Chris Bumstead, Who Struggled Through Severe Health Issues, Once Urged Bodybuilders To ‘See the Doctor Regularly’

Chris Bumstead, the three-time Mr. Olympia Classic Physique winner, made his debut in the competitions at the age of 19 in 2014. In 2017, at Mr. Olympia, he stunned the audience and judges with his physique but ranked second. When he was in the prime of his career in 2018, three weeks before the show, he noticed some unusual changes in his body.

In a YouTube video after the 2018 Mr. Olympia, he opened up on his medical emergency and the mental trauma he went through due to an issue in his kidneys.  

Chris Bumstead reached out to the doctor before it was too late

Just when everything was going at the right pace and Bumstead was keenly looking forward to clinching his first Mr. Olympia title, something unexpected happened. He recounted that it began seven-eight weeks after guest posting in LA. “I was holding so much water in my ankles.”

Furthermore, he said that when he pushed, his finger went in an inch. He shared about being watery in his shins too. “I didn’t know what was going on.” He suddenly found himself gaining weight and becoming watery. Fortunately, he got the treatment right in time.

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Otherwise, he probably could have never pursued the sport again. He appealed to everyone especially the bodybuilders, that if they noticed that something was going on in their body, “and you have gone through a lot, get yourself checked out. Get your regular blood work, get your urine test, go and see the doctor regularly.”

Bumstead waited three nights for the results 

Confused and clueless about water retention, he taught it was probably because his food was a “little different.” But he didn’t seek any help. “I kind of pushed it away, dealt with it.” His situation worsened when, “All of a sudden, I woke up and I was five pounds heavier.”

Moreover, he noticed more water in his shins again. He still didn’t visit the doctor, as he was tired after a long day in the water park. To his dread, he gained about 15 pounds the next day when he woke up. “My ankles were swollen.”

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After spending three nights in the emergency room, perplexed and terrified, not knowing what was wrong with him, he was diagnosed with a problem with his kidneys. Later, he was prescribed medicines to flush out excess sodium and potassium.