Anyone denied surgery due to mobility issues?

I had mobility issues as well from my brain injury due to my cardiac arrest. Walking without a cane was not in my future, I was told. Never was I told or actually did I feel that I would be denied surgery for my inability to exercise. It's my fourth month surgaversary on the 21st, and, I don't use my cane 100 % of the time now!! 

I haven't heard of anyone not having surgery due to immobility issues. 

Best wishes, I think you will have no trouble. 

Annette

Thank you Annette.  This caught me by surprise too. 

Congrats on your 4 months!  I wish you continued success!

 

Try not to worry about this, rest easy knowing that to say no based on that alone could be seen as discrimination. Ensure you have a plan in place for adjusting your intake and moving as you can you may also ask to meet with a kinisstiologist sp? They can be helpful with using whatever works best for you. You get to that point in the game and you just want to hear yes, good luck and worrying when it's helpful. Plan as often as you can

Thank you Jane.  I thought this was the last hurdle and was totally caught off guard.  I will be doing as you suggested, making a plan and trying to move more.  I had a 2 day assessment with a kinesiologist (and occupational therapists)..and know my limits...basically light movement in water is the best for me...so thats what I am going to do.  Thank you again....

Hi NewMe2.0,

Is it possible that you misread or misunderstood your internist?   Having mobility issues is actually one of the reasons why they WILL want you to have WLS so that your quality of life is improved over time and not worsened.  I wa**** by a car while walking on the sidewalk a few years ago and had bones broken literally from head to toe and suffer from arthritis (being a human barometer is no fun at times!).   Of the many broken bones, the most painful areas are my lower back, hips and knees/legs and I can tell you first hand that WLS has helped me A LOT already and I'm only about 10 weeks out or so from having my RnY!    I'm able to walk further and longer than I ever have since the accident and the memory of being wheelchair bound for quite some time helps me to push myself a little bit harder every week.  I'd be wheelchair bound again if I didn't move at all and that's enough to light a fire under my butt to get moving!  Water exercises/aquafit classes are great for your joints and eases the stress of what gravity does with our weight on our limbs while outside of water - please don't stop going!  Being in the water is sooo beneficial and therapeutic in so many ways.  I have nasty scars up and down my legs, front and back, and yes, I was very self conscious of it at first but I worked around it by wearing knee length bicycle shorts to cover some of it (plus it gave me an excuse to ignore shaving above the knee lol).  

Don't let your previous surgeries and current aches and pains limit you or even define who you are.  For myself, it was easy to say I hurt to much to do any exercise but the truth is, from my experience, if I didn't move and exercise then the pain would only get worse.  I'm not a die-hard gym fanatic or marathon runner, but I do know that my body is getting stronger and by getting stronger, the pain lessens and as the pain lessens, I can do more...little by little its possible! 

Keep your chin up and I look forward to seeing you on the bench!

 

 

Thank you Pawsitive_One ( I love your moniker)

Unfortunately I didn't misunderstand the internist.  He basically spelled it out for me.  And again, I was totally surprised and caught off guard, because I feel like you, that WLS will improve my quality of life.  I mean there is no other option for me.  I have tried every diet out there and nothing works for me.  The only way I have ever been able to keep weight off in the past is through exercise.  I used to be very athletic...and I think that is what he was basing his opinion on.  I am not a binge eater, or a real junk food eater.  I know I don't eat enough, and I am working on that.  Again, all this has been discussed with the staff at Guelph.

All I can do is get myself back in the water..and try to walk a bit more in stores when grocery shopping etc.  I am like you in the fact if I dont move I get worse, but the problem is if I do too much, I am in a flare up that can last weeks.  I am going to have to find a balance.

Thank you for your encouragement- I will keep my chin up...and good luck with your continued success.

Thanks!  And I totally hear you regarding flare ups from doing too much - I'm guilty of that also especially on dry sunny days when I feel good and tend to over do it - its hard to stop myself! lol  On damp days like today, my bones and joints are so achy - I gotta thank my dog for getting me off my butt and out the door!  But you're right, finding balance is key to helping with pain control. 

There's no doubt in my mind that they'll call you with a date soon.  Your desire to want to move more and do more along with the fact that you were previously athletic and know what you're capable of speaks volumes and that's what they want to hear from patients - that they are willing to act and do their part post op. 

Erase any doubt from your mind...you got this!!

You are describing me with all the complications.  I, too went to see the internist and he brought up about the mobility issues.  He told me that I wouldn't be able to lose the weight without being able to walk any type of distance.  I told him that I am doing arm chair exercises right now to take the pressure off of my knees and I walk very short distances right now but it will improve once the weight starts to come off.  He approved me!!!

Hi Alysan...

The internist did say he would approve me medically, just that he was going to advise the surgeons that he didn't think I would be a good candidate due to the exercise issue.  He even mentioned the opti program, which I advised I had no desire to do.  He held true to his feelings that I would not be able to do enough exercise to successfully keep the weight off.  However, he did say that the final decision is up to the surgeon, and that he has seen people less mobile than me be approved.

So I guess its a waiting game once again. 

Good Luck in your journey...I cant remember, but are you going through Guelph?

 

Yes I am going thru Guelph.