Set goals huh? I was taught to "plan for the worst, and hope for the best". "If you look for the worst to happen, you will never be surprised". Part of my job, is to create "backup" plans to protect against 'worst-case' issues... see what I am getting at here?

Heh - believe it or not, I really am a glass is half full kind of guy though! I do tend to see the bright side of a issue...usually. I've been talking about all of this with my wife tonight, and one of my biggest issues/concerns is I have not been "pain-free" in THIRTY YEARS! I am being honest here! Sure, if I drank enough, or if I took enough pills, or if I did not move just right... but to do something, walk around, or GET ON A BIKE AND RIDE and be pain free? I can not wrap my head around it at all??! This is not poor pity me, I am speaking english here! I have a very real fear of having this full complete total knee replacement and I still have pain! (I have been told it's not pain free, it's like 80-90% pain free, like a dull-ache - just letting me know it's there working - and I am not worried a bit about that) - I am worried about the stab the hot poker up under the knee-cap so I piss my pants and fall over screaming like a little girl pain (excuse the words - but did I paint a picture?)

If I was making excuses, or unwilling to move ahead, or think on this (I am a great thinker), I would not have ever started this thread. I had very special goals and questions when I first started this thread...

1) AM I too heavy for today's bicycles? - therefore this idea is a waste of time - you all have assured me I am not - thank you greatly!

2) Has anyone had a knee replacement AND been heavy as I AND gotten back on a bicycle sucessfully? - Again -if the answer had been no, possibly a waste of thought and effort - but again, you all have shown me this has and can be done - much to my great excitement!

The rest of my questions were about rough costs, ideas, timing, methodology, etc...

Because of the response from this thread, I actually have started the process in motion. On Monday 09-21-09 I saw my heart DR, had a heart Cath, with the direction towards his blessing on my knee replacement surgery (bariatric surgery is out as my insurance will not cover it, and I do not have the funds), and his blessing on stressful exercise and (hopefully) weight loss. He completely supports it, has signed off on it, the heart should handle it, and will thank me if I do it, and since I have a current issue with too much water around the heart and lower legs he has added 2 new meds to reduce the water, and has limited me to 1500CC of fluid daily (next APPT in 60 days).

Today I have created a list of short-term Goals. Of course, more goals to be created towards the end of these goals.

The long term goals are the replacement knee, get on a bike, get a 'decent' *cheaper* bike, get on the bike every day for an non-specified period of time or distance, get on a stationary bike every work day during my lunch for a non-specified time or distance (assuming I keep my current job), either cut down or stop my Pepsi habit, and "Once I break 25 miles in a single day riding with no great duress, decide what to do with my smoking habit".

[drum-roll]

Get the Ball rolling for the Full left knee replacement Surgery. - STARTED
A) Get a Letter from Dr. Gross (heart) agreeing to this Surgery
B) Get a Letter from Dr. Zacour (PSP) agreeing to this Surgery.
C) Get a Letter from Dr. Lewis (Pain MGNT) Agreeing to this Surgery.
D) Set the Pre-OP Conference APPT with Dr. Chonko (Orthopod) to discuss and set a date for full knee replacement surgery.
E) Make work aware of the date of the Pre-OP Conference APPT, and then the date of the surgery, and spend time training replacements for me.
F) Line up PT Specialist that will focus on cycle work. Already have key for work-out room at work that has stationary bike that will fit me (I sold it to work)
G) Gather Equipment needed during rehab - walker, cane, rollator (if needed - post-op knee brace, heating pad, ice bag, extra pillows). - DONE

See if my Employer will either allow me to keep my job, or, allow me to work from home at a reduced income during my rehab. - STARTED
A) Email my Employer outlining what is needed, what will be gained by doing this (towards long-term stability) listing what I can do from home if allowed. - DONE

Get Surgery date set prior to 11-30-09, sooner is better.

Get weight below 360LBS prior to surgery date. Today's weight is 379.

Get Pepsi count below 3 per day prior to surgery date - no exceptions - half cans count as whole canes.

Create plan with Pain MGNT team prior to surgery date to lower morphine levels as fast as practicable, amount to be set by team, that said, my desire is to be under 90mg within 2 weeks of surgery date.

Meet and create new goals within 10 days or surgery date.