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Original poster

surgery and measuring my weight

27 replies

malone222 · 14/05/2023 21:40

Hi,

Bit of a strange one so please bear with me.

I am due to go into hospital for an operation on my arm at some point in the coming weeks. The operation will take about an hour and I will be under general anaesthetic. I am ok with all of the, my issue is whether or not they will weight me before surgery.

I have suffered from severe anorexia and have been in recovery for 8 years. One of the things that has helped me is to never ever weigh myself. Scales are banned from our house.

My worry is that I will get on the scales and obsess about the number. I know that for most people this will sound ludicrous, but for me it's a major concern. I can't go back to where I was 8 years ago

Has anyone else had minory surgery recently, and if so, did they weigh you pre surgery or just ask you your weight?

I know it's crazy that I am worried about this as opposed the actual surgery, however I really really don't ever want to get on a scale again

OP posts:
soundsgreektome · 14/05/2023 21:42

I had surgery in September, I was asked how much I weigh - no scales.

Hope it all goes well for you.

Oysterbabe · 14/05/2023 21:42

They will weigh you. You can ask them not to tell you the result.

Sissynova · 14/05/2023 21:43

Easier said than done but you don’t have to look down or know the number but generally yes they will need an indication of weight as it’s important for the dose of certain medications.

Original poster
malone222 · 14/05/2023 21:44

soundsgreektome · 14/05/2023 21:42

I had surgery in September, I was asked how much I weigh - no scales.

Hope it all goes well for you.

Thank you

OP posts:
Original poster
malone222 · 14/05/2023 21:45

soundsgreektome · 14/05/2023 21:42

I had surgery in September, I was asked how much I weigh - no scales.

Hope it all goes well for you.

Based on my clothes size etc I am pretty sure that I am around 8 stone. This is what I was pre anorexia and I am back to the same size.

OP posts:
Original poster
malone222 · 14/05/2023 21:46

My sister had a back op at the start of the year and she has just told me that they just asked her how much she weighed - I really hope that it's the same for me. Different hospital though

OP posts:
TeenLifeMum · 14/05/2023 21:48

they do need an accurate weight as they base the amount of anaesthetic on that. You can definitely ask for them not to tell you. Good luck with the op x

LadyAstor · 14/05/2023 21:50

Ive had six GAs in the last 10 years and have only been weighed once (10 years ago).

You normally fill out a form at your pre-op appointment. Just state that you are 8 stone.

GracieGracieGracie · 14/05/2023 21:51

Stand on the scales facing the wrong way so you can't see the result. And tell them you don't want to know and why.

mynameiscalypso · 14/05/2023 21:53

I totally understand. The last time I was weighed in a medical setting, I turned round and asked them not to tell me. They were absolutely fine with that and happy to accommodate.

ThereIsAnEchoInHere · 14/05/2023 21:53

malone222 · 14/05/2023 21:46

My sister had a back op at the start of the year and she has just told me that they just asked her how much she weighed - I really hope that it's the same for me. Different hospital though

It needs to be an accurate weight for the anaesthetist to work out correct dosage. You can’t just tell them 8 stone and hope it’s correct.

Beseen22 · 14/05/2023 21:53

I weigh people on a day to day basis and if you explained to me why I would get the sitting scales so you couldn't see the weight unless you turned 180 degrees. It's a completely reasonable request. Hope all goes well.

Fudgewomble · 14/05/2023 21:55

They’ll either ask and you tell them (but it’s important you’re very sure of your weight due to anaesthetic) or do what pp have said and tell them to cover the weight on the display when they weigh you and not tell you. The anaesthetist and pre op nurses will be pretty good at estimating weight at any rate and will be able to spot if you’re estimate is wildly out though (based on my medic sister — she can guess people’s weight within a few hundred grams she’s such a pro!)

ImaniThePrefect · 14/05/2023 21:57

As PP have said - you can not look, and ask them not to tell you (explain why, if you feel it's appropriate, though you don't have to).

I had an operation recently and had the same problem. I asked not to be told, and explained why. They respected my wishes. They just need it for their own information.

Cyclingforcake · 14/05/2023 21:59

We don’t need an accurate weight to calculate the amount of general anaesthetic, that’s a myth. But the are some other drugs that you do calculate by weight. For instance you get a reduced dose of paracetamol if you’re under 50kg, local anaesthetic doses are calculated by weight and blood thinning drugs can be calculated by weight. I would like to know if a slim patient is under 50kg.

Cyclingforcake · 14/05/2023 22:00

Cyclingforcake · 14/05/2023 21:59

We don’t need an accurate weight to calculate the amount of general anaesthetic, that’s a myth. But the are some other drugs that you do calculate by weight. For instance you get a reduced dose of paracetamol if you’re under 50kg, local anaesthetic doses are calculated by weight and blood thinning drugs can be calculated by weight. I would like to know if a slim patient is under 50kg.

Sorry I should have started with … I am an anaesthetist and

Dixiechickonhols · 14/05/2023 22:02

They may ask your weight or weigh you. Just ask for it to be noted without telling you.

ThatFraggle · 14/05/2023 22:03

You can say what you said in your op. If asked your weight you can say "I'm in recovery from an eating disorder, and don't know. When you do weigh me please don't tell me what it is."

lljkk · 14/05/2023 22:10

DD is an anorexic.
I wouldn't trust her to say truth about her weight. Because it's a mental illness obsessed with not being challenged about its existence.
That's my worry in OP guestimating.

lljkk · 14/05/2023 22:11

Ruddy heck, I didn't know that about paracetamol. irk.

Curlyhairedassasin · 14/05/2023 22:13

Just as for a blind weighing. My DD is anorexic and has weekly weight checks at the ED clinic and we always weigh her blind as she doesn't cope with knowing the number. Just tell them you are in recovery. Good luck with the surgery..

Bigminnie1 · 14/05/2023 22:16

I suffered/ suffer from BED. Much better now but never weigh myself. I have just been through 8 sessions of chemo (plus a couple of hospital stats) and had to be weighed every time. I just asked them not to tell and shut my eyes when on the scales. Every single nurse just said no problem.

Original poster
malone222 · 14/05/2023 23:05

Thank you for everyone's posts - I really appreciate it

OP posts:
EasterIssland · 14/05/2023 23:08

GracieGracieGracie · 14/05/2023 21:51

Stand on the scales facing the wrong way so you can't see the result. And tell them you don't want to know and why.

This.
best wishes for your surgery

TooMinty · 14/05/2023 23:16

lljkk · 14/05/2023 22:11

Yeah this is a bit worrying. I weigh 47kg and no one has ever suggested that I should take a lower dose. Fortunately I don't have to take it often but after both my c-sections I was taking it daily, several times a day for at least a week...

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