I know what you mean about not wanting to give in to the chair. When I was obese I had a couple of ankle surgeries and had to use one because I could not haul myself around on crutches. The chair was really a life saver. However, when I injured my back, I was in the queue for gastric bypass surgery and had it two months after I hurt my back. I'm really glad I lost the 85 pounds that I did. It has taken a tremendous load off my joints. I look at people in chairs and think it's a wonderful thing they have them, but I really hope I'll never need to use one again as long as I live. Are you in an active plan to reduce your weight? If you are and you are fighting to remain upright as you do it, more power to you. If you are not currently actively trying to lose, I'd say go with the chair until you can get yourself in a position to work on the weight.

That said, I just want to tell you I know it is not easy. Some folks tell me I took the easy way out -- let me tell you, weight loss surgery is NOT easy. They can fix your stomach, but they can't fix your head. I still fight the weight battle, but at least I have a tiny stomach to help me.

God bless you,
Linda

I had gastric bypass in 06-lost 120lbs! I am so glad i did and would do it again. We didn't take the easy way out- people who aren't or have never been obese can't understand the inner hell we go through. I felt trapped inside my own body-sad to see myself on the outside. None the less I still have back pain but early in my recovery from a 2 level 360 fusion.

I have never considered a wheel chair so I see it as a double edged sword- would it feed your sorrow to not get up and move?? but yet having it would ease the pain?? I would suggest- NO YET- get on an active exercise program-walking walking walking as much as you can.

Good luck-I wish you the best!~
shannnon~

My thanks to both of you

I would love to exercise..... I guess if I am truthful with myself & others, I could do SOMETHING more then what I am doing now - which is nothing. I think I keep waiting to be able to exercise like I did before injury.

Another mental hurdle to over come.

My Dr has approved as well as suggested WLS for me.

I told my hubby the other day that if I don't have some of this weight off by spring, I am going to do it.

Easy way out - no I never have thought that about WLS.

Chair subject never enters my mind until my pain is maxed as it was last night. I woke up to find the pain cause is TOM ( time of month ). Not sure why but boy does TOM increase my pain levels

2 weeks tomorrow I had an ablation done in part to stop TOM, but was told it can take up to 3 cycles for it to fully work. However the other effects of TOM ( cramping, headaches, back pain etc. ) are still with me this cycle and not sure if they will always remain.

Well TOM also helps explain the roller coaster of emotions I am on right now regarding my back.

Again - My Thanks !!

I would personally save that for the final resort. I do not think that it would help that much for me as sitting causes me a great deal of pain. I do think that you would lose a great deal of mobility if you were bound to a chair all of the time. My mom is 72 and has lots of health issues. She is losing her independence not being able to walk very far etc. My sisters and I thought about getting her a scooter. But after talking to other folks that had family members in those scooters we decided not to do it. They all said that the family member using the scooter had a decline in health after using them and they felt it was due to very little movement because they used the scooter. Well thats my opinion on it anyway.

Hi
I have a wheelchair, I use in the home when times get really bad, I always use one at the airport when I travel, if you saw marirlpn's post on 'Liz's trip to America' you will see I do travel. I also use one when there is too much walking for me. It is one of the ways I pace myself to avoid those too frequent flare-ups otherwise.
When I lived on my own and needed to shop, the scooter was my only way, even the little dog I had at the time, travelled on the foot plate to the park, where she would jump off and go for her run, when time she would jump on no problem and off we went back home.
In my home I use a walker/tea trolley to relieve the weight on my back and knees.
A wheelchair is a good aid but not necessarily become something to be relied on. In my opinion

My thanks again to all

Scooter, or chair is something I am going to look into for next summer unless a miracle happens to me.

I want to take the grandkids to some fairs and other events that I just can not do on my own 2 feet.

I am hoping I can rent one. I would need to use it maybe like 5 to 8 times the whole summer.

Like I said earlier - it just comes up in my mind when my pain level is maxed and I feel I need to so something more for myself - ya know.

I am not sure who I think I am kidding when I think like this lol I just a few weeks ago said "OK" to a HC parking permit lol

With the icy season coming up fast, I want to be as close to the doors of stores and such as I can be....

will cover the gastric bypass, I'd go for it in a heartbeat. As I tell everyone, I'd do it again -- every day and twice on Sundays! No, it isn't easy, but it has been a miraculous life saver for me. I wasn't morbidly obese, but I was nearly 100 pounds overweight. I lost 85 of those pounds and have kept them off for over 2 years now. I cannot tell you what a freeing experience it is to be rid of that weight. I cannot imagine what it would be like to try and deal with my back issues without having shed the weight. I'm still trying to lose my last 15 pounds. I'm hoping to get active enough to finally get them off. No, it's not an easy path to follow, but I can tell you life is SO MUCH BETTER now that I've lost my Michelin Man Suit!

Linda