Had a patient with BMI of 90

tnrunningnurse
tnrunningnurse Posts: 549 Member
in Motivation and Support
I am a nurse in the OR...I see overweight patients a lot. In fact I would say most of the patients I see are in the obese catagory. This week I had a patient that weighed 675lbs and had a BMI of 90....it broke my heart. I truly have a heart for patients that are that obese.....I wonder...are they addicted to food (which would be horrible,,,because you need food to live...so that is an addiction you control not quit) or if they have had something horrible that has happened and they use food for comfort....it makes me thankful that I have the motivation to be healthy....Mind you I have my binge days...and I do enjoy alcohol in moderation (sometimes more than moderation).
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Replies

  • umikap
    umikap Posts: 15 Member
    This kind of thing breaks my heart too.
    I have never looked at it the way you put it.....food addiction is an addiction that has to be controlled and not quit. WOW
  • tnrunningnurse
    tnrunningnurse Posts: 549 Member
    Most people don't think about the fact that you have to have food to live...other addictions like alcohol,gambling,drugs...well you don't need those so you have to Quit....but you can't quit food. you have to have it to live....hardest addiction ever.
  • jcmartin0313
    jcmartin0313 Posts: 574 Member
    Need to be careful discussing your cases on here....I have stories but the HIPAA police scare the hell out of me.
  • angieleighbyrd
    angieleighbyrd Posts: 989 Member
    Need to be careful discussing your cases on here....I have stories but the HIPAA police scare the hell out of me.

    she didn't mention names, or even a diagnosis. I am certified in HIPPA. she is fine.
  • snrose
    snrose Posts: 233 Member
    so sad. it inspires me to keep going with my healthy lifestyle though!
  • lilpoindexter
    lilpoindexter Posts: 1,122 Member
    Is there any hope of getting healthier for someone like that, or is it game over?
  • caraiselite
    caraiselite Posts: 2,631 Member
    i have a pretty severe carb addiction but a low carb lifestyle and ketosis does the trick for me.
  • meshashesha2012
    meshashesha2012 Posts: 8,329 Member
    wow. so what do you suggest for someone like that?

    for instance what's the first goal you set for that person body percentage wise?
  • skb12573
    skb12573 Posts: 182 Member
    NO HIPPA violations here
  • tabulator32
    tabulator32 Posts: 701 Member
    NO HIPPA violations here

    Nope. There's not.

    Anyway, I hope the person comes around and starts heading the other direction.
  • GypsySoul_74
    GypsySoul_74 Posts: 152 Member
    food is such a hard addiction... i'm definitely an emotional eater. my first instinct when i'm stressed or something hard happens or i recall a bad memory is to run to the cupboard or the freezer. i've had to fight it as long as i can remember. i'm one of the only healthy-weight adults in my family because everyone does this; i don't know how i ever broke the trend.

    but i feel so sad for people whose weight has gotten that out of control. all i can think is how easily it could be me, or someone in my family... i've seen documentaries about extremely obese people striving to adopt a healthy lifestyle and manage their obesity, and i love watching them and rooting for them to reach their goals. but one thing i've noticed is that there always seems to be that underlying emotional eating issue--they dealt with death or abuse or another traumatic experience at a young age and ate to soothe their pain. it's scary and sobering. :/
  • GypsySoul_74
    GypsySoul_74 Posts: 152 Member
    here's a link to information about those documentaries i saw, if anyone would be interested:

    http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/tv/my-600-lb-life
  • suzieqcookie
    suzieqcookie Posts: 314 Member
    food is definitely an addiction.. there are days i wish i was addicted to drugs or alcohol. no one every tells them "just switch to lite beer and have it three times a day between walks" or " get better quality crack and do less of it"
  • ctooch99
    ctooch99 Posts: 459 Member
    It really is an epidemic in this country now - just got a post from BeyondDiet.com - interesting 60 minutes story for anyone who may not have caught it:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9MH_tks_wE&feature=player_embedded
  • _TastySnoBalls_
    _TastySnoBalls_ Posts: 1,298 Member
    holy sh**
    that's insane!
    as a future nurse myself, i really want to incorporate a healthy lifestyle (nutrition AND fitness) into my patient teaching, and steer away from all the pharmaceuticals.
  • Heyman09
    Heyman09 Posts: 184
    It breaks me up too....My mom has lived most of her life obese and she has just now gotten healthy but for health reasons. I love watching people like that going to the gym and not caring what others around them think because them living for another 20 yrs is more important.....I congratulate them.
  • Elf_Princess1210
    Elf_Princess1210 Posts: 895 Member
    I think that this patient has a food addiction, and you're right. It is very sad! JACHO has listed the caring treatment of the obese as one of their patient safety goals, since studies have shown that a lot of obese and morbidly obese people avoid going to doctors. Its usually a fear of shame or ridicule based on their weight, as well as worrying that there won't be any medical equipment or chairs that obese patients will be able to use.
  • sun33082
    sun33082 Posts: 416 Member
    I just have to say that I love the positive, compassionate comments that are being made here. No mention of "disgusting" or "i don't understand how someone can do that to themselves", etc.

    From a previous very morbidly obese person, I say thanks :)
  • Elf_Princess1210
    Elf_Princess1210 Posts: 895 Member
    Need to be careful discussing your cases on here....I have stories but the HIPAA police scare the hell out of me.

    she didn't mention names, or even a diagnosis. I am certified in HIPPA. she is fine.

    HiPPA aside, some facilities are combing the net for unflattering posts by their employees on social networking sites. I know of a nurse that got in a lot of trouble because she posted on Facebook about the fact she wasn't in the mood to give a certain cancer drug and complained about having to take care of cancer patients. She didn't technically violate HIPPA but the hospital we worked for reprimanded her for posting something that reflects poorly on the facility. More and more hospitals are doing this, so just be careful, ok?
  • Elf_Princess1210
    Elf_Princess1210 Posts: 895 Member
    I just have to say that I love the positive, compassionate comments that are being made here. No mention of "disgusting" or "i don't understand how someone can do that to themselves", etc.

    From a previous very morbidly obese person, I say thanks :)

    :) I was a CNA about 8 years ago and heard a RN making fun of one of our really big patients once. She made the woman cry! I was so mad I told her to remover her skinny *kitten* from the room and to quit making my favorite patient cry! ( she really was my favorite patient, usually she smiled all the time until that ***** hurt her feelings)
  • cloud2011
    cloud2011 Posts: 898 Member
    deleted
  • darrcn5
    darrcn5 Posts: 495 Member
    Aw :( I hope your patient is eventually able to seek and receive the help that he needs.
  • 2FattyXFatty4
    2FattyXFatty4 Posts: 215 Member
    I just have to say that I love the positive, compassionate comments that are being made here. No mention of "disgusting" or "i don't understand how someone can do that to themselves", etc.

    From a previous very morbidly obese person, I say thanks :)

    :) I was a CNA about 8 years ago and heard a RN making fun of one of our really big patients once. She made the woman cry! I was so mad I told her to remover her skinny *kitten* from the room and to quit making my favorite patient cry! ( she really was my favorite patient, usually she smiled all the time until that ***** hurt her feelings)

    How was that RN not fired? I got livid just reading this! OMGosh! :mad:

    And thank you for being a caring healthcare PROFESSIONAL in every sense of the word. :drinker:
  • megmay2591
    megmay2591 Posts: 621 Member
    food is definitely an addiction.. there are days i wish i was addicted to drugs or alcohol. no one every tells them "just switch to lite beer and have it three times a day between walks" or " get better quality crack and do less of it"

    Wow! Way to be insensitive. Yes, food can be an addiction for some and a necessity for all but to say something like this is insensitive to other people's addiction. My sister is a heavy meth and other drugs user and I wouldn't wish that upon anybody. She is not the same person. At least someone who is overweight or obese still has a functioning and reasonable brain.
  • vvanm
    vvanm Posts: 157
    I wonder what the body chemistry is doing with that much caloric intake. I would think insulin and cortisol levels would be thru the roof. Also how are other hormone functions impacted that influence cravings and emotional eating. It might be a horrible snowball effect of never being able to be in balance. Can you imagine an alcoholic in a world of non-stop commercials of people drinking, and ads for $1. menus for cheap drinks? That's what the food industry is capitalizing on by making food addicts out of all of us. That's my take on it, anyway.
  • jdforshort
    jdforshort Posts: 269 Member
    Sorry, glitch, see below!
  • jdforshort
    jdforshort Posts: 269 Member
    Is there any hope of getting healthier for someone like that, or is it game over?

    FYI - I just read a scientific research paper yesterday (someone had mentioned at another site thread) by doctors in England, who had supervised a 382 day fast for 456lb guy who went down to 180lb. 5 years later he had maintained/stabilized around 196lbs. So there is always hope!
    [/quote]
  • reesa722
    reesa722 Posts: 76
    food is definitely an addiction.. there are days i wish i was addicted to drugs or alcohol. no one every tells them "just switch to lite beer and have it three times a day between walks" or " get better quality crack and do less of it"

    I get what you're saying... But trust me, you don't wish you were addicted to drugs or alcohol. Food addiction is no doubt hard to deal with, but drug and alcohol is equally harmful. (Coming from a recovering addict...just be mindful of your words)
  • meshashesha2012
    meshashesha2012 Posts: 8,329 Member
    Is there any hope of getting healthier for someone like that, or is it game over?

    FYI - I just read a scientific research paper yesterday (someone had mentioned at another site thread) by doctors in England, who had supervised a 382 day fast for 456lb guy who went down to 180lb. 5 years later he had maintained/stabilized around 196lbs. So there is always hope!
    [/quote]

    a fast?! or a VLCD?
  • Buttercupnectar
    Buttercupnectar Posts: 5 Member
    Well there truly are not ANY healthy addictions. I mean I would like to be addicted to exercise but even that can go too far as well. As someone who has been a food addict for over 20 years I can tell you it really is horrible and debilitating. In December 2011 my bmi was 61! Yeah you read that right. Now it is at 48 or so after losing over 100lbs. I am exercising 5 days a week and I keep myself to a very strict menu. I give myself one off day a week to have some extra carbs or a sweet, but that is absolutely it. My addiction was fast food mainly so I simply avoid those places now and save a lot of money by not buying their crap. Once in a blue moon I will allow myself chik fil a chicken strips but I think I have done that only twice in the past 8months. It is a life changer and most people need therapy to deal with their addiction and emotions. You wouldn't tell a crack addict "just quit". They go for drug treatment. Food addicts need to seek a mental health professional that specialized in food Addiction. Believe me, they are very hard to find. Food addiction is just now being recognized as a legitimate addiction and I think over the next 5 - 10 years you will see a shift where people start getting the help they need instead of being told by their primary physician to just stop eating the bad stuff and eat the good stuff.
    Anyway, that is my 50 cents worth. I hope this man can get the mental health help he needs so that he can change his life and love his life again healthy.

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