thyroid

[confused_1]

if i go to the doctors to check if i have something wrong with my thyroid will they weigh me? just im self conscious so would feel very uncomfortable

[galathea]

You dont have to get on the scales, just say no. They cannot force you to have anything you don't want.

I once rolled up my sleeve for a blood draw, found out the nurse was not doing a full thyroid profile, so i rolled down my sleeve and left.....

Weighing you is not automatic.

Xx g

[confused_1 in reply to galathea]

so it's not necessary?

[galathea in reply to confused_1]

Not really. If you are being assessed for thyroid problems the doc is more likely to listen to your symptoms , observe your signs and take blood.

Xx g

[shaws Administrator]

Welcome to our forum,

I don't think the doctor will weight you. So, I am assuming you have symptoms which makes you think you may be hypothyroid. One of them is unexplained weight gain, so don't worry if you're embarrassed about your weight and it is a major question on the forums as many haven't changed their diet but the weight piles on. When you reach an optimum of thyroid hormones the weight should reduce because if we're hypothyroid both our metabolism and temperature reduce and thyroid hormones gradually increase our metabolism to normal again.

Make the appointment at the very earliest and it's fasting although you can drink water. If you were already on levothyroxine, you'd leave about 24 hours between your last dose and the test and take it afterwards.

Doctors only diagnose us according to our TSH result but ask for a Full Thyroid Function Test, TSH, T3, T4, Free T3, Free T4 and antibodies. Also Vit B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate. Get a print-out from the surgery a few days after your test and make sure the ranges are stated as labs differ and post on a new question for comments.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

tick off your symptoms and give him a copy.

[Rapunzel]

(((confused_1))). My GP 'Hop on the scales'

Me 'No. My balance is so bad I can't 'hop on' to George Clooney.''

GP curls lip

Me: 'I want to be quite clear that I don't want to know what I weigh. If you want to weigh me and write it down without telling me, go ahead. I know what I weigh on my scales, I'm not happy about it. I'm too exhausted living to do anything about it right now.'

I know this is the aggressive side of assertive. My GP is such. a. tool. He complies. My weight has been stable for over a year. I just don't feel well enough to try to lose the weight - in fact I'm scared witless to try and then not lose anything - I'd find it devastating.

[Heloise]

Why not just say how much weight you have gained and that's one of the symptoms you feel you have so they can use that as part of the exam.

[BonnieT]

Get to the doctor. Don't worry about your weight. Have confidence in yourself that you can get through the doctor visit. Whatever comes after the visit, you can handle. In the end, you are looking to get healthier than you are and you can't do that until you take the first step. You can do this so please do. Wishing you all the best.

[greenmug]

Just smile beatifically, say no thank you, and then move the appointment along. If your exact weight isn't relevant at that precise moment then they don't need it.

Lord knows that they're less than useless about helping you lose it anyway and telling someone who already knows that they're overweight that they're overweight isn't exactly performing some sort of medical miracle, is it? It's just ruining their day.

I once had a GP lecture me about my weight when I was taking a medication that actively promotes weight gain while simultaneously trying to get me off a drug that could help with that side effect because it was expensive. So there's that.