Everything is because I’m fat.

[Fbshe]

I went to the doctors today, I keep feeling really faint and going dizzy. My doctor suggested it is because of being overweight (she had taken my weight and height while there). This has really upset me because I don’t believe this is the cause, I’m 5 foot 1 and weigh 10 stone (fluctuate to slightly under sometimes but this is what the scale showed today). I genuinely think it’s my build and can’t be helped, I’m a 30HH bra and naturally have a big bum, when I was 14 I was 7 and a half stone and still had a massive bum while the rest of me was bones.

I cannot lose weight, I ran a marathon 2 weeks ago, I weight train twice a week, I run 3 times a week and I walk the dog for 1-2hours a day, longer on weekends. I have reasonable meals and no snacks, I had 2 slices of toast for breakfast with a small amount of butter, some frittata for lunch with a couple of cherry tomatoes and a 320calorie ready meal for my tea. I’ve had 3 glasses of sugar free squash and will have another before bed.

I asked the doctor for help with weight loss if she thought this was the cause but she suggested smaller meals and increasing activity levels. I don’t know what to do.

I feel like complaining to the surgery because I’m no closer to knowing why I always feel so lightheaded and I’ve been made to feel really self conscious with no real support. Am I being sensitive or is this reasonable?

Did she take your blood pressure? Do any blood tests? I’d request these.

Yes she said my blood pressure is normal. Elsewhere in the past they’ve commented on it being low.

Insist on your right to a second opinion and tell the second doctor exactly what you've told us here. Emphasise that you regularly weight train. If they refuse, ask that they put their refusal on the system in writing.

are you dizzy on standing up? Look up POTS if you are.

I'm the same height and similar weight - that's nothing like obese. I'm 62 and pretty fit apart from needing thyroxine.

I think you should get a second opinion, what aspect of being a bit overweight was supposed to be causing you to be faint and dizzy?

Mostly when I first stand up, when I’m warm and sometimes it I’ve been stood still for a long while, I’m ok when walking around. Places like queuing in the supermarket is when it’s at its worst.

Pretty sure I could go to the doctor with a pickaxe sticking out of my foot and the doctor would ask if I'd considered losing some weight.

If there genuinely is some reason why having a BMI of 26½ is the most likely reason for your apparently unrelated symptoms, she should've explained that to you, and explained why it wasn't worth investigating anything else until you lost some weight. But TBH I think they're talking bollocks. Go back. Maybe say you're concerned about your blood pressure.

Looks to me that you need to increase calories and fluid intake tbh going on your activity levels.

Scales mean fuck all when you weight train especially anyway.

The thing is, just taking your blood pressure after comfortably sitting down for a bit won't pick up on things like sudden drops in blood pressure on standing.

I do drink water I just didn’t include that in my list because I was just including things with calories, I will have maybe 2 pints during the day. I cut my calories down initially because of the same doctor commenting on my weight last year when I was in for something else and I have lost a stone since then.

Doctors automatically seem to jump on BMI as a way to dismiss women's health problems. I would complain that she clearly didn't listen or do anything to establish the cause of your problem

I was going to say if that's a normal diet plan for you maybe you're not eating enough of the right food? Having said that you're capable of a shed load of physical activity so maybe it's not that. I'd ask for a second opinion. My dr. diagnosed a strep throat and it turned out to be something extremely serious...always ask for a 2nd opinion.

Probably the same aspect that lead to me having anaemia severe enough to lead to multiple iron infusions, a blood transfusion and ultimately a hysterectomy (once I found someone that didn't do the dismissive hand wave and tell me to lose weight)

Apparently a bit of excess weight is very powerful 😉

Hard to tell from a single day without quantities but that doesn't sound like enough food or enough variety for marathon training let alone with strength, it could be you're dizzy because you're underfuelling. Can you get some advice on a healthy, fuelling plan that's appropriate for your level of exertion and see if that helps with the symptoms. Generally I'd suggest steering away from the squash and ready meals.

Did she take any bloods, thyroid, glucose, FBC?

I would be asking for a second opinion.

BMI calculator says you're only 5-6 lbs over a healthy weight and are a marathon runner and weight lifter with a large bust accounting for a few of those pounds so no, I don't agree your weight is causing you to have regular episodes of dizziness and faintness.

Have you had this long? It could be a lack of fluid causing postural hypotension (did she do a standing BP or just seated?) With that level of activity especially in this warm (mostly!) weather it might be an idea to up your drinking even further. Can't do any harm to try and do 2 litres a day.

I think what Una said you dont sound like you are eating nearly enough for that amount of exercise. How are your iron levels? As anemia can also cause you to feel dizzy or lightheaded. I only mention this because i do a similar amount of exercise but eat way more + add iron supplements as well.

I think you need to insist that it's investigated, or at least an explanation of what they think is going on and why it's not something they feel they need to do anything about beyond telling you to lose weight, and also ask for advice on management. Some people just are prone to orthostatic/postural hypotension, though. If I did that much exercise, I'd end up flat on the floor on a regular basis, too (for some people there's a period after vigorous exercise where your blood pressure can be significantly lower than usual, and may also be less good at reacting to sudden changes in position). I try to keep my salt intake up, though as far as I know I'm not salt-sensitive.

I'd ask for a second opinion.

I had really bad fainting and dizzy spells peri menopause and during the menopause. nightmare as I had no idea initially what was going on.

Gosh that's helpful and relevant to OPs post.

NOT.

How old are you?

I agree with PP - go back to the GP, or get another one. Your BP being normal doesn't mean you're not having postural hypotension, a sudden drop in BP when changing position, or standing for longer periods of time. They can request a 24 hour ambulatory BP monitor to be fitted to you, so that they can see the readings over a full day. You could do with some blood tests for checking everything if you've not had any recently.
You're also, probably, not eating enough, if that's the amount of training you do.
Hope you get some help from the GP.

I have similar issues. When I was younger I even fainted a few times before I knew the warning signs and it certainly goes along with low normal BP. How often does it happen? Daily or from time to time?
If it’s /I’m warm more of the blood is peripheral so BP drops leading to dizziness. If I get up quickly my BP can take a few minutes to adjust leading to dizziness. Occasionally I have to drop to the floor voluntarily before I fall over till my BP catches up with me. If I stand for any length of time I have to fidget, tense calf muscles, go up and down on toes to keep BP up. So it’s not necessarily something that needs treatment, might just be awareness management. Obviously you also have to be properly hydrated and nourished as your body needs enough to function. And if you ran a marathon recently I assume you’re otherwise fit? You do a lot of activity on not much food!

The BMI is flawed.
It was designed for the average white male.

Yes it is good to use as a rough guide but it absolutely should not be used as a replacement for testing/diagnosing.

I posted on here a couple of days ago about how my very slim size 8 friend was told to lose weight.
She had previously been a size 6 but she felt and looked ill and even her periods stopped but the advice from the doctor was to still lose weight and her symptoms might disappear.