I have suffered with OA in lower back and now waiting on the official diagnosis for RA.
Yesterday I had to go to a private clinic that I was referred to by my Dr for an MRI scan on my back.
The first MRI was not done as the donut shaped machine was not broad enough for me. Hence being referred to this clinic which was an open machine.
My husband came with me.
I was asked to get on the table and felt good as I read about the place previously.
Then the radiographer started to put a belt around my waist which I think had some device on top.
Then the awful thing started as he could not do up the belt and was pushing and pulling and then said its 1cm short. But he still did not stop pushing my tummy around constantly moving my lower back. He then asked my husband to help. I was mortified and in pain.
After what appeared an age he stopped. Now I was crying, then he asked if I thought of dieting.
It was the straw that broke the camels back as he made us wait outside for 10 mins because we were a few minutes early!
Worst of all I was apologising to him! I am a human being who deserves to be treated the same as anyone else. He does not know my history or anything about me. Now I do not want an MRI done. I am anxious enough about hospitals.
Thank you for allowing me to let of steam.
Written by
Noni66
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So sorry to hear that - it's awful that you were treated so thoughtlessly and unkindly. I think that you should complain - PALs maybe? Please don't let that horrible experience put you off having further investigations/treatment.
How very rude! It's not his business to make comments about your weight. I would at least complain to your GP - not a very good referral was it and he should be made aware of what people are like that he's sending you to. Don't be put off of having the MRIs in the future, all radiographers are not the same. All the best.
Oh bless you. That was a terrible experince for you. Everyone deserves dignity and kindness. You need to contact PALS. This shouldn't have happened. Don't let it stop you getting your scan, it is very important. Next time you go the experience could be very different and you will probably get someone who is kind and understanding. Good luck.
Hi omg the way you were treated is disgusting 😡 my heart goes out to you 💕 please report this ignorant arrogant person. No one has the right to make you feel like that or cause you more pain. The clinic should have been organised for your appointment. On there website they will have a complaint procedure. Xxc
All demeaning, unprofessional and inappropriate. Sorry you went through this.
Perhaps they need to look at their equipment and adjust it to make allowance for us who come in all shapes and sizes. Deffo give feedback so summat can be done about this for future patients.
I’m really sad to hear this. It’s awful as no one should feel this way.
As it’s a private clinic, there will be a patient manager/liaison there. PALS isn’t relevant for a private clinic as it’s an NHS department. Have a chat with them as I expect they will be mortified that this happened to you and you deserve an apology. You need this scan so please don’t let this deter you from looking after your health ❤️❤️❤️
You have been treated very badly and you really should complain via PALS but if this is a private clinic they should have a complaints process. Your GP may do it on your behalf if you don't feel able. People come in all shapes and sizes and this fat shaming is discrimination and hateful. The blooming machine should have a bigger belt to accommodate all sizes. And the staff should be given training on how to treat all patients with care and dignity.
A really big THANK YOU to all the positive replies!I will discuss this with my doctor on Monday.
I am trying to avoid stress as much as possible as I do not want to trigger another flare up. I am not a stupid woman and have great insight into myself and my well being.
But feeling vulnerable and waiting to be officially diagnosed is alot to take in.
So I will be proactive when I have the conversation with my Doctor.
I agree with everyone that you should consider complaining to PALS and let your GP know. Considering that 26% of the UK are obese and a further 38% are overweight it’s probably about time these machines and their accessories are bought up to date particularly as those of us that are heavier, often due to our health issues and the treatment for them, are more likely to need to have these tests. I was refused a full bone density scan because the (six stone wet through) radiographer looked at me and said I was too big for the table! Keep your chin up and try not to let it get to you x
This is awful and very ignorant. I would also advise to say something to PALS about it. A while back I called them regarding a consultant that was so tactless that I cried during the consultation. PALS asked me if they could record my feedback in order to share it with all consultants (they recorded my voice and I was still crying from the incident); that helped me feel that I had done something to make Gyne consultants a little more aware of the emotional health of women.
There is so much judgements poured on women's bodies. The truth is that we do not know why people carry more weight than others. We are just starting to understand how the micro organisms in the guts work and it looks like we are far from being all equal in this area. Loosing weight is very often not as straight forward as eating less and moving more; if it were it would be a doddle! There are hereditary factors, psychological factors, physiological factors, environmental factors, health conditions, disabilities, etc...
Moreover, many thin people are quite unhealthy. Some can eat what they want and stay thin (and their diet can be heavy on sugar, salt and hyper processed food), some eat very little to keep their figures and this cause all sorts of issues with deficiency in vitamins, minerals, etc.. Too often people think thin=healthy and overweight=unhealthy. This is not always true.
Finally, I recently watched a documentary on Lizzo on BBC Iplayer and it really helped me to feel positive, empowered and strong about my body. I hope it will make you feel as good as I did.
That's disgusting, so sorry this happened to you. I've now noticed that they have started to put on letters for things like MRI scans please note the machine we use has height and weight limits so if you are over these limits we may not be able to carry out your examination. Can i help it if im tall? I'd never noticed this before.
I know they probably have to do this, but when you are nervous enough and then they act like he did, it's just not fair. He didn't know you. Being on steroids does not help either. You could be eating healthily and exercising, that does not mean to stay that steroids and all the other meds won't impact your weight, he should know that. So to come up with have you thought of dieting was so unfair. I had to go for and ultrasound on my kidneys as the nurse was pressing so hard the pain was excruciating. Her reply was I'm sorry we have to dig deep when you are fat. I broke down and couldn't get out of there fast enough. Sorry for the long post but I wanted to show my support.
It's also the fact that although meds can help us with our conditions, we have no say in what other things they are going to do to our bodies, in different places, he should've known that.
We have exactly the same issue with my wife. She has stage 4 lipoedema and lymphoedema and at every clinic appoint she has (mainly for her chest as she also has Bronchiectasis as a consequence of pneumonia from untreated tonsillitis), she gets abuse from clinicians and consultants because of her size. None of this is controllable by diet or surgery. Do they listen or understand? No and to the point that at her last appointment, I lost it and said that "what would you like her to do, chop both legs off at the waist as that accounts for 80kg of her body mass?"
I come to the conclusion that that are two things in place with the NHS.
1. They are out to rid society of large people that do not conform to an imaginary type.
2. They would rather take industrial action against the very people who they should be there to care for than actually do the job that WE pay for.
If they spent less time on strike and more time in clinic and putting together a holistic action plan, the country would be in a far healthier place.
As for me, as a RA sufferer for 25 years and the last 10 messing about with useless trials of biologics, I had X Rays a year ago on both knees and have yet to have a formal review of the outcome of those X Rays. In clinic a month ago, I mentioned to the locum (useless) Rheumatologist that I had not heard anything, to which he pulled the results up and glibly said that the knee needed replacing. No follow up, no plan, no clue. I chased last week and was told that the waiting list to see the Osteo team was 18 months. See 2. above.
Sorry to hijack your rant, I just needed that one off my chest!
You have to be your own advocate, don't take it, report it to PALS and lets stop the abuse.
You are not hijacking my rant at all. I am on a RA, FB forum as well as a OA. It is so common how patients are left feeling demoralised and self doubting after appointments.
I am not putting down the NHS as a whole as I have dealt with wonderful people. My issues are with some consultants.
It appears to be a mantra that if your BMI is high you are treated differently. It is known that the BMI is absolutely flawed.
Sadly consultants do not see the whole picture as our GPs would. But it is my own personal opinion that fat shaming is bad, destructive, disempowering, and so much more which in the long run is disempowering and the consequences are not recorded or noted. Because like my experience you can suffer in silence.
talking to your doctor is a great plan, Then move on and don’t give that thoughtless person any more time in your mind. When someone is like this to me I say nothing to stick up for myself and then I ruminate, it is awful, I know how you feel.❤️Just came back to edit as I was thinking maybe you could write down a few responses to help you let this go……1. Do you know your comment was hurtful and qualifies as fat shaming.? 2. I am surprised you would say such a comment considering your medical education. 3. Etc. Maybe next time we will both have the courage to say something to a person who mistreats us! Thanks for posting.
Sending you a gentle hug too...Put in a letter of concern about your treatment. They knew you were coming and should have prepared appropriately. There will be many after you and it may help them if you speak up.
Please don't avoid the doctors not all medical staff are insensitive
I'm wondering why so many people suffering from arthritis are overweight which makes the pain in joints even worse. Maybe it has to do with all the drugs.
Weight issues are more complex. Maybe some meds create weight gain. People are overweight from a myriad of reasons. Suffering from RA does not discriminate.
Weight is not the problem if you become sick with RA.
If that was the case so called skinny people would not suffer from this disease.
The holistic and sensible approach by professionals is to treat all as individuals.
We should not be defined by the size of our bodies. We have enough stigmas and judgemental attitudes to deal with in this world.
maybe because it’s more painful to move and exercise. More sedentary, I know when I’m in pain I eat more food I shouldn’t and I’m sure I’m not the only one 🤷🏻♀️
I agree, when I worked I was very mobile. But when I had to retire through OA in lower back my mental health and mobility suffered. I never eat fast food or junk but because I was less mobile my weight increased. Then waiting for another diagnosis for RA was to much to deal with.Nothing is black or white and we need to be kinder to ourselves and our own advocates.
My rheumatologist actually put it in notes that I refused steroids because I was worried about more weight gain...They don't want us to be fat but they want to give us drugs that make us fat...Its craziness
Good to know . I'm trying to loose hashimotos weight still .. And it is extremely difficult because my numbers haven't been good or stable and I hear people saying that about steroids.. Made me nervous.. Trying to avoid anything that makes a person gain weight lol.. Not to be shallow.. It's just not healthy.. My blood pressure is even down after loosing a few pounds . I took them once for my back a few years ago they also made me tired. Maybe it was a different kind .idk
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The MRI scan
Had my rheumy appointment. 
Prednisone
