Do you have a physical disability that

I deal with gastroparesis, a very debilitating digestive disorder. It means paralysis of the stomach, and to break it down even further- my body does not digest at a normal rate. It's relatively severe and my main symptoms are nausea, vomiting, bloating, and inability to pass bowel movements on a normal basis (only once or twice a week!). It causes severe pain, I'm usually very dehydrated, malnourished, etc., It's gotten to the point where I even have heart problems.

I haven't been able to exercise besides yoga for the past week due to the severity of it. I'm looking into the possibility of being admitted to a hospital and will likely be going for fluids on Monday or Tuesday in the ER. I see a new specialist on the 1st, thank goodness.

It causes many complications regarding receiving proper nutrients and my body absorbing and processing those nutrients, along with getting in enough exercise. I'm only 17, and have been dealing with symptoms for years, but it only got serious and diagnosed when I was 16. It's been hard trying to adjust to a "normal" life when I've only been to school for 4 days out of the month of February. I'm trying to get my life back, one piece at a time..

Hi! I'm very frustrated, and know exactly how you feel. I have good days and some fair days, but never a excellent day. I have a slip disc in my back and bad knees with arthritis. I wished I could walk the 1/2 block you do. My every step is pain along with every moment I stand. Like they say there is always someone worst off than you . I have to remind myself of that when I start complaining. The one thing we have to remember is to keep it moving.

I'm 38 with congenative heart failure because of my obesity, which has caused kidney failure. Up until a month ago I thought I just had "heart problems" and yeah yeah yeah I should lay off the salt, I'd nod my head at the heart dr I've been seeing, as I had been for a few years, and promise to do better and never do it. I'm so ashamed I let my weight get so out of control, and gosh I chose to live so unhappily for so many years. I was happy, but I havent been living.

When he sent me to the kidney dr. it was a wake up call for sure!! My kidneys were functioning at 12 % He put me on a low sodium, low potassium diet, but if it doesnt improve in a week we are going to discuss dialysis. Well if thats not motivation I dont know what is. I was terified. I've never heard good long term things re: dialysis and did not want to go down that road. I drove home in a daze from his office wondering who would take care of my cat once I was dead. lol

I immediately changed my diet, I keep the sodium down to under 2000 per day, same with potassium. The potassium thing isnt so hard, the sodium thing is difficult but its becoming a habit and much easier. Its not much fun, but as my brother told me, if I enjoy living, I will make it fun. LOL

I'm still afraid to do much as far as exercising, my heart still races when I walk more than 75 feet. Sometimes I get light headed and my ears fill with pressure as if decending on an airplane and I have to sit and wait for it to stop. Every week I can tell its getting easier and easier to walk around, I have more endurance doing things around the house, etc. Hopefully in a month or so I can actually start walking for exercise taking a few more steps every day. Until I get clearance from the heart Dr though, that dizzy, light headed, head pounding pressure thing scares me too much.

Oh, and after 1 week on a low sodium diet my kidney function improved from 12% to 29.6%!! Next blood test is in 5 weeks and I'm hoping for more good news. Since my heart dr visit that started this all on Jan 24th, I'm down 27 lbs...maybe more - I'll weigh in tomorrow or the next day.

MFP has been wonderful to log my food - not really counting calories but the low sodium/no processed food thing sure makes you eat healthy, so calories arent a problem. There are so many nice people and wonderful recipe ideas on here!! Good luck to everyone.

The inspiration for me to not give up on life or moving, etc....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8ZuKF3dxCY

Great to hear you were able to get a little fresh air today, Caileadair! I hope that your new medication helps with the coping of your pain. My mom has dealt with chronic pain (symptoms of MS, besides lesions, therefore she is undiagnosed) for 6 years now following her hysterectomy and struggles on a day to day basis coping with her pain. I have seen first-hand how difficult it can be to merely do normal household chores and such.

I second that wholeheartedly.


Yes, but mine is a bit strange as in most people have no idea how it prevents me from exercising until I explain it! I have proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

This means the blood vessels in my retinas hemorrhage. I've had dozens of laser treatments for it (can't get any more - too much scar tissue) and a surgery on my left eye. I have not yet had surgery on my right eye, and am hoping to avoid that. However, any form of weight-bearing exercise is too much strain and I pop blood vessels. Same with hard running, etc. When this happens I can't see out of that eye for a week or more, until the blood clears. It is possible to lose my sight permanently. In fact, it's a leading cause of blindness in America.

As of right now I can do some things, like walking, or light biking, but that's about it.

As I often tell others - I'd rather be a little chunky or flabby and be able to see, than be fit as hell but be permanently blind!

I forgot to add why he believe it's all in my mind, I've had 2 echos (basically an ultrasound) of my heart and it's physically normal. Apparently "a heart having electrical misfires is pretty normal.." Sigh.

I am a 39yr old female with several medical conditions: early onset of Parkinson's disease, gastroparesis, fibromyalgia, central sleep apnea, myoclonic seizures, chronic migraines, herniated L4/L5, S2, carpal tunnel syndrome, hiatal hernia, REM disorder, depression, anxiety... and a couple of others that I seem to just forget... just like others posted on this thread... I try not to complain much because I know there are others with so much more on their plates... Iike those with sick children... my heart goes out to all of you that have posted... I simply take it one day at a time and I thank the Lord for every day he gives me... God bless all of you..

I have Charcot Marie Tooth disease, which affects the peripheral nerves in my legs and arms. The myelin sheath that covers the nerves is disintegrating, which interrupts the message to the brain and causes my muscles to atrophy. Thank the good Lord, it's a slowly progressive disease, but I have to wear foot braces because the muscles which hold up my feet are no longer functional. My hands are weak and no longer work to full capacity either. I can't change my own necklaces, need help changing my pierced earrings, and have great difficulty picking coins up from a flat surface. I can no longer run or stand on tiptoes. Exercising is a challenge because of my balance issues. When I first started Leslie Sansone's Walk Slim videos, I had to hang on to something stable for basically the entire video. Now, my strength and endurance has increased to the point that I only need to stabilize myself for about 3% of the exercises. My disease is classified in with the Muscular Dystrophy family, so there is no cure as of yet. I'm just thankful that I have such a mild form of it.