How many of us, women AND men, have experienced this?  Fortunately, my "circle" of medical professionals is a great one, but I realize that not everyone's that lucky. 

Raise your hand if you're tired of hearing that EVERY SINGLE THING WRONG WITH YOU IS BECAUSE YOU'RE OVERWEIGHT!!!!!  WOO-HOO!!!!  Right here!! 

I'm sorry, but rather than being hurt and embarrassed about this treatment, although you have every right to be, I'm the type of person who would immediately be writing to every single person involved in this type of situation, up the chain as high as I could go.

Tia

Overweight Women Face Some Docs' Disrespect

Women Tell Of Problems With Equipment, Attitudes

 

POSTED: 9:55 am EDT October 23, 2008

 

Going to the doctor can be stressful for overweight and obese women, according to a new study.

 

Eight women between the ages of 20 and 61 "described the experience of seeking healthcare as a constant battle and struggle and were upset by the reactions of healthcare staff" said lead author Emily Merrill of Texas Tech University. "They told us that they felt even more uncomfortable with specialists than with their own family doctors and nurse practitioners."

 

Women talked about feeling shame and embarrassment because they did not fit into the normal health care environment because of their size and needed larger gowns, blood pressure cuffs, scales and chairs, according to a news release on the study. One woman said that she had to wait half an hour to have her blood pressure taken. Another said she had to plan ahead and make sure to request a larger fitting gown.

 

A woman named Doris said her doctor was insensitive when she was giving birth. "He said, 'Just relax and just envision yourself on a beach like a big ol' whale, beached.' That hurt me so much because already I felt big," she said.

 

One woman said that she just wanted to be treated like any other patient.  "Don't look at me as some huge, overweight woman who needs your help," she said.

 

The women also talked about being dismissed by health care professionals. One was refused treatment for her arthritis by a chiropractor because of her weight. Another was told to simply stop eating to control high blood pressure. She changed doctors and found one who treated her with respect.

 

"It is vital that health care providers tackle the issues raised by overweight women, as latest figures show that a third of women in the USA are obese. Research also shows that women may delay or avoid health care if providers have reacted negatively to them because of their weight," Merrill said.

 

The study appears in the latest Journal of Advanced Nursing.

Unfortunately, the majority of my health issues prior to losing weight WAS caused by being overweight or aggrevated because of it (PCOS, infertility, diabetes, blood pressure, arthritis and hyperlipidemia).  I could admit it pre-op and the fact that the health issues are mostly resolved or alleviated only proves that fact.  HOWEVER, my doctors were respectful and helpful.  Just because being fat causes health issues is a fact, doesn't make it okay for physicians to be disrespectful. 

Yep, I will READILY admit that MOST of my issues - the medical ones, anyway - were as a result of my obesity.

But you're right - no disrespect allowed!!!  Those of us who have mental issues surrounding our obesity find them compounded when confronted by these types of medical "professionals."

T

I can relate.  I have a GYN appt today....Yesterday I was about to cancel it because I will have to emotionally go into a coma to get through it because I can't imagine what my Dr. is going to say or think about my weight gain.  A dear co-worker of mine talked me out of canceling and now I'm going to go....but I so don't want to because of my weight.

Also, I have a pretty severe circulation problem with my left leg.  Several years ago a spot on my leg/ankle developed and get this, the GP (male) doctor told me and I quote. " It's because your fat.  You sit on your veins and your weight disallows the blood to return back up to the heart and it "pools" in the lower extremity."  Did he offer any other treatment, offer to help me with my weight, send me to a specialist?  NO!  Neither did the second GP I went to, she sent me for a Doppler and that was it.  Thank God, now that I'm doctoring for WLS, my GP with JH has already, after ONE visit, sent me to a vascular specialist.  Finally I'm getting, hopefully, help.

M

(((Mari)))

Hopefully, your GYN will be open minded and congratulate you for taking steps toward a healthier you.  TRY not to worry about it - as long as you're respectful to your doctor, you should expect nothing less than the same in return.

If you're not getting that from ANY healthcare professional, I'd say it's time to look for new ones!

Good luck & rest assured, you having nothing for which to be ashamed!!!

Hugs,

Tia

I'm reading those words... nothing for which to be ashamed!!!  {{sigh}}  I guess.  My health has to come before my pride anyway.  You know, I hadn't really thought to tell her about the WLS.  Guess I should?  Okay, yes, guess I should.  I hope she feels postivive about it. 

Hey Mari!

what you described about your leg is what i have been told is venous stasis.  Where the blood goes down the legs but the valves in your veins somehow malfunction and don't bring the blood back up to the heart to be recycled.  So you get swelling, discoloration, toughness in the skin and eventually ulcerations of the skin in which the only way to fix it at that point is to have skin grafts.  I have it in both legs but my right leg is far worse than my left leg.  The swelling is pretty much gone now since surgery but at the end of the day it's stil pretty swollen but it's normal in the mornings.  the discoloration may take years for it to fade away because essentially your skin is "stained" by the metals that is in your blood.  The swelling is your body's attempt to "squeeze" the blood back up the leg....amazing stuff eh?  I rarely wear shorts because my legs look so horrible but now with the swelling not half as bad as it was, discoloration or not, I'm wearing shorts more often (weather permitting).  Hang in there hon!

So it sounds to me like there's not much that can be done about it?  You have described exactly what I have.  I've had it for quite a few years now.  Initially it was on both ankles in exactly the same spots, but the right leg has gone away and only somewhat noticeable.  However, the left ankle looks pretty bad and actually hurts, very sensitive to touch and I can see where the ulceration will possibly occur.  Also, recently, this past year, my foot swells terribly.  Must be as you said, trying to push the blood back up the leg. 

I know how you feel about the shorts, and I'm glad you're back into being fashionable rather than self conscious.  I do wear shorts, screw it, even if I wore long pants the ankle still shows.  Only one person, my SisNL has ever made a comment....at least most people have tact and diplomacy about them.!!! 

When we meet we'll have to compare :)  mine starts from the top of my foot (by the toes) all the way up to the top of my calf......completely around!  i look like a leopard on my left leg and my right leg which is the worst has almost turned black on the back.

Oh Aaron...thats got to be painful?  I'm so sorry that you've had to deal with this.   My area is about the size of a deck of cards.  I'm just shaking my head how you deal with this.  So you say its gotten better since surgery?  Thank God for that.