“Take His Leg Off or Else He’s Gonna Die”: Flex Wheeler Opened Up on Life-Threatening Surgery

Flex Wheeler is counted as one of the most aesthetically fit bodies in the bodybuilding world. He is also known as the ‘Sultan of Symmetry’ for his incredibly built physique. However, all of it didn’t come easy for him. His childhood problem with the kidney has always been a block to his success. In 2022, while talking at Arnold Sports Festival, Wheeler opened up about the life-threatening incident he had to face in 2019. Moreover, he explained what conditions led him to the stage where he had to amputate his leg.

Flex Wheeler has been struggling with kidney issues since he was a teen. Let us have a look at what Wheeler had to say about the time he had to amputate.

Flex Wheeler had no options left 

An athlete is one of the most health-conscious people one can ever see. They are the most faithful to their health and their body. But when one has to choose between leg and life, the choice is pretty obvious. And that is exactly what Wheeler did. After suffering from kidney disease for decades, Flex Wheeler eventually had to lose his leg as a result. In the 2022 Arnold Classic festival, Wheeler revealed the actual situation he was in while the doctors had to amputate his leg.

While addressing the situation. Flex said, “The surgery was supposed to be a couple of hours. I was supposed to be out for three hours. I ended up being in a coma for over ten days.”

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Wheeler continued, “My kidney failed, so they were worried because they have to put this dye in me to be able to see where the blood clots are that caused my kidney to fail and I started turning grey from what they told me so the Doctors were like hey, we gotta hurry up and take his leg off or else he’s gonna die.”

Wheeler’s medical condition led him to the surgery 

It wasn’t the first time when Flex Wheeler had to undergo surgery because of his kidney. In 2003, Wheeler had to transplant his kidney, as his kidney completely lost its capability to work. Wheeler was diagnosed with FSG in the late 90s, which he was probably living with for earlier years of his life.

However, technology and medical science helped him in the late 90s to have the prognosis and later the treatment. FSG is a condition in which the scar tissues restrict the ability of the kidney to filter the blood properly. Henceforth, causing severe problems in the blood. However, he had a kidney transplant back then, but years later, the kidney gave him another problem. Moreover, this time it resulted in a more serious surgery, which made him lose his leg.   

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Even after suffering from kidney disease, Flex Wheeler conquered the bodybuilding world with his incredible physique. However, he had many setbacks at different times in his life, he always came back stronger. Moreover, even after amputation, Wheeler continues to work out and keep his body in shape. Wheeler is one-of-a-kind and one of the best bodybuilders in the world.