that time the doctor implied I was fat
Last week I was heading to work, when I switched gears and decided to visit the walk-in clinic at my doctor’s office first. I’ve been battling a cold since just after Christmas, with about a week of healthy feelings mixed in there. I wasn’t getting any better and I wanted to be sure it wasn’t anything super serious.
They hooked me up with my own mask (just to be on the safe side) and escorted me back. The nurse told me we were going all the way back to the scales, and I had no idea where that was. You see, I don’t often get sick enough that I have to go to a doctor. In fact, I have only seen my doctor twice since my son was born in August 2011 – and both times were for physicals that my insurance company had required. One of those physicals was done 14 days after my c-section. (The doctor had mentioned I could stand to lose a few pounds, to which I reminded him I had just had a baby cut out of me.)
The nurse took my vitals and after looking through my records she said, “you’re relatively healthy.” The doctor came in, checked me out and diagnosed me with a sinus infection. As she was sending my prescription via email, she noted that my weight was a little higher than they’d like it to be. I told her I was working on it. Really, I am.
I’m currently 7 pounds over my pre-pregnancy weight. I’m stuck. I know this.
And now this doctor (not my regular doctor) knows this. And it’s in my official records.
And on the paperwork I received as I was leaving, it said that she had consulted with me about diet and exercise. It also “diagnosed” me as being overweight.
My head is spinning.
I keep falling off the food tracking wagon. I’m making healthier choices, I’m exercising at least 5 times a week. In my defense, I was wearing all of my clothes and had just eaten breakfast before they weighed me (and when I weighed myself that morning, I was 2.5 pounds lighter.)
So now I’m REALLY watching my food intake. And I’m REALLY exercising – even adding more weight workouts into the mix. I hate weights. I really love cardio.
I’m really angry that I was “diagnosed” as being overweight. I’m so glad that we switched to a new family doctor after this fiasco.
Has a doctor ever diagnosed you with being overweight? Do you decline having your weight checked when you visit the doctor’s office? I’m thinking I may start doing that in the future. Just to save me the stress and headache this has now caused.
I just wanted my antibiotic and cough syrup. That is all.
Wow! That seems a little insensitive especially considering you have a toddler and primary care doctor you are working with.
Way to make you feel better when you are sick!
I thought it was a bit of poor timing. And had I thought about going before I left the house (it truly was a last minute decision), maybe I would have held of on breakfast? I don’t know. It just felt weird. And later it made me laugh when I saw it on the diagnosis portion of my paperwork!
I am way overweight, and my current doctor is the only one who has ever broached the topic. I’m pretty sure it was just because he’s super into crossfit and wants everybody else to be too, but it was sort of heartening for a physician to finally acknowledge the (forgive me) elephant in the room.
I wanted to tell her to give me my meds so I could be better for my race this past weekend. š I don’t think she had any clue about my activity level – I exercise SO much! I just haven’t worked out as much recently because I’ve been so sick. Sigh. Doctors.
What?????????? That’s not right!!!!! How rude & wayyyyyyyyyyy stepping over the boundary lines IMO. I am like you, I don’t go to the dr, right now, my medical professional of choice is my chiropractor & has been for 3.5 years. gaaaaaaaaaa I am shaking my head in disbelief that that was discussed + put in your file.