awhile-or been on line much. I am having some physical issues and have been going through a really hard time with my osteoarthritis and degenerative joint disease. I am in severe pain, most of the time and starting to get very depressed because of it and the time restraints getting my WLS going. I am going to my WLS seminar in Springfield on July 8th with Dr. Scott from Columbia. I finally get to get this ball rolling, but feel as if it is surreal and that isnt even helping me with this defeated feeling! I am wondering if anyone else has gone through this and if its normal? I have been on this roller coaster since October of last year and FINALLY have an insurance that WILL cover the surgery since it IS medically necessary....but for some reason, just have lost that excited zest that I had for sooooo long....IF anyone out there has any encouraging words, or similiar stories, I would love to hear them, so that I wouldnt feel so alone in all of this and that I will know that IT can get better and that excitement can come back!! I can honestly say that I love to get on here and read things posted by other members and you always make me feel better, so I am reaching out to you. Thanks for any advice or thoughts you can share. I appreciate it. Janet Corbett

Janet, I have the same ills and I AM GOING TO BE THERE on Saturday!!! I am driving 5 hours Friday and staying in a hotel just to be able to make it! Maybe we can meet at the seminar... I will be the FAT CHICK there LOL Come on, that is funny...I have short Blonde hair, and will be wearing a pink short set.... Sherr

Ha ha ha Sherr (fat chick) lol the only one i presume. Janet it will go up and down for you. I am still going on that roller coster. Now that I have done all i can do and have gotten approval and have got my surgery date i am really not excited at all. But when i look at the calendar and see where i have marked how many weeks or how many days are left then i get a little boost. I think i am too afraid that something will happen and i wont get it done. The hospital will burn down, the doctor will die , I will get sick???? Crazy stuff like that. I know the chances of any of that happening are small but who knows. right? And havent we all had so many dissapointments in life that we dont want any more. So the lack of excitment is normal i think. Dont get to expecting and wanting something too much cause if it doesnt happen then i will be upset . I think that is what is going on in my head. But i am trying to change my thinking about a lot of things. So maybe this is one more thing that i need to change too. I posted an artical today about You being the Miracle. Please read it . It is really good. then read it again with your heart. Jan

I can offer prayers and support Janet. I am going thru what you are now also. I am in a lot of pain most of the time. Somedays I feel like I am going thru the motions of this process only to be told at the end........NO. It seems like it's the story of my life. Maybe I just have a pessimistic attitude. But........everyone here is encouraging and supportive. I have been here long enough to see that. I have gotten good info here that has helped me a lot. I will be praying for you!! (at least you know your insurance will cover the wls!!) smile!! Sheila

Hi Janet, So glad to see you are going to have Dr. Scott do your surgery. I also have DJD in both knees as well as COPD. I can't even begin to tell you how much better your life will get after surgery. I wish I could say all the pain is gone but it's not . Life seems soooooooooooooo much better now though. You will be able to walk, shop, just do so much you can't do right now. You will be in my prayers for a quick surgery date. If it takes awhile , don't worry it is so worth it. You also have the best team of Dr.'s with Dr. Scott and Dr. DeLatore. Marla 335/218/138

Wow-I opened my yahoo and I had so much support there-just for the ADMITTING I needed it, first of all-and then asking for it, openly and honestly. THANK YOU...from the bottom of my heart. It made me cry to read what you guys wrote, and it touched my heart. I am not alone and I will be okay-even if the road is bumpy, the end results will make me feel better. I have been living in constant pain for almost 6 years now, and with each and every passing year, getting worse and worse, causing my physical abilities to be very limited and to be honest, my mental abilities as well. I have been heavy all my life-and had arthritis/osteoarthritis and finally the DJD....with all of the weight, they dont even want to start replacing major joints, for fear of them not holding up. I dont just want the surgery to feel better, but require it to have ANY chance of EVER having any form of normal life-which I have forgotten what that is!! I have 4 kids, ranging in ages 3 yrs to 20 yrs and I wish I could do things with my 3 year old that I could with the oldest. It just breaks my heart. My family thinks I am too hard on myself-but I guess when society and people in general are always treating you like an outcast, it does start to wear you down.....and you feel alone-until you get on this site-which I credit with saving me from myself at times, if you know what I mean....its people like you, who are willing to give of themselves and to love people for who they are inside and not what their physical appearance is-that make me feel better about waking up every day. I wish that I could reach out and hug each one of you and tell you how much your kind words and your time mean to me-more than you will know. Thanks again, and if any of you would like to write me directly, my email is [email protected] Thank you, Janet Corbett p.s. my immediate family is VERY supportive, but at the same time, dont have the weight issues I do-and I dont think they fully understand mentally what it is like, and thats one of the reasons I love this site so much-people are speaking from experience AND from their heart!! Not just saying something because they love me, you know?

Hey Janet... Like I said, I will be there Saturday...just look for my big butt in a pink short set okay? We can do this together Sherr ***these people are amazing here at OH aren't they??****

Hi Janet...my name is Debbie and I'm new to the board. I haven't had my surgery yet but my surgeon will be Dr. Hornbostel in Sedalia if everything goes right. Read my profile page...at least the first part and see if it helps. So many of us are going through some of the same things. I have DJD and DDD along with a host of other co-mobility issues. I will keep you in my prayers and you keep praying as well! Don't give up and let all those pesty lil demons in (pain). Keep the faith, God is there for you ALL the time and the rest of us will be whenever we can. I think we all are pretty much suffering from some type of severe pain so we understand and are with you, all the way!! Hang tough, you'll make it!! Deb

Thanks Debbie, I had my seminar today and WILL be having my surgery with Dr. Scott in Columbia.. providing I can pass the pysciatric testing, LOL. I have 4 kids, 2 dogs, and my mom is currently living with me-have to have a sense of humor right? I mean, I may be the C word, as in Crazy, but its a good kind. I feel so much better today-having some validation, I guess you would say-about my feelings of despair and helplessness-and to see, with my own two eyes-others who have bad joints/back/hips etc-there, and struggling with the same things I am...Sorry for their pain, but it is NOT something I did wrong, just something that I was given to deal with, and now I will be doing just that. I am excited now to get into the swing of things, change the lifestyle and get it going to show the surgeons office that I am dead serious about the process and what I need to do to be a good candidate for this life saving procedure. I thank everyone for the prayers, because without that-I dont know that I would be this far-so thanks....take care and write back if you would like [email protected]. Jan