“Nine Surgeries in 11 Weeks”: Uncrowned Mr. Olympia Flex Wheeler’s Unavoidable Health Battle Ended Up With Him Being in a “Mental Institution,” Interview 2018

In recent years legendary bodybuilder, Flex Wheeler, has been quite candid about his personal life, struggles, and health. Despite being the star that he is now, Flex has dealt with an insane amount of hardships in his life.

From getting bullied and having self-doubt to finally finding himself through martial arts and bodybuilding. Then to establishing himself in the bodybuilding world but having to put a break in his career because of a car accident. Then to finally reached the peak of his success but had to end it all in the blink of an eye because of a major issue. Looking at his life story, Flex has seen more dark days than bright ones.

The darkest times in the life of Flex Wheeler

In June 2018, Flex Wheeler was featured in an episode of the London Real. Promoting inspirational stories of self-discovery and transformation, London Real was founded by Brian Rose in 2011. Flex opened up about the darkest times of his life and the things he went through after his surgeries.

First, Flex explained the complications that occurred during his kidney transplant. Following that, he summarized the entire ordeal. “I ended up having, long story short, nine surgeries in 11 weeks that I almost died from and I was just…this blood-curdling pain I ever experienced at that time. [I] Was literally on oxycodone, which is one is an injectable and one is a pill, I was on a Demerol pump and I had an epidural, you know, that was contracted to my spine. I was just hallucinating, and I was in la-la-land, literally. They took me from my hospital bed and put me into a mental institution on the other side of the hospital because I was just gone,” he said.

Read More: “Didn’t Believe in Myself”: Lack of Confidence Led Flex Wheeler To Be an Imposter on Stage During His Career, He Admitted in 2021

Flex further explained that he had to take a tremendous amount of painkillers post his surgery. Because of that, he ended up falling into depression. To take care of his depression, the doctors put him on antidepressants. This further worsened his condition, leading to days full of hallucinations.

Surgeries’ effect on Wheeler

Throughout his lifetime, Wheeler had undergone almost 40 surgeries. During the early 2000s, he was diagnosed with a rare kidney disease. This led to his subsequent departure from pro-bodybuilding, as his body could no more take the rigorous training and diets.

Ultimately, Wheeler received a kidney transplant. He went through nine surgeries in a matter of eleven weeks. While these surgeries were meant to cure him, their drugs had an adverse effect on his body. Explaining his post-surgery condition he said, “…that spiraled, and I ended up having a bad effect from that and just losing it, and just you know weeks would go by, and to me, they’re just seconds and I would hallucinate.”

Watch Story: “Didn’t Believe in Myself”: Lack of Confidence Led Flex Wheeler To Be an Imposter on Stage During His Career, He Admitted in 2021

Flex Wheeler has now taken an infinite break from the bodybuilding world. However, he still stays in touch with his roots and continues to practice martial arts.