Disabled and trying to loose weight.

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patamber123
patamber123 Posts: 11
in Introduce Yourself
Hello my name is Patricia, I'm 24 years old, 5' 1'', and 192lbs. I'm looking for friends and any advice that can help.


I used to be size 10-12 and was for years. An accident left me paralysed 2 years ago and since then I've become immobile and was bed bound for a year. This is my first try to get back into a better shape, any advice will be welcome.
I feel that getting into better shape may get my mind into a better place. I'm limited on my ability to exercise, but want to get below 80kg, and if I achieve that I will aim for a more healthy weight. I'm hoping that loosing weight and trying to move a little more will help me feel better and reduce the severe fatigue I suffer, some is due to medications, but I believe some is depression, and being bed bound.

Anyone wanting support can feel free to add me. Many thanks

Patricia

Replies

  • glovepuppet
    glovepuppet Posts: 1,710 Member
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    you're a brit? if so, you can get physio for free. the physio can teach you what exercises might help.
    why are you bed bound? would you be able to get out and about if you had the proper equipment in place?
    how much are you able to move?

    yeah, i ask a lot of questions.
  • patamber123
    patamber123 Posts: 11
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    Wow thanks for the super fast response. In answer to your questions:

    I am a Brit, and have had physio in the past, but there was mutual agreement from all doctors OTs and PTs that nothing further would be achievable. So it was finished.

    I do have a full power wheelchair with supports that I need. I can get up and about but for no more than 5-6 hours a day due to the pain it causes me. I have a suitable hospital bed with special matress which allows me to sit up. To be honest with you and too myself I believe the biggest contribution to being bed bound, other than the pain and fatigue caused by medication, is my mental status, I'm not diagnosed but I think it's possible I have some depressive traits.

    Thanks for your interest.
    Patrica
  • patamber123
    patamber123 Posts: 11
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    I can not move anything below chest level, the bottom of my ribs is about the level of my paralysis. I have full use of my right arm, although my neck injury has affected the strength and coordination of my left arm.

    I try doing arm exercises like lifting my arms above my head, out in front and to the sides. I don't use any weights or anything, but was wondering if they may help for my right arm. Also I was thinking about getting one of them peddle exerciser machines for my arms, but then debating getting a motorised one to move my legs.
  • Binkie1955
    Binkie1955 Posts: 329 Member
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    terribly sorry over your accident and the resulting paralysis. I'll keep you in my prayers. I'm assuming nothing can be done at this point to address the paralysis.

    Given that, you will have to focus on diet to reduce your weight. If you are unfamiliar with the science of weight loss and particularly of the low carbohydrate you should familiarize yourself with the basics which you can do for free by downloading the pdf of the book
    Good Calories Bad Calories by gary taubes.
    http://www.dragaonordestino.net/Drachenwut_Blog_DragaoNordestino/Ernaehrung/Ernaehrung_arquivos/Notes-to-Good-Calories-Bad-Calories.pdf
    or just Google 'Good Calories Bad Calories pdf by gary taubes' and your search engine will find it.

    getting your arms around the nutritional science will help you in your goals quite a bit.

    hang in there. you're a courageous lady.
  • t1nk6
    t1nk6 Posts: 215
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    Hi patricia,
    My position is'nt as severe as your i dont think but i cant exercise with my back at present and need to lose the weight i gained since hurting it to get more mobile .... ive tried quite a few well know diets and none have worked because i couldnt exercise.

    i started diet chef a month ago and lost 9lb my first week .. im not exercising. Its definately worth a try if nothing else works for you ;)
  • glovepuppet
    glovepuppet Posts: 1,710 Member
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    Wow thanks for the super fast response. In answer to your questions:

    I am a Brit, and have had physio in the past, but there was mutual agreement from all doctors OTs and PTs that nothing further would be achievable. So it was finished.

    I do have a full power wheelchair with supports that I need. I can get up and about but for no more than 5-6 hours a day due to the pain it causes me. I have a suitable hospital bed with special matress which allows me to sit up. To be honest with you and too myself I believe the biggest contribution to being bed bound, other than the pain and fatigue caused by medication, is my mental status, I'm not diagnosed but I think it's possible I have some depressive traits.

    Thanks for your interest.
    Patrica
    i think maybe you need to get more help from the medical side. have you had any counselling? because the change in your life has been traumatic and it's a lot to expect of yourself to cope without any. meds can really help if you get the right ones at the right dose. are there any day centres that can cater to your needs? the link between depression and social isolation is pretty strong.

    ...i'm a carer, so i know that sometimes getting help from the NHS & social services is like getting blood out of a stone, but i've also seen that people who keep bugging for things are the ones who (eventually) get them. and one thing you do have is plenty of time to be searching out services and agencies and fascilities and chareties that might be able to offer you something.
  • Katmary71
    Katmary71 Posts: 6,755 Member
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    Hi,

    I think your diet will be really important, and was going to suggest the arm pedal machine as well but you beat me to it!

    I have both nerve damage from a pelvic surgery gone wrong and have had back surgeries. I understand the severe fatigue from medications, it's awful to find the right balance between pain control and side effects, and once you get it right, we still have to deal with side effects and almost all the medications have tiredness warnings for a reason- it's totally exhausting to take multiple medications with tiredness as a side effect!

    I'd like to be friends if you're interested. I'm sorry you're dealing with so much at such a young age, I was young too, but you have a lot more to deal with and I admire your strength. I agree if you can get it physical therapy for ideas and help that would be great. Same goes for seeing a dietitian or nutritionist. It's hard to know what is right to eat as our situations are different from most people, same goes for how many calories to eat.

    One thing I've noticed is once I started eating more vegetables (at least three times a day with them being the main part of the menu and with protein), I seemed to have a clearer head and some more energy. Not to the point where I can skip my afternoon nap, but enough to at least make some difference. Baby steps as usual, but it counts! I'll add you, I didn't see you offer to add at first. I don't know as much about paralysis as I do chronic pain (I have limitations on my left side from nerve damage to the central and peripheral nervous system), but am willing to encourage and support you.
  • glovepuppet
    glovepuppet Posts: 1,710 Member
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    I can not move anything below chest level, the bottom of my ribs is about the level of my paralysis. I have full use of my right arm, although my neck injury has affected the strength and coordination of my left arm.

    I try doing arm exercises like lifting my arms above my head, out in front and to the sides. I don't use any weights or anything, but was wondering if they may help for my right arm. Also I was thinking about getting one of them peddle exerciser machines for my arms, but then debating getting a motorised one to move my legs.
    they sound like great ideas for strengthening arms!

    are you getting your carer/s to do daily physio stretches on your arms & legs?
    i know it's a tedious business but it pays off in the long term.
  • patamber123
    patamber123 Posts: 11
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    Thank you everyone for your response and ideas.

    I am currently living in a care home for people with disabilities, which is fine, but creates a little of a catch 22 situation. I can't exercise so should diet. However there is a set meal plan here that isn't always the most healthiest. Which means I can't diet so should exercise. But of course my exercising is really limited.

    Saying that I have just purchased a peadle exerciser and some dumbells, only light ones 0.5kg, but thought I'd use them on my arm exercises. Once a week I have a massage and that helps keep my arms moving and also stretches out my legs, on top of that I have elevating footrests to vary the position of my legs. I'm really determined to up my exercise levels, as I do want to loose weight.

    I do have my social worker trying to get me into a local day center for the social aspect of it, although living with 20 people is socialising anyway. I don't think I'm feeling isolated as such just like I lost the original me somewhere along the line. I know counselling and I don't get on, I've been down that road previously. (I ended up finding out all sorts about the therapist, such was my aversion to talking about how I felt.)

    Katmary I have always hated vegetables with a passion, I haven't touched them since I started eating solid food my mum has always told me. But if you have found a benefit to the fatigue by eating them then I'm going to try it too. All meals here have 2/3 optional veg and I've always avoided adding them to my plate. Today I'm going to give the cook a heart attack and ask for my veggies.

    Right now I'm just nattering on too much, thanks again everyone.

    Patricia

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