To think no I bloody do not want to know what I weigh so just shut up about it!

[HarrietKettleWasHere]

Ugh I'm so annoyed.

Went to GP today to get contraceptive pill. Had blood pressure check and went to step on the scales, and I said politely to lady GP 'would you mind if I don't know what my weight is, I'm just going to step on but not look'

She said, 'why on earth not?'

So I said 'because I used to suffer from an eating disorder, and the numbers will say I'm a lot bigger than I would have been happy with back then, so I'd rather not obsess about it'

GP 'so how would you know if you were overweight, you won't even be able to work out your BMI'

Me 'I go by how my clothes fit, or belt hooks and that' I'm a size 10, so not really at a point where I'd worry I was overweight, although of course mentally I'll always think I'm positively rubenesque)

GP 'well with vanity sizing nowadays I think you really need to be aware of what you weigh, so you can deal with weight gain at the first sign'

And then she told me WHAT IT BLOODY WAS.

Rationally it's fine, it's a healthy weight, mentally I am now looking at myself in elephant proportions and feeliing enormous.

Why can't people just bloody well LISTEN and they think they know best and just do the thing you asked them not to anyway?!!

I have my first wedding dress fitting next month and I'm freaking out about that now.

Ridiculous of her! Yes, there are risks with oral contraceptives and being overweight I believe - fair enough if your weight were any sort of issue.

But you're a size 10! Vanity sizing aside - your weight is hardly likely to be an issue at size 10. And you explained why you didn't want to know, which is a perfectly reasonable explanation, and that should have been respected.

Some people just always seem to want to have the last word!

YANBU. That's horrible that she did that to you. It would be nice if more professionals understood how things like that can hurt people as some in the other posts have talked about. It's so ridiculous as well - the BMI thing and dealing with weight gain at the first sign. People fluctuate a bit, obsessing over any gain or loss is horrible to anyone's mental health before getting into eating disorder or compulsive issues which just makes her thoughtlessness even worse.

I could maybe get it if seeing your records there was a concerning significant drop or gain - those can signify other health issues - but ignoring your wishes just so you're aware seems weird. The vanity sizing comment seems even more bizarre to me, it's not like those change the clothes you already own which you already know how they fit or how your belts work. It seems, as others have said, she has this one idea of how people just do things and seemed to want to push that onto you.

All my doctors assistants respect that I don’t want to know. It must be a common request.

I’m on steroids and have been for 10 yrs.

I asked why she'd told me when o asked her not to. She just said people need to be aware nowadays and she sees people every day that bury their heads in the sand and it leads to a lot of problems!

I will complain if I have grounds to, how do I go about it if anyone knows?

Such horrible and damaging behaviour of gp.

I'd complain about that tbh. You only need a very basic knowledge of eating disorders - which you explained to her yourself.

Very poor practice by a GP.

You ask about their complaints procedures and then its probably just write an email.

Definitely complain and next time refuse to get on the scales until they have agreed to your terms beforehand. Awful behaviour.

That was awful of your GP! I think you should probably complain because even if you are psychologically well at the moment, if she does that to another individual with an eating disorder they might spiral and fall back into restricting/purging.

Complain.

You explained your mental health need and not only did they not respect that, they belittled you

I hear you OP

I'm on the opposite end of that scale and I'm fully aware of the need to address it

Other people feel ridiculously entitled to pass comments such as

"Have you thought about losing weight?"

Or

"It might help if you lost some weight"

Yes no shit Sherlock I'm not blind to my own chin thanks

I think knowing how bad it actually is would massively demotivate me and make me think

"What's the point I'll never be slim"

Whereas reducing slowly and feeling like I'm losing is having an all round positive affect

Complain and change your doctor. She could potentially damage your health with what she did.

Maybe you should see someone about your ED. You are clearly no cover it if you can't hear a number. It doesn't change the way you looked before you heard the number.

That is seriously poor practice and that HCP needs a kick up the twinkle a reprimand and maybe some training.

I would absolutely complain to either the practice manager or PALS. I did this when my doctor told me that I was old enough to know not to make myself sick after eating and they refused to offer any more support.

I was 22 and was previously anorexic then after overcoming it and getting to a healthy weight felt myself feeling like I needed to go back to old habits so went straight to get help rather than fall back in to a trap.

I got a letter from the gp saying she wanted to empower me but then I ended up going to pals too because I felt that she didn't see what she had done wrong and that worried me.

Well done for dealing with this so well and for getting as far as you have done!

I would complain.

You are clearly not overweight and asked specifically not to be told your weight because you have had an eating disorder in the past. She deliberately told you!

I feel angry on your behalf!

(A friend of mine who is overweight requested not to be told what she weighed when she was weighed for an operation. The Doctor was really nice and cheerily understanding, didn't tell her but did say it was not as bad as she thought and a lot less than what he weighed, and generally turned what could have been an awkward moment into a pleasant one.)

What a thoughtless and disrespectful GP you have OP

Maybe you should see someone about your ED. You are clearly no cover it if you can't hear a number. It doesn't change the way you looked before you heard the number. I can see that going down well at the GPs - mental health services are on their knees - maybe not hearing a number is a better solution. The OP is not the only one who doesn't want to hear that number - maybe we should all head down to the GPs and insist the NHS diverts some of their non existent resources to people who just can't hear a number without it triggering the pathway back to an eating disorder - good call!

Her arrogance is quite astounding - the woman who removed the word "care" from Health Care Provider.

Ask to see someone else when you go for your next check-up and complain to practice if you can be bothered.

I have asked the same and it has been respected. Your GP was out of order.

Being a Doctor does not give her the right to override your wishes. Bad form on her behalf.

That’s so rubbish. She just did not listen or did not respect your position. In either case, it’s poor practice.

Completely hear you. To know my weight would be like giving me a loaded gun. I refuse to allow it to be taken now at any sort of routine appointment eg pils checks etc. I have been in the position where I have trusted them to take it on the basis they DO NOT tell me and they have violated it. Never again.

Oh my goodness, I can’t believe you told them
You had an eating disorder and said all that!!
You should complain, I hope you can get pass this ok, I can imagine it triggering a relapse in some!

I'm so sorry, I have been there myself and can totally understand how you feel. I have absolute idiots at work who are always talking about dieting, constantly try to get me to join in stupid fad regimes and don't understand that for some of us even thinking about weight and food too much can lead to spiralling behaviours - you'd hope a GP would have more insight and empathy.