wheelchair weary,fat and fed up after years of asking for help and only offered gastric surgery(which I do not want ever!).

[Dogbasket]

Feeling miserable and not helped by weighing in at 20stones 7lbs this morning! 10 years ago I was a size 14 and 11stone. I was at the gym 5 days a week and swam a mile 3-4 times a week,I worked full time as a nurse and was always full of energy. I was kept busy by 2 teenage daughters with full social lives,I took them to concerts and festivals all over the UK and was having a ball.

Then like a bolt out of the blue my body had a massive systems failure. I had Flu which put me in hospital on a ventilator and when I woke up everything was wrong. It went from post viral fatigue to a list of diagnoses that left me in a wheelchair unable to walk,doubly incontinent, barely able to speak, constant pain from Fybromialgia and osteoporosis arthritis, Functional neurological disorders which gave me fit like symptoms where I switched off without warning anywhere and while doing anything! This meant I could no longer work or drive so I was sat at home 24/7 unable to do anything for myself and going crazy.I lost all of my friends by the end of the second year as I couldn’t socialise anymore and my family just carried on like I wasn’t there(which I wasn’t).I was on so many medications for so many conditions most of which had side effects and a lot made me gain weight.From hyperactive fitness bunny to housebound,chair bound blob in 6yrs.

Everytime I see a consultant from any speciality they say if I lost weight I’d feel better and if I ask for help I’m told the NHS don’t see people for dietary advice and the only thing they could offer is gastric surgery!

I can’t walk and have very limited arm movements,swimming and any gym activities are out for safety reasons due to the absence seizures. Can anyone suggest any wheelchair activities that would be suitable to help me lose weight or give me any advice regarding how to approach my doctors for help?

I can lose a stone easily using healthy eating and fasts but then it stops and I can gain 7lbs overnight literally. If anyone has any ideas I’ll take them gladly.

Thankyou for letting me join your group

[Grigid Moderator Host 4 stone]

Goodness me Dogbasket, you have been through a hard time!

I'm disappointed that your consultants are giving you only one route to weight loss.

Have you contacted your local Integrated Care Board? Details are on the NHS websites and it might be worth checking in with them to see if there are any services or support groups open to you that consultants aren't aware of.

Also I have heard of machines that can help you carry out exercises if you have limited mobility, adaptive exercise equipment, that might be worth looking into.

We aren't able to give any professional advice but I hope the above suggestions might help.

In the meantime, do stick with healthy eating. We do have groups on here that are very supportive, such as the Daily Diary. I've added the link here so you can have a look. Just join in any of the groups that interest you, you will be made most welcome.

Best wishes

healthunlocked.com/weight-l...

[Dogbasket 2025 March in reply to Grigid]

Thankyou for your reply and advice.I will look into them. Not giving up or giving in👍

[Grigid Moderator Host 4 stone in reply to Dogbasket]

👍🏼

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone]

Hello and welcome, Dogbasket

You might find some inspiration in this blog flidfit.com/about/ - some tasty recipes, too

[Dogbasket 2025 March in reply to BridgeGirl]

Thankyou for taking time to reply. I will definitely give it a look, love recipe inspiration 👍🥰

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone in reply to Dogbasket]

Good for you

[ellamental Visitor]

I really feel your pain. Meds can increase weight. You have had such a hard time of it. could you ask for mounjaro or similar? If not now maybe a bit further down the line when it may be more available on nhs. I don’t know any wheelchair exercise but would also be interested in that. I am not in a wheelchair but broke both ankles several times so I am always worrying about doing that again as weak. Hang on in there x

[Dogbasket 2025 March in reply to ellamental]

Oh wow you really must of been in so much pain with broken ankles🥺

You’re right the meds can be a real nightmare weight wise. Steroids and anti epileptics really pile it on me and the antidepressants are a drag too. I also pile on the pounds because of the heart failure but that’s all water and so uncomfortable!🥺

My GP isn’t a fan of wegovny injections but I keep asking! I’ll wear them down eventually 🤦‍♀️🤣

If I get anywhere with wheelchair suitable exercises I’ll post it on here and let you know(I’m slow on internet but I get there eventually 🤣)

Thanks for replying it means a lot when people care enough to read and listen .

[ellamental Visitor in reply to Dogbasket]

You have a lot happening. Maybe try a different GP who might prescribe weight loss injections. They are not cheap but eventually hopefully the price will drop. Take care. 😀

[Chubster55 Visitor]

YouTube has chair exercise videos. I have found them to be helpful. I hope that you will too.

[Dogbasket 2025 March in reply to Chubster55]

Thankyou.Yes I have used YouTube before but although it helps keep me a bit flexible it hasn’t specifically helped with weight loss . Can you recommend any specifically that you’ve found helpful or user friendly? 🥰

[Chubster55 Visitor in reply to Dogbasket]

If you go to YouTube and put in the search bar "chair exercises for weight loss", you will get a mixture of times and types. I just choose one, a different one each time.

[Cockneyblue Restart March 2025]

Hi, please take the advice given on here. The people are super friendly and someone is always around to reply and help. Sometimes we just want someone to listen and they are always here.

Best wishes to you

[Dogbasket 2025 March in reply to Cockneyblue]

100% right about just having someone listen and care. Thanks 🥰

[Mollydex 3 stone Restart July 2024]

hi and welcome. You may already know but the nhs.gov site has a section for wheel chair exercise that may be helpful to you ?

[Dogbasket 2025 March in reply to Mollydex]

Thanks I will revisit it👍I really need to get my head back in the game ,I’ve been in a bit of a hole lately feeling sorry for myself I surpose. It’s been one thing after another for the last few years and this year got off to a rubbish start as I ended up in hospital with Flu and heart failure(new) New Year’s Eve and only came home 3 weeks later.Only just recovered but struggling with new diagnosis and worrying about weights effects.

Thankyou for great suggestion and support,means a lot.👍🥰

[focused1 Maintainer 13kg]

If your GP suggests that you should be loosing weight then ask them for advice. Ask to see a dietitian, ask whether the NHS PARIS scheme trainers could help . These are gym based but surely they could assist with their training and knowledge as You Tube might be a good guide but you need to be reassured that the exercise isn’t harming you after all you have gone through . Like mentioned there must be machines and support aids as how do people with serious injuries after car crashes ever make progress especially those with spinal injuries. I didn’t even know a special gym was in my local hospital . My son had knee surgery following a football injury - ACL and he attended physio at the hospital. Not the same but some have hydro pools which are brilliant as they’ve got chairs and hoists to safely guide you into the water . It’s great for the GP to come out with some sweeping statement that you need to shed a few pounds but you need guidance via professionals

[Dogbasket 2025 March in reply to focused1]

Thankyou for taking the time to reply. The area I live in is extremely underfunded and has historically been neglected As a popular cheap as chips seaside town it deals with a massive influx of people during the season making any care for locals sucked dry .It is near impossible to see any doctors even at walk-in clinics for the 3 months of summer. Any referrals are waiting up to a year and then can be cancelled with little notice offen down to staff exhaustion and absence . I have been told dietitians in this authority don’t do obesity and was offered a cut price at weight watchers or slimming world for 3 months! As for physio I was refused twice and was told there’s up to a 18mth to more than 2yr wait and advised to go private!!! If only I could afford it I would. I will try with the GP again before the season starts and will mention the suggestions you’ve made.

Again many thanks

[Sharmian350]

Hi Dogbasket. I don't have the same challenges as you describe, but I do have other exhausting challenges that make my life very difficult and limit in what I can now achieve. These are not addressed or met or even, for the most part, acknowledged by the NHS.

I also have FND!

I have been a memeber of this forum for about a year, and I love it. It has been SO helpful, supportive and a bit of a life line.

I really hope you can engage with the forum, on the daily diary for example. It has helped me and I know it helps many of us. You will receive a very warm welcome. xx

[Dogbasket 2025 March in reply to Sharmian350]

Thanks for answering and sharing your diagnosis of FND also. You’re so right that it’s a big help just to have somewhere you’re listened to and feel safe to share the struggles as well as the positives.

[Sharmian350 in reply to Dogbasket]

So true.