Co-Morbs a'poppin' !

Just sent in my final medical history-- hey-- why not share it with the universe, eh? Thought you might find it easier to understand where I am headed if you knew where I've been--- and this is the "partial" list. Now you can see why vanity stuff's the last thing on my mind... ______________________________________________________________

SLEEP APNEA- Sleep nightly with a CPAP-- titration on "5", since 10/06

GERD/ACID REFLUX- Food literally comes back out through my nose while asleep

ENDOMETRIOSIS/EXTREME MENSTRUAL PAIN AND IRREGULARITIES- Had to have cysts removed and endometrial ablation due to extreme bleeding-- and tubal ligation (despite having no children)-- likely secondary to extreme overproduction of estrogen from extraneous fatty tissue

HYDRADENITIS SUPPURATIVA/SKIN TAGS: In both axillae, suppurative weeping sores exacerbated by heat and fatty redundant tissue under arms. Resistant to treatment with antibiotics.  Extremely painful, with malodorous discharge. OVERSIZED BREASTS AND HEAVY PANNUS- Extremely large chest- size 48 I—and hanging abdominal apron--which cause considerable incessant back pain and pressure on already compromised (see below) upper back, rending walking and exercise extremely difficult.

VERTEBRAL DAMAGE: Secondary to a childhood sports injury—X-ray showed a hairline crack in vertebra. Extreme (searing) pain upon standing, walking. Exacerbated by excess abdominal weight and extremely heavy chest.

BODILY YEAST INFECTIONS:- Frequent and intermittently recurrent yeast infections under breasts and abdominal apron with redness and weeping. Responds to topical anti-fungal treatment. 

TIBIAL TORSION and OVER- PRONATION: Serious orthopedic birth defect—treated in childhood with orthopedic harness/ braces and orthopedic shoes. Causes hip and back pain as adult. Exacerbated by extreme weight. Untreated, but currently wearing anti-pronation footwear daily.

EXERTIONAL “ASTHMA”: Especially following upper respiratory infections- uses steroidal inhaler as needed. CHRONIC RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS... ....and on and on...or not.

I hear you sister.  Some of that sounds like it was written about me, not all but some, and then add to that my family history of diabetes and heart diease, and I know exactly what you are saying....I think you are making the best decision possible for you and I give you a salute to that.  I hope with some more weight loss I can quit using CPAP.  Actually fell asleep without it last night and did well, so maybe that a sign of good things to come. Congrats on your surgery date too, BTW.

I hear ya too.  A lot of that I have and it's embarassing to admit so you're a braver girl than I am.

I guess I am not easily embarassed: I think we need to be more honest about who, what and why we are. Look, it's real-- it happens, I am doing what I can do to fix it, y'know? The embarassing thing'd be to keep on that path and kill yourself painfully, to my mind.

This is some tough stuff to deal with.  I am so happy that you got your surgery date.  You have dealt with a lot of serious stuff and I am so glad that you will have this tool to help you regain your health.  Vanity no.  Having your life back yes.