Have you been to see your doctor for extra help and support losing weight?

[Caz]

I'm considering going to see my doctor for extra help in losing weight. I did go before and I got 10 free sessions with Rosemary Coneley, not sure that that's really what I want now though as I'm on a calorie/exercise plan myself already and I can't buy specific foods like that really. But I was thinking that it might be good to have the support of my doctor, even if it's just for regular check ins to be weighed etc. as I have no scales at home and can't afford to buy decent ones at the moment!

So just wondering if anyone else has been to their doctors for advice/help/support and whether you felt it was worth it?

Caroline

 

[RainbowRose]

hello
after losing 19lbs 'by myself' I went to my docs recently for a non weight related appointment, and while I was there, I casually (lol) mentioned I had managed to lose weight, but I was feeling so very tired, he suggested I got weighed there and then and was pleased I was wanting to lose the weight, he asked if i 'wanted' to attend the nurse weekly, fortnightly, monthly to get weighed, I jumped at the chance, and I hope it will keep me on track and focused. I am sure your practice nurse would do the same for you if you make some enquiries, good luck!

 

[yumymumywanabe]

I went a few months ago to see what other advise he could gives me, he stuck me on xenical (dieting pills) i took them for about 3 weeks lost the same amount of weight i was losing on my own so threw them away, total waste of time, i havent been back since but im trotting along nicely

 

[Qwetypi]

I went to see my Doc about losing weight and she sent me to my local hospital to see about the gastric bypass. I don't qualify as I don't have any medical conditions other than being super morbidly obese (I thought that was a good qualifier but apparently not!). However they did set me a monthly appointment with a diet club where a dietician comes along, and 6 monthly appointments with the specialist at the hospital. I also was asked if I would take part in a study of obese people in my area and went along and had absolutely loads of tests which were for the study but helped motivate me (i.e. vit levels in bloods, heart age, body fat %age, metobolic age etc). I feel like there is support there, though it was all a bit intense, I had about 4 appointments within a month after my first enquiry!

 

[AmethystWitch]

I went to my dr with an unrelated issue (kept going dizzy, turned out it was my sinuses lol) but somehow I just came out with, I want to lose wieght! lol Pretty random, unplanned lol but he weighed me and took my blood pressure etc etc and he did mention tablets but I said I didn't want to go there unless I was desperate, so he referred me to a dietition, she was super nice and really helpful! She gave me lots of leaflets and wrote down how many portions of what I was allowed to eat and she said she's going to get me on the excercise prescription scheme, so you can go to the gym and go swimming for free for 12 weeks, I've lost weight so the portion control and excercise is working, I just never knew how big a portion was supposed to be, I was shocked when I found out! lol

 

[Trixtabella]

I went to my dr with an unrelated issue (kept going dizzy, turned out it was my sinuses lol) but somehow I just came out with, I want to lose wieght! lol Pretty random, unplanned lol but he weighed me and took my blood pressure etc etc and he did mention tablets but I said I didn't want to go there unless I was desperate, so he referred me to a dietition, she was super nice and really helpful! She gave me lots of leaflets and wrote down how many portions of what I was allowed to eat and she said she's going to get me on the excercise prescription scheme, so you can go to the gym and go swimming for free for 12 weeks, I've lost weight so the portion control and excercise is working, I just never knew how big a portion was supposed to be, I was shocked when I found out! lol

I think portion control was always my issue, which is why I now weigh everything I eat. I have never thought of going to the doctor before to ask about weight loss. Next time I have an appointment I might say something and see if he can recomenned anything for me.

 

[traymanda]

Hi, yes I went to the doctors regarding my weight, I was in there about two mins, her advice to me was not to eat after 7pm and excerise more self control, after all I was an "adult", and no one was forcing me to eat!!!!... Hmmm you can imagine how I felt after that.....xx

 

[Trixtabella]

Hi, yes I went to the doctors regarding my weight, I was in there about two mins, her advice to me was not to eat after 7pm and excerise more self control, after all I was an "adult", and no one was forcing me to eat!!!!... Hmmm you can imagine how I felt after that.....xx

This is what puts me off asking my doctor for help, which is why I will go it alone so I can go and say I have been trying to do this on my own ect.
I am sure it made you feel super confident in yourself, what a patronising doctor.

 

[begghead]

My GP is normally fantastic, had the same DR since I was a year old so he’s known me for 27 years, I’ve only ever seen the one Dr as its only him at the surgery (unusual in a city) went to him in march because I had been falling asleep after meals (regards of meal size etc) he gave me a full MOT which I failed, never mentioned my weight despite me weighing 25 stone, he did how ever find two lumps in my throat and referred me to the hospital to have them out, and never mentioned my falling asleep after meals.

Fast forward 4 months and 3 hospital appointments later and I was all set for my op, the consultant was shocked I have been waiting so long as in his words “they are mighty strange and should be out sooner rather than later”. Then the anesthetist came... told me I was too much of a high risk and they wouldn’t be operating on me due to my falling asleep and my weight, she’s concerned about possible sleep apea. She’s referred me to a specialist (appointment came through this morning, not till the end of August)

Anyway this all happened last Monday, I got a phone call Tuesday from my GP asking me to pop in, So I did, wasn’t with him but was with the Nurse, she told me I had to loose weight (as if I didn’t already know that, the anesthetist had already put the fear of god in me with what she was saying, highly unpleasant woman with no tact made me feel an inch tall, however it is what I needed to hear) she then mentioned Slimming world on referral. I was thinking fantastic they are going to help me, give me a little support. She explained everything about it, what’s expected what help and support I can expect etc.... then looked in her draw and said.. “Oh we’re out of referral vouchers, you’ll have to come back in 3 to 4 months” and that was it. Didn’t offer any other support didn’t offer to monitor my progress, just come back in 3-4 months to see if we have any vouchers.

I wasn’t asking her for help, I’m a proud 28 year old independent man, and asking for help doesn’t come easy to me, but she offered me help, got my hopes up for all of 5 minutes then was cold and said come back in 3-4 months.

All this has given me the kick up the arse I need. from last Wednesday I’ve cut out all the crap, eating only fresh healthy foods and have been walking an average of 2 mile a day (will need a mighty good chiropodist in the next few weeks my feet are killing me) I’ve lost 7lbs though and have more determination than ever before. I’ve realised the only help and support I need is from my self, close friends and family (and of course this forum)

 

[AmethystWitch]

What surprised me with portion control was that everything is supposed to be the size of your palm :S Or like I'd have a whole tin of baked beans on 2 pieces of toast for dinner sometimes, she told me one portion of beans is 4 tablespoons, so half a tin really she said...lol Ooops lol I have my fridge stocked full of fruit so If I do need more food I just snack on that

 

[Trixtabella]

I love beans on toast. I reckon I can get a full tin on my had haha.
In fact I may have that tomorrow. I usually have about 3/4 of a tin. I think I shall be cutting that down now.

 

[Perpleo]

im thinking of going to my doctors tomorrow as i have to get a prescription renewed any way but i'm worried as its so hard to get an appt at my doctors ( like a month) they have an open surgery i think its called and means you turn up before half 8 and then youll get a number and wait to be called but it sucks because you dont know who you're going to get
i dread getting the doctor that made me feel really small one time i went and basically said i was a fat mess and then didnt offer any help or anything

what do you say? oh im trying to lose weight ... i have no ideaa

 

[mspiggy]

Hi Perpleo,
My docs has a dietician and you can just phone the receptionist and make an appointment or ask the gp to refer you, maybe your surgery does it too, but try to keep in mind that your gp is paid a lot of money to deliver a service and the practice manager is supposed to make sure no one is made to feel uncomfortable, the last thing your doc wants is you having any reason to complain, gps put their knickers(or yfronts) on 1 leg at a time just like the rest of us, and the more patients they have on weight loss or smoking cessation the better it looks for their funding, maybe the last doc you seen had just been dumped or something and just wasn't concentrating, dont feel intimidated hun, they wont bite and should be supportive, you were unlucky last time.

 

[Perpleo]

my mum doesnt like that doctor either lol she keeps trying to get her to go for smears haha
but i've been twice after i had her and had lovely doctors so hopefully it'll be ok
thinking im going on friday if i can be bothered to get up and down there for half 8 on my day off lol

 

[boggins]

I went a couple of times. The first time they gave me Xenical. It gave me piles! (Too much information?) I quit. Went back and they tried me on Reductil. I GAINED weight. Went back and was referred to the dietician who told me all they could do was put me on a course about nutrition which would tell me what I already know about the food pyramid/Eatwell plate. HE said that, not me.

I gave up and am going it alone. I am using the practice nurse for monthly weigh ins and that's it.

Oh, I did recently ask the nurse if she had any veggie diet plans. No.

All in all, not terribly useful, but then nobody can lose weight for me.

 

[AmethystWitch]

I can't believe how unhelpful these drs are to you all! That's just awful!

 

[janpear]

My dr has been very good so far, I went to her 3 years ago after not being able to lose weight after having my son (or ever for that matter) and diagnosed hypothyroidism. I hoped to start losing weight when I got my medication sorted but infact I have gained 2st in the past year so went back to the dr for help. I am now on a VLCD with support from a dietician, counsellor and physiotheripist through the Weigh Ahead scheme in Sheffield. If I hadn't asked the dr for help (multiple times) I'd still be struggling with my thyroid symptoms and I wouldn't have had a clue about this scheme so I would recommend going to the doctor and not giving up when you don't get far the first time.

 

[River roma]

I went to mine she was very good, as i already had tried loads of things and was putting weight on she gave me blood test then when they can back ok she gave me Xenical to try for a month which i started on friday. she also told me about this site, think for once i have found a very good doctor, felt silly going about my weight but she make me feel alot better about myself and i know i have the support of her and the staff