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AIBU?

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Original poster

Felt totally humiliated at docs, to fat to go on the pill :(

70 replies

fudgywudgy · 05/04/2012 18:27

Not any pill, used to take the one that helped with acne but it has a increased risk of dvt.

Went today to go back on pill and was told I was to fat to go on the pill I need. She never even took my blood pressure or weighed me so that shows just how truly huge I am that I was refused on appearance alone :(

Am so ashamed, have been dieting for the last two weeks and have lost 1/2 stone. Hoping this feeling of total humiliation sticks with me to push me on to lose more.

Was so awkward, dr just kept staring at the floor while I basically begged for the pill as my acne is horrendous at the moment.

Left the surgery with nothing for my skin and no contraception either (duh)

Am so ashamed I can't even tell dh so am offloading here.

OP posts:
ThatGhastlyWoman · 05/04/2012 18:51

Sorry to hear about your baby. :(

Just to mention though, there are varying symptoms/degrees of it. I have reasonably regular periods a lot of the time... and it was easier to get pregnant than I thought. Ahem. Blush

youarenotbeingserious · 05/04/2012 18:57

Sorry to hear about your late MC Sad

What AB are you on for acne? Roaccutane? (PLEASE answer this as I have more advice re this but don't want to post it until I know)

Also did you know that acne can be caused by vitamin B12 deficiency? Have you had blood tests?

Finally congratualtions Grin on losing 1/2 a stone.

I agree about seeing another GP

Cherriesarelovely · 05/04/2012 18:59

fudgy I really feel for you, that is such a horrible situation. It sounds to me like you are really active already which is brilliant but, like me, it is the food that is keeping the weight on.....it's so unfair!!!! I know it isn't really but you just feel that if you are exercising you should be able to be more relaxed about what you eat don't you? If it is any consolation I run alot but when training for a marathon i weighed more than I have ever weighed in my life!!!!!

Anyway, really well done on your weightloss. I really, really hope you carry on with it and that you are able to get something to ease your acne. Huge hugs xx

Original poster
fudgywudgy · 05/04/2012 18:59

I'm on erythromycin. It seemed to help for a while but all of a sudden a few months ago it flared up and I can't get it under control again.

OP posts:
OhDoAdmitMrsDeVere · 05/04/2012 18:59

I wasnt there so I couldnt be sure,
But I expect the dr didnt look at you and think 'what a fatty'. She didnt take one look at you and think you were horrible and ugly etc.

She was looking at you from a medical perspective. She was thinking about your BMI and we all know people with high BMI who are still attractive and dont look horrible.

That is why she made a snap decsion. She 'weighed you up' risk wise (not meant to be a pun).

BUt whatever happened it must have made you fell awful. I get acne now and it drives me made and it hurts.

I hope you get something sorted for your skin and for contraception too.

foxinsocks · 05/04/2012 19:03

I don't see why she should change GP. It's well known that once you have a certain number of risk factors, you can't take the pill. I too am over 35 and developed a risk factor and had to stop taking it. I can't blame the doctor! It's just one of those things.

But I agree - it is utterly shit to feel the way you are feeling. So sorry you are feeling down.

I have dreadful skin. Is it true about the vitb12 deficiency and acne? As I have a vitb deficiency and didn't know this was a side effect.

Northernlurker · 05/04/2012 19:07

Fox - I agree about the risk factors BUT the GP did not conduct a proper examination, she doesn't know (and hasn't recorded in her notes) her weight or BP and she didn't give her any other contraceptive advice. That's not a good outcome to a consultation and it would make me think other medical advice was needed.

youarenotbeingserious · 05/04/2012 19:07

Roaccutane has side affects in pregnancy (as in you cannot get pg on it) - but to me it was the wonder drug and cleared up my acne in weeks - whereas nothing else helped at all. I had it when it was first out (14 years ago!)

I realise this is very soon after your MC for me to type this but if your not planning TTC again then maybe worth asking for this?

I was told about the vitamin B12 - truth or not I have no idea! But I was severely aneamic so maybe?

GetOrfMoiiLand · 05/04/2012 19:08

I am sorry about your baby and your rotten experience. You must feel rotten.

I agree with northernlurker's kind posts - try and get a referral back to the dermatologist to try something else for your skin.

It must be horrible to hear that you are too big for the pill, but well done on the weight loss and perhaps now you have started with your weightloss this can spur you on. It must be crap to have to hear someone say though.

If you have a ravenous appetite have you tried low carbing? I don't mean to be a boring bastard but I have lost the best part of 2 stone since January and eat shed loads. There is a really helpful thread in active convos (in the diets and weightloss topic) which has been enormously helpful to me.

Cremeeggsandkitkatsoldiers · 05/04/2012 19:10

sorry you feel like this OP Sad

I don't agree with Ladyleaf though, being a "doctor shopper" till you get one that cares less and gives you what you want rather than be unpopular isn't a good thing, I'ld imagine the doctor (rightly) decided that acne is a lesser evil than a DVT. And a really good clinician can look at a patient and pick up on signs that way, a bad one only looks at figures and tables.

I can't have the pill either, too many risk factors, I remember leaving the office feeling angry because I didn't get what I want and what I felt I needed - looking back I was wrong and I'm glad I had a sensible GP

mirry2 · 05/04/2012 19:11

Roaccutane is really effective if you can tolerate the side effects. My dd ws put on it when she was a teenager and it ceared up her skin in no time. She had to be referred to a hospital dermatologist and it was so worth it. She has no scars at all on her face and the ones on her back are hardly noticeable.

Northernlurker · 05/04/2012 19:13

I thought a relaible contraceptive had to be used alongside of roaccutane - because of the risks to the baby if you get pg when taking it? Or have I imagined that?

LentillyFart · 05/04/2012 19:15

Ditto re the Roaccutane - my son was prescribed it when his skin was so bad it was really affecting his life. The wait for the NHS dermatology consultant was so long that we decided to forego a lot and pay privately for it. Damn it was expensive but he was clear of acne in a couple of months and has never been troubled by it again so I'd definitely put that down to the best money we ever spent.

catonlap · 05/04/2012 19:17

Have you tried Lymecycline? It is better antibiotic than erythromycin for acne.

butterfingerz · 05/04/2012 19:20

I relied on the pill to stop my acne before DC (having kids or getting older seems to have cured it so far!). I used Dianette which was a miracle but was worried about the risks so switched to Cilest which worked just as well. Do you just want the pill for your skin? I'm surprised you didn't get anything from the doctor to help, that's pretty rubbish.

Your skin might improve as you lose a bit more weight. Carrying a bit more weight can cause an imbalance in your hormones. What sort of diet are you on? I personally wouldn't go for low fat, I reckon that would make your skin worse. I grew up on a low fat diet, semi-vegi diet which i think contributed to the severity of my acne during my teenage yrs. As soon as I left home and ate full-fat dairy and more meat, my skin improved ten-fold. A good book I would recommend, which helped me lose weight and has lots of info on general ailments including acne is 'Trick or Treat' by Barry Groves. It's along the low-carb way of thinking. Some people find giving up sugar helps. And taking cod liver oil.

As the weather improves, get out in the sun as much as you can. I've always found my skin improves if I bake it a bit in the sun (or go on the sunbeds)! If nothing else, it'll go some small way to improving your confidence.

Sympathies though, truly, I've been there xx

youarenotbeingserious · 05/04/2012 19:20

I got it through going private. My mum took me for a private consultation - the dermotologist worked at local hospital too. He referred me to him there! and gave me roaccutane. I was told it was £1 per tablet then x 3 a day. Shock

I never took the pill northern but was 16/q7 and not sexually active so I don't know. Also I refused the pill when offered it for the acne.

Original poster
fudgywudgy · 05/04/2012 19:22

I gave never even heard of roaccutane, what is it? Pill or lotion?

Thank you for the posts everyone, I promise I have read them all and they mean a lot.

OP posts:
GetOrfMoiiLand · 05/04/2012 19:22

My brother took roaccutane also after years of terrible acne - it cleared up so quickly, and it made such a difference to his life to get rid of it.

Casmama · 05/04/2012 19:22

There is a high level of antibiotic resistance to erythromycin and there are other antibiotics that you could try - tetracycline for example. Roaccutane is not an antibiotic and works on the sebum (oil) in the skin rather than the bacteria. You absolutely cannot get pregnant while taking it or for some time afterwards as it can/ could cause deformities in a foetus. You would have to sign a contact with the hospital committing to using contraception for a certain period and this medication can have some serious side effects.
Is there another GP at your practice that you could discuss your options with?

Casmama · 05/04/2012 19:23

Roaccutane here

OlympicEater · 05/04/2012 19:27

I second low carb for both diet and skin.

I'm sorry that you had a horrid experience at the Drs OP, I have had similar, but whilst you could go to another Dr and get what you want - it could be not what you need.

iliketea · 05/04/2012 19:27

I had a GP say the same thing. When I moved house and changed surgery, the new GP asked about contraception. When I told her what previous GP had said, she wad horrified and gave me cerazette. She agreed I need to lose weight, but said that the progesterone only pill was suitable. The difference was that 2nd GP had some extra family planning qualification, so was more up to date of what was safe and what wasn't.

Although 'doctor shopping' isn't great, finding someone more specialist is a good idea, so you will probably find the family planning clinic more beneficial.

SkinnedAlive · 05/04/2012 19:28

Sorry to hear you have been treated so badly :( I agree you need a new GP.

Roaccutane is not an antibiotic - it is a huge overdose of vitamin A and can have serious side effects. NOT to be taken when thinking of having children as it can cause serious birth defects. If you are planning kids any time in the near future it is not for you, and as a woman of childbearing age they will not prescribe it without very good contraception in place. BUT - it can be a wonder drug for acne :) I have had it a few times now and have gorgeous skin. On average I need it once every 5 years. Some people have one low dose for one month and never have acne again. If you are not trying to get pregnant it is worth seeing a dermatologist - NHS may not help unless your acne is terrible. I had to go private but well worth it. Also I would not advise trying it going into summer as it will dry your skin, eyes, lips, inside of nose terribly. It can cause problems with bones and joints so if you are overweight it may be problematic on that score too. Can affect lipids and liver function so monthly blood tests required and if your cholesterol is high, again maybe not for you. Personally I do not think long term use of antibiotics is good either, though presumably yours are topical not oral - which never did a thing for my acne but left my skin dry and spotty.

Hope you can find a good GP for help with your acne and contraception - and well done with your weight loss :)

youarenotbeingserious · 05/04/2012 19:33

Roaccutane is an antibiotic.

SkinnedAlive · 05/04/2012 19:39

It is not an antibiotic according to the medical school I go to

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