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Several months ago I had a minor medical problem and went to a new doctor in our local practice (my doctor retired). At that visit she told me to lose weight which I knew I had to do anyway having always been overweiight. I had not had a physical in a whiile so she said she would schedule one for my next visit which was yesterday.
Since the last visit I have lost weight as she recommended. My blood pressure is lower (it was never high enough for medication). Going into the physical I was quite proud of myself for losing weight and looked forward to encouragement. Instead the doctor barely acknowledged that my weight had gone down, lectured me on needing to do more and perscribed a directic drug for a minor water retention problem in my legs that is also for blood pressure.
During the physical I told her how I had cut a lot of sugar out of my diet. She came back saying I need to exercise portion control. I told her I had cut back on the amount of food I ate. She then replied that I needed to exercise more. I reminded her that I had just told her that I now exercise every day. She came back and said it is not enough and that I should immediately go on a strict diet and even consider gastric surgery.
I was shocked. I will admit I am overweight but no one I know ever would say I was at the point to require surgery. I immediately told her no way. That I had seen what others had gone through with that surgery and it should only be considered under the most severe cases as a last resort. I told her that I was no where near that point. She did not say anything and asked me to come back in six months.
I walked out of her office angry and disappointed and cannot stop thinking about what she said. It was more like she was saying that because I am overwieight that I must be doing something wrong and if it wasn't one thing it had to be something else. She was bound to find that thing.
I have pretty much decided that I will not keep her as my doctor. I am also considering writing her a letter explaining why. I can only wonder what she tells other overweight patients and if she realizes that she is likely doing more harm than good with her attitude. Any thoughts? Jay
I wouldn't bother wasting your time writing a letter, I doubt it would help. If you are losing weight I don't know why she would even suggest gastric surgery, I thought that was if you couldn't lose weight. My doctor is sort of the same way, doesn't remember what was discussed on our last visit and apparently doesn't take the time to look at the notes in the chart. I personally hate all doctors, yet to find one I really like. Oh, sorry, one, my gynecologist, but I really don't enjoy going there and haven't been in years.
Definitely find yourself a new doctor, and keep up the great job!
Find a new doctor. I have found that some doctors are very discriminatory against those who are overweight, even a little bit. There is one doctor in particular in our town that several people I know have gone to. He reacts just as you describe. But does not act this way toward his slim patients. He even talks about how nicely thin they are and that fat people disgust him. This doctor is a disgrace to his profession IMO.
I remember years ago when I was in my 20's, I injured my back dancing when my partner dipped me back too far, so I went to the doctor. At 5'8", I weighed about 135 lbs. Not exactly fat. I was very athletic. Anyway, the doctor spent about 2 minutes with me before he decided to tell me my problem was I was too fat. That's all he had to say before he left the room. I was in disbelief. Here I was in extreme pain and that's all he had to say. I immediately left without paying and found another doctor.
Don't let this doctor discourage you. Find another doctor that is encouraging and that listens to you. It's a world of difference. Best of luck. And congratulations on your progress. Don't let one jerk ruin everything for you.
Thanks for the opinions. I pretty much have decide to leave this doctor and the practice. It is too bad because at one time they were very good. But with the retirement of the head doctor who was our primary, the practice seems to have faultered. I am still not sure about the letter. I would only write it so the doctor realizes that her actions are what made me leave and that maybe she should rethink her approach to people. I do feel sorry for the other patients who face similar issues and if something I say can help them, I would at least feel better about the situation. Thanks, Jay
Definite;y write the letter. She may not change her attitude but it may cause her to think next time. If she stops before saying stuff that that, you will have helped. I had an endocrinologist who kept telling me to lose weight (diabetic and obese at the time). He did all the regular blood work but never stopped to think about thyroid issues. When a CT of the chest done after an accident showed several thyroid nodules, his solution was a biopsy and wait approach. My next endo told me within the first 5 min. that I had toxic multinodular goiter. The first one's beliefs about weight prevented him from thinking any further.
So after I got the thyroid ablated, I had a gastric bypass and am no longer obese. The thyroid treatment solved most of my other health issues and was the original cause of my gaining over the years. Even specialists can be blinded by their prejudices.
Definite;y write the letter. She may not change her attitude but it may cause her to think next time. If she stops before saying stuff that that, you will have helped. I had an endocrinologist who kept telling me to lose weight (diabetic and obese at the time). He did all the regular blood work but never stopped to think about thyroid issues. When a CT of the chest done after an accident showed several thyroid nodules, his solution was a biopsy and wait approach. My next endo told me within the first 5 min. that I had toxic multinodular goiter. The first one's beliefs about weight prevented him from thinking any further.
So after I got the thyroid ablated, I had a gastric bypass and am no longer obese. The thyroid treatment solved most of my other health issues and was the original cause of my gaining over the years. Even specialists can be blinded by their prejudices.
Wow, SouthernBelle, unbelievable. Your story reminds me of another doctor visit I had with a dermatologist. I went to her because I was having a skin reaction. I told her I was also extremely fatigued and having some health issues but had not been able to find answers as to why yet. She went on a half-hour rant about diet, exercise, and just getting out there every day instead of sitting around watching t.v. She was way off base about my lifestyle. She never did give me an answer about the skin reaction. But she billed me $150 and it cost me $20 for parking. Needless to say I was ticked off and swore I would never go back, and I haven't.
2 months later I found out why these things were happening to me. I had cancer, leukemia.
Now if I see a doctor and he or she doesn't listen. I'm done. There are really good doctors who want to help. Toss these egomaniacs to the curb.
Several months ago I had a minor medical problem and went to a new doctor in our local practice (my doctor retired). At that visit she told me to lose weight which I knew I had to do anyway having always been overweiight. I had not had a physical in a whiile so she said she would schedule one for my next visit which was yesterday.
Since the last visit I have lost weight as she recommended. My blood pressure is lower (it was never high enough for medication). Going into the physical I was quite proud of myself for losing weight and looked forward to encouragement. Instead the doctor barely acknowledged that my weight had gone down, lectured me on needing to do more and perscribed a directic drug for a minor water retention problem in my legs that is also for blood pressure.
During the physical I told her how I had cut a lot of sugar out of my diet. She came back saying I need to exercise portion control. I told her I had cut back on the amount of food I ate. She then replied that I needed to exercise more. I reminded her that I had just told her that I now exercise every day. She came back and said it is not enough and that I should immediately go on a strict diet and even consider gastric surgery.
I was shocked. I will admit I am overweight but no one I know ever would say I was at the point to require surgery. I immediately told her no way. That I had seen what others had gone through with that surgery and it should only be considered under the most severe cases as a last resort. I told her that I was no where near that point. She did not say anything and asked me to come back in six months.
I walked out of her office angry and disappointed and cannot stop thinking about what she said. It was more like she was saying that because I am overwieight that I must be doing something wrong and if it wasn't one thing it had to be something else. She was bound to find that thing.
I have pretty much decided that I will not keep her as my doctor. I am also considering writing her a letter explaining why. I can only wonder what she tells other overweight patients and if she realizes that she is likely doing more harm than good with her attitude. Any thoughts? Jay
TRY THIS: You must have discipline to do this. Buy a dozen 1/2 cup Glad plastic snack storage containers. Prepare meals of a variety, anything you wish to eat, and fill containers, store in freezer. When hungry, say every two hours, microwave and eat one, repeat two hours later, etc. Your stomach will shrink over a month or two with the same result as surgery. I have kept my college weight 122 for 60 years this way. EAT OFTEN, EAT SMALL. Cut a sandwich in four pieces and eat over a 2-3 hour period, cut a brownie in four and eat over a 2-3 period. Eat whatever your body craves, then go out and away from food sources to walk or divert your attention knowing that within two hours you can eat again. Simply, "a little something" in your stomach and it will eventually ache if you put a large quantity in. GOOD LUCK!
Docs are interested in revenue. Bariatric surgery is a big revenue source, as insurance pays for it. I believe the current guidelines are that ins. will cover the procedure if a patient is only 70 lbs overweight.
Run from a doc who seems more interested in scheduling procedures than finding ways to bolster personal progress towards preventive health goals.
To the previous poster: Primary care physicians (general practitioners) don't perform surgery. There's no revenue in it for them to recommend it, or to send someone to a specialist who does perform it.
To JayCT: You say your blood pressure wasn't high enough to get medication. Was that your prognosis, or the doctor's? You also say you're not obese enough for surgery and that you resent that you were told you still need to lose a significant amount of weight, cut portions, exercise *more.*
You haven't mentioned how much you weigh, vs. how much you did weigh prior to losing it, and how long it took you to lose it. This could actually be just that you hang out with people who don't know how to tell you that you are grossly overweight, because they're seeing that you aren't noticing it yourself. Who wants to be the person responsible for informing someone about their own weight problem, that they aren't aware of? Not me, that's for sure.
This isn't to say that you -are- in need of a wake-up call and that the doctor was 100% dead on correct. But it is to say, rather, that you might be overlooking things about yourself, and in denial, and that the people who -would- be in your corner supporting you every step of the way, are waiting for you to acknowledge that you need the help in the first place before they say anything.
For instance: if you are 6'0" and weigh 225 pounds, and you did weigh 240 3 months ago and lost 15 pounds in the last 3 months, then I'd say - your doctor is being irrational and everyone posting here is right - you need a new doctor.
But if you are 6'0" and weigh 390 pounds, and you weighed 398 3 months ago, and lost 8 pounds in the last 3 months, I'd say you're clearly in denial and need a wake-up call and need to listen to your doctor, and tell your family and friends that you need help, you're ready to receive it, and you want them to give you the support you need to achieve a healthier body.
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Don't let one jerk ruin everything for you.
No surgery , same results
