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Original poster

DD surgery and weight check at pre op assessment

19 replies

StephieDD · 15/08/2023 18:49

Hi,

my DD (18) is waiting for an operation. It’s expected to happen in the next 2-3 months. Its to fix a knee injury.

she suffered terribly with anorexia in her earlier teens and has been in recovery for 3 years. She totally refuses to be weighed now, or go near a set of scales. We recently had to cancel a zip wire activity that we had planned as they weigh you beforehand😔

she will soon be called for a pre-op assessment and I know that she thanks s just not going to get on the scales. I’ve told her that she doesn’t need to be told her weight etc, but she just won’t, and I’m dreading the whole thing.

When she was discharged from the eating disorder clinic She had reached 9 stone (she’s 5’9) from a low of 6.5 stone. She has continued to recover well and I would estimate that she’s nearer 10 stone now. Slim but healthy.

I’ve spoken to my SIL who is a theatre nurse and she has explained that the anaesthetic isn’t necessarily based on weight and that she may not be weighed at all. Does anyone have any experience of this?

im terrified that she’ll sabotage the surgery, however I do understand her fear of being weighed.

OP posts:
Bonfire23 · 15/08/2023 18:53

I don't remember being weighed for my spinal op
Would she get on the scales backwards?

Original poster
StephieDD · 15/08/2023 18:55

Bonfire23 · 15/08/2023 18:53

I don't remember being weighed for my spinal op
Would she get on the scales backwards?

Thank you. No, she won’t get on. I just don’t know what to do

OP posts:
MattDamon · 15/08/2023 18:58

I've had three surgeries in the past ten years and never been weighed.

Nicknamesforviolet · 15/08/2023 19:00

Could you not contact the department or PALs at the hospital? They should be able to point you to someone who could put a plan in place if needed ahead of time, rather than worrying about it now x

Greybeardy · 15/08/2023 19:01

It’ll be fine. It is generally best to have an accurate weight, but if it is going to cause that much distress and risk some sort of relapse then it shouldn’t be a problem (so long as she isnt hugely underweight/malnourished). It means that if they need to use anything that is usually calculated by weight then it’ll be a best guess, but that’s what we do with emergencies/unconscious people etc. all the time.

Original poster
StephieDD · 15/08/2023 19:03

Greybeardy · 15/08/2023 19:01

It’ll be fine. It is generally best to have an accurate weight, but if it is going to cause that much distress and risk some sort of relapse then it shouldn’t be a problem (so long as she isnt hugely underweight/malnourished). It means that if they need to use anything that is usually calculated by weight then it’ll be a best guess, but that’s what we do with emergencies/unconscious people etc. all the time.

Thank you ❤️

OP posts:
BerylWiddicombe · 15/08/2023 19:20

You could call the consultant's secretary and ask if they can put you in touch with someone from the pre-assessment team to raise this ahead of time. I expect it'll be fine but it sounds like you and she are going to worry for weeks.

Original poster
StephieDD · 16/08/2023 08:37

Thanks everyone. I’m going to try and call today. A lot of people that I’ve spoken to have said that weighing isn’t necessarily essential so I’m just hoping that the hospital agree!!

OP posts:
HareSong · 16/08/2023 08:40

When I had an op recently they asked me how much I weighed, but didn’t get me onto a set of scales. Would she be willing to just state a weight, if asked?

But yes, definitely worth a call.

Original poster
StephieDD · 16/08/2023 12:41

HareSong · 16/08/2023 08:40

When I had an op recently they asked me how much I weighed, but didn’t get me onto a set of scales. Would she be willing to just state a weight, if asked?

But yes, definitely worth a call.

Yes I think she’d be ok with that

OP posts:
PeakedAtAverage · 16/08/2023 13:49

My recent pre-op was a telephone call so no scales involved at all.

Minglemangle007 · 16/08/2023 13:59

I had surgery last year and the wheelchair I was being wheeled around on had a scale built in, dso no need to actually get on a scale and if they hadn't mentioned it I don't think I would have known.

clipclop5 · 16/08/2023 16:55

19 year old DD has had 2 surgeries within the past year and both times has been weighed + been asked her weight. Even had one anaesthetist make a shocked comment to her that ‘she didn’t look that she weighed THAT much’ - she is a perfectly healthy weight, no ED history etc but even for her this was upsetting. Totally uncalled for!

I’d give the consultant’s secretary or even the ward a ring and see if they can find a way to deal with things more discretely for her

rainbug · 16/08/2023 18:40

My son (much younger as only 3) recently had surgery and he was weighed while sitting in a wheelchair before his surgery. I wonder if this could be an option if they definitely need your daughter's weight, as then she wouldn't be on conventional scales and wouldn't need to see or be told the results?

continentallentil · 16/08/2023 18:44

Well you need to contact the surgery team and tell them in advance!

They probably don’t have to weigh her, but the anaesthetist will probably have to come and have a look at her, as the HCA can’t just write down a weight.

Do contact them or she may get chucked off the list if they can’t get a member of the surgery team in.

bellac11 · 16/08/2023 18:44

Ive never been weighed but have been asked my weight. Would she be able to give an answer? They need to know your BMI

She doesnt have to have the operation though I take it, perhaps its something she could defer until she can feel more comfortable with the process?

TrishTrix · 16/08/2023 18:47

Many many anaesthetists are moving towards TIVA (total intravenous anaesthesia).

You need to have an accurate height and weight.

I'd expect both to be part of pre-op assessment.

She doesn't need to be told the weight but not being weighed could have consequences.

(DOI: anaesthetist)

Greybeardy · 16/08/2023 20:22

TrishTrix · 16/08/2023 18:47

Many many anaesthetists are moving towards TIVA (total intravenous anaesthesia).

You need to have an accurate height and weight.

I'd expect both to be part of pre-op assessment.

She doesn't need to be told the weight but not being weighed could have consequences.

(DOI: anaesthetist)

genuinely interested rather than being knobby....surely we should still be able to tailor the anaesthetic to the patient rather than insist on a patient doing something potentially distressing just so we can do our preferred anaesthetic? There doesn't seem to be a contraindication to using volatile instead based on the OPs post. Most people wouldn't insist on weighing someone with a hip fracture just so they could do TIVA because the pain would be miserable... it's not a million miles from that is it? Clearly it's a different scenario if the patient is still unwell with an ED and clearly malnourished, but if they're in recovery would most people really insist on an accurate weight (I don't think I would FWIW, but maybe I'm a complete cowboy!).

BackT · 17/08/2023 07:27

DD had major surgery recently and they definitely weighed her. In fact I think they weighed her a few times although some of them were in a chair that took your weight.

Not saying they WILL but they definitely did and not just once.

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