Hi everyone!

It's been YEARS since I was here last! I had been a regular and as I was perusing the board before posting, I recognized so many of the names here!!

I don't expect anyone to remember me after all these years and with all the faces that come and go but I'm hoping to dive in again and pick up where I left off.

my little history here of why I left.... (warning, long and probably very boring ...)

I had been diagnosed with hypoglycemia in 1996. I then found lower carb and regained control of my blood sugar and lost 53 pounds. I felt fantastic. Son was diagnosed with hypoglycemia after suffering convulsions and joined me in the lc life. All was great and right with the world.

In 2000 ish, I began not feeling great but couldn't really place a finger on what was really wrong. I just felt "off". All my physicals were coming back fine and I thought maybe I was pushing myself too hard. I was boxing, biking, weightlifting, homeschooling my son, driving 300-450 miles per week for son's acting and voice lessons (he's now a successful actor ..whoo hoo!) and I really thought it was all getting to me. By December of 2004, I was spent. My Dad was dying of cancer and I was so run down I couldn't keep up with anything. December 27, 2004, I woke up with extreme pain in my feet. I thought I'd done too much walking on gravel roads while visiting my parents. We came home from visiting and a few days later I woke up and one of my fingers was numb. A few days later the same finger on the other hand was numb. I went to the dr. who said my feet had tendonitis and the fingers must have a pinched nerve. A week or so later my hands were so swollen and I couldn't bend any fingers. I went to a different dr. who ran tests and found I had rheumatoid arthritis. My first rheumatologist said I'd be in a wheelchair within 5 years. Instead I worked with my local dr. We tried the homeopathy route and diet and exercise along with steroids. By that August, I could not get out of bed by myself. I had to be helped to the bathroom and with showering, eating, everything. By September, I could not lift a cup of water to my mouth nor feed myself at all. The first of October, when I could get into a different rheumatologist, he put me on methotrexate, a chemotherapy drug, and then plaquenil. With all this change in lifestyle, no exercise, whatever food I could chew and then later, drink, I gained much of my weight back.

Now, fast forward. I'm doing very well. I still have bad days with my RA, but overall, I'm good. I'm still trying to get in 30 minutes of exercise a day but most days don't. I'm back on plan with eating and feeling better there. I have days when I can't stand and cook or still need help eating but mostly I'm good.

I have every intention of getting my activity level back as well as my waistline!

Sorry for the book but it helps me get perspective of where I am to write it down as well as for those who might remember me before I fell off the internet world!
Ann

Welcome back, Ann! I remember you!

Gosh, you surely *had a time of it*, didn't you? Good to hear you are on the mend!

Best wishes on your journey back to healthy eating, good health, and of course, weight loss!

Again, welcome home.

s

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Shelley


Visit Kassie's Korner


"A goal without a plan is just a wish."
--Antoine de Saint Exupery

I’m SOONER born,
And SOONER bred,
And when I die,
I’ll be SOONER dead!
GO SOONERS!
I be ready for some football!

One little walker-runner Dude for every 10 miles!

welcome back, ann! so sorry to hear of the rough road you've travelled, but glad to have you back with us.

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Welcome home, Ann! You've been through a really rough patch. It's good to see that you are improving, and that you found your way back here for help and support. We hope to see a lot more of you!

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Nita

thank you so much for all the nice posts! I know I'm on the right path and feeling so much better already.

I remember you all so well! It doesn't seem like it's been so long