Hi - first time posting, no idea if I'm doing it right. I've had AS since my early 20's & I'm now 38. Been stuck at home for the last 7 years with a fused spine and chin on chest deformity. I've isolated myself from everyone and it's destroyed my life....2 years ago I weighed 26st and was really unfit. I started training and found out about surgery. I've been on a quest for the last 2 years to reclaim my life. I got funding to have surgery at the Queens medical centre in Nottingham, England (I live in a different part of the country)....I've now built up to training twice a day using an exercise bike and cast iron weights. Even with my fused spine, posture, mobility issues and pain I have been able to lift weights and build my muscles (I once loved lifting and the muscle memory helped) my muscles have responded, I've become far more flexible (2 years ago I could barely bend forward, now I can touch my toes)..my resting HR is down to around 48bpm and I feel strong and fit. I'm down down to 17st with around 7 weeks to go before surgery. So I'd like to hit the 16st mark and have lost around 10st in the last 2 years. In 5 weeks I go for my final preop and then a couple weeks later I'm having surgery to lift my head up....with a possible 2nd surgery 3 months later on my lower back. To be honest I'm kinda hoping they do both surgeries so I can get as straight as possible.......I've come a long way in the last 2 years, because before then I'd really given up on life and lost hope....I'm on a mission to break free from the prison of my surrounding and the prison of mind, body and soul......I've been a surpressed person, not feeling like myself, existing in a perpetual cycle of depression.....i had such low self esteem and embarrassment I isolated myself. I only see my 3 kids and wife.....but because of me just existing in my room, everyday the same thing, same clothes, same depression....its pushed my relationship with my wife to complete collapse. She has agreed to give me time and see what I'm like after the surgery and once the halo is off. I don't know what will happen but I'm determined to become myself again and use all the negative things I've experienced to make me an even better person....I can feel the real me inside and the training and fitness has begun my transformation.....I know the risks of the surgery but I'm still excited to have it done, I'm ready to continue my recovery and if all goes well.....2018 you better watch out, coz I'm coming for ya!!!!!
