I'm dumb---can you just post a link? (*grin*)

What is Chronic Illness?
"A chronic illness is a condition that lasts a year or longer, limits activity, and may require ongoing care. More than 125 million Americans have at least one chronic condition, such as diabetes, cancer, glaucoma, heart disease, Fibromyalga, Multiple Sclerosis, and Lupus. Nearly half as many have more than one chronic condition." 

Hello,
This group was specifically created for WLS candidates and post ops who like me face the unique challenges that living with a chronic illness may often present.  As individuals with a chronic illness, we face greater challenges that the typical mainstream weight loss surgery patient may not face. Sometimes we feel left out of the loop as we read about others who are doing certain activities that we are no longer able to fully tolerate.  

You may find the group by clicking on groups in your index. Once at groups, type in the word Chronic Illness in the search box and the correct group will appear.
 
Thank you for your interest,
Obesity Help Support Group Leader.

I started out taking Celebrex, until that stopped working.  Then I took Bextra, until the FDA said it was unsafe.  Then I took Mobic for a couple of years, until it stopped working as well.  I don't recall any stomach problems with any of these.

The first time a doctor recommended that I have a total knee replacement was when I was in my mid-30s.  I had my VBG done a couple of years later.  I didn't lose weight.  What little I did lose came back soon after.  And, yet, I still have a tiny stomach which actually works against me in my efforts to lose weight.  But that's another story.

For the last four years (I'm now 50), I've lived with 9/10 (and sometimes 10/10) pain in both knees.  I've gone from a cane to a walker to a wheelchair, while my husband completed a college degree.  Last year, I went to an orthopedic surgeon in Dayton, who told me that most surgeons would refuse to operate on me at my weight (295), but the fact that I have had WLS would sway him and some others in favor of doing the surgery anyway.  It shows that I've made an honest effort to lose the weight.

He was very frank with me about some things that were an eye-opener, though.  He said that he's operated on a number of obese people, and many of them end up disappointed for a few reasons.  One, he said I could expect probably only a 50% relief from pain and a 50% return of function.  The same stressors that caused the damage to the old knee will still be there, and will act on the new knee in the same way.  The new knee won't last as long as it would in a person of "normal" weight.  But, the way I see it, 50% return is better than where I am now.  It's a risk I'm willing to take.

Now that my husband has finished his training, as soon as he gets settled in a job and can put me on his insurance, I'm going to have my knees done.

I have had total knee replacement done in 10/07 it has never been right, I can hardly walk and it swells and hurts more than it did before the surgery. I have my bypass surgery on 02/25/09 and I hope it helps me to be able to walk again.