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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

went to the Docs and told fat and old

61 replies

stephrick · 21/05/2013 18:14

I'm 45, slightly overweight, weigh 11.5 stones (ok nearear 12) and 5 ft 7, have acid relux which started 6 weeks ago. so I have to lose weight then all problems will go away. I managed to get a blood test for hormones out of him. But the woman in front of me weighed at least half my weight again, I hope he gave her a lecture too. I went to him because I did sit ups and may have ruptured my obese fat old body.

OP posts:
AnyoneforTurps · 21/05/2013 21:48

Did your GP actually say you are old & fat, OP? Or did he perhaps explain that reflux gets more common with age and is also related to body mass?

Quangle · 21/05/2013 21:53

When I had recurrent bronchitis, my Dr told me not to lounge around in bed all day. I'm a single parent to two small children and I work FT. I was Angry. Some drs would rather berate you about nothing than listen to you.

cocolepew · 21/05/2013 22:03

Re the bloating and dragging feeling, you should get an gynae examination.

munchkinmaster · 21/05/2013 22:23

What was the gps advice re being old? Did he have a solution? Time travel?

ArgyMargy · 21/05/2013 22:31

Why is everyone looking for a medical problem? Fat people who don't exercise get reflux - solution is to lose weight and do more exercise. Simples.

BurningBridges · 21/05/2013 22:36

How is the OP fat exactly Argy?!

cocolepew · 21/05/2013 22:36

Maybe because she isn't fat Hmm

And there are other symptons.

ArgyMargy · 21/05/2013 22:42

Burning - she is fat because she is 5'7" and 12 stone. You might call it overweight.

TheDeadlyDonkey · 21/05/2013 22:43

My grandfather was told he couldn't breathe because he was old. Actually he was having an asthma attack and was too weak to use his inhalers properly.
Sounds like your GP has decided that you have problems because you are overweight (but barely) and older, rather than listening to you properly and finding out what is really wrong.
Get a second opinion.

ArgyMargy · 21/05/2013 22:44

Coco - the "other symptoms" are classic overweight and under-exercised related symptoms.

BurningBridges · 21/05/2013 22:45

No, I think you'd call it overweight and the rest of us call it pretty normal! And as Coco said, there are other symptoms. This is exactly what the OP is complaining about - are you her GP?

ArgyMargy · 21/05/2013 22:51

Oh come on, that combination of height & weight is not "normal" even if it is common. And as I said, the other symptoms are related. It's ridiculous that people are always looking for a reason like hormones, thyroid, cancer, when it's blindingly obvious they need to lose weight and get off their arse. No, I am not her GP or anyone's GP thank God.

TheDeadlyDonkey · 21/05/2013 23:09

If the symptoms are relatively new, then it's not blindingly obvious at all that weight is the cause of the symptoms, unless the op has gained weight and the symptoms have appeared hand in hand with those (but it doesn't sound like it).

textfan · 22/05/2013 00:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BigStickBIWI · 22/05/2013 00:33

Well, whilst there may well be any other conditions that you should be tested for, you are at the top end of the weight range for your height. And if you have high blood pressure and acid reflux, both of these things indicate that you should lose weight.

Sorry if you don't want to hear that.

LackaDAISYcal · 22/05/2013 00:40

Is it just the acid reflux, or does it radiate round to your back? And is it central or to one side or the other? Could it be gallbladder ishoos?

LittleMissLucy · 22/05/2013 00:45

I could be you, OP in terms of height and weight. I was told I needed to lose 30 lbs!

RonaldMcDonald · 22/05/2013 00:50

try a different doc pls

Startail · 22/05/2013 00:54

Argy Fuck OFF!

Do you realise the damage Drs. do going on and on about people's weight.

No of course you don't, Women get fed up with by told to loose weight. It's not that simple. DMum is house bound with arthritis because she didn't tell the GP to do something constructive about her pain, then she might have been able to exercise. She just stopped bothering going to see him, she's a traditional Yorkshire house wife - doesn't like to make a fuss Angry

BigStickBIWI · 22/05/2013 00:56

But sometimes people do need to be told to lose weight. What on earth is wrong with that?

LittleMissLucy · 22/05/2013 00:56

That's a bit strong Startail.
Argy has a point. Its possibly also the biggest contributing factor to breast cancer risk, being overweight.

Kormachameleon · 22/05/2013 01:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Startail · 22/05/2013 01:22

It's meant to be strong, you think my DM didn't know she was over weight or that she didn't try to do something about???

Unlike me she's too damned nice.

I'd have stayed put in the consulting room until he returned to the medical issue in hand. I don't mind being a nuisance, DMum does. Lots of women do.

When his heart pills have horrid side effects DDad, badges the GP until he finds a better option. DMum would just quietly stop taking pain killers that made her ill.

I think there are far too many older, perhaps over weight, women who are used to looking out for their DCs and DHs, but don't feel able to do it for themselves.

LittleMissLucy · 22/05/2013 01:34

Startail your points are all valid and well written. I just believe that you don't need to write "fuck off" to anyone on here, ever, it only undermines you.

independentfriend · 22/05/2013 01:48

One problem with focusing on weight is that it can lead to people avoiding medical care.