So depressed! Losing weight when sick....

[zpoon214]

Hi all!

 

I have MS and have reciently been wheelchair bound. Not ALL the time, but most days its painful to walk and I look like a drunk. So I have been using my wheelchair to get around. This has made it so I dont move a lot and Im gaining weight like mad!

 

I have become depressed ontop of all the MS crap Im dealing with, but also because I have always been a skinny girl ( 110-115lbs) I have not hit 150lbs in a very short period of time!!

Is there ANYTHING I can do to lose the weight and get in shape again? I am at a loss with ideas. Walking/jogging isnt an option...any ideas?

[sophia34]

I can't imagine how tough it would be to have MS--all I can say is, don't let it beat you into depression. The advice on this forum is probably not going to be incredibly helpful, because most of us aren't going through what you're going through right now. But I bet you could find a great support group that could give you just the information you need to look for ways to keep active, even when in a wheelchair.

 

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society can point you to a support group in your area, as well as give you advice for activities. Maybe you could go to its Web site (http://www.nmss.org) to find more information as well as a network of people who are going through the same things, if you haven't already.

 

One thought I did have was that swimming may be just the thing you could do to keep the pressure off your joints and help you stay active.

 

But more than that, I would just say, reach out to a support group and hear what others with MS have done to cope and overcome this situation. Hearing what others have to say may also help you get out of a funk.

[shesays]

zspoon,

 

My good friend has MS, and she used to do yoga with me stay fit; there are yoga tapes for seniors which take place while seated in a chair. It's not likely those tapes would help you lose a lot of weight, since they're not very aerobic, however I think it could help you physically and emotionally. Yoga has really helped me to control my vertigo, which isn't caused by MS, but it could help your balance problems, too.

 

My friend has found an Aqua Aerobics class for MS, everyone in the class has MS; they have floaty tools and even vests to keep you floating and vertical (if you need them) while you work out your arms and legs. She ADORES it!

 

If a support group isn't the right fit for you (I do think you should try one out though), you could try individual counseling; a chronic pain specialist would probably have a good set of tools for dealing with the emotions you're feeling.

 

Please let us know how you're doing!

[zpoon214]

Thanks for answering my post! Its been VERY hard on me, I'm only 32 and being stuck in this chai most of my time is awful. I am really gaining weight and I'm so unhappy about it, its now really showing!

 

I had not thought of swimming, I bet that would work for me! I was actually at a pool party not but a weekend ago, had I though I could get in without problems I would have done so! Thanks so much for the help...it really did help too! Im going to looking into some swimming a little each day even!

[sophia34]

Please let us know if water exercise works for you--We'll be thinking of you!