Belly fat causing back and bladder problems. What do I do?

[Anonymous]

My myofascial physical therapist, also a nurse and very skilled, leveled with me and told me that she believes my issues are due to having no core strength and too much weight in my middle. I have chronic low back pain and ankle pain, bladder frequency and leakage, and indigestion/heartburn. I am about 40 pounds overweight and carry this weight in my midsection. She believes it's putting pressure on my pelvic floor.
My ultrasounds and a CT scan are clean except for severe lumbar degeneration, which I am guessing my weight is worsening.
I feel hopeless, like I am doomed to suffer until I can somehow shed all this weight which will take time and isn't easy at my age (44) anyway.
My uro-gyno suggested a Botox treatment but this seems scary as well, it can freeze up the bladder and anyway it won't help my constantly aching back.


Help?

[Anonymous]

Go calorie controlled. 1500 per day. It will drop off over several months.

You will need to cut out high fat and high sugar foods, alcohol and white flour.

Otherwise eat what you like, but in moderation and count calories.

I dropped 30 lbs that way. It actually had zero impact on my bladder issues, but bowel issues resolved.

[Anonymous]

Get on Compound Ozempic. It’s worth the $6000- $12,000 a year if it helps health issues.

[Anonymous]

40 lbs overweight? Do you have any other risk factors?

Get on a semaglutide.

I agree that you should make diet changes and start exercising. You can improve your core muscles.

[Anonymous]

Well having no core strength doesnt need anything fancy to improve. Working out and strengthening your core can be done fairly easily and should help.

[Anonymous]

Are you 40 pounds over the top recommended weight for your height? Or 40 pounds over where you want to be? I am 30 pounds over what I was when I was married but still within the norms for my height.
I would listen to the person that actually has a MD. If you’re significantly overweight, yes it will make your back pain worse. I really doubt it has anything to do with your bladder (although constipation can significantly worsen that).
I don’t think the Botox treatment sounds at all scary. But I don’t know if you tried other things or not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well having no core strength doesnt need anything fancy to improve. Working out and strengthening your core can be done fairly easily and should help.

How?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Go calorie controlled. 1500 per day. It will drop off over several months.

You will need to cut out high fat and high sugar foods, alcohol and white flour.

Otherwise eat what you like, but in moderation and count calories.

I dropped 30 lbs that way. It actually had zero impact on my bladder issues, but bowel issues resolved.

+1

Weight loss seems daunting but it's easier now than it will be in another 5 or 10 or 15 years. Your future self will thank you.

[Anonymous]

I’m not sure I buy it’s causing your bladder issues. I have a similar build - carry weight in belly - and was up as high as 170, now down to 146 at 5’7 and I’ve stayed at that weight for a year. I wasn’t actively trying to lose recently but am going to try to get to a goal weight of 137. Honestly, I look better but I don’t feel any different. I don’t know that your issues are going to magically disappear with weight loss although it certainly has many benefits. I’m 52 and I still have random aches and pains.

By all means try ozempic, I think there’s no shame but it’s also not impossible to lose the weight on your own in a slow and steady way.

Highly recommend cutting out almost all added sugars and sweeteners, eating an anti inflammatory diet and doing exercise to work up a sweat 4-5 times a week plus daily walks.

[Anonymous]

PP again, I do think the weight loss and a diet change will improve the heartburn and indigestion, much less sure about other things especially the bladder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP again, I do think the weight loss and a diet change will improve the heartburn and indigestion, much less sure about other things especially the bladder.

It can make core balance easier and extra weight can make increase internal canister pressure which can be exacerbate any pelvic floor imbalance.

[Anonymous]

I think the answer is pretty clear. Do you want to live the rest of your life with this cascade of health issues because you aren't prioritizing eating right and exercising? You will not only shorten your life, but your quality of life will only get worse. You need a come to Jesus with yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well having no core strength doesnt need anything fancy to improve. Working out and strengthening your core can be done fairly easily and should help.

How?

What? Exercise. Start with planks.

[Anonymous]

Try Wegovy - I'm your age and have lost about 20lbs so far, which is making exercise (including core exercises) much more accessible and enjoyable for me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My myofascial physical therapist, also a nurse and very skilled, leveled with me and told me that she believes my issues are due to having no core strength and too much weight in my middle. I have chronic low back pain and ankle pain, bladder frequency and leakage, and indigestion/heartburn. I am about 40 pounds overweight and carry this weight in my midsection. She believes it's putting pressure on my pelvic floor.
My ultrasounds and a CT scan are clean except for severe lumbar degeneration, which I am guessing my weight is worsening.
I feel hopeless, like I am doomed to suffer until I can somehow shed all this weight which will take time and isn't easy at my age (44) anyway.
My uro-gyno suggested a Botox treatment but this seems scary as well, it can freeze up the bladder and anyway it won't help my constantly aching back.


Help?

Lose about 50lbs. Simple, just takes a little bit of willpower.