Being weighed before general anaesthetic

[Oldtoady]

Ho

had anyone had recent surgery that required a general anaesthetic, and if so we’re you weighed before the op, or just asked to state your weight?

Can you ask not to be told?

Yes, always weighed.

I was anorexic all through my 30s and for a recent surgery I explained this and the nurse weighed me backwards on the scales so I couldn’t see the number and made sure she kept it hidden from me. The act of being weighed was still distressing and triggering but the care she took made it as manageable as possible and it didn’t trigger a relapse.

speak to the nurses. They’ll have dealt with it before.

Yes The only time I wasn't was when I was rushed through for a crash section but the baby's life was at risk
I'm sure if you say you'd rather not look they will be sensitive, just like someone who has a fear of needles for a blood test

Another anaesthetist here, albeit a recently retired one. Just to reiterate what greybeardy said, whilst it's useful to know a patient's height and weight and that forms the starting point for some drug doses and other decisions, there is a lot of no doubt well meaning but very unhelpful misinformation on this thread.
A large part of an anaesthetic titrated continually throughout the procedure and that is according to patient responses, not size. We absolutely do not calculate drug doses on weight, give it and that's that. Well, there are a few things like certain antibiotics that are purely weight based but the amount of the drugs that keep you anaesthetised are not like that.
Weight is particularly important to know in children, and for adults who are either very heavy or very light, for a number of different reasons, so we do like to know. But we anaesthetise lots of people in emergency situations without weighing them and they don't as a rule suffer as a result.
OP, it's a useful thing for us to know and nobody will judge you, whatever your weight is. It's just part of the multitude of factors that your perioperative team will use to give you the best care that they can. The commonest scenario is that you will be weighed and measured fully dressed at a preassessment appointment. Just tell the nurse that you don't wish to know your weight, ask them to cover the scale and close your eyes, and also ask them to write on your notes that you don't wish your weight to be mentioned when you are admitted.
I promise you that you are not the first person to feel this way, so don't be afraid to voice your concerns to the team looking after you.

Weighed

It's an anaesthetic requirement ffs. You'd complain soon enough if you were given the wrong dose. What a strange post 🙄

So first of all I should point out that my issue is due to a past eating disorder that saw me hospitalised for almost a year. My issue may seem strange to you, but for me it’s very real.

also, if had you had read the other replies, including the one from the anaesthetist then you would know that that anaesthetic isn’t actually calculated based on weight. Perhaps if you had have read the thread properly you would have been a bit kinder?

Well chosen name.