Please help OH educate USC medical students (obesity sensitivity) !
Your Opportunity to Educate Physicians!
Do you have a passion for educating others about what it means to be obese? If so please consider spending a couple of hours with USC medical school students on April 12th
What: Medical school student obesity sensitivity training
When: Monday, April 12th, 1:30-2:30.
Where: County USC Medical Campus (One block from the intersection of 5 and 10 freeways).
+ Your Name
+ Your Phone Number
+ If you are available on April 12, or would like to be contacted for future dates.
+ Any questions you have.
Original email received from USC Medical School:
You are welcome to call me on my cell phone for more information. Please help if you can.
Thank you, in advance.
Robert J. Wallace, MD, MBA
Clinical Associate Professor
Director, Professionalism and the Practice of Medicine
Faculty Advisor, MD/MBA Program
Keck School of Medicine
We need 7 volunteers in person, on the medical school campus of USC (Across the street from LA County Hospital) from 1:30 – 2:30. We will supply on campus parking but have no budget for anything else. I will personally preview the session each of them so that they know exactly what to expect and relieve any anxiety they might have. Each person will be in front of 24 medical students and 2 faculty members. Having guest speakers is pretty common for these groups and you can expect a gratuitous and very polite group. Volunteers will have to accept their role as an assistance to the education of our medical students. We want to hear the discomforts they have had from their healthcare providers, with the underlying idea of exemplifying how we can make this a more pleasant and trustworthy experience.
I hope that helps, but please feel free to ask anything back.
Thank you, Eric.
Eric,
The comments you included are great. If this were one person’s comments, she’d be a great guest for our session on April 12. This is exactly what we hope our medical students will be sensitized to. And I’m sure it makes a better impression live, than by reading it.
I look forward to speaking with you.
Robert Wallace
http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/members/profile-adm in/update-sensitivity.php?key=S2xlaW45MjI4MjEzMDAKMDAwMHA_>h ttp://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/members/profile-admi n/update-sensitivity.php?key=S2xlaW45MjI4MjEzMDAKMDAwMHA_
OH Survey : What do you wish your physician knew about being obese?
Provide chairs in the waiting room that are comfortable for larger people.
When I went to the surgeon's office the assistant put the wrong automatic blood pressure cuff (plastic) on my arm and walked out of the room. It exploded, as I figured it would, I jumped, the assistant returned, put a larger cuff on my other arm and couldn't quite understand why my blood pressure was still so high!
I think they should treat an obese patient as if they were one of there relatives. Not staring or wisphering when they think the obese patient is out of ear site.
For the most part - I had a good experience. There will always be some workers that are less than professional but that can't be helped.
For years my weight was rising and with every visit I was able to deny my real problem by saying "well, if my health were at risk my doctor would have said something", but nobody ever did. Even if I raised the topic, the only answers are "expend more calories than you consume and you'll lose weight, there were no solutions.
Even though I am aware that a lot of health problems can either occur because of obesity or be worsened by it; I wish doctors would not jump directly to the conclusion that whatever I am complaining about is a result of being obese. My primary care physician at Kaiser is wonderful, and would never do that, but on the rare occasion I have had to go to Urgent Care, the physicians say things like "it's because you need to lose weight". I feel written off because I'm fat. I really wish they would offer exam gowns in a little larger size so that they actually close or at least cover! I went for my annual mammogram in October and when I walked in, the tech looked me over and said "wait here while I get you a big gown" JUST LIKE THAT! She then gave me this HUGE gown that was so big that my breasts would be coming out of the huge sleeve openings unless I wrapped my arms around myself. I really felt humiliated.
I really just wish that doctors were less egotistical and judgmental, and more supportive of patients' efforts to lose weight. I was incredibly lucky to find a physician who is supportive of me and who wants only the best for me.
Move slowly and carefully. Try to put the hands where the bones are, it really hurts when the hands slip.
I went in for an appointment with my PCP. When I stepped on the scale, the nurse said "Oh WOW." Doctors and all medical staff should be educated about maintaining professionalism, especially when dealing with bariatric patients. The job of medical professionals is not to judge, it is to provide medical services.
Aside from snickers and smartassed remarks from insensitive workers who talk among themselves, their professional attitude is caring and nurturing and encouraging, and otherwise disinterested. It's just where they found work.
I think that generally my weight is an obvious concern to me- being that I'm so large (345 lbs). But unlike vices that other people have, doctors assume that because I display my obesity, that it becomes free-reign to address it whether I've brought it u*****t. It is also typical for people in the medical field to assume that I somehow got to be the way I am because I am ignorant of appropriate food intake and exercise requirements. This sort of assumption is insulting. My weight is an obvious symptom of things that surpass physical treatment. Here is one example of some of the treatment I experience in medical offices: I attended an appointment for my daughter when she was weighed and measured due to a medication she was on and its suppressant effects on appetite, and the Dr. made the comment that her weight was something to watch, "considering the obvious family history of obesity". It is no wonder with the fear of insensitive comments like these that I've actively avoided trips to medical offices unless I'm experiencing and acute case of some sort of illness or injury.
I have been very obese, and I have been very thin-both in the last decade. I am the most ashamed of society when it comes to the way we treat people who may not look the way we want them to. This may include the elderly, the disabled or the unattractive (although who's the judge?), but for our purposes we're speaking of the heavy people. Those of us who are overweight. Those of us who are already uncomfortable in our own skin. Those of us whose clothes sometimes feel like a punishment, and whose mind's never stray from the thought that we are the object of silent ridicule. People, in general, treat us differently. They are not as friendly, not as likely to strike up a conversation in a waiting room, hold a door open for us, ask us what floor in the elevator, smile at us. I 've noticed there is a certain point where you can "get away with" being just a bit overweight (when you're still jolly!) and another point where you cross a line and you're just plain fat-deal breaker, no more common courtesy for you. I crossed the line about 2 months ago. I noticed when I went to get a CT scan at the hospital. I am always really friendly, I was making small talk as we walked the long corridor to radiology. The guy leading me was not in the least interested. He had barely said "hello", didn't look me in the face. I remembered this was the old way of life, before I lost 150 lbs. Before all the guys at work said "too bad you're married..." Ugh, yeah, too bad. And, on the way out none of the three people in the elevator asked me what floor. The thing is, I have come to expect this from the general public, but I thought we would have better from the-supposed /alleged educated health care "PROFESSIONALS".
There have been two or three times in my life that I have been a "normal" weight. I was the kid picked last during PE in school, pelted the hardest during doge ball and the brunt of mean jokes. You get it the classic victimized fat person. During the few times of being "normal" weight or close to it life was different. It seemed doors flew open with a bat of an eyelash. Over all life seemed easier and happier. Being over weight brings emotional pain as well as physical pain. To have a doctor look you in the eye and say "you need to lose weight". Like duh. But fat people take that as a put down and it feeds into the cycle of self loathing making near to impossible to "just lose weight". Chronic pain is real, emotional pain is real, not feeling good enough is also real. So I end this by saying compassion is needed and sensitivity. I love my doctor he has listened and supported me through this process. And it has been a two year process just to get an appointment to meet with Dr. Fisher.
It's far too easy to start assigning blame. Overweight patients will say that it's thyroid problems, when it could be lack of exertion or potato chips. Medical caregivers could assume that overweight patients are just lazy or willfully gluttonous, when it could be pain (or a fear of pain) that keeps someone sedentary, or it could be psychological eating to make themselves feel better. I recommend treating patients completely: Learn about the patients' activity levels, and work to improve them, instead of chastising and making the patient feel guilty. Understand motivations for eating and overeating; I can't generalize, but I know it was/is true for me: I eat when I'm bored, or when I'm depressed. TV is a prime eating buddy; I feel myself getting hungry just sitting on the couch. Being aware of that, I can do something about it. But other people might not realize it; it could be a valuable piece of information that a caregiver could discover, and then use to help the patient.
I used to go to the doctor knowing that every time I went I would have to deal with "the lecture" until I got a little older. When I was about 25 I went to a new doctor and told her " I am aware that I am morbidly obese and need to lose weight. I don’t want to discuss it every time I come to see you as that just makes me not come to the dr. when I really need to" she was understanding and never mentioned it unless I brought it up first. I had my tubes tied about 3 years ago and one of the nurses although probably not trying to hurt my feelings did. She was putting an IV needle in and said something about me having extra flesh because of my weight and it made it difficult for her to do her job. I think even health care professionals suffer from not knowing what it is like to be largely over weight unless they have been there themselves. My worst experience was when i was about 18 and a dr actually looked at me and told me that it would not hurt me to starve myself. I never went to him again.
I think that most of the stereotype of overweight people is that we are lazy, and I get this most from health care workers or other people in "authority-decision" type jobs such as dr's nurses, ect. It bothers me that well educated people can be that ignorant, I work full time, go to school full time, have a 6 year old at home and still manage to get out and do active things. Just because we are overweight does not mean that we are lazy! We work just as hard as anyone else does!
I have struggled with being overweight all my life. My primary caregiver has always been patient with me. I suffer from panic attacks for the fact that I am so big and fill that one day my heart will just give out for the fact that I am so obese and she always assures me that I can't die from a panic attack but I can die from my present condition.
I was a health care worker for 15 years, but not overweight. I never knew that at a certain weight, you have difficulty taking care of your elimination needs. Having surgery, especially abdominal surgery, makes doing this even more difficult. It's pretty embarrassing to have to ask someone to help you with your "personal" needs - be empathic. Every health care worker should have to "go through" what their patients do. The first time I had abdominal surgery, I gained a whole new respect for my patient's suffering and limitations. I'll never forget my first barium enema with air contrast on my newly incised stomach. You have to be there to know how incredibly miserable it is - be patient. Bottom line: Treat the patient like they're the person you love most in the world - no matter how tiresome or annoying the patient. They didn't wake up in the morning and say 'How can I make "put your name here" miserable today.' They are being miserable because they are feeling miserable!
While sitting in the waiting room to meet the surgeon for the first time, I had the opportunity to see how the staff in his office greeting people, and was shocked to see they all used the same little fake smiles, offered same encouragement remarks. I guess after seeing so many people go thru the office, after a while, it must be hard to come up with something to say. After witnessing this, I'll take whatever they say to me in the future with a grain of salt.
I believe that every doctor that I had said that I could loose weight on my own. I never could. Now that my primary care doctor sees me now he agrees with me knowing that i made it. I think that doctors need to be more sensitive to their patients needs after all it is not about the doctors it is the patients.
1. WLS is not the easy way out. It takes a lot of time and dedication, we do it because for many of us, we realize it is the only way out. 2. "Why don't you just diet?" is such an easy thing to say if you aren't or have never been morbidly obese. Did you know that only 2-3% of morbidly obese patients succeed long term on even the best diet programs? On the other hand WLS gives us an 85-90% chance for long term success. 3. Do not judge our ability to decide on a surgery based on how heavy or thin we are. If I'm thinner and I want the "more drastic" gastric bypass I should be able to have it. I've done my research and I know what is best for me. There's no reason I wouldn't do great with an RNY based on my weight. Likewise there's no reason a very heavy person can't succeed with the Lap band if they are dedicated enough. 4. A person does NOT have to have tried every diet on the face of the earth to make sure WLS is the right decision for them. A person can only take so much, and each person has their own breaking point where they feel WLS is their best choice. Let them come to that point. Some unfortunate people come to that breaking point and never even realize the opportunity truly exists to live healthily. If you still think WLS is easier and that dieting is so very preferable that you continue to push the option of diet on people who are struggling with or have already made the decision to have WLS think about this: Maybe it IS easier maybe it's easier to the point of actually making it possible. Why is that bad? When was the last time you took the hardest way towards a goal very important to your happiness and well being, or even when your life depended on it? If you were on the first floor of a burning building and there was a small fire in front of you you knew you could jump over, would you jump it and go out the door? or would you run up a flight of stairs, to the second or third floor, and jump out a window hoping you make it to the ground alive? If you took to the stairs the first time and jumped but hurt yourself terribly in the end, the next time you were in the same exact situation, would you take the stairs and jump again... and again?
I know a lot of medical conditions stem from obesity, but not all do. I have had a single case of strep blamed on my weight. One fat lecture is enough from a doctor...I have scales, I have a mirror, I know how I feel....well, how I felt. I now feel great! No meds and it is awesome! I can't wait to get sick now...what's it going to be, "you used to be obese so these problems are a direct result of"....lol.
I had a gastrointerologist blame reflux on bulemia once...get real!! He said I purposefully drank a quart of water before a scoping. I hadn't had a drop of liquid since midnight the day before the test. He told me, "if you want to commit suicide, do it on your own time"! He kind of tossed a business card at me...a psychologist and said, "take some Malox for the burns on your esophogus". I can assure you, I did not do anything wrong for the test. He said I aspirated on all the water during the test but he did not test the liquid. We found out later it was acid. Meds and diet fixed the issue. Please don't do this to people. These a just a few stories, I have many, many more.
I'm a special ed. teacher. I have a lot of passion for my medically fragile students. It is what I love to do. If I ever lose the love for my kids or my compassion for their needs, I will find a new career. Thanks for listening. Connie
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