So I have my annual checkup yesterday. Aside from the diet I'm on recently, I've changed and maintained (for the most part) my somewhat healthy lifestyle for the last 3.5 years. I've had the same adult medicine doctor for almost 2 years. Whenever I see her, she informs me that my weight is a concern (which it is) - and that I need to increase my exercise and watch my diet.
Of course, I always reiterate to her that I am on a modified diet and working out pretty regularly. She starts arguing with me, informing me that whatever I'm doing must not be "working" because my weight is still excessive. I keep informing her that I've never stopped working out totally (I might have an off week here or there, but I ALWAYS go to the gym) and that I have not reverted back to my old eating habits. We go back and forth a few minutes; eventually, I let it go, because obviously she's JUST NOT LISTENING. I've lost and gained over the past 3 years - but I've never returned to my "starting" weight, which was 276.
Last year, during my annual physical with the doctor, everything was normal. This year, I got my lab results this morning - all normal - cholesterol, blood sugar, etc. My blood pressure is under control with medication - but this is inherited and I have an extremely stressful job, which doesn't help.
I get the feeling that she thinks that because I am overweight, I must be grossly unhealthy and lying about my diet and exercise regimen. Anyone else feel like their doctor thinks they're lying about their lifestyle, just because they don't weigh 120?
When I first started going to my new Dr. he made me feel horrible about my weight. He didn't take into any consideration that the steroids (prednisone) that I had been on for several yrs. was making me very swollen and extremely hungry. He acted as if I was just a FAT, LAZY, PIG. His point was that the medicine doesn't cause you to gain wt., but it makes you hungrier and "you choose what you are putting in your mouth". I was hurt . I cried. I felt so worthless and defeated. Then, I turned all his negativity around and put it to use as Ammunition. I wanted to see if what he said was true. Was it really even possible for me to take off the weight while on steroids? Absolutely, he was right. I guess what I'm trying to say, I lost the weight for my health but also to show him he was WRONG about me. I can do it. I DID DO IT.
He no longer belittles me about my weight, but if he ever does I'll be quick to let him know that diet and exercise works and he might ought to give it a try. LOL, as I'm sure he needs to lose more wt. now than I do.
Some doctors should simply be fired, that's all there is to it. On the other hand, sometimes their concerns are valid.
I am one of those people who has had good numbers in spite of being overweight. Great BP, OK cholesterol, OK blood sugar. My doctor has watched my weight go up and down over a 12-pound range for the past few years, and last fall he just made it really clear that I needed to do more.
I didn't have 100 pounds to lose, "only" 50 or so from my start weight to be at a normal BMI (I'd have to weight 145). My doctor wasn't saying I needed to weigh 120. But I would like to humbly suggest that if someone is obese, their biggest health risk is, in fact, their weight. Going up and down in a 20-pound range is probably not a big enough change in such a case, and maybe that's what the doctor was trying to say, though doing it in a pretty crummy way.
Doctors are weird. It's like, if you're OVERWEIGHT, they CHASTISE you, but if you're UNDERWEIGHT, they try to tell you that you're doing something wrong with your health regimen.
What's even more messed up is that a lot of doctors aren't all that slim and fit themselves! They're DOCTORS; they often work long (and sometimes odd) hours and often don't even find the time to exercise or the energy to prepare healthy meals.
I find it highly peeving that they assume overweight and obese people must not take care of themselves and be in very poor health. It's not true... some of us are healthy and in excellent shape, but since we're carrying some extra baggage, we must not be able to even climb a flight of stairs without panting!! I feel like doctors secretly don't believe I'm physically fit because of my weight. GRRRARGH!
Not all Docs are bad and not all Docs make you feel bad that you are overweight..or in my case morbidly obese. I have a wonderful primary care physician and I went in at the beginning of May to have a complete physical and bloodwork, etc. done. I was about 22 lbs heavier than I am right now. I brought in some of my daily journals so she could get an idea of what I was eating and doing for exercise. She was extremely supportive. Clearly, she knew and I knew that my weight was/is TOO MUCH. Changes in my diet and exercising will only improve that.
I am another person who has a bit of luck genetically. My cholesterol is incredibly low and my blood sugar is normal, as is my blood pressure. Imagine how they might be after a year of being OP for the most part? The only thing I am dealing with is that I am hypothyroid and we are trying to figure out correct dosages for me.
If you don't like your Doc...find another one. They work for you. You should get the best care that you can and that includes an understanding Doctor.
I'm another one that was genetically lucky (except for weight and thyroid). I had one doctor that didn't really lecture me or anything (just the obligatory "you need to lose some weight" - duh), but he was a total cold fish and I distinctly got the feeling that he judged me on sight because of my weight. I love my current dr. to death, but he's always trying to proselytize me to *his* plan. Me and low-carb don't mix. Ah well, he will soon see!
My first OB missed my preeclampsia because of an attitude like that. I told her I was concerned because I was gaining 4 lbs a week for the past 3 weeks. She contradicted that saying the only weight that mattered was in her office and since I had only started going weekly that week, she was spreading out my 12 lbs in 3 weeks over 6 weeks. But then she lectured me about my weight and I said "yeah, thats why I brought it up, I am not eating enough to gain 4 lbs a week". She proceeded to tell me I MUST be and then followed it up with a story about how she gained 100 lbs with her pregnancy and how hard it was to get it off afterwards.
I pushed...I said "to gain 4 lbs a week I would have to be eating 2000 calories a day extra. I was gaining 1 lbs a week before, so I think I would notice if I suddenly started eating 1500 calories a day more"
She then told me how I would be surprised at how much I was eating if I really paid attention.
2 days later I had the baby. (4 weeks early - emergency C)
One of the red flag warnings for Pre-E is a gain of more than 2 lbs a week for more than 1 week. The other is elevated BP. My BP WAS elevated , but she only looked at my current BP 120/79 and missed that compared to my NORMAL BP 95/55 that was a huge spike.
Needless to say she wasnt my doc the 2nd time round!
I'd say 1) find a new doc unless this is the only issue, but really, think about it, if she is dismissive of what you tell her, she isnt LISTENING to you, she could miss other stuff too - she isnt open minded 2) if you keep her, dont talk with her about weight or 3) keep meticulous food and exercise logs and kill her with data on the next visit
my current GP is loopy ... so i am currently on the search for a new one
I remember as a teen crying my eyes out when the family dr called me fat (amazing enough, he waited until my mother was out of the room)
I think i was hurt because yes i knew i was overweight, but to still hear it from someone else, and in such a tone ... it diminished what self worth i gathered up for a thirteen year old
Now, a say screw them ... if my dr is not on board with being supportive, there are many drs out there
RARELY does a heavy person need it being pointed out that they are heavy , or FAT
Did you hear about the Dr. who was sued a year or so ago by a lady who was offended when he embarrassed her by calling her fat. She said he didn't need to be that tactless and was not being professional. He countered that he was trying to get her to face reality. I don't remember how it turned out.
Doctor Reprimanded for Calling Patient Fat
Dr. Terry Bennett believes in being honest with his patients, but one woman was so offended about the way he spoke to her about her weight, she filed a complaint with the New Hampshire Board of Medicine. The board charged him with misconduct and disrespectful and unprofessional behavior and they asked him to admit he made a mistake. He refused and now he faces possible revocation of his medical license. “Part of my job is to tell you the truth," Bennett said. "You come in here, you pay $75 to sit on the couch. I'm not going to sit here and talk about the weather with you. If you're noticeably obese, I know that you are going to have future health problems." Some have cried there were racist undertones to his comments. A number of his patients have come to his defense. Can’t anybody handle the truth anymore? Read [New Hampshire Union-Leader
I'm sorry, but if your weight is at the point where it is affecting your health than to NOT mention it is irresponsible.
I've HEARD people say that their weight must not be that bad because their doctor never mentioned it.
I know I was personally shocked to find out I was obese. I thought I was "just a little overweight"
I think there are a lot of people in that "moderately obese" category who really truly do believe that they are just a bit overweight and that it is more of a concern for vanity than health. For the doctor to NOT bring it up is doing them a disservice.
Now, of course, I do believe that doctors need 1) to learn tact and 2) realize that weight loss is not simple and admit that they dont have all the answers. Saying "you are fat, eat less, move more" does no good. Saying "your weight is a concern to me and I would like to hear what your current lifestyle is like" starts a dialogue where you can work together. lose the god complex.
Doctors tend to be horrid at listening to your specific needs and problems. At least in my experience.
I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in April of 2004, at the time I weighed 155lbs. The man who diagnosed me put me straight onto his exact diet plan and insulin therapy (which, I've heard that he does this with all patients who are type1 like himself. He even called me "plump", which at 5'6 at the time, and 155lbs, I would call that just right.)
and consequently, I ballooned in weight (190lbs), felt miserable, and my bloodsugar range was always above 200 (normal is 80-120). I confronted him about this and he stood firm that this method of treatment always works, and that I must be doing something wrong. I wasnt. I was sticking to the 1600 calorie diet he told me to utilize, and I was getting 45 minutes of cardio in 5 days a week. I was even attending the diabetes education classes, even though he'd sent me to the wrong ones (type 2 classes, and I was a type 1).
I asked to be referred to a new Doctor. He said no, his reason being was that he was the only Diabetes specialist in the area (aside from the endocrinologists at the hospital, and all of the Diabetic Dietitians and Nurses in the same building!!)
I stopped taking my insulin, boycotting my Doctor because I just could not get through to him. Granted, I was 15 at the time, but I knew something was not right with my treatment and I wanted a change in the way I was looked after. Putting myself in danger seemed the only way to get through to anyone. Silly, right?
Landed myself in the hospital for a week. My Doctor completely scolded me about being a Diabulimic (not taking insulin to lose weight, which I did lose the 40lbs I'd gained in about a months and the odd week). And to be fair, I didnt even know that was a consequence of my actions. Being sent to the wrong classes, they didnt really cover what happened when people went off insulin, only the pills. Everything was fine for the first two days. I was getting insulin via a IV or drip, and I was allowed all the cheerios my little heart could handle. On day three, I noticed a change in the chemical formula on my IV bag.
Pure Glucose. I asked the nurses and they said it was insulin, I asked to speak with my Doctor, and he came around for a chat. I asked him why he was giving me Glucose, and why the nurses were lying to me about every minuscule detail of my care. I was quite well educated, it was especially handy that I passed out and got taken to the hospital just before I was due to sit a chemistry exam (my favorite subject).
I had been taking digital movies and pictures of every detail I had been lied to about, and showed him. I didnt get an answer out of him that day. And I never spoke to him again. I reported him to the Surgeon General and my Local Medical Licensing Office the next day. I took the IVs out myself, and just left.
*twiddles her thumbs* You might say that was a bit naughty of me, but I think I had perfectly good reasoning for what I did. I was on some of the best private health care available (Military), and I was entitled the choice of my own GP. Needless to say, I ended up with a lovely lady named Jennifer, who was actually my GP before I became Diabetic, and I lived happily ever after until I moved to Britain!
You are definitely not alone with the doctor hating thing.
I got a very bad eye infection; still don't know how. Went to my trusty doctor and was lectured about my weight. I told him that unless I got the eye infection from sticking food in there, I didn't see the connection. He wasn't amused and I found myself a new doctor. I'd suggest you do the same.
ennay, I totally agree that if excess weight is affecting one's health, a Dr. is negligent if he doesn't point this out. Tact, would be nice of course. However although I was angry at my Dr. and KNEW without being told that my health was shot and obesity was making it 10X worse, it still hurt. But, I have a million times more respect for this Dr. for slapping me into reality than the multitude of other DR.s that I had seen, that gave me a pilll for each new diagnosis and never said a darn word about my weight. I still see this same Dr. now and he is the best available in this part of the country for people with Liver Disease. So although I was very angry with him on that first appt., he probably saved my life.
He even called me "plump", which at 5'6 at the time, and 155lbs, I would call that just right.)
That's not plump, that's average. It's on the higher end of average, but it's still not overweight. The BMI chart says so. Your doc was just an ***.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Casandra
My Doctor completely scolded me about being a Diabulimic (not taking insulin to lose weight, which I did lose the 40lbs I'd gained in about a months and the odd week). And to be fair, I didnt even know that was a consequence of my actions.
I don't think it should be classified as diabulemia unless you *know* exactly what you're doing. You did it to get his attention, not to purposely lose weight. Like... it was a cry for help, not a cry for vanity. In my opinion, anything ending with -bulemia should have the psychological makeup of an eating disorder to be classified as such.
Any one else get mad at their doctor (rant)?
On the other hand, sometimes their concerns are valid.
Like... it was a cry for help, not a cry for vanity. In my opinion, anything ending with -bulemia should have the psychological makeup of an eating disorder to be classified as such.
