Complaining about my GP - weight related issues

NeedSomeAnswersPlease · 2024-08-13T07:15:50+00:00

Not really sure where else to put this, so I'm going to put it here. For the last 10 years or so it's felt like my weight has been a big barrier to receiving care at my GP's surgery. At my heaviest (about 3 years ago) I was 25 stone. Now 20 and just started Mounjaro, so I know I'm at a bad weight and need to lose it. When I was 15, I went to the GP because I was suicidal. I was being bullied at school for my weight and I was told that they were right and I needed to lose weight. I started starving myself because of this and fell into a horrid binge and restrict cycle. At the start of the year I went to the doctor because I had agonising pain due to tendinitis in my ankle. I had received private physio who had said I needed to go to the GP as they think the likelihood is it's a deeper ankle issue and I will need surgery at some point in the future. The pain was so bad it was affecting my mental health because I wasn't able to function properly, I had to stop going to the gym. I got a sarcastic look and was told I had tried to jump the queue, and that I needed to lose weight, and that it was important to "push through". It's noted in my records that I'm overweight and my BMI is there, and that it was a mind over matter issue. A month or so later I went for my smear test and bled, so the nurse referred me for a colposcopy. Six months after the referral I finally go to the appointment to be told I should have never been referred to the private hospital (paid via NHS) because they have a blanket BMI policy and they can't treat me. These are just a few examples, I understand I need to lose weight but I feel like my GP has never fully supported me in this and instead sees all my issues (even recurring sinus infections) as being due to my weight and therefore they don't want to treat me for them, they just tell me to lose weight and that's that. Can I complain? Is it worth it?

SunnyWavess · 13/08/2024 08:24

The blanket BMI policy isn’t the GP’s fault though, if that’s the rules then they’re just upholding them? I agree it seems a bit ridiculous as what does size have to do with bleeding, you should be seen regardless surely.

Original poster

NeedSomeAnswersPlease · 13/08/2024 08:30

SunnyWavess · 13/08/2024 08:24

The blanket BMI policy isn’t the GP’s fault though, if that’s the rules then they’re just upholding them? I agree it seems a bit ridiculous as what does size have to do with bleeding, you should be seen regardless surely.

The lady at the hospital said the GP should have never referred me to them as it's wasted everyone's time and I now go to the back of the other NHS queue

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Gymmum82 · 13/08/2024 08:34

The blanket BMI policy isn’t the GPS fault. Maybe they weren’t aware and were trying to get you seen quicker.
Also I don’t mean to be rude but your able tendinitis would likely resolve with weight loss. I do get it. I was 17 stone at my heaviest. I had back issues, knee issues, shoulder issues, recurrent plantar fasciitis. I lost 7 stone and they have all resolved. I know it’s hard to lose weight but if you manage it you will probably find all these pains disappear

Original poster

NeedSomeAnswersPlease · 13/08/2024 08:35

Gymmum82 · 13/08/2024 08:34

The blanket BMI policy isn’t the GPS fault. Maybe they weren’t aware and were trying to get you seen quicker.
Also I don’t mean to be rude but your able tendinitis would likely resolve with weight loss. I do get it. I was 17 stone at my heaviest. I had back issues, knee issues, shoulder issues, recurrent plantar fasciitis. I lost 7 stone and they have all resolved. I know it’s hard to lose weight but if you manage it you will probably find all these pains disappear

I lost 5 stone and it only got worse, and if I'm unable to walk or go to the gym, what am I supposed to do?

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Mischance · 13/08/2024 08:40

Well done for losing all the weight that you have so far and for continuing to strive to deal with this - it is not an easy thing to do and you should pat yourself on the back.

Could you write to the practice manager and say that you have a number of health issues that you wish to discuss but that you feel these are being ignored because of your weight problem? Say that you recognise the role of obesity in diseases, but that you are tackling this and wish to have your health issues dealt with properly whilst you are doing this.

Original poster

NeedSomeAnswersPlease · 13/08/2024 08:46

Mischance · 13/08/2024 08:40

Well done for losing all the weight that you have so far and for continuing to strive to deal with this - it is not an easy thing to do and you should pat yourself on the back.

Could you write to the practice manager and say that you have a number of health issues that you wish to discuss but that you feel these are being ignored because of your weight problem? Say that you recognise the role of obesity in diseases, but that you are tackling this and wish to have your health issues dealt with properly whilst you are doing this.

I'm considering it, especially because in the winter my sinuses flare up and I'm then ill for weeks on end! So I can't go to the gym etc

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Droolylabradors · 13/08/2024 08:49

Hi OP, I just wanted to jump on and say I sympathise about the tendinitis. I have insertional tendinitis in my achilles which is what stopped me being a regular runner. It took a MRI to diagnose (private), I had shockwave therapy which was excruciatingly painful and worked in the short term but now I have some pain again.

Assuming yours is achilles look up YouTube physio for it. Also make sure you buy some little cork 'raisers' that go in the heels of your shoes, try not to let your ankle go flat when you are walking.

It is painful and I'm sorry you have to face this. Good luck with your injections.

WhoStoleMySpoons · 13/08/2024 08:49

I don't have any answers but wanted to say you're not alone. My sister is visibly overweight and finds most doctors and nurses dismissive or rude no matter what issue her appointments are for. Consequently she's not been to the doctor for years despite multiple health problems and has given up trying to lose weight because "what's the point". Nothing I say or do will change her mind.

I'm sorry you're having similar problems.

Original poster

NeedSomeAnswersPlease · 13/08/2024 08:55

Droolylabradors · 13/08/2024 08:49

Hi OP, I just wanted to jump on and say I sympathise about the tendinitis. I have insertional tendinitis in my achilles which is what stopped me being a regular runner. It took a MRI to diagnose (private), I had shockwave therapy which was excruciatingly painful and worked in the short term but now I have some pain again.

Assuming yours is achilles look up YouTube physio for it. Also make sure you buy some little cork 'raisers' that go in the heels of your shoes, try not to let your ankle go flat when you are walking.

It is painful and I'm sorry you have to face this. Good luck with your injections.

Yeah it's in my Achilles, he thinks that what's happened is repeated sprains over the years (I've had 2 or 3 really bad sprains in the past 5 years) have left all the other ligaments loose and so the tendon is working overtime, the doctor wouldn't listen and just said it's joint pain due to my weight :( really noticing it flaring up lately as I've had 5 really active days on the trot

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Original poster

NeedSomeAnswersPlease · 13/08/2024 08:55

WhoStoleMySpoons · 13/08/2024 08:49

I don't have any answers but wanted to say you're not alone. My sister is visibly overweight and finds most doctors and nurses dismissive or rude no matter what issue her appointments are for. Consequently she's not been to the doctor for years despite multiple health problems and has given up trying to lose weight because "what's the point". Nothing I say or do will change her mind.

I'm sorry you're having similar problems.

This is how I feel now. If my sinuses flare up I use my work GP as it's over the phone

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CaptainBolt · 13/08/2024 09:02

I've heard this is very common. Doctors don't see anything except your weight and are therefore reluctant to investigate properly. It's pretty unfair. Being a woman is bad enough with all their gaslighting.

Droolylabradors · 13/08/2024 09:05

Please use a heel support OP. You need to not let it strain.

Orangesandlemons77 · 13/08/2024 09:35

I'm obese and have found the GPs understanding so it isn't all of them. They also investigate other issues. I did make an appointment with them recently specifically to talk about the obesity and make a plan and they have put me on metformin as I am taking other meds which cause weight gain.

I said I had been giving myself a bit of a hard time over it, and she simply said 'it sounds like you have' and Dion't say anything unkind or judgemental, acknowledged the high blood pressure and said she would refer to tier 3 weight management if the metformin didn't help. So something like this could be a plan perhaps.

Original poster

NeedSomeAnswersPlease · 13/08/2024 09:40

Orangesandlemons77 · 13/08/2024 09:35

I'm obese and have found the GPs understanding so it isn't all of them. They also investigate other issues. I did make an appointment with them recently specifically to talk about the obesity and make a plan and they have put me on metformin as I am taking other meds which cause weight gain.

I said I had been giving myself a bit of a hard time over it, and she simply said 'it sounds like you have' and Dion't say anything unkind or judgemental, acknowledged the high blood pressure and said she would refer to tier 3 weight management if the metformin didn't help. So something like this could be a plan perhaps.

I'm on mounjaro (privately paid for) as I don't see the point in the shakes etc as they don't really solve any issues. Just feel like they've totally ignored me

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