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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be fed up with Gp and Consultant re weight loss and operation

44 replies

upontheroof66 · 11/05/2016 08:57

Sorry this may be long.
So last year I was diagnosed with a hernia. I was referred to a Consultant as it was likely I would need surgery. I am no fool so realised I would need to lose weight as BMI was high. Maybe 39
So I asked about nurse led weight management programmes and I was told that they no longer offer this but do Slimming World referral for those that meet criteria. I didn't. So yes I was annoyed but got on with it and lost maybe 1/2 stone in advance of Consultant appointment.
Consultant told me I needed to lose 2 stone as success rates better with lower BMI. I returned having lost maybe 11/2 stone only to be given a new target of BMI 28. Another 11/2 to lose.
Since than I have had a couple of A and E and GP visits due to severe pain and vomiting. For a while hole both my pancreas and gallbladder were suspected but thankfully after a stressful time a CT scan ruled these out so my symptoms were put down to a hernia flare up by A and E and virus by Gp. Gp was actually quite rude and he basically treated me like a hypochondriac despite 2 weeks previously telling me my pancreas was enlarged and ordering urgent tests etc.
He weighed me again and I joked that this was a bad week as it was my Birthday. I was told that was no excuse. ,(My BMI had gone down but didn't comment)
The parting shot was me saying so all I now have to deal with in the hernia. I was gruffly told they don't operate on those. Not sure why Consultant ordered CT to decide whether to do open it Lap procedure than.
Just feeling fed up with it all. Consultant booked for next month and I am just waiting to be put off again.
To add to this I have muscle separation after my pregnancies and I believe this is not helping my other symptoms but according to our Trust this doesn't cause symptoms and is not corrected.
Thank you for reading to the end.

OP posts:
wannabestressfree · 11/05/2016 21:04

I think it's their way of saying no thank you...

upontheroof66 · 11/05/2016 21:16

Can you get a 2ND opinion wannabe? That seems so unfair.

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upontheroof66 · 11/05/2016 21:19

O and I agree about everything being blamed on weight. Has happened to me before Re gastritis. Guess what I still get symptoms even after losing 3 stone.

OP posts:
TheCrumpettyTree · 11/05/2016 21:22

Definitely find yourself a women's health physio, some hospitals do drop in clinics so you won't necessarily have to pay.

upontheroof66 · 11/05/2016 21:34

Will talk to another hopefully more sympathetic GP. Thank you

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bookishandblondish · 11/05/2016 22:44

FYI - BMI 28 is quite a key factor in CVD risk. Years ago, I did a population analysis and BMI 28 was a key risk factor in incidence. If they ask you to lose more, ask them for the published evidence base - I doubt there is any.

Good luck.

upontheroof66 · 12/05/2016 07:46

Thank you

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daisychain01 · 13/05/2016 06:47

I was referred to a physio previously for sciatica. Than it went away. Now it is mainly lower back pain which occasionally travels down leg

What you've described there, pain travelling down your leg, is still the sciatica, so it hasn't gone away. It's called pain referral because the source of pain is your lower back, but the pain transfers down your leg so it feels like it's in a different place. The sciatic nerve can get inflamed.

I wish you well seeing the consultant again and that they can prioritise your needs.

thatsthewayitgoes · 13/05/2016 06:55

OP I'm a registered dietitian - 20 yrs NHS experience before I could take it no more. We used to battle regularly with surgeons over this. You have lost a massive amount of weight over only a few months and should be being highly commended. We recommend no more than 1-2lb/wk weight loss as if you lose more it is muscle loss not fat.
Surgical risks are lower when the patients weight is lower ("normal"). However surgeons are often clueless about the dangers in losing too much weight too quickly; and in just how much effort it takes to lose weight safely.

You should be proud of how much you have lost and as PP have said, please document and take with you evidence of your weight loss.

I really hope you get this sorted. You are well within your rights to see another doctor and get a second opinion X

feesh · 13/05/2016 07:21

I REALLY recommend the Mutu System if you have a diastasis. It can really help to close the gap, with regards to helping the hernia to heal and to recover after the surgery. There is a Facebook group for ladies who have signed up to the programme and lots of them share their photos - the transformations are amazing. Loads of hernia photos too with before and after shots!

wannabestressfree · 13/05/2016 07:59

I will look into that too. According to my stomach nurse I am one of several patients being given unrealistic targets as they Don't to operate on complicated cases. And yet this was at a specialist hospital. I feel really down today. Herniated and twisted bowel is too large to be measured (I had a scan yesterday) so what happens now? I develop sepsis or strangualate completely which gets me on the table as a crash locally....am on masses of steroids and have six visible fistulas.
Life is hard at the mo.....

wannabestressfree · 13/05/2016 10:04

I finally have another (private) Colo rectal surgical appointment :) in June....

chocolatemademefat · 13/05/2016 10:31

Thanks citydoc for stating the obvious. I'm sure no-one had ever mentioned this before.

wannabe I hope you are successful at your next appointment and not fobbed off again because they can quote figures at you to put off your operation. I think being overweight is the new smoking. A great excuse to deny you what you need - especially as you have followed their advice and lost a decent amount of weight.Flowers

HelenaDove · 14/05/2016 01:25

Its bloody mentally and emotionally abusive.

upontheroof66 · 14/05/2016 14:05

Good luck wannabe. Will do some more research on options. Yes sorry my post was misleading. Sciatica went away so I stopped physio. For ages no pain. Than lower back returned with occasional sciatica but more manageable.
Thanks again

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upontheroof66 · 14/05/2016 14:10

I do actually feel fobbed off. I can understand success rates being better if or obese. But I fully expect to be told that I need to get to bmi 25 if I manage to lose the final 10lbs

OP posts:
wannabestressfree · 16/05/2016 19:04

Saw my specialist nurse today and I have fifteen fistulas by my lump (which is bowel) so they will mesh and move my colostomy to the other side of my body. They can't mesh fistula so it looks like I will be having the infected bowel removed....
They are waiting for an intensive care bed (which worries me)
I know just have to watch out for twisted bowel, skin changes, blockages, oh and poo coming up the other way..... that guarantees me an all access pass straight into theatre (deep joy)

HelenaDove · 16/05/2016 19:09

wannabe Thanks Thanks

upontheroof66 · 17/05/2016 01:01

Good luck wannabe Flowers

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