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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think this GP is a total idiot!!!

247 replies

ButterflEi · 31/07/2009 13:30

hello

so i went to see one of the GPs in my practice today as i am wanting to take control of my weight issues and was looking for advice.

the GP asked me general questions about lifestyle etc and what i eat on an average day which i answered thinking to myself that finally i was going to get somewhere (i have struggled with my weight since i was about 15, im now 27). he said he would refer me to a dietician but that could take a matter of months for that referral to materialise.

the conversation went as follows:

me: so can you help with what i should do in the meantime??
idiot GP: i would sggest restricting your diet as much as possible
me: ok...meaning what??
GP: dont eat
me: huh? you mean eat less??
GP: no dont eat
me: dont eat??
GP: yes dont eat. excercise and dont eat.
me: is that not called ANOREXIA??
GP: no it is a medically sanctioned diet plan
me: no it is called anorexia...thanks for nowt.

i then stormed out in a bit of a huff and went home. i have since called the surgery and made another appointment with a different (nice lady) doctor for later today!!

i just wondered if IABU to think that doctor is a complete incompetent arse or is my fat addling my brain??

OP posts:
juuule · 31/07/2009 21:27

Actually it is as simple as don't eat and move more. It might not be the healthiest of ways and you would probably feel quite unwell after a while but you would lose weight.

Obviously it's better if you still get all the nutrients you need while cutting down on calories which is why if you don't know what is a healthy diet or a good portion size you would be better to see the dietician as referred to by your gp.

StealthPolarBear · 31/07/2009 21:30

careergirl I am in no doubt that GPs aren't stupid
Some of them are bloody arrogant

JollyBear · 31/07/2009 21:38

ei Good on you for going to speak to your GP about your weight, it is shame that he wasn't more helpful.

There are lots of reasons for people being overweight and finding it difficult to loose weight. Spouting simplistic notions and being downright rude to the OP is really not helping the situation. .

Olifin · 31/07/2009 21:39

'I DIDNT MISUNDERSTAND, HE WAS ALSO NOT BEING SARCASTIC. HE CLEARLY BELIEVED THAT STOPPING EATING TOTALLY WOULD 'SOLVE' MY PROBLEM.'

But surely Butterflei, you can see that this is just not possible, unless this Dr is clinically insane or criminally minded.

As for exercise- it makes a huge difference, believe me. You have to make time for it. I work part-time and often cycle there. I run/go to the gym/go cycling on evenings and weekend. I appreciate that you work full-time and that must be exhausting, on top of looking after your toddler but exercise actually gives you more energy but conversely helps you sleep better. Do you have a partner at home or is there someone nearby who can have your little one for an hour or so at the weekend and a couple of evenings so that you can get out and do something?

Original poster
ButterflEi · 31/07/2009 21:40

i was under the misguided impression that in losing my weight i would gain better health juule i dont want to just lose weight to be lighter/fit into smaller clothes, i want to be and feel healthy (which i have not felt for a number of years)
i dont want another 'crash' diet that is not possible to healthily maintain for the long term. i DO want some support to change my lifestyle/habits which i have proved i am not able to do on my own (i have very little sustained support IRL)
i have a few health problems caused by being overweight, and one which actively restricts my weightloss efforts, so for me it is not that simple.

OP posts:
StealthPolarBear · 31/07/2009 21:42

It's the National Health Service not the National Sick Service. There's a need to ensure that currently healthy people stay that way - or you can just wait for them to get sick and sort it out then .

Original poster
ButterflEi · 31/07/2009 21:45

JB thanks
to all others offering their support and other practical advice, thanks to you lot aswell
olifin i agree that it seems a ridiculous thing for a-seemingly inelligent- GP to say. but why else would he say it if he was not under the impression it was sound advice??

OP posts:
Original poster
ButterflEi · 31/07/2009 21:52

SPB i completely agree i want to avoid being one of the obesity ill health statistics which i am rapidly heading towards being.
i think that 5 minutes of good advice from a GP (costing a relatively small amount in NHS resources) is 10 times better than continuing along this path and ending up with CHD/stroke/diabetes or all of the above (all of which incidentally can be avoided largely by tackling the causative issues as early as possible and all currently cost ALOT in NHS cash and resources)

OP posts:
moondog · 31/07/2009 21:53

Do you seriously believe in that case then that in 5 minutes he can tell you something that

a.) you haven't heard before

b.) is going to change your life

ilovemydogandmrobama · 31/07/2009 21:57

No, of course not. But he's supposed to say something like, 'the journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step...' or something equally motivational.

ObsidianBlackbirdMcNight · 31/07/2009 22:00

No, sorry, this was completely inappropriate. I used to be on a weightloss site (www.weightlossresources.co.uk this one - it's excellent) and the amount of people who had been given crap and dangerous advice from their GPs was astounding. Some GPs really think it's ok to suggest obese people stick to a diet of 1000 calories a day, or similar, many are clueless about healthy weightloss. Being told by a GP that it's sensible to starve yourself to lose weight could be taken literally by some people - and has been. This was either stupid and dangerous advice, or very inappropriate humour. He should have suggested reducing calorie intake combined with increased exercise. No it's not rocket science but he should not have said that stupid thing.

Original poster
ButterflEi · 31/07/2009 22:03

moondog i went in there with an open mind, perhaps not open enough but i at the very least expected some support. i found nothing of the sort except bad advice and dismissal. THAT is where my problem lies!!

OP posts:
msled · 31/07/2009 22:41

I don't think people who are very well paid from the public purse should be rude to people, especially people who are being polite to them, and who have come genuinely looking for advice. As we can see from this thread, there is lots of misinformation about weight loss out there. I think even handing out a diet advice sheet would have helped, and surely all GPs have those in their surgery.
An underactive thyroid can have really terrible effects on people. It can make losing weight very hard, it can be debilitatingly exhausting, so near impossible for someone to just go out running. It can also cause serious depression, all of which can get in the way of successful weight loss. The OP did a responsible thing, she didn't need belittling sarcasm.

careergirl · 31/07/2009 22:53

Weight Loss Resources is excellent personally I find it better than Weightwatchers.

wastingmyejumication · 31/07/2009 22:55

GPs get less training on nutrition than they do on breastfeeding.

I haven't had much cause to use the NHS, thankfully, but I have had as much crap care as I have had good.

I had to tell one GP about something I'd read about eczema in order to get the treatment that finally cleared up a particular condition that was excruciating and deeply embarrassing.

Our current GP made me weigh DS before and after feeding him, in tears in a treatment room and then failed to do his 6 week check-up. (Lots of HCP bullshit relating to birth and bf left out.)

I was once diagnosed with scabies when I complained of little blisters on my fingers. It was just another form of eczema. Comes back now and then, treat it with eczema cream.

My Aunty was told by her GP when she was 11 (40 years ago, but nonetheless) that she was suffering from 'growing pains'. She was actually walking round on a dislocated hip and the consequences of that misdiagnosis have led to a lifetime of pain and disability.

My Grandad was told that he had suddenly developed arthritis at 75. He had broken his leg. And at his age they couldn't rebreak it when it healed at a 30degree angle.

The point of my epic list of irritation and rage?
They might not be stupid, but they are often very wrong.

I avoid going to the doctor, unless I already know what I need them to prescribe.

1dilemma · 31/07/2009 22:57

I can't believe you got 2 appointments in one day to discuss your weight I can't get near my GP for love nor money
I nearly fell off my chair when I actually spoke to a human today after 27 tries (not all on one day I have visited to try and make an appointment too BTW)

Quattrocento · 31/07/2009 22:59

I dont really understand what the OP expected or wanted. What does the OP want from another visit to the doctor?

Paolosgirl · 31/07/2009 23:00

I used to have to wait 3 weeks to see my GP at my previous surgery. When I switched surgeries, I almost fainted when I was offered an appointment later that day - thought I'd misheard her!

msled · 31/07/2009 23:00

She didn't want sarcasm and rudeness. And she shouldn't have got it.

Quattrocento · 31/07/2009 23:12

I understand what the OP didn't want. What I don't understand is what she did want.

So I can sort of sympathise with the GP's frustration.

Paolosgirl · 31/07/2009 23:20

It's in her original post - she wanted to know if he could suggest anything she could do while she was on the waiting list for the nutrionist, and she wanted him to explain what he meant by "restrict your diet as much as possible".

Point 1 is a reasonable request - 'I wonder if you could give me any advice to get me started' type thing. Point 2 - I'd be asking what he meant by restrict your diet as much as possible. Bit vague, wasn't it...

Quattrocento · 31/07/2009 23:24

Yes I did read the original post ... but it was too vague for me, I'm afraid.

hambo · 31/07/2009 23:26

I've come to this chat pretty late.

I don't know what advice the GP could give the OP. Surely unless he had a detailed knowledge of her eating habits/ exercise regime, then he could not really help much except to say what he did.

Unless she wanted some kind of weight loss pill

Paolosgirl · 31/07/2009 23:31

Her later posts gave more detail about what she was hoping for.

Most GP's would be able to offer leaflets on healthy eating, would be able to suggest reputable websites that she could look at and would be able to point her in the direction of weight loss clinics in the area - a lot of public health practitioners run them from health centres.

Original poster
ButterflEi · 31/07/2009 23:35

quattrocento have you read through the rest of my posts here?? i have reiterated numerous times about what i asked for and what his response was. whether i was able to get a second appointment or not was besides the point ( i moved to this surgery due to the fact that they have 5 GPs on staff and usually it is quite easy to get an appoinment if needs be). i have also said i cancelled that appointment after realising it was not necessary to be belittled twice in one day and i got that appointment after ringing the surgery again quite upset after being deliberately and quite harshly mocked by a so called professional. they offered me a second appointment which at that time i accepted.

OP posts: