Last chance with my doctors!

[Deborandum]

I have an appointment with my GP at 4pm this afternoon. I am dreading it because I have been seeking their help and advice for over a year now and they dont seem to be helping. They told me to eat less and exercise more (no s**t Sherlock!!) and sent me packing.

I kind of want to go in to my appointment armed with something. Should I ask for a referral to a dietician? I dont want to go on those fat reducing pills as I have heard nothing but horror stories about them.

Has anyone been through anything similar and what can you advise please.

 

[zoe.]

Just typed out a long reply and then it vanished! But it went something like:

What's on offer depends on your local health authority and your local GP. Examples of what some health authorities offer include:

- Obesity clinics (can be run by health visitors, dieticians, specialist nurses etc.)
- Drugs
- Diet sheets (not offered so much now)
- Weekly weigh ins with the nurse
- Discounts at local authority gyms / weight loss support groups e.g. slimming world, WW
- Referal for therapy e.g. cognitive behavioral therapy

I think it might help if you decide what you think would help you lose weight, then ask what they've got on offer, and see if the two match. Don't take any sh*t - we know that we have to eat less, move more, but if it were that easy, we'd all be stick thin! You are perfectly within your rights to want, and ask for, help, and your GP should respect you for that.

Good luck, and let us know how it goes!

 

[IrishMum]

I've been there!! My GP was worse than useless when it came to help losing weight. The first thing he said when I asked for help was 'Well, one of the three slimming tablets has just been taken off the market'...he was a bit gunked when I insisted I didn't want any tablets or surgery, just help?!
I'd been going it alone, logging/weighing every bite that went in my mouth, exercising and nothing was working. I have an underactive thyroid which means I have difficulty losing weight, but he kept telling me that while the meds I was on were 'working' that I should be able to lose weight- and advised me to join WW?! Er...been there (& everywhere else!). I explained in great detail what i had been doing and why, and he admitted that I appeared to know more about nutrition than he did! Scary. Anyway, he did refer me to a dietitian which I attended for 6mths- again with no results. I've since lost nearly 2st on a VLCD as they couldn't recommend any changes to my diet/exercise...but thats a whole other story!

Write down everything you've tried. Note the kinds of foods you eat. Get him to take a full blood panel to rule out any thyroid/hormonal issues, and ask for a referral to a dietitian. Mine was reluctant to refer me as he said I probably wouldn't get seen as I didn't have any weight-related health conditions..my reply was- surely it's better to lose the weight before I develop any weight-related health conditions and place even more strain on the NHS as well as putting myself at risk?? He didn't have an answer to that and put the referral through..! LOL!
Good Luck, and as Zoe said- don't take any sh*t- you know the basic 'eat less and you'll lose weight', but if it was that simple we'd all be skinny-minnies!

 

[Deborandum]

Well yesterday didnt go too well as we ran out of time (I had other issues to speak to my GP about) but I have made another appointment for next week....
THanks for the replies ladies....It seems that even though the NHS are promoting weight loss help, they havent rolled it out nationally. Maybe they are just saying the right things but not actually doing it

 

[zoe.]

Good luck next week then, and keep us posted. I hope you get what you are looking for.

 

[Lady_Amalthea]

Sorry to hear your GP isn't being as helpful as they could be. Better luck next time - stand up for what you want and don't back down! These guys are here to help!

 

[Purple_Star]

I hope you get sorted. At least that gives you more time to consider what help you want. I got 12 weeks free gym membership from my doctor which really helped me.

 

[kazisindahouse]

You should be due to see your GP again soon (if not already) so good luck! ... stay focused and positive about what you want. I know its not always easy, try telling him what you want rather than waiting for him to make suggestions!
I had a similar problem at first but then as the doctor I was under kept saying you need to loose weight but was not offering me any support other than to suggest I go and join a weight watchers club ... much like yours really I changed to the a new docto (same surgery tho) and he is great. He's suggested lots of idea, referred me to a dietician and to the practice nurse for regular weigh ins and has also prescribed xenacol.
Look forward to hearing how you went on and I'm always here if you fancy a natter!

 

[Georgiestar]

the only advice I can give is keep reading this forum and having a good eating routine does help but it takes time, patience and obviously any excersise is a bonus, its not always a case of eating less unless you know you over eat.

 

[sugar_lipswales]

The thing is, and I'll probably get lynched for this, unless you're morbidly obese your doctor isn't going to be much help. You got yourself into this mess and you need to get yourself out, it takes years to lose a significant amount of weight not months. That might sound daunting but when you reach your target you can say that you did it without any help from the NHS or anyone else and you can say it with pride!
What's wrong with Weight Watchers or Slimming world? You can meet loads of new people all going through or have gone through the same thing as you and get support in a weekly group session.
Trust me, it's not the easy route but it the most satisfying!