Betty Trigo

👍🏽

I've had 6 spinal surgeries and it's not easy to find the best doctor. Whatever you do be sure to follow up with plenty of physical therapy, it makes a world of difference.

Hello, There are so many forums, I don't know where to start. I also have an arthritic condition, Ankylosing Spondylitis, that has changed my life drastically. It took at least 10 years to finally get diagnosed. It started with severe lower back pain in my 30's, then loss of range of motion in my neck and spinal surgeries on my forties. The disease attacks the spine and sacroiliac joints. My last spinal surgery resulted in a spinal cord injury and disability in my early 50's. With lots of physical therapy, I can now walk with a rollator for short distances.
I've been overweight all of my life, which I believe affected many aspects of my life. I carry a lot of sadness due to having spent so many years hating my body and disappointed in my inability to lose weight. Since my disease is progressive, I decided to finally have the gastric sleeve surgery in hopes that I can be as independent as possible. I backed out 2 years ago, but now I'm ready.
I'm on day 4 of 14 day pre op diet. I'm looking for a support group.

39 lbs and glad to be eating some solid foods. Cant wait for the next level of diet but loving the results.

My program does not allow vitamin patches. I wish it did! It would be so much easier.

Hi, doing good, no more pain, eating is going pretty good, trouble getting all the Protein in. How are you doing?


Betty Buckaroo

Out of surgery and feeling fine. This has been a walk in the park. Just a little "cramping" pain in my stomach that I'm taking pain meds for.

Here is how I rate some of the Exercise DVDs that I have:
Chair Boxing with David Stamps.....my favorite
Chair Salsa with David Stamps
Chair Tai Chi with David Stamps
Exercises for the Bedridden with David Stamps...
I have to say that all of David Stamps videos are worth the money. You do not need a Lunk Alarm.
They are do-able and can be easily modified to your needs. Any of David's workouts can be done sitting in a chair or laying on your bed.
Chair Aerobics Circuit Training Beach Party (1960's style surf music) with Ronit Amaya ....Fun enough and you can use light handweights.
Fun Resistance Bands with Sunshine Good for balance strength and flexibility.
Easy Sitting Pilates and Calesthenics with Sunshine
Sunshine also has another one that uses handweights, and most of the time she is sitting down.
Stonger Seniors Chair Exercise Program - Core Fitness with Anne Pringle Burnell
Stronger Seniors Stretch and Strength - Anne Pringle Burnell
Anne is easy to follow. I use her DVDs a lot and can follow along without messing up too much.
Walk at Home / Walk Your Belly Flat with Leslie Sansone. This can be throught the house or standing in place in front of the TV. It uses every muscle in the body to help torch calories. She breaks up the walk into three mile increments. I use this one on any morning that I wake up with energy.
Easy Yoga for Arthritis with Peggy Cappy A little hard for me to keep up because I am not very flexible.
I have one other that may be of interest to you after you can enough strength to stand up some...although I have done this one sitting down if I fizzled out but wanted to keep going. It is Joel Harper's Firming After 50. I use this one frequently when I want to do body weight resistance. He has an intermediate level that a 30ish woman does, and a beginner's level done by his mother. So, I try to keep up with her.
Mr. Gyms Couch Potato Workout....Boring Alert!
I, too, have multilpe orthopedic issues, spine surgery, and post-stroke imbalance. I do these workouts in the privacy and safety of home where my boundaries are familiar. I hope this information helps anyone who is in a similar predicament of immobility and chronic pain. I wish you good luck and good health.

I'm doing great 3 days out of surgery. Trying to figure out what my stomach messages are telling me. Thank you all for your support.

Hi! On day 5 post op. Thinking what the hell did I do to myself. Still in pain. This is the first day I felt like writing. I guess it is different for every person. I decided to cut down my pain med to 2x a day. Hopefully will get better. I ha d to stay in hospital a day longer cause I couldn't pee real quick. I finally also can take a deep breath.

Everything went well, a little gas pain but no problems. No nausea or vomiting.

I'm a day after you on the 22nd!

Good luck to all having surgery today! It really is life-changing! I am 16 days post-op and feeling FABULOUS!!

In on Wednesday the 21st and discharged Friday the 23rd. Feel best when I keep up and moving and don't settle in and be lazy. Think it may take a while to get the system regulated again. But now it is no longer anticipation but instead the ability to move on!

I had my surgery on the 20th and so far everything is just perfect! The only thing that really makes me crazy is being without energy and although I understand this is normal, but I am so bored do any of you feel like having a shower or walk around the house is A BIG job done and you need rest after this? I am a bit afraid of driving, therefore stay at home all day... what do you do to fly days faster and how do you entertain yourself? P.s. Yes, I'm reading books, watching movies, but need smth more

Thank you! I will let you know how it goes.

Mine is June 27th. In Florida, I fly in a couple days before for my official pre op (currently doing the 2 week Optifast liquid diet) and return to Massachusetts July 8th! Good luck to you!!

Thanks! I am getting ready to go to the Hospital. Very anxious! I am glad everything went well. Gives me encouragement. Let you know how it goes.

Everything went well today, surgery was 45 minutes. No problems except a little gas pain, no nausea or vomiting.

Your courage and strength proves that you can succeed anything. I know it wasn't easy but I am so proud of you.

Good luck with your surgery! I am also anxious mine is Wednesday.

Corpus Christi, Texas
I'm in pre op stage, surgery scheduled for 6/20 😀

I can be a buddy, but I'm new to this myself.

Arlington, TX here.....Surgery scheduled for July 6th. Anyone looking for a buddy? I need support.

My surgery is set for June 20 in Corpus Christi Texas by Dr. Stegemann. Excited,anxious and on 4th day of 2 week pre op diet.