My Doctor is an idiot!

gomisskellygo

I went to the doctors (OB/GYN) today to get my test results. The results were perfect. I asked him what he would reccomend for diet. I was being tested for PCOS, cysts, ect. He asked me what I was currently eating. I told him that I was eating 1500 calories a day, working out 5-6 days week. I assured him that I made sure I netted 1200 calories and that I recently dropped my carb intake to 100g sticking to mostly clean eating.

He then went on to tell me that I could easily eat 1000 calories and work out. I told him that I believed that would make me net 500-600 calories most days. He that was fine. He then went on to ask me how often I weigh myself. I told him probably 2x/week. He then reccommends that I weigh myself everyday to see the gains/losses. He told me that when he sees a gain from the day before he will not allow himself a treat such as ice cream that night.

What the eff!! I think I was just perscribed anorexia!! I have 40 pounds to lose, not that much. The medical student behind him was stunned and shaking her head, "no" to me as he was speaking.

I am horrifed. Not just for me, but what about a younger, less knowledgable girl? He just green lighted an eating disorder. I think I am going to call the office manager on Monday. I had just switched OB's as my private practice provider retired.
The search is on again.

Is this crazy? What would you do?

stpetegirl

WOW!! I'd be looking for a new Dr too! That sounds insane and very unhealthy! That is a prescription for disaster! No way to get all the nutrients you need if your eating 1000 calories a day and only netting half of them!

Tropical_Turtle

I would get a new doc!!

jolarocknrolla

was his name Dr. Oz?

Seriously, that was some bad advice.

saragato

Well to be blunt you went to a doctor that specializes in cooters. Even a generic physician doesn't have that great a grasp on proper nutrition. (And I should know, the diet mine put me on made me borderline anemic) Basically when you ask them stuff like that, it's a grain of salt sort of thing. It's only outrageous if they demand to be active in what advice they've given to see your progress.

Personally I wouldn't be switching OB's but I'd be asking to speak to whoever is his boss and tell them the information he gave you in the hopes that they will have a talk with him and either have him, in the future, not give advice or have actual advice taken from either credited books or some other source.

TheFunBun

Yeah, I'd just switch doctors and leave a bad review on a bunch of websites, honestly.

I had a similar experience, where mine suggested that I only eat salads with no dressing and all raw low cal veggies. 4/7 days a week. I was like, "How on earth will I get the required calories for my day" and he was like, "You want to lose weight don't you?"

Kinda makes me wish more of them took a few more nutrition classes. He's also told me that bread makes you fat, that weight lifting is useless, and that meat eating is why we don't live 900 years like Noah.

barbielovesgym

Doctors are pretty clueless when it comes to nutrition. You should really ask a dietician.

PLUMSGRL

Most Doctors are NOT specialists in weight loss...your Doctor specialized in OB/GYN. That's 2 different fields. You wouldn't ask a dermatologist for birth control, right? If you really want a DOCTOR to prescribe a "weight loss program" go see some one who specializes in Bariatric Medicine...better yet, go see a nutitionalist!

Merithyn

I'm with you. I'd be contacting the Practice Manager via a letter to let him/her know your concerns. Include what was said to you, what you believe to be true, and your sources for that belief. Make sure that you send a written letter rather than call, so that that way you have documentation that the conversation took place. (Always CYA.)

surfrgrl1

I would find a new dr. too. If he gives that kind of advice, what else is he not giving good advice about? I would find myself questioning everything he told me. I have changed doctors before because of feeling uncomfortable about their care, lack of knowledge, etc. ii figure if we don't look out for ourselves, who is going too?

Good job on being so savvy about your nutrition. You will take that 40 off the smart way. Slow and steady wins the race, and helps keep the pounds from coming back!

gomisskellygo

Well to be blunt you went to a doctor that specializes in cooters. Even a generic physician doesn't have that great a grasp on proper nutrition. (And I should know, the diet mine put me on made me borderline anemic) Basically when you ask them stuff like that, it's a grain of salt sort of thing. It's only outrageous if they demand to be active in what advice they've given to see your progress.

Personally I wouldn't be switching OB's but I'd be asking to speak to whoever is his boss and tell them the information he gave you in the hopes that they will have a talk with him and either have him, in the future, not give advice or have actual advice taken from either credited books or some other source.

Cooters! lol. True but they also teach pregnant women take care of their bodies and discuss nutrition quite often. Atleast my old doc did. The advice was bad. A referral to a RD would have made more sense.
I was referred to this OB by my primarily to rule out PCOS, ect to try to figure out why I am not losing.

gomisskellygo

Double post.

gomisskellygo

Is the guy a good OB-GYN? If yes. Keep him but don't ask him questions that he's not prepared to answer.

Well, my first clue that he may be a bit off his rocker is when he told me to "come on down" like the Price is Right while I was in the stirrups. Nice visual, I l know :laugh:

iwantahealthierme13

He's an OBGYN.

And sometimes I wonder if doctors just want us to be sick more often or visit them more often so they can get more money.

I usually go to my doctor once every 2 years or so for something illness related. Otherwise I go for a physical and medication refills. If I didn't need medication refills I would hardly ever be there.

gomisskellygo

He's an OBGYN.

And sometimes I wonder if doctors just want us to be sick more often or visit them more often so they can get more money.

I usually go to my doctor once every 2 years or so for something illness related. Otherwise I go for a physical and medication refills. If I didn't need medication refills I would hardly ever be there.

I get that he is an OB, and I understand your point. However, OBGYNs are more involved in nutrional advice when you are pregnant/post pregnant. In other words, previous to kids, I thought OB's were good for nothing but paps and BC refills:)

SpanishRapunzel

Poor thing, it's so hard to find a good obgyn. Mine is amazing, if you're in tx I can give you some names, lol. Wow that was not only ignorant of him, but very insensitive.

saragato

Well to be blunt you went to a doctor that specializes in cooters. Even a generic physician doesn't have that great a grasp on proper nutrition. (And I should know, the diet mine put me on made me borderline anemic) Basically when you ask them stuff like that, it's a grain of salt sort of thing. It's only outrageous if they demand to be active in what advice they've given to see your progress.

Personally I wouldn't be switching OB's but I'd be asking to speak to whoever is his boss and tell them the information he gave you in the hopes that they will have a talk with him and either have him, in the future, not give advice or have actual advice taken from either credited books or some other source.

Cooters! lol. True but they also teach pregnant women take care of their bodies and discuss nutrition quite often. Atleast my old doc did. The advice was bad. A referral to a RD would have made more sense.
I was referred to this OB by my primarily to rule out PCOS, ect to try to figure out why I am not losing.

Well you said it yourself, you were referred to do a test. Those are different than getting advice. You have the tests done and if they all came back negative, then move on to a nutritionist. I get blood tests done by my primary care physician all the time and the results are then discussed with, say, my psychiatrist or any other doctor that can better tell me what my Lithium level number means or why something came out as negative/positive when it's in their field. By personal experience I've been jerked around too much by people who only casually know the subject or barely do to bother. They give you crap like that.

But like I said I would try to contact a superior about the advice he gave you since it's important that the clinic knows just who's spouting what to their patients. No one likes a potential lawsuit.

spikefoot

Doctors are well educated, they have to be. Maybe there was just a misunderstanding or an error or something?

I am not doubting you but that just seems like basic knowledge even if the timing seems a tad off...unless he knows something we don't about dieting?

Is he really skinny?

projektai

RUN!!!

My mom is a doctor, and she's been giving me advice on weight loss, and my best friend is going to school to become a nutritionist. Neither of them have recommended such extreme measures, and when I dipped into an extreme measure (something like what your doctor recommended) I was severely scolded by both parties!

What your doctor is suggesting is to put your body into starvation mode, which would make you lose muscle and fat. That's a big no-no. > ^ <

gomisskellygo

Doctors are well educated, they have to be. Maybe there was just a misunderstanding or an error or something?

I am not doubting you but that just seems like basic knowledge even if the timing seems a tad off...unless he knows something we don't about dieting?

Is he really skinny?

Yes, he is really skinny .And I too am shocked that it seems I have more knowledge about nutrition from reading Shape, Women's Health, and MFP Forums (joke, kinda) then he does. I honestly wonder if he has an eating disorder. You should have seen the medical students face (Dartmouth Medical School), she was horrified.

RiverDancer68

Is the guy a good OB-GYN? If yes. Keep him but don't ask him questions that he's not prepared to answer.

Well, my first clue that he may be a bit off his rocker is when he told me to "come on down" like the Price is Right while I was in the stirrups. Nice visual, I l know :laugh:
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I would have been afraid that he was going to try and spay or neuter you...LOL:laugh: (Bob Barker reference for any of you that may think I'm a freak :happy: )