kebsa22

Hi everyone,

I am a 59yr old former RN, Now not working due to health and disability issues. I Had my right leg amputated yrs ago due to chronic pain, part of my pain management had been an implanted pump that gave medications direct to the spinal fluid- it worked quite well but caused weight gain. The i developed Multiple sclerosis which affected my mobility, i am a power chair user, so i eventually found myself at 230kg (506 pounds) so now i am trying to qualify for bariatric surgery. Back in 2001 i had a lap band done and did well initially but then had complications (esophageal dysmotility syndrome) that put me at risk of aspiration pneumonia so it had to be removed back in 2013. so my weight gradually crept back plus more.

I reached my heaviest late 2017,  One of my careworkers had a mild dose of flu, even though i had been vaccinated it was late in the season and my immunity was obviously weak and i got sick. sick enough that one morning another helper came to help me get out of bed and she could not wake me, i was in respiratory failure and close to death. I spent a month in hospital on Bipap 24hours a day to begin with and was not expected to live. Thankfully God took care of me and i survived even though the doctors said i would not. I went on liquid diet to drop weight while still in hopital and quickly dropped to 216kg and by the time i went home i was 190kg. i was told i could have bariatric surgery-probably a sleeve, if i got to 180kg and i did so well initially that he said he wanted me to get to 175kg (385lbs) instead but i struggled to lose that last bit plus i needed to weigh me in my chair which proved hard so without regular weigh ins i lost my way. During Covid my options for weighing have been less and it is now over 3yrs down the track so i had no idea how much i weighed. i went back on high protein low carb, partly using shakes .Still could not weigh but i know my size has dropped but yesterday i was finally able to weigh myself and i was back up to 201(442lbs) i was devastated!! i see my surgeon agin in may and seriously want to lose weight before then as i fear he will say i have had enough time and chance. I spoke to a bariatric dietician and we decided that if i eat as though i have had surgery ( in terms of high protein low carb and meal size- pretty much 2 shakes a day and one meal, journaling and writing down all i eat to stay mindful then aim to get back to where i weighed myself every fortnight so i can actually monitor myself- i can do this.

i have also seen a weighing scale that goes up high enough to weigh me on a manual wheelchair, suitable for home use, its a bit expensive for my limited income but i can save for it and also use some of the funds from my disability care package- I can use $1500 from that and then i just have to save a bit more- it will make things so much easier if i can weigh at home.

in the meantime i am trying to add as much activity as i can, my mobility is very impaired due to not just weight but MS, my shoulder are pretty cactus these days and despite being in pain still particularly my shoulders i am having the pain pump weaned back to get rid of it. most of my pain would improve if i can get my weight down. it is a long trip but i can do it, if i don't my repiratory function will get worse and i will die so that is a good reason to stay on track!