Dieting with Obstacles Those with special health concerns such as diabetes, fibromyalgia, pregnancy, etc can post here for extra support and help.

Reply
 
Thread Tools
Old 07-26-2013, 10:10 AM   #1  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Mizeria's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 36

Default Dieting while practically wheelchair bound.

Some of you may have seen this in one of my posts in the support forum but I'll indulge you with the details anyway.

I'm Ember, my husband is a semi-truck driver and on the 25th of May the brakes in the truck failed while we were going down hill, we hit the other semi-truck stopped at a red light at the bottom of the hill at 45mph.

I was thankfully sleeping in the back of the semi-truck on impact (the 3000lb engine came in and completely crushed in the passenger side, where I would have been if I was awake). I was thrown from the bed and my knee just didn't look quite right, I had completely dislocated it and then re-located it when I tried standing up (according to the EMT) OUCH!

Anyway, in addition to completely severing my MCL and ACL, I completely severed my medial meniscus and my meniscus was also completely ejected from my knee joint and is now somewhere to the left of my joint. (don't ask, even the orthopedic specialist had never seen that before)

Anyway, I've been on my quite restrictive very low-calorie diet (due to not being able to exercise) for a month now... Have I made progress, WHO KNOWS?!? I don't have a scale lol.

I also have no exercise equipment, weights, resistance bands etc.

I won't be able to get in for surgery for a while as the insurance on the truck refuses to cover me, despite not being able to walk, and I have to wait for open enrollment in my hubb's insurance to get on it, and then more waiting.

Anyone else dieting with lack of movement? lol

Last edited by Mizeria; 07-26-2013 at 10:49 AM.
Mizeria is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-26-2013, 10:37 AM   #2  
Senior Member
 
ainslie's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: New Brunswick, Canada
Posts: 175

S/C/G: 280/see ticker/155

Height: 5' 7"

Default

While I don't have lack of movement I don't actually exercise either.just count calories. I have lost almost 20lbs. Good luck with your recovery. A large soda bottle filled with water can make a nice weight, especially the curvy diet coke ones. My MIL uses soup cans. She onky exercises her upper body due to a foot injury. My prayers are with you
ainslie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-26-2013, 12:21 PM   #3  
Senior Member
 
kaplods's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Wausau, WI
Posts: 13,383

S/C/G: SW:394/310/180

Height: 5'6"

Default

When I started, I was in such bad shape, that taking a shower (even using a shower chair, with hubby helping me in and out of the shower) wore me out for the day. I even had to switch to a conditioning shampoo, because I didn't have the arm strength to lather more than once, let alone use a separate conditioner.

Weight loss was very gradual at first (as in a loss of one pound a month), for many reasons (including boredom eating).

There are unique challenges to eating less and moving more when you have pain and mobility issues , but it can be done.
kaplods is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-26-2013, 01:18 PM   #4  
I can do this
 
bethFromDayton's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Dayton, Ohio
Posts: 1,181

S/C/G: 230/222/175

Height: 5'2"

Default

I lost weight while I was recovering from my foot surgery, although I wasn't as restricted movement wise as you are.

I did do some (not as much as I planned) arm work--there are YouTube videos of sitting exercises--some of them are only 5-15 minutes long, so you can get a bit of a workout in (and alleviate some boredom).

Because I was so sedentary, I cut my calories to 1000-1200/day. I know that's very low, but I wasn't hungry--I wasn't doing anything.

You may have already thought of this, but you have consulted an attorney? If you were allowed to be in the truck at the time of the accident, perhaps an attorney would be able to make things happen insurance-wise.

Good luck to you
bethFromDayton is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-26-2013, 02:22 PM   #5  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Mizeria's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 36

Default

Yeah basically for me I must stay sitting or lying down with my knee propped up, any weight at all on my knee makes my knee buckle to one side or the other, in addition to the searing pain the horrible crunching noises will haunt me forever.

I was only just recently able to get into my shower unassisted, before I had to set my shower chair outside of the shower and do a weird sponge bathing thing, it also doesn't help that the opening in my shower is only 1.5 ft wide (the actual shower is 4-5 feet long but is surrounded by a wall for some reason).

I currently eat between the 1000-1200 calorie range myself, as I was directed to that amount by a nurse practitioner friend of mine.

I have thought about going to an attorney, but truthfully I don't think I can wait anymore, my mother fought with the same insurance company for 7 years to have her medical bills taken care of and after that she finally gave up and had her surgery done on her own dime.

I refuse to be a victim to their stupid policy and would much rather get my surgery done in months, rather than years.

I'm also worried about the time after my surgery, I am currently in a ROM (range of motion) brace that does allow my knee to move back and forth so I can kind of faux-walk (basically no weight on it but my foot touching the floor) on my crutches but after the surgery I will be entirely bed bound (obviously other than crutching to the bathroom) and unable to use my left leg at all and it will be in a complete immobilization brace for 1 month or more. >_<
Mizeria is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-26-2013, 03:21 PM   #6  
Senior Member
 
Lolo70's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 430

S/C/G: 211/159/140

Height: 5'4"

Default

Can you get into some insurance through Obamacare? I had to completely repair my ACL many years ago and surgery for only that done by a butcher (albeit a good one) cost 13k. If I could go back now, I would purchase or at least rent equipment that they had in hospital that keeps your knee in constant motion. It prevents later scarring. I did some physical therapy afterwards for six weeks paid by my insurance and then started working out using a Totalgym at home. You can work on your entire body using that machine.

It will take some time for your knee to come back and you will have to have patience. Surgery (at least by my surgeon) will sever many nerves in your knee and muscles need nerves. So, you will have to approach things slowly. But you can do some exercises to get the upper body in shape. I think after surgery they will want you to move as soon as possible even with your leg in the brace to encourage nerve regeneration and muscle growth.

As to insurance, maybe look into the different possibilities you have. It is worth investing money into better options. Surgery, recovery and follow-ups will be expensive. But what is more important is the choice of surgeon. I knew other people who had the ACL done at the same time and among that group, I had the least painful and most complete long-term recovery. It depends a lot where they take your ACL replacement from. I am not familiar with MCL and meniscus surgeries. I went to a clinic specializing in surgeries for athletes. With a complex surgery like you are facing, you want to find surgeons who are good at it.
Lolo70 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-26-2013, 05:22 PM   #7  
Senior Member
 
QuilterInVA's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Yorktown, VA USA
Posts: 5,435

Default

Obamacare doesn't kick in until January. Until then, I doubt you'll get anyone to cover a pre-existing condition that needs surgery. Was there a rule about no riders in the truck?
QuilterInVA is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-26-2013, 06:52 PM   #8  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Mizeria's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 36

Default

No, I had full permission to be in the truck, his bosses even pax an extra $1200 on the insurance for passenger protection, they say there isnt enough proof of me being an NY resident to cover me, even though they wouldnt even cover my husband who did have enough proof.


Also, in NY health insurance companies HAVE to cover pre existing conditionts, so ill be fine with insurance ill be getting in August. Oh the replacement for my ACL will be taken from my thigh muscle, i was also told absolutely no movement in the month after surgery, i wont even be able to start physical therapy til after then.
Mizeria is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-04-2013, 12:35 PM   #9  
Aloha nui loa
 
MauiKai's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,163

Height: 6'0

Default

I rarely have to use my wheelchair, but my mobility is still limited. There is no running for me! However, weightloss for most people is 80% diet, so you still have the opportunity to lose weight until you can get your leg repaired. I'm sorry to hear about the accident that must have been horrible.
MauiKai is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-05-2013, 10:41 AM   #10  
Member
 
Creativian's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Atlantic Canada
Posts: 66

S/C/G: 169/164/160 lbs

Height: 5'6"

Default

Ooooh that insurance company needs its arse sued proper. I hope somebody does it.
Creativian is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-14-2013, 02:37 AM   #11  
Junior Member
 
pearson's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 3

Default

Nice tips above here.I am agree with this above reviews.
pearson is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:42 PM.


We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.