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

[fudgywudgy]

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.

I would go back and ask to be referred to a dermatologist for your acne, because it sounds like the pill is not suitable for you.

I am overweight, so I know how hard it is, but there is no point being angry at your GP or going to see another Dr.

Those of you suggesting another GP, what outcome are you hoping there would be? That there would be a dr unprincipled enough to ignore the OP's risk factors and prescribe anyway?

Roaccutane is not an antibiotic.

The thing is northern, and I really do not want to insult the OP, maybe it is obvious she is obese and the doctor didn't want to weigh her and make her feel worse .

But I agree tbh, she should have definitely carried out a proper exam if it meant not prescribing something.

I am off the pill now but once i hit 35 my doctor weighed me and took my BP at every appointment when I wanted more! No one likes being weighed tbh. It is utterly crap! Always made me feel about 12!

sounds like your doctor is either horrid or was having a truely bad day

Oh right...so she couldn't be doing her job and looking after her patient's health at all?

My ExP had severe cystic acne and was eventually prescribed Roaccutane which cured it completely. The difference was so amazing that the dermatologist used the before and after photos in a scientific journal.

However, there's a catalogue of serious potential side effects. Apparently in the US, Roche have pulled it off the market due to a tide of libel cases due to it causing bowel problems. My ExP did subsequently suffer from a nervous breakdown and from terrible IBS. He was very slim and fit but the IBS messed his body up completely. Whether Roaccutane caused it, who knows?

Worral - no indeed.

People are suggesting another GP so she gets help with her problems. Fine to say treatment A you asked for is not suitable for you. But the Dr then needs to look into treatments B - Z to find a treatment that does suit her - for both contraception and acne. And also give constructive advice regarding losing weight too. Its not fair to say 'no' then just leave her with no options regarding the problem she came in for. Though I do agree Dr's like anyone else are only human and have bad days.

roaccutane

Sorry - it is not an antibiotic - for some reason I have memories of DR saying it was but obviously I remembered wrong

Yeah but Worra, surely a good doctor would say,

"well I can't give you the pill but how about I refer you to a dermatologist to help you out with your acne?"

Acne is a psychologically debilitating condition, it was the worst time of my life when I had it. I'd be in tears frequently, trying in vain to cover it up with inches of makeup. Or the days when you just don't want to leave the house, it's shit.

I don't think the doc did just say "no, now there's the door", sounds like the OP was offered alternatives but having tried them before didn't find they worked, it's not clear who cut the appointment short, or if it was at all!

if the OP feels the only thing that will work is the pill, then whatever the doc suggests in it's place will feel inadequate IYKWIM

Sorry to hear about your horrible experience but well done for facing up to issues.

Some people think there's a link between acne and dairy. Might be worth having a google and cutting out dairy for a while? Might help, might not.

OP, what a horrible experience. I second the suggestions of trying to get a referral to a dermatologist - there will be help for your acne and you need to get to it.

I had years of the pill (dianette), antibiotics (tetracycline) and considered roaccutane - my doc referred me to the hospital to start the process although in the end I didn't use it I have friends who found it to be a complete life saver.

I would also agree with posters who suggest that it may be time for a new GP - not in order to find someone willing to prescribe what you ask for - but to find someone who is skilled enough to treat you like a living breathing human being and work with you to improve the conditions that you are suffering with. It sounds horribly as if you were simply dismissed and left with no suggestions, no advice, no support and that really does not seem to be necessary.

Huge congratulations on the first step of your weight loss. It should be possible to lose significant amounts of weight without feeling hungry - maybe lowering the carbs is a good way to go, or there may be other eating plans that would work. Anything you can do to up your exercise - or be more brisk about the exercise you are already doing will pay off too. And maybe most importantly of all - there's a feel good factor and I think you are entitled to a huge dose of that right now.

If it's the pill I think it is (I'm on a specific one that sorts out acne too) then try not to take it too personally. The cut off BMI is 30, and at a size 12-14, my doctor told me if I gain 5 more pounds, I can't be on that pill anymore because my BMI is currently 29. They weigh me every 6 months to make sure. If I'm borderline at a size 14, then I don't suppose you have to be very much bigger for them to take you off it by sight alone.

I was massively embarassed too though - I feel your pain. It's been 5 months and I haven't lost a pound (not gained any either though). I'm due to go back in one month to have my blood pressure taken (which by the way is always perfect) and I'm dreading it as I haven't shifted a single pound with any permanence. I've lost the same 5 pounds 3 times over, but I don't think that counts!

There are plenty of other contraceptive options htough. I'm surprised the doctor let you leave without discussing any alternatives. Also, I was given long acting anti-biotics (as well as this pill) for my acne, and it worked brilliantly. I know it's hard to think straight when you're so embarassed like that, but you can still sort out everything you need to.

I am not angry with the dr at all, I don't think she handled me well as after the initial "no" she just kept looking at the floor and only offered me things I had previously tried for acne. There must have been developments in acne treatment in the past year that she could have suggested?

Butter summed it up for me in her post.

I feel better that others have been turned away that I would class as a "normal" size. I am 5' 11 and a size 16-18 so well above someone who is a 12-14.

My blood pressure is always on the low side though and I am just turned 30 so being refused the pill was def based just on my weight.

Congratulations on your weight loss.Don't feel humiliated and embarassed, br proud of yourself x

Roacutain is excellent for acne if you can get your gp to prescribe it, much better than antibiotics or the pill. Wish I could find the willpower to lose weight - good on you girl and best of luck x

pcos doesn't always cause issues with periods and fertility

OP, Roaccutane is v effective for acne, and I think it's worth asking about, as long as you don't plan to get pregnant for at least 3 months after treatment stops. It has a really good cure rate. IME my old GP was reluctant to refer me to a dermatologist as he didn't take acne seriously or understand how much it devastated my self esteem. I have had 2 courses of it (12 yrs ago) with no side effects, except joy at not waking up to more spots every day It's great, but v expensive, which I think is also why it is used as a last resort. But if you have long term acne it is IMO the drug of choice. The drs take regular bloods while you are on it to ensure your liver function etc is not compromised and I think it's done on weight too, so they're v careful how much is administered. I was on antibiotics long term before this and they caused terrible side effects-abdominal cramps, nausea and vomiting etc as they destroy all your good gut flora. Not good.

I have also used a cream called Aknicare for mild acne which is good, but expensive. Might help in the short term.

Congrats on the weight loss, and hope things get sorted with your skin and contraception soon

Maybe try a nutritionist - vitamin A is very good for acne, and if you're constantly hungry they may steer you in the direction of foods you can eat without weight gain.

Sorry you got such an abrupt GP, but I think you're doing a wonderful job.

I had a conversation with my doctor last week that I found very illuminating - this is the first year in my adult life that I haven't had severe worsening of asthma. It's also the first time I've been a healthy weight. She said they know so many conditions can be improved hugely with weight loss, but that once you start mentioning it, patients just get offended or shut down. Really hard.

So much emotion tied up in weight, it's so difficult to handle.

I'm sorry you felt humiliated, OP. Being overweight shouldn't be shameful, especially when you're fixing it, but I remember the shame well, and it coloured everything.