To be irked at being referred to as a 'larger lady' by my Docs Surgery?

[BadTasteFlump]

Or am I being touchy?

I take the mini-pill for medical reasons. I am 5ft 9, weigh 11 stone and wear size 12 clothes. My BMI is in the middle of the healthy range, and I don't worry at all about my weight.

But today I had a letter from my doctor stating that following a recent prescription for my pill, they think I may need to up my pill from one a day to two, because 'we find our larger ladies may not be fully protected with the standard dosage'.

So what quantifies a 'larger lady'? Me obviously! I am going to call the docs this afternoon when it opens again, but in the mean time needed to rant/vent.

And breathe....

I think they are referring to your height - you numpty .

Do you think they might have meant your height and frame?

YAB a bit U.

They are not calling you fat, they are stating that medicines affect people differently depending on their body weight.

Many medicines for children or animals are prescribed based on "per kilo of bodyweight". For adults they make an assumption about an "average sized" adult woman or man, which may be incorrect and may lead to people who are larger or smaller than average receiving non-optimal dosage.

If they are specifying your dosage based on your weight then you are getting better service.

It's horribly twee.

Not sure how you qualify as larger, either, unless it's height?

Larger ladies is an awful way of putting it. But yes, I've read here that anything over a certain weight, regardless of height, makes the pill less effective. I'd presume maybe they've had lots of pill failures recently in women who didn't know this advise. I certainly have never been told this by a doctor (I wasn't even over 11 stone when I fell pregnant on the pill....)

They are not referring to her height, they are simply referring to the fact that a medicine will be more dilute in 11 stones worth of human than it would be in a 9 stone or a 7 stone person, and so in order to get the correct dosage she might need more.

It sounds like it's probably a 'standard' letter so larger could cover height as well as weight.

But your height does not in any way affect the workings of a medicine.

Height? I would send it back and enquire 'larger than what?'

It's a stupid twee way to say it, personally I'd rather they just said "the effectiveness of this medication is decreased in people with a bodyweight over xxx, therefore we may need to increase your dosage".

They are not referring to her height, they are simply referring to the fact that a medicine will be more dilute in 11 stones worth of human

That can still mean it's her height they are referring to.

5'9" is quite tall.

I have read that 2 pills can be prescribed for women who weigh more than 11 stone as it may be less effective the heavier you are. I am well over 11 stone and have never been told to take more than 1 a day and have not had any unwanted pregnancies either

Would you rather a blunt factual letter- as you are 70kg or over we advise that you double up on the pill?

Which is what they want to say. I would prefer that.

"Larger lady". What a horrible expressions . Actually, I thought you were going to say that you were like a size 20 or something.

^That can still mean it's her height they are referring to.

5'9" is quite tall.^

Please explain how it could possibly be her height. It is the weight that affects the required dosage. Not the height.

I would prefer the blunt letter also

I am 5' 7" and after my first DS was born my weight went up from 8 stone 12lbs to 9 stone 3. I was told with such a massive weight gain I must come off the pill and be fitted with a cap ( we are going back a bit here). Result instant pregnancy. Very helpful.

I was referred to as being 'strong as an ox' by a man I sort of fancied a while back. Not good. Hahahahaha!

I keep reading it as "Lager lady"

How would you have preferred them to word it?

They have to say what needs to be said somehow!

How bizarre. I would certainly say something, very unscientific and imprecise language. If a doctor cannot be clear, then what hope is there? I mean you could be a 32J, is that what they are referring to?

Ok I'm a numpty And touchy.

But I still think the term 'larger lady is awful and makes my teeth itch.

I would definitely prefer the 'blunt' version as some have said. But thanks for all replies - when I ring the docs to clarify, I will suggest that the wording could be better - in a more dignified way than I was planning before venting on here .

I was eleven stones and 5ft 4 (size 14) and taking the mini pill (one a day) last year when I fell pregnant, despite taking the pill perfectly. Our new 2 month old daughter is asleep in the other room as I type! The GP didn't mention anything about my weight or taking 2 pills a day, but when I looked at the Micronor website, it clearly states that over a certain weight, some women will need to take 2 pills daily. Many doctors are ignorant to this fact. This is obviously why I fell pregnant. Fortunately, we love our new unexpected arrival to bits. She's a delight. But I don't want to have a 4th, so I'm having a coil fitted next week. Please take 2 pills a day or use condoms until you see the doctor if you don't want an unplanned pregnancy

I's a very annoying way of putting it.

But if they need to review the dosage on a per kilogram basis, then they are doing the right thing to call you in. It's not a comment in itself on whether you are overweight in itself - a woman of 5ft9 and 11st is in the healthy range. If it was 11st on a 5ft1 frame, it would be a rather different picture, but both those women need their per kg dose checked.

Oh what what WHAT???

I weigh 12 stone and take one mini-pill each day and thought that would stop me getting pregnant?!