to think that you should still be taken seriously by your GP if you're obese?

[parabella]

Just came back from the GP where we discussed some symptoms that are worrying me. First thing he says is 'well we won't do anything 'til you lose weight'.
Now I am losing weight but it's a slow process (lot's of weight to lose). Shouldn't I still get treated even if I'm not thinner yet?
I was quite persistent and he ended up telling me about potential cancer symptoms which I have and which he's agreed should be looked into further. But I have noticed his default attitude is to just say lose weight and expect me to leave. Does anyone else feel like this at the doctors?

I've got problems with my spine. Three years ago I was a size 10. Two years ago I had spine surgery which made everything worse. My mobility has been affected, I'm in pain all the time and take so many pills I rattle. I'm now a size 16 and waiting for more surgery. I was told to lose weight. I understand about the risks with ling surgery and obesity etc but I'm baffled at how they think I'm going to lose three stone in three months when I can barely walk some days.

The weight gain was caused by the failed surgery. No one's fault but it's not fair to be pressured when I'm trying my best. I already quit smoking in February this year.

if they can blame it on weight, smoking, drinking, stress etc they will

yy to this.

I have asked the doctor for antidepressants over and over again but they won't give me them until I stop drinking alcohol. Brilliant...like saying to someone that has anorexia, 'just eat more and we will help you'.

I think some doctors work with stereotypes. They don't see people so much as symptoms and they have pet ideas about them.

Medicine does seem to attract an unusually high proportion of arrogant berks.

My teenage DD was suffering from horrendous IBS; literally everything she ate was causing her pain, with the obvious result that she wasn't eating very much and losing weight.

The consultant paediatrician was adamant that she was on the rocky road to anorexia, that the IBS was being exaggerated and was actually very nasty and aggressive about the need for her to stop losing weight.

We saw a different GP, who referred us to a gastro consultant, who sorted DD out, but the sheer arrogance of that paediatrician still astounds me.

I have asked the doctor for antidepressants over and over again but they won't give me them until I stop drinking alcohol.

As consuming large quantities of alcohol doesn't mix well with many medications, that one is somewhat different.

Many conditions are caused by obesity and will be cured by losing weight.

... but they still have to be treated, regardless. As I mentioned, diabetes type II is very closely related to weight - but it would still be neglectful to refuse to give patients insulin.

You all need to change drs who are like this.
My weight has never been mentioned at all (i am a couple of stone o/w)

Some GPs can be so fucking pompous. I suffer from non-epileptic seizures caused by depression and anxiety. When I went to my GP about them he said 'well, I can't really help as you're making yourself have them'.

for you OP.

YouGotta You're absolutely right about lots of instances of type II being controlled by diet and weight loss, but what does the patient do until that kicks in? It's not like you can go home, stop eating sugar and have it all go to normal in a few hours. Those patients still need treatment and advice beyond "lose weight".

I alternately get GPs that suggest everything bad in my life is weight-related (even the one who decided she would comment on it after reviewing my bloodwork and prescribing the hefty dose of thyroid medication I need to stay functioning) and ones that will actually listen. It's a mixed bag.

SDTG that story is horrific. I am short on sleep and long on worries today so possibly over-emotional but I really feel like I want to go round to that Doctor and slam his forehead into my knee whilst using the other leg to deliver a karate kick to his scrottocks! What a hideous horrible man. Hope his dick falls off.

I put up with a gynaecological issue for years because three different GPs at my practice kept attributing everything to my weight. It was only when I went to have my first smear test and they couldn't do it because I was in so much pain did they realise that actually, I have an issue. The nurse sent me to the 4th GP in my practice who was fantastic and referred me on to the hospital about it. Had these other GPs taken a moment to look beyond my obesity and see what else could be causing my problems, then I would be 3 or 4 years ahead of where I am now. Turns out I also had undiagnosed low mood, and the counselling I've now received for this have put me in a happier place and I have since lost 3 stone in 8 months.

Actually going home and reducing sugar and carb loading is enough to keep your sugars under control.

A type 2 on diet and exercise control and daughter of a type 2 turned type 1 (Apparently a 1.5) and a type 2 and grandaughter of more type 2's but no mine apparently isn't hereditary...

What angers me more is that they won't issue monitoring equipment for type 2's now you are expected to guess, metformin isn't a great drug to be on but there does need to be better monitoring of diabetics, and better access to the courses for managing it. 4 mths and waiting at the moment

When I was obese, I was told my problems were due to my diet - 'well look at the size of you, you clearly don't eat properly'. Turned out to me an autoimmune issue.

Now I'm thin I get told I'm either imagining it or I'm going through the early menopause. I'm doing neither. Again, after nagging, another autoimmune issue appeared to be the cause.

God knows what would have happened if I'd been thin in my 20s.

I think it frustrated my old GP greatly that none of my medical conditions are caused by my weight. I also apparently completely unreasonable for not suffering from diabetes or high blood pressure.

My current GP is a sensible sort who has never attempted to attribute anything to my weight. (Though I imagine he would not hesitate if I did begin to develop weight related problems in the future.)

I now pre-emptively mention the fat thing - and saw an absolutely wonderful consultant last week about a problem I've had for more than 20 years (but went undiagnosed for 9, as my family GP said it was down to weight - at the time, I was still 5'9, but ten stone instead of considerably more): I said I appreciated it wasn't helped - and he launched into a diatribe against doctors who blame things on weight, and how they put people off seeking help, before saying that he wasn't there to judge me, just to make me get better. I fell in love instantly!

To get the referral (to be clear - it's something that wasn't caused by excess weight, but isn't helped by it: and won't get better on it's own without an operation) I had to see a pratty locum, who laughed when I said how I caused the flare up (tripped out running) and then said, "I'm sorry, but you have to admit the thought of you actually running is quite funny" Yes, I agree - it is: and I don't run so much as lumber - I appreciate that to. But I am never going to lose weight without moving more, and the pre-existing injury means that walking or running is the only option: both are uncomfortable, but neither actively hurt (as, for example, cycling and swimming do). Well, until this...

He then made a song and dance about the waiting times - before asking me to get on the scales: I know to the quarter pound how much I weigh, so he could have asked. I thought there was a medical reason- but no, he was checking, as there's a hospital which is always empty: but they don't take obese people so it was no good for me. Now - I'm not being funny, and I admit I carry my weight quite well, in that people are horrified when they find out what I actually weight - but you can see from LOOKING at me that I am obese, FFS! Seriously - there's a far chick sitting in front of you, saying she's fat - and you need her to get on the scales to check if her BMI's over 30?!

(And the moron sent the referral letter to the wrong surgeon at the wrong hospital - but that's another story...)

The short version: I feel your pain, OP - and no, YANBU!

honeysuckle I always wind them up with the no high cholestrol/no diabetes/regular BP too - but I figure there has to be some pay off for the rest

Years ago, when I was still able to exercise in the gym, my heart rate always used to get to the instructors at induction - whenever I moved, I used to dread having to go through the whole "Yes, it's possible to be fat and fit" thing!

Are these symptoms to do with your joints? Or anything similar where weight does have a huge effect?
Too much weight can put excessive strain on joints, so I could understand a doctor telling you to lose weight first.

The problem with telling people with joint issues to lose weight first is that when you have joint conditions,exercise isn't the easiest thing in the world. Had I had to lose weight before a referral for physio, I would never have managed it - my joints dislocate frequently and not due to weight, making exercise really difficult.

I had the same when going to the doctors of a knee issue and my other joints kept swelling up. The first comment was that you need to lose weight. I eventually after 8 months of pain and othet joints swelling went to a private GP and referral to physio who immediately looked at my joints and wrote a letter back to my doctor asking for a urgent referral to a rheumatologist. When I went back to my original GP he refused to refer me until I lost some weight. I lost 4 stone still had problems and raised a complaint about him. I got a referral to a rheumatologist who diagnosed me with inflammatory arthritis (psoriatic) and was immediately put on medication to stop the damage happening.

I don't trust doctors now who put things down to my weight. I know my body and what is right and what isn't...

I've had a similar thing with the occupational heath doctor at work. I had a major accident 3 years ago that limits my mobility - and subsequently put on 3 stone. I was maybe a stone overweight at the start. I'm also on a number of medications that adequately manage the chronic pain I was left with from the crushing injuries to my legs.

I saw occupational health on my return to work as I wanted a consideration of part time hours because I get very tired.
This, apparently, is solely due to my weight. Not pain or drugs or limitations or even, maybe, chronic fatigue syndrome, but my weight.
I held it together in there and burst into tears outside.

Jorah - you are spot-on! I know taking more exercise would help me, but when I do, it makes my knees so painful, I can hardly walk.

Add in the depression, and the fact that it means I don't really like myself very much, and you get someone who doesn't like herself enough to look after herself properly, and when she does, it hurts too much. Then, come the night time, when I am lying awake (thanks insomnia), I beat myself up some more for failing yet again at being healthy, making good choices.

It is a downward spiral, and the best I can manage at the moment is not to get bigger. I will probably die early of it - and a lot of the time, I just don't care about that.

YANBU

Some doctors are awful for this. There is one at our practice that you can get a last minute appointment with any time because so many people avoid him. He gave me a lecture about weight being responsible for my chest issues once and I had to see another GP to get the chest infection I knew I had (long term asthmatic - wasn't my first chest infection) diagnosed and treated.

YANBU OP.
A swollen ankle which was blamed on my weight was diagnosed 6 months later as Rheumatoid Arthritis. There has been joint damage due to the delay in diagnosis. I had to push and chase for 6 months to get to a Rheumatologist.