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Going to the doctor as a "normal"



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I'm about 15 months post-op. Several months ago I switched jobs to a work-from home situation and the GP who I have been seeing for several years and saw me through uterine cancer and ACL reconstruction, as well as the sleeve and subsequent gall bladder removal, is no longer convenient. All my prescriptions are in sync and running low, so I booked in with a GP closer to my home.

What a bizarre experience. I have a lot of anxiety seeing a new doctor. I'm used to feeling judged and looked down on and like any problem I have must be related to my weight. This doctor clearly had no idea I had ever been fat. She had a completely open mind about why I might be there. I has actually booked a longer appointment because I knew my medical history would take a while and I also wanted to discuss some medication changes with her. But I felt so in control and so heard. I don't think the doctor was the most gifted doctor on the planet, though she did seem nice and competent. I think I felt so much more confident and also of course, doctors are human and there is documented weight bias in medical care providers. I know it's not breaking news that I was treated better, but just wanted to put it out there as something that might be interesting to vets.

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When you've had bad experiences in the past, this is reassuring to hear. Thank you.

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I also saw a new doctor at about 10 months out. She looked at my chart and said well it says here you are obese but your BMI is 24! I explained to her about my surgery and congratulated me and clicked obesity off the list of health concerns on my chart. It felt great!

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I'm about 15 months post-op. Several months ago I switched jobs to a work-from home situation and the GP who I have been seeing for several years and saw me through uterine cancer and ACL reconstruction, as well as the sleeve and subsequent gall bladder removal, is no longer convenient. All my prescriptions are in sync and running low, so I booked in with a GP closer to my home.

What a bizarre experience. I have a lot of anxiety seeing a new doctor. I'm used to feeling judged and looked down on and like any problem I have must be related to my weight. This doctor clearly had no idea I had ever been fat. She had a completely open mind about why I might be there. I has actually booked a longer appointment because I knew my medical history would take a while and I also wanted to discuss some medication changes with her. But I felt so in control and so heard. I don't think the doctor was the most gifted doctor on the planet, though she did seem nice and competent. I think I felt so much more confident and also of course, doctors are human and there is documented weight bias in medical care providers. I know it's not breaking news that I was treated better, but just wanted to put it out there as something that might be interesting to vets.

Misty what is happening with you. I loved reading about your journey but have not found any updates in quiet a while. Hope all is great with your health, family and the job

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    • Theweightisover2024🙌💪

      Question for anyone, how did you get your mind right before surgery? Like as far as eating better foods and just doing better in general? I'm having a really hard time with this. Any help is appreciated 🙏❤️
      · 2 replies
      1. NickelChip

        I had about 6 months between deciding to do surgery and getting scheduled. I came across the book The Pound of Cure by Dr. Matthew Weiner, a bariatric surgeon in Arizona, and started to implement some of the changes he recommended (and lost 13 lbs in the process without ever feeling deprived). The book is very simple, and the focus is on whole, plant based foods, but within reason. It's not an all or nothing approach, or going vegan or something, but focuses on improvement and aiming for getting it right 80-90% of the time. His suggestions are divided into 12 sections that you can tackle over time, perhaps one per month for a year if a person is just trying to improve nutrition and build good habits. They range from things like cutting out artificial sweetener or eating more beans to eating a pound of vegetables per day. I found it really effective pre-surgery and it's an eating style I will be working to get back to as I am further out from surgery and have more capacity. Small changes you can sustain will do the most for building good habits for life.

      2. Theweightisover2024🙌💪

        That sounds awesome. I'll have to check that out thanks!

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      I was able to go for a 10K/6mile hike in the mountains two days ago just for the fun of it. In the before days, I might have attempted this, but it would have taken me 7 or 8 hours to complete and I would have been exhausted and in pain for the next two days. Taking my time with breaks for snacks and water, I was finished with my wee jaunt in only 4 hours 😎 and really got to enjoy photographing some insects, fungi, and turtles.
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