Obesity Support Group
This community is dedicated to those of us struggling with obesity. Obesity is thought to be a significant risk factor in certain health conditions, leading to increased mortality. Find the support you need by sharing your story, asking questions, and learning from others on how they have coped.
Hi there, I was just wondering if anyone is in the same position as I am...
I've always struggled with my weight, I'm currently 303lb's. Last summer I joined a gym, paid for by my parents, it was a summer holiday scheme. I didn't loose anything but it kept my weight stable over the summer. When I came back to Liverpool for University my weight bloomed again. I couldn't afford a gym membership (membership fee alone costs 40 - I live on that a week!). By January I had enough and decided to see the doctor about my problem, especially as I know the NHS runs a programme of GP referrals to the gym to help overweight people get into it at a cut price.
When I got there and said I needed help I can tell you the doctor gave me such a snide look. You know, the look that says "Well you need to stop eating as much that's for sure". I guess even though I certainly look overweight certainly alot of my friends don't believe I'm as heavy as I am, as I'm 6ft tall and so can carry it quite well. Anyway she took my measurements and my BMI was about 42 (it's now gone up to 43). She then showed me some NHS material stating the levels of seriousness each BMI brings. BMI's lower than me had things like "seriously consider weight reduction surgery". And yet I had to fight tooth and claw to get her to agree to simply refer me to a gym! 3 times I had to go back!
Well the referal came through later and it turned out that each time I went I'd have to spend 7. As a student (and this doctors surgery is dedicated to students so ignorance isn't a problem here) I couldn't afford it. I was at the time sorting out my new house and had to pull out a lot of money on deposits and the such. No gym for me.
Anyway, I've since moved to my new home. It's in a different catchement area and so on Monday I'll be going to register with my new GP. I'd like to see if there's anything else I could get to help me on my weight loss (I've since had success on this diet I'm on now but I've only been following it for a week, I'm waiting for my body to get used to it and then bam no more weight loss for me!) but I'm afraid they'll just refuse me again, or look at my notes and say aha we gave you gym referals and you never went.
Has anyone else had similar problems when trying to get treatment, like it was too expensive, or the doctor simply laughed at you?
Bex
xxx
I've always struggled with my weight, I'm currently 303lb's. Last summer I joined a gym, paid for by my parents, it was a summer holiday scheme. I didn't loose anything but it kept my weight stable over the summer. When I came back to Liverpool for University my weight bloomed again. I couldn't afford a gym membership (membership fee alone costs 40 - I live on that a week!). By January I had enough and decided to see the doctor about my problem, especially as I know the NHS runs a programme of GP referrals to the gym to help overweight people get into it at a cut price.
When I got there and said I needed help I can tell you the doctor gave me such a snide look. You know, the look that says "Well you need to stop eating as much that's for sure". I guess even though I certainly look overweight certainly alot of my friends don't believe I'm as heavy as I am, as I'm 6ft tall and so can carry it quite well. Anyway she took my measurements and my BMI was about 42 (it's now gone up to 43). She then showed me some NHS material stating the levels of seriousness each BMI brings. BMI's lower than me had things like "seriously consider weight reduction surgery". And yet I had to fight tooth and claw to get her to agree to simply refer me to a gym! 3 times I had to go back!
Well the referal came through later and it turned out that each time I went I'd have to spend 7. As a student (and this doctors surgery is dedicated to students so ignorance isn't a problem here) I couldn't afford it. I was at the time sorting out my new house and had to pull out a lot of money on deposits and the such. No gym for me.
Anyway, I've since moved to my new home. It's in a different catchement area and so on Monday I'll be going to register with my new GP. I'd like to see if there's anything else I could get to help me on my weight loss (I've since had success on this diet I'm on now but I've only been following it for a week, I'm waiting for my body to get used to it and then bam no more weight loss for me!) but I'm afraid they'll just refuse me again, or look at my notes and say aha we gave you gym referals and you never went.
Has anyone else had similar problems when trying to get treatment, like it was too expensive, or the doctor simply laughed at you?
Bex
xxx
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I have been here before, a long long time ago and now I am back.Forgive me for not just saying what I want to say,even under a triple dose of antidepressants it is still raw and seeping and I am hesitant at revealing it as at least under the bandages around my heart I don,t have to look at how raw and wounded.My child was cleaved from my heart by his own actions. my child of ten,turning eleven...
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I gave my 2 week notice last Friday 13th. Now to join you fine people in a life of leisure and nothing else to do but to look out for myself....is it just me or does that sound pretty boring? My goal was to live to retire and I guess having to take early retirement because of health reasons wasn't exactly the way I had planned things. I just can't stay in that building that is reeking mildew...
Doctors, whether you are skinny or fat, suck. They are only concerned about paying the rent on the office and do not care about you. And what makes me really laugh is the way they say, "Just follow this diet and lose the weight" like it is that easy! Idiots! I think there is truly more than just eating too much when it comes to obesity...I think it is not only physical but mental, chemical, and emotional.
Good luck, girlfriend! I am right with you. I think I am going to go crazy b@t%h on the next doctor and make sure he/she understands that I will not take it. You would be surprised at how quickly they will treat a person like that... Don't get me started on the female doctors...you think the male doctors are bad? Wow!
It just so happened that my liver function was up. I don't know why, I don't know if it still is. Her first question was "do you drink much?"
I said no, I haven't actually had a drink since New years eve (this was the end of february). She said "well why is your liver function up?" I'm like well I don't know, besides it's Lent and I've given up alcohol and chocolate for lent.
Reasonable no?
Well she filled in the gym referal sheet there and then. Had to ask how many units of alcohol I drink in a week, and I told her quite truthfull "I haven't had a drink in months, and that was only for new years, so that's 0 units per week"
She nodded, smiled, and said "We'll put 1 unit per week then shall we?"
Grrrrr >.