you don't have to get on the scale
You know how whenever you go to the doctor, whether it's because you have the flu or a sprained ankle or anything, the first thing they want you to do is get on the scale?
You don't have to get on the scale.
In many, many, many cases, your weight is not relevant to whatever you're seeing a doctor about. And if that's the case, you don't have to get on the scale. You can just politely say, "No, thank you, I prefer not to be weighed."
You don't even have to get on the scale when you go to follow up appointments with your surgeon, if you prefer not to. Yes, you might consider the amount of weight you've lost as relevant to the reason you're seeing your surgeon. But if you're really seeing the surgeon to find out if your incisions are healing or if your lab results were OK, then your weight isn't really relevant. Certainly you can get on the scale if you want to. But you don't have to.
I've noticed that now that I've lost a lot of weight, I don't mind getting on the scale when I see my doctor. But that doesn't necessarily mean I think it's a good thing for me to do. Because the practice of weighing all patients, no matter what they come in for, does make many patients uncomfortable and it's not medically necessary and it might be a good thing for doctors to change. So I might rethink my willingness to get on the scale next time I see my PCP.
Kelly
Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.
Kelly
Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.
Kelly
Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.
In fact, psychiatrists rarely weigh patients when prescribing meds for them, yet if you went to a PCP for an antidepressant, they probably would want to weigh you. Not because your weight affects the dose of the med, but just because that's what they always do there.
Certainly if getting the proper dose of a drug depends on the doc knowing your weight, it would be wise to get on the scale. I would hope the doc would explain that to you and, if it was dangerous to prescribe a drug without knowing your weight, I would hope the doc would refuse to give you the drug if you refused to get on the scale.
You can always ask the doc, will my weight affect my treatment for whatever condition I am seeing you for? If it affects your treatment, then I would get on the scale.
Kelly
Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.
Kelly
Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.
However, my doctor's office has started a new policy and they will NOT see you if you decline to get weighed. At my last PCP visit prior to surgery, I declined to get weighed and they told me that I had to if I wanted to see my PCP. Since I needed the PCP to give the go-ahead on the surgery, I stepped on the scale. But I find it absolutely ridiculous that they are now refusing service if patients refuse the scale.
~Jen
RNY, 8/1/2011
HW: 348 SW: 306 CW:-fighting regain GW: 140
He who endures, conquers. ~Persius
