Doctor visits
jasummers76
Posts: 225 Member
Is it just me or do you ever go in for say a cold/flu and the doctor is like you know your over weight... LoL. I mean I could understand if I was complaining about joint pain.. but come on...
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Replies
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It is annoying when they make it sound like your weight caused you to catch a viral infection. However, many doctors only see their patients once or twice a year, sometimes less, so take the opportunity to bring it up. And overweight can potentially make your recovery more difficult, so it's a valid concern. If you're obese, you're more likely to develop pneumonia, but surprisingly, more likely to survive it if hospitalized.7
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Considering the plethora of health problems caused by obesity, it would be far more surprising if your doctor did not (at the very least) point this out as an issue of medical concern. That is, you know, their job.20
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Would you like him to tell you after you got cancer that cigarettes are bad? How is that any different from other health problems that are too late to fix once you have them?
If you put a frog in a pot with boiling water, the frog will jump out. If you bring the pot to boil slowly the frog will stay in and die. right now you are the frog in the water thats getting hotter. When are you going to jump out?14 -
Poisonedpawn78 wrote: »Would you like him to tell you after you got cancer that cigarettes are bad? How is that any different from other health problems that are too late to fix once you have them?
If you put a frog in a pot with boiling water, the frog will jump out. If you bring the pot to boil slowly the frog will stay in and die. right now you are the frog in the water thats getting hotter. When are you going to jump out?
Lol...I think you have that backwards..;)11 -
jasummers76 wrote: »Is it just me or do you ever go in for say a cold/flu and the doctor is like you know your over weight... LoL. I mean I could understand if I was complaining about joint pain.. but come on...
Yes, I understand but the doctor don't see you that often so I can understand he does this. But I get what you are saying.1 -
karintalley wrote: »Poisonedpawn78 wrote: »Would you like him to tell you after you got cancer that cigarettes are bad? How is that any different from other health problems that are too late to fix once you have them?
If you put a frog in a pot with boiling water, the frog will jump out. If you bring the pot to boil slowly the frog will stay in and die. right now you are the frog in the water thats getting hotter. When are you going to jump out?
Lol...I think you have that backwards..;)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boiling_frog4 -
Poisonedpawn78 wrote: »karintalley wrote: »Poisonedpawn78 wrote: »Would you like him to tell you after you got cancer that cigarettes are bad? How is that any different from other health problems that are too late to fix once you have them?
If you put a frog in a pot with boiling water, the frog will jump out. If you bring the pot to boil slowly the frog will stay in and die. right now you are the frog in the water thats getting hotter. When are you going to jump out?
Lol...I think you have that backwards..;)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boiling_frog
I know it's a metaphor... but the science behind it is incorrect.
Anyways, I'm sure you already know this.7 -
It's a doctor's job to mention possible health issues, for some people, being overweight is a health issue.
Be grateful they mentioned it, some doctors prefer not to knowing for some people it's a sensitive issue.6 -
A good primary care physician looks beyond the issue you're presenting with. If you went in with a sore foot, would you complain if he also mentioned the suspicious looking mole on your neck?
Unfortunately, we also live in a world where someone would turn around and sue their doctor because "I went to him 6 times in 18 months and not once did he mention I was overweight and now I have [insert issue here] as a result".
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It's a huge health problem and something doctors are told to talk to their patients about.3
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my doctor knows all about my weight loss journey and is never critical. just .... supportive. She sees the continued losses and is happy for me. She doesnt address weight unless i bring it up or have a question. she knows i know what im doing lol
having a good relationship with your doc who is tuned into you and knows whats going on, is a plus.2 -
Doctors who insist on discussing patient weight after being asked to refrain, or who insist on attributing every symptom and illness to patient weight, are not practicing good patient care. I've heard many true horror stories, and I'd switch in a heartbeat if I wound up going to someone like that. My current primary-care physician (who first saw me partway through my second pregnancy, definitely not svelte) was happy when I lost some weight to be healthier. I even use my annual physical as a kind of deadline to get back to my preferred weight range instead of just above it (summer vacation, oops, gotta buckle down for a couple months). But I want my physician to care for my overall health, which is a lot more than simply my weight.9
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It's a doctor's job to discuss any health problems or major health risks you are having. If they notice a funny mole, discoloration in your foot, or even if you have difficulty hearing them from certain angles, they're supposed to help you with it. I would fault a doctor for not bringing up an obvious health risk.6
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It's a doctor's job to discuss any health problems or major health risks you are having. If they notice a funny mole, discoloration in your foot, or even if you have difficulty hearing them from certain angles, they're supposed to help you with it. I would fault a doctor for not bringing up an obvious health risk.
So I've been seeing the same doctor for five years. We've discussed my weight in the past. I go in because I'm concerned about a funny mole. Are you saying they should bring up my weight, again? Just in case I've forgotten I'm fat?
I feel like there's some subtleties missing from this conversation as a whole, and I'm honestly a bit surprised to see it on a forum dedicated to weight loss. I don't think I'm miss-remembering that there's evidence out there that obese individuals often receive sub-standard care in part because primary care physicians don't listen to them when they say what's wrong and instead jump to their weight, and also because some obese people avoid doctors entirely because they feel (rightly or wrongly) that their concerns won't be taken seriously.5 -
jasummers76 wrote: »Is it just me or do you ever go in for say a cold/flu and the doctor is like you know your over weight... LoL. I mean I could understand if I was complaining about joint pain.. but come on...
Doctor is doctoring...I would expect my doctor to say something even if it wasn't the reason I went in...and I wouldn't make some inference that he thinks it's the cause of my flu or whatever...I'd just assume he noticed another potential health issue.
I went in not too long ago with a really bad head cold that included a sinus infection and an ear infection...while I was there he noticed a strange mole on my arm and asked me how long I'd had that. IDK...I've had it for quite some time and never gave it much thought. He referred me to a dermatologist to have it looked at.
Ended up being totally benign, but good on him for noticing and telling me I should get it checked out.
And actually, it was a visit to my Dr. that put me on this little good livin' safari...he was quite a bit more blunt than, "you know you're overweight" though...5 -
it goes the other way too, I have gone in for a yearly check up and they didn't comment on the amount of weight I lost....would have been nice to hear some nice words about that.5
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I've made my peace with 'obese' being on my list of problems/symptoms no matter what I am seen for.0
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So I've been seeing the same doctor for five years. We've discussed my weight in the past. I go in because I'm concerned about a funny mole. Are you saying they should bring up my weight, again? Just in case I've forgotten I'm fat?
Well yes, in my case.
I get used to being fat as "normal" and I need that reminder that I should do something about it. My knees are aging faster than the rest of me and my cholesterol has gone from great to OK. I need to work on my weight and fitness now, not in 10 years. If I smoked, I'd expect my doc to mention quitting smoking if I went in with a sprained wrist too - it's something that has ongoing effects on my health even if it's not the specific problem I went in with. In that case I'd expect an X-Ray for the wrist and a "Hey, your weight hasn't gone down from last year - will you be working on that and do you want me to schedule your yearly bloodwork while you're here?"
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MegaMooseEsq wrote: »It's a doctor's job to discuss any health problems or major health risks you are having. If they notice a funny mole, discoloration in your foot, or even if you have difficulty hearing them from certain angles, they're supposed to help you with it. I would fault a doctor for not bringing up an obvious health risk.
So I've been seeing the same doctor for five years. We've discussed my weight in the past. I go in because I'm concerned about a funny mole. Are you saying they should bring up my weight, again? Just in case I've forgotten I'm fat?
I feel like there's some subtleties missing from this conversation as a whole, and I'm honestly a bit surprised to see it on a forum dedicated to weight loss. I don't think I'm miss-remembering that there's evidence out there that obese individuals often receive sub-standard care in part because primary care physicians don't listen to them when they say what's wrong and instead jump to their weight, and also because some obese people avoid doctors entirely because they feel (rightly or wrongly) that their concerns won't be taken seriously.
There's a difference between a doctor blaming everything on your weight, and a doctor treating your current issue and then bringing up weight again. For sure they should be paying due attention to whatever you came in for, but I don't think there is anything wrong with them bringing up weight in addition to your current complaint.
For some people who have avoided dealing with their weight problem for most of their life, you never know when now might be the time they are open to really doing something. I think a doctor has a responsibility to continue to broach any unhealthy lifestyle issue that could cause serious issues in the future, like obesity or smoking.
To be fair, I guess if you come in for regular annual checkups, mentioning it when you come in because you're sick could be unnecessary or annoying.
I remember another thread not long ago, maybe a debate (?), where posters were complaining that their doctor never brought up their weight and they wished they had made a big deal out of it sooner. Might be a case of damned if you do and damned if you don't?4 -
I feel like there's some subtleties missing from this conversation as a whole, and I'm honestly a bit surprised to see it on a forum dedicated to weight loss. I don't think I'm miss-remembering that there's evidence out there that obese individuals often receive sub-standard care in part because primary care physicians don't listen to them when they say what's wrong and instead jump to their weight, and also because some obese people avoid doctors entirely because they feel (rightly or wrongly) that their concerns won't be taken seriously.
I've been lucky, I've never had a doctor so fixated on my weight he or she blamed everything on that. I know it happens, a lot and I know many overweight people avoid doctors because of it. When I was a smoker, I had a doctor (not my regular doctor, someone I saw at an urgent care) blame my sore throat on my smoking. Never mind that both of my kids had been diagnosed with strep throat and were being treated for it at the time. I had to insist on a swab, and she was really huffy and nasty about it. Guess who had strep throat? Your doctor should bring up your weight, it's obviously increases your risk for all sorts of health issues. That doesn't mean they should dismiss valid health concerns, and if they do, you should complain, (easier if they are part of a larger practice) and you should consider a different doctor. I made sure the urgent care knew about my experience with their doc.
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MegaMooseEsq wrote: »It's a doctor's job to discuss any health problems or major health risks you are having. If they notice a funny mole, discoloration in your foot, or even if you have difficulty hearing them from certain angles, they're supposed to help you with it. I would fault a doctor for not bringing up an obvious health risk.
So I've been seeing the same doctor for five years. We've discussed my weight in the past. I go in because I'm concerned about a funny mole. Are you saying they should bring up my weight, again? Just in case I've forgotten I'm fat?
I feel like there's some subtleties missing from this conversation as a whole, and I'm honestly a bit surprised to see it on a forum dedicated to weight loss. I don't think I'm miss-remembering that there's evidence out there that obese individuals often receive sub-standard care in part because primary care physicians don't listen to them when they say what's wrong and instead jump to their weight, and also because some obese people avoid doctors entirely because they feel (rightly or wrongly) that their concerns won't be taken seriously.
Weve all been to a spot in life we werent ready, Weve also mostly (why were here) had an AHA moment where we realized we were ready. Aslong as your doctor was being caring not judgmental in reminding you, Id see it as a positive. Sort of like them saying im here for you when your ready, Remember that you cant just ignore this- And your not alone. Sort of deal. Just because some people find it a touchy topic, Doesnt make it right for a doctor to just ignore it. Its their job. Alot of people dont even realize just how many things being overweight effects.
Doctors arent trying to annoy you. just treat every health problem they see, Which is their job. Its expensive to see them, Im happy to go through as many possible issues as they/I see in one sit1 -
MegaMooseEsq wrote: »It's a doctor's job to discuss any health problems or major health risks you are having. If they notice a funny mole, discoloration in your foot, or even if you have difficulty hearing them from certain angles, they're supposed to help you with it. I would fault a doctor for not bringing up an obvious health risk.
So I've been seeing the same doctor for five years. We've discussed my weight in the past. I go in because I'm concerned about a funny mole. Are you saying they should bring up my weight, again? Just in case I've forgotten I'm fat?
I feel like there's some subtleties missing from this conversation as a whole, and I'm honestly a bit surprised to see it on a forum dedicated to weight loss. I don't think I'm miss-remembering that there's evidence out there that obese individuals often receive sub-standard care in part because primary care physicians don't listen to them when they say what's wrong and instead jump to their weight, and also because some obese people avoid doctors entirely because they feel (rightly or wrongly) that their concerns won't be taken seriously.
I saw my doc for years due to limb pain, extreme tiredness, inability to form sentences and remember simple words, hair loss and a whole host of other symptoms.
He would tell me I'm overweight, need to lose it, that my blood work was fine
I tried 2 different meds prescribed by him, a medically prescribed shake only diet that made me so I'll, I joined the gym who banned me towards the end of said shake diet for my own safety, saw a dietitian and one week was accused of cheating on my diet as i lost nothing and the next accused of starving myself for losing 10.
I spent years saying no to gastric bypass and asking about my symptoms and each time being told I was just fat. I gave in and was referred to the surgeon
On reviewing more blood results and checking my medical test history he sent a letter to my go and me asking why on earth no one was treating my under active thyroid. That antibody tests showed I had hashimotos so weight loss would be of no use to my thyroid
My gp had known full well that my blood tests were showing ever increasing levels of TSH but all he wanted to talk about was how I could lose weight
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MegaMooseEsq wrote: »It's a doctor's job to discuss any health problems or major health risks you are having. If they notice a funny mole, discoloration in your foot, or even if you have difficulty hearing them from certain angles, they're supposed to help you with it. I would fault a doctor for not bringing up an obvious health risk.
So I've been seeing the same doctor for five years. We've discussed my weight in the past. I go in because I'm concerned about a funny mole. Are you saying they should bring up my weight, again? Just in case I've forgotten I'm fat?
I feel like there's some subtleties missing from this conversation as a whole, and I'm honestly a bit surprised to see it on a forum dedicated to weight loss. I don't think I'm miss-remembering that there's evidence out there that obese individuals often receive sub-standard care in part because primary care physicians don't listen to them when they say what's wrong and instead jump to their weight, and also because some obese people avoid doctors entirely because they feel (rightly or wrongly) that their concerns won't be taken seriously.
If you haven't resolved your weight problem yes they should mention it again - to try to help you!
Maybe the Doctor might think a patient isn't taking the issue seriously and it needs reinforcing.
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My doctor has never attributed any of my medical issues to my weight, except ones that could legitimatly be improved by losing weight: my knee pain, and that with a lot of caveats.
But even with my knee pain he understood that weight wasn't the whole equation and sent me for MRIs to check for arthritis and other mechanical problems. I have a birth defect that causes me to dislocate my patella very easily, and he checked that ouy and referred me to the proper specialist. He didn't just blow me off as needing to lose weight to fix it.
I love my doctor. He's honest about my need to lose weight, but he doesn't nag you about it. He high fived me when I told him I'd lost 47 pounds.
I am totally bragging and wish every doctor was as awesome as mine.13 -
A doctor who puts my weight over my concerns is not a doctor I wish to have on my team. My doctors have never pointed out my weight on anything I've asked them about, especially as I've been healthier being obese than as a super thin and fit person. I'm well able to open dialogue about my medical issues without weight being a factor.6
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I'm really not saying that doctors should never bring up your weight, or even that it shouldn't be part of a regular discussion in the context of a doctor/patient relationship, but I am suggesting that maybe it's not necessary for every doctor to bring it up every time they see an overweight patient just in case that's what sparks a weight-loss epiphany. I mean, the OP is talking about having the flu. I got a flu shot last week from a clinic rather than my usual doctor - should the nurse have mentioned my weight? I fell in the rain and needed x-rays because I thought I'd broken something a few years ago (OMG that hurt). If the doctor had brought up my weight I would have lost my marbles.1
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ruqayyahsmum wrote: »MegaMooseEsq wrote: »It's a doctor's job to discuss any health problems or major health risks you are having. If they notice a funny mole, discoloration in your foot, or even if you have difficulty hearing them from certain angles, they're supposed to help you with it. I would fault a doctor for not bringing up an obvious health risk.
So I've been seeing the same doctor for five years. We've discussed my weight in the past. I go in because I'm concerned about a funny mole. Are you saying they should bring up my weight, again? Just in case I've forgotten I'm fat?
I feel like there's some subtleties missing from this conversation as a whole, and I'm honestly a bit surprised to see it on a forum dedicated to weight loss. I don't think I'm miss-remembering that there's evidence out there that obese individuals often receive sub-standard care in part because primary care physicians don't listen to them when they say what's wrong and instead jump to their weight, and also because some obese people avoid doctors entirely because they feel (rightly or wrongly) that their concerns won't be taken seriously.
I saw my doc for years due to limb pain, extreme tiredness, inability to form sentences and remember simple words, hair loss and a whole host of other symptoms.
He would tell me I'm overweight, need to lose it, that my blood work was fine
I tried 2 different meds prescribed by him, a medically prescribed shake only diet that made me so I'll, I joined the gym who banned me towards the end of said shake diet for my own safety, saw a dietitian and one week was accused of cheating on my diet as i lost nothing and the next accused of starving myself for losing 10.
I spent years saying no to gastric bypass and asking about my symptoms and each time being told I was just fat. I gave in and was referred to the surgeon
On reviewing more blood results and checking my medical test history he sent a letter to my go and me asking why on earth no one was treating my under active thyroid. That antibody tests showed I had hashimotos so weight loss would be of no use to my thyroid
My gp had known full well that my blood tests were showing ever increasing levels of TSH but all he wanted to talk about was how I could lose weight
Well, that's just a bad doctor plain and simple. And the surgeon was a good doctor.0 -
Your doctor had a duty of care to talk to about things/attributes/behaviours that will negatively affect your health.
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Does anyone’s doctor do the annoying alcohol assessment every year?0
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Does anyone’s doctor do the annoying alcohol assessment every year?
Yes. At least annually, she asks about my drinking/drug use, whether I'm in an abusive relationship, and asks a series of questions about depression. The answers haven't changed in the 20 years I've been going to this office, but I'm glad she asks, because what if they had?
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