Hi everyone -- Just wanted to share some thoughts because I've gotten myself into serious health trouble because of my weight, and if I can help one person avoid trouble I'd be happy.
The doctors warned me over the years my weight was a serious problem and would cause me trouble - I heard it over and over from many doctors, and always left their offices with good intentions - but really did not heed their warnings. And I'm sorry now!!
I'm 61 years old and morbidly obese. Other than my back, I thought I was in pretty good health. I've worked all my life, rarely had a sick day. My troubles started revealing themselves about 3 years ago. I had trouble walking due to pain in my right leg. Turned out to be achilles tendonitis - tried an air-cast, but it did't work so I had to go into a hard cast. I was out of work for about 2-1/2 months because I couln't use crutches due to my weight. The cast caused me more back pain, and also left hip pain and knee pain. Thought things would be fine once the cast was removed, but lo and behold I developed the same problem in my left leg. I have't been the same since.
While I was laid up, I noticed both legs were painful. Sometimes they were number, sometimes they felt like I was being stuck with needles and pins. Times I felt like my legs were big tree stumps, like dead weight. I could walk, but when I would go to get up from my desk, I would have to roll my chair away from my desk, and then pick my legs up to put them under me so I could get up. Then I'd have to stand up and wait for the circulation to return before I could start walking. To get into my car, or into bed, or get my legs up or down from an ottoman I would have to use a beach towel to hoist my lets up or down. Had studies done and found out I have neuropahy and peripheral artery disease.
Breathing is more difficult now. I attributed it to my weight.
I've had all sorts of testing, heavy medication for the extreme pain, injections, physical therapy, TENs machines, etc. Nothing helps. People would come up to me at work telling me I should be on disability. But I struggled because I had bills to pay....but finally one day at work I had cried all day due to the pain and realized I couldn't take it any longer and ended up going on long term disability. It was hard to explain to the insurance company -- I didn't have one problem like herniated disc - I had a lot of different problems, and one by one they didn't impress the insurance company.
Recently discovered I have heart disease caused by my hight blood pressure. I went for a doctor's appointment during the summer and I had been huffing and puffing more than usual for a few days - I told the nurse it was because of the weather - the humidity was very high. She sent me to the Emergency Room downstairs and I was admitted. Turns out my lack of oxygen was due to heart damage.
So besides my weight, I have mobility issues, heart disease, sleep apnea, back/neck/knee/leg pain, peripheral artery disease, chronic tendonitis..... it goes on and on.
I could go on and on -- but suffice it to say if I had lost the weight years ago, I wouldn't have destroyed my body and caused myself such severe pain. We are the guardians of ourselves and we have to take care of ouselves. I'm changing my lifestyle now and hopefully I'll get some relief.
Please - take care of yourselves and avoid the poor health. I don't feel sorry for myself. I'm more mad at myself for not listening to the doctors.
Life is good and it's up to us to take control. I feel optimistic because I have taken the reins and I know things will improve - it's up to me
Mary
Didn't mean to go on and on......(maybe I should write a book!)