Last Blog As Jhadzhia, Shutting Down

I have had health problems since the day I was born. Lost some of my hearing because they thought I was a colicky baby when in reality I was having serious ear infections. It didn't stop there and my life was a relentless chain of one health issue after another. At age 6 1/2, I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. I spent a month in the hospital being poked and prodded in a strange, scary environment. Then at age nine, I had my first surgery, an eardrum repair. This was the theme of my life. At age 48, I have had both elbows replaced, both knees replaced and both feet repaired. Pending is another foot repair and a hip replacement. It never seems to end. But I have never given up. I just get back up and get on the exercise wagon once more. It hasn't been easy. I ballooned up my weight twice when I got the attitude nothing will ever go well for me why should I bother??? Just became a couch potato and filled my face with what ever I felt like eating. But there was still a little life left in me. A little Spark. One of my surgeons said he wouldn't operate on me unless I lost the weight. A wake up call. Stay morassed in severe pain or get off my a$$ and move it. I chose to move it. Got back on my exercising. I had my own elliptical so lack of transportation wasn't an excuse. It also was no impact so the grinding of bone on bone didn't hurt as much. At first 5 minutes just about killed me. I was that bad out of shape. But I kept at it. I also made it to aquafit whenever I could. Again, no excuses, no impact to hurt my screaming joints.. Believe it or not, I actually started to feel better. Those endorphins helped with the pain. I got a better tolerance for the pain. As the final part of my journey, I joined Curves to add the only kind of strength training I could do safely. I toned up and shaped up. But my health story wasn't over. I was recently told I have severe osteoporosis with a bone density of -3.1 when normal is 0. I was told by my physiotherapist I should refrain from high impact cardio in case of fractures. Because of my artificial elbows, I am no longer allowed to lift more than five pounds. Hardly adequate to strength train. So my challenge is how to continue my healthy lifestyle, keep the weight off and somehow get back my bone density. Walking doesn't keep me cardio fit, its not enough, but it will hold the line, hopefully, from further bone loss. My trusty elliptical can still challenge me with intervals. But the writing is on the wall. I knew my condition would get relentlessly worse and that a wheelchair WILL be in my future. Maybe sooner then later at this rate. Its time to get my affairs in order and declutter so I can be prepared to move into a tiny room. My Mom finally wants to travel and before I become incapacitated, I need to join her. I need to do it while I still can walk for miles and miles :) Neither of us drives, so walking is it for us, and besides that is the best way to see new places. Mom complains I am on the computer a lot and I am, and its all on Spark People only. So as much as I love it here and all the friends I have made, its time to let a lot of it go. Too much of a good thing. I am on my third go around reading the articles, doing the quizzes and the Health A-Z just trying to earn points. Really, a waste of time, but I love to give goodies so I keep up doing it.
I will try, once in a while to drop by and see how everyone is doing. Please keep up with Spark People until your journey is truly finished and you have the skills and ability to continue in real life. Its really, really a great thing and so very helpful and encouraging. I know I learned a lot and got and gave support like I have never had in my life. You are awesome! You are the best! You rock!
Keep up the great work!! You can do this!!



Its time for me to just do it!!