NHS don't care when you're an overweight woman

[TheSilenceisDeafening]

I just need a rant. Is anyone else sick of trying to get help via the NHS and not being listened to or taken seriously because you're woman and overweight.

I've been told to exercise and loose weight, because somehow being fat is the root of all my problems and nothing else is to be considered as a cause, so I've been dismissed again. I'm not massively overweight, 14st.

Yes I understand extra weight can cause problems. Until recently, I was always a healthy weight (Even then I wasn't taken seriously) I've only gained weight due to meds, used to control a separate problem. One that developed because doctors repeatedly dismissed my concerns.

Why are woman treated so poorly in the NHS? This has been an issue for me my whole life. I've had a few serious issues that could have easily been resolved before they reached a critical stage, if only they had listened to what I was telling them.

I have a feeling that my most recent issue will also reach a critical stage soon because all doctors see is a fat hysterical woman and dismiss me at every opportunity. Why do doctors in this country want to prove you wrong, rather than finding out if what you're telling them is right?
I have no idea where to go from here so I'll just need to suffer on, feeling miserable and unheard.

I've genuinely never experienced this. I'm a size 22-24 and over 20st....

I have chronic migraine and I'm under neurology, I am in perimenopause, have bladder issues and have other lumps and bumps under investigation with the colorectal team.

The bladder issue is likely aggravated but not caused by me being fat, and they only mentioned it when I asked if it was a problem.

The GP and specialists have all been brilliant and not blaming my weight where it's not relevant.

I'm very overweight as I said before and I have never experienced this when attending hospital or gp surgery. All the staff have been fantastic and really helpful.
I don't recognise this at all in my own experience.
To be honest I do think some of my issues are caused by my weight so if this sort of thing was said to me I wouldn't mind as deep now I know it to be true.
Been overweight is the cause of many of mine and others health issues unfortunately.
I am very lucky as all the doctors I have dealt with and there have been a few have been great.

Also let's remember the doctors are human like us not robots and are all shapes and sizes.
I'm sure they are not mentioning weight to be difficult.
There is always risks with having surgery so if conditions can be helped or alleviated by losing some weight this would always be their first point of call.
I don't think doctors want to put patients through unnecessary operations if losing weight is going to potentially help improve your condition.

@windberri I think you're one of the very rare, fortunate people to have not experienced discrimination in the NHS due to weight or sex.

Like I said, I eat well, exercise, and take good care off my health. My weight gain was caused by medication, used to manage a condition that medical negligence caused!

It would be physically impossible for my resent issues to be caused by my weight, however, they won't listen to what I have to say. They see a fat person and instantly blame any issues on that, tell me to loose weight and dismiss my concerns.

I said previously, I'll just need to learn to live with it as I can't afford to go private. So let's hope this new problem doesn't kill me first!

How can they you have non specific symptoms! And yes being overweight does cause many of the issues most people have! We are a nation of fatties now, me included. But rather than blame the NHS I’m doing something about it! Look up a GPL1 diet and follow it, that’s what I’ve done and lost 33lbs to date.

So youre saying that fat people don't deserve medical treatment and they should just loose weight because that's what you're doing?

How on earth would you know that I have non specific symptoms? I mentioned in my posts that I didn't want to list what my issue was as it could be outing.

I actually had very specific symptoms, symptoms that are listed on my current medication as a side effect. Medication that I'm now on for life due to previous negligence (from when I was skinny and healthy but still a "hysterical" woman).

Yes I am overweight but this is purely due to the massive dose of steroids i've been prescribed and steroid induced cushings disease. My diet and exercise regime hasn't changed at all so my weight is 100% due to medication. I've been told that no amount of exercise and dieting will change my weight (believe me I've tried) the only thing that will work is a reduction in steroids. Not everyone is a "fatty" like you, Not that the reason actually matters, but diet and exercise are not always the solution.

It turns out I was indeed correct about the problem I was having, nothing to do with my weight like the many GP's and hcp's suggested. My situation escalated to emergency levels requiring emergency treatment and a lengthy hospital stay. Imagine that.

Now only if the multiple primary physicians had listened to me instead of instantly judging me based on my weight and sex. I would have saved the NHS a fortune in appointments and treatment.

But what do I know eh? I'm just a "fatty" maybe I should take a page out of your book and see if I can learn something from you.

@Horserider5678
I just looked up your GPL1 "diet" and this is exactly how I eat. Any other helpful suggestions? Or can we just admit that the NHS is misogynistic and prejudiced against fat people.

I am obese and have a number of conditions that were probably caused by being overweight for a long time. I am fat because I eat too much and don't do enough exercise.
I must be very lucky, as I've always been treated extremely well by both my GP and the hospital.

Renal carcinoma/lung mets, kidney removal, collapsed lung, type 2 diabetes, hemicolectomy/stoma, prolapsed discs, blah, blah, blah. Lots of different wards/consultants - everyone amazing.
We should all be treated like this.

I do t have any good suggestions but wanted to commiserate and agree with you OP.

I had symptoms for years and every time was fobbed off with 'eat less move more'.

Turns out I was Diabetic. I was actually diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes 10 years ago but the Dr told me at my 6 week post birth check that I didn't need to worry about that anymore because it was sorted by giving birth. No follow up, no future checks, nothing.

Must have been in a dozen times since then with symptoms that can be explained by T2, and each time got nothing but a lecture on needing to lose weight. They knew I was at higher risk of T2 but said I didn't need testing for it.

In the end I bought myself a Freestyle Libre CGM sensor off of Amazon, stuck it on my arm and within a few hours it was sending me alerts about dangerously high sugar levels and needing to seek medical advice. 111 sent me to A&E who ran tests and immediately started me on Insulin.

5 months later, a prescription for Mounjaro and I've lost 3 and a half stone now my insulin levels are right and I'm not starving hungry all the time.

Doesnt fix the permanent nerve damage in my feet and eyes or make up for being fobbed off for a decade though.

Hi what are the injections for the osteoarthritis? Steroid ?

@Horserider5678. Well said , and well done !

How on earth would you know that I have non specific symptoms? I mentioned in my posts that I didn't want to list what my issue was as it could be outing

How could it be outing? A list of symptoms on an internet forum, populated by thousands of people are unlikely to be outing.

You wouldn't understand.

I had 24/7 vomiting and couldn't walk unaided, and my GP tried to convince me it was being caused by depression.

Not unsurprisingly it was not. Luckily a locum referred me to a neurologist and a brain tumour was diagnosed.

I’m here today crying my eyes out because I was scheduled for an operation on my knee to help me walk and I’ve now been told my BMI is too high and I need to lose 5 stone.

before I had the initial knee problem occur in May which I was in hospital for I was nearly 4 stone lighter than I am now and actively going to the gym and exercising. My meniscus tore, a bakers cyst behind my knee burst and all that aggravated osteoarthritis in the knee I didn’t know I had so I am now walking with a stick and can’t manage stairs at all. I have put on weight and my time in hospital they also discovered 3-4 other things that are now under investigation including a lung issue and thyroid issue I didn’t know I had but that explain my breathlessness even when I was much fitter.

needless to say I had a cry last night about the knee surgery thing and contacted my doctor this morning to try and get help for weight loss as I’m tryin* but the underlying issues I have are making it very difficult to shift any weight. I was told “sorry there’s nothing we can give you or advise other than healthy eating” as though I’m not already trying that! I have underlying conditions they won’t work on until I lose weight and the underlying conditions make it hard for me to lose weight and no help or support from the nhs because I am overweight.

im at the end of my tether and am seriously considering whether just giving up on life is the only option as no one wants to help me.

I was told when they spoke to me last night when I got upset that “it’s not the end of the world” I said to them “I’m sorry it’s not the end of the world for you but I have been in pain for months I can barely walk and I used to be very active so it feels like the end of the world for me”