So, having been hospitalised a few times due to horrendous sharp pain and abdominal pain similar to having a burst appendix, having had bloods done and a specific scan of my whole mid section, my doctor referred me to a general surgeon as his only conclusion was adhesions from having an extreme hysterectomy done a few years ago. Appointment was yesterday and the diagnosis was agreed. However having seen that I have ME, Fibromyalgia, Stage 3 Kidney Disease and damage to my lower back, the consultant's advice was that if I lost a load of weight it would solve all my health problems. To say I was distraught is an understatement. I know I'm fat, I've put on 5 stone over the last 3 years (since my ME and Fibro symptoms escalated) but the look of disgust whilst being told getting rid of the weight will fix everything has left me completely distraught. I forgot to mention that I have also been diagnosed with PTSD. I'm writing this whilst being sat in my car outside work, my head is in a bad place 😔
Too Fat Diagnosis, losing weight will... - Fibromyalgia Acti...
Too Fat Diagnosis, losing weight will fix everything (apparently).
Hi Lemony990,
Everybody knows that being a healthy weight is a good idea in regards to general health. However, I don’t think some Healthcare Professionals appreciate the wider picture - they seem to forgot that the pain, fatigue, depression and other symptoms plus medication can be the reason for weight gain.
Just saying ‘lose weight & health will improve’ is not the answer and as in your case and many others this just causes distress plus a strain on the DR patient relationship. Whilst I know they feel they should say something about the patient’s weight coming from a point of showing understanding & the encouragement would be desirable.
I am sorry you have been so upset by this HCP who has blurted this out without thinking. I can only imagine how you must be feeling.
Do try not to let it cause negativity (I know it’s hard) and if you’d like to try losing weight for general health - why not look at groups for support & positive changes that can be made.
Obviously, your diagnoses can hinder activity due to chronic fatigue & pain but I’ve started a walking on the spot daily alongside a Pegan diet - every little bit helps 
Hope this helps
Emma
Losing weight is not some magical panacea to all health conditions! Given so many reputable researchers have stated that BMI is a ridiculously inaccurate measure, I don't understand why GPs continue to use it and body shame people. I struggle with exercise because of sensory issues (I'm autistic) and no matter what I do, I can't shift the "extra weight" I'm told to lose. I wish my other symptoms would be taken seriously and not just be seen for the size I am. 
I feel for you. Take care and be kind to yourself. <3
Getting a personality will solve all his problems, what an idiot. Loosing weight has health benefits all round but to presume it will solve all your health problems is living in airy fairy land, really, I do wonder why they make these comments. It really gives you no encouragement at all. Of course, it is no easy feat to loose weight, did he refer you to a dietician for support and advice. Or an exercise programme designed for people with your disabilities. Take care. xx
Hi bobbybob, thank you for your kind words. If he'd have helped with some sort of plan or recommendations I wouldn't have felt so bad but he repeated his comments each time I tried to explain about how much I was struggling to lose weight. I had been referred to him with the hope that he would help with the adhesion pain but instead I was rudely dismissed. 😔
Definiyely time for a complaint. Start with PALS, and escalate through CQC up to BMA and GMC. That is disgraceful behaviour from any surgeon.
Thank you all for your kind words xx
Oh Lemony990 my heart goes out to you. Been there and got the t-shirt for that one! I have successfully lost 5 and a half stone and am now in their preferred BMI and yes, I do love the new figure and a lot happier about that, but as far as being a cure all, I hate to burst his bubble but I am still trying to get answers to many of my health issues to add to my existing list of fibromyalgia and brittle asthma.
To be fair, with the breathing issues I have, I am not entirely sure I would actually still be around if I hadn’t lost the weight, so for that I am grateful and my movement is no doubt easier with less strain on my joints (for every 1 pound lost in weight takes 4 pounds of pressure off your knees apparently! 😳)
It is quite amusing that now they have to try and find other things to blame when you do take weight out of the equation 👍🏻😉. Accept the challenge and seek a method that works for you.
I wish you well in trying to shed some of the weight. It isn’t easy, but it is worth it.
Good luck and I hope your health improves along the way (or maybe your doc was right and you will benefit from this miracle cure 🤔😉🤷🏼♀️) x
Lol, maybe I'll be the 2020 miracle 😉👍 but joking aside, I like to prove professionals wrong and so am going to be determined to reduce my weight come hell or high water 💦 When I make up my mind I'm like a dog with a bone 🍖 I know it's going to be hard and no doubt frustrating at times but I will do it 😁🤞🍀🏃♀️🚴♂️xx
Sadly it is easier to put it on than to take it off, (most of us have had years of practice at the former!)but with that level of determination you stand a very good chance 👍🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻
Main thing I found is talk to yourself the way you would talk to a friend..... so if you monumentally stuff up one day and have more of the fatty items than you probably should ..... it doesn’t mean you have blown the whole process and have to hoover up the entire contents of the kitchen (we’ve all done it!😉), dust yourself down and move on. Guilt is your absolute worst enemy as it is so destructive. The kinder you are to yourself for being human, the easier it will be. Every day is a fresh slate 👍🏻
Good luck and keep us posted ......
and as an aside I await the clinical paper on your miraculous cure.
Can’t wait to hear the wonderful discussion you are going to have with your doc when that excuse has gone from his list ...... he will have to work hard for answers then 🤔😉😊🙌🏻x
Hi
Some drs are so tactless!! I really feel for you and yes write a letter of complaint. He should at least apologize! He's an absolute idiot!! If you do need to lose weight then do it slowly, a couple of pounds per week. Good luck with everything. . Love and hugs Lynne xxxx
Yeah I've had this used on me often previously but I lost over 8st partly due to some health problem and I feel no better mentally or physically, yes it can help with some health problems that you may have, like I had sleep aponea and used to get gout a lot and maybe it can help with FM pain? I don't know, I'm not a GP/specialist.
Your doctor is talking a load of nonsense before I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia I had previously lost 4 stone in weight . Since then I have had nothing but problems with my health including the fibro diagnosis. Now my life is constant pain and meds. Weight loss does have some benefits but it is not the answer to everything.
Aww bless you. I’m so sorry you’ve had to experience such an horrible human being. You didn’t deserve it.
Do you think perhaps they get jaded by the restrictions the Government puts on them with regard to reporting, etc?
I expect they enter medicine with excitement at the prospect of helping, and it gets ground out of them by time and bureaucracy over the years..
I feel for you and it’s very upsetting the way they put to you. I suffer bouts of breathing problems and wAs told it was due to weight which I find hard to fathom as same weight when breathing problems remiss. First told after tests not enough oxygen in blood. I was told to cut down on portion sizes , I kept my cool but was internally fuming.
I don’t have great portions for one and how would this person know what size my portions are 😡 infact whatever is afflicting me causes bouts of loss of appetite and nausea and sometimes I will skip meals. I have back and leg problems that also hinder greatly.I am not as physical as used to be, I suffer pains and fatigue that have greatly hindered me, as at that time when you can’t breathe just going upstairs , you are not going to put in for a marathon.
At size 12 years before I told doc I was putting on weight and unable to shift it. You will was the response now 14/16 still can’t and it’s not excess food infact I eat much less than I did when I was healthy and I eat more healthily also.
Such assumptions are hurtful and unhelpful and should not be made in passing but considered. When smaller I was told a bit of weight would help my floating kidney keep in place (size 8/10).
Life changes, weights change and if weight is a problem should be tackled in a considerate way. I know I am overweight I’d also like to lose some but for reasons mentioned it is an ongoing battle . I think with healthy living so much part of our daily lives we are all only too well aware if overweight how beneficial to not be would be, if fit and well I wouldn’t possibly not be overweight , and I just think some people should think before speaking, that includes professionals .
Best wishes 🙏
Hi stiff19, I couldn't agree with you more. Like you I eat healthier now, than I did up to only a few years ago. Unfortunately I also skip meals as my appetite isn't what it used to be. Rather than being judgmental, it would be beneficial if professionals would take the time to listen to what efforts we have made to lose weight and to take on board how we are physically day to day. Once they've taken the time to listen, it would be helpful if they could offer up some constructive advice or at least put you in the direction of someone else better qualified. I work for a company that has 4 business areas and in each business area there are their own departments and these departments and businesses intertwine as services from one business area are employed to provide a service for another business area. Regardless of what part of the company you are working in, you are all working for the same company. Yet there is a massive us and them culture and some animosity between departments. This is exactly how the NHS feels these days 😔 Take care stiff19, sending hugs 🤗
I am very overweight now and know I'm not helping myself but intend to make more of an effort when I am less depressed/stressed. However, my reply to those who blame my diet, etc is that I was already in pain all over, all the time when I was younger and weighed half what I do now. Then I was questioned about my degree exams not due for months and told I would get better after I took my exams. They were in 1980, and I didn't have a problem with them. I discovered a research paper recently which showed my health problems were probably linked to the failure of my ectopic undersized thyroid to function properly when I was a child, which may be a factor in my difficulty in losing weight too. Sending hugs.
Aww, bless you Lemony, so sorry to hear about your horrible experience. I truly feel for you. I would guess that there are more than a few of us who are overweight. It's very difficult to exercise when you are in great pain and often feel so ill you can barely move.
I have an issue with compulsive eating due to trauma. I have complex post traumatic stress syndrome. My daughter thinks that if I lost weight and exercised I would be fine too. It's so hard, especially when you have multiple illnesses, which you have, and I'm sure, others have on here including myself. And when you are doing your best to manage your illnesses.
Hold your head up sweetness. Some days if you manage to wash your hair, for instance, you are winning! I think we have to change the way we measure our success. There may be days when just getting out of bed borders on heroic.
So, don't let others define who you are. Unless they have walked a mile in your shoes they are not capable of understanding. You will find those of us on here who suffer and struggle with fibromyalgia do understand and won't judge you. You are not on your own, you have the support and respect you deserve and need right here.
Love Elaine xx 🤗
Whoops, just seen this was posted 4 years ago! 🤣 Brain fog to the max lol. Hope you are doing well these days xx
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