MimiMarigold

OK so I'm doing 6 months of pre-surgery insurance mandated medical weight management. Month 1 visit: Met the doctor, did the weigh in, complained about the chairs that have arms and they brought me a different chair. We talked about the chair throughout the visit and how I did't fit in the chair with arms because it was digging into my legs, squeezing my butt, generally uncomfortable. Month 2 visit (this last week): They weigh me in, take me to the room, same chairs, same issues. I ask for a different chair, but the nurse says she would have to go to a different department to find one. Essentially, it was inconvenient. I'm like... ... ... Well, I'm not sitting there. So she has me on the table, finishes up with me and I'm waiting for the doctor to show up. Perched on that table like a potato with dangling legs. So I start pacing around the room like a caged elephant. I consider pulling out the stirrups and laying back on the table, but decide against that. I straighten the frame on the wall, then read the motivational poster. Its about customer service. "Grow your world around your customers and your customers will grown around you" First of all, why is a motivational poster concerning customer service in a patient room? Seems more appropriate for some back office space. Second, their customer service sucks! The chairs are an issue I've already complained about and now I've been told that my request is too inconvenient to bother. Third, I'm a customer who is seeing this particular doctor specifically because I am NOT trying to "grow" anymore. This lady is trying to lose weight. So doctor comes in and I'm ready to fight this fight. I tell her I want a different chair. She's surprised and shocked that they didn't get me one! (Guess who is not surprised even a little.) I say, these chairs are anti-fat and don't work for fat people. Isn't a large part of her business dealing with and seeing fat patients? I mean, most of America is fat people, so chances are you've got fat people coming in and being uncomfortable in these chairs. She bristles when I refer to myself as a "fat person." She says, "Don't say that, don't say you're fat" and she winces and tries to brush it off. I'm like, look lady, I'm fat. It's like, specifically why I see you. It's a requirement that I come and see you before I have this surgery that is ONLY FOR FAT PEOPLE. Like, WTF. I tell her that this poster is bananas. That they're doing a terrible job with customer service. She tries to swerve that as well - "This isn't my office, I'm not in charge of this, this isn't the only place I see patients, I will email the office manager, etc" I'm like, "You're the one I come to see. If not you, then who? Who do I talk to about this? Can we write this down in my chart that these chairs don't work and I want a chair without arms every time I come in here? Give me the office managers name and email, I will write to them." My takeaways: - This doctor is fat-phobic AF - This office puts any pretty picture in a frame without reading / comprehending the intent of said poster. - This office does not care about patient comfort. - I feel really good for speaking up, making a clear argument, not backing down, and eventually getting a chair without arms. - I feel good about saying all this stuff not only to the doctor, but to the med student who was shadowing her. - It's hard, but important to make my needs a priority. And I'm sure they talked **** after, but I honestly don't care. - Basically, this visit was A LOT and weird and I'm still processing it out.

@INEEDABUDDY No hernia, the results came out all good. But my system did NOT like that drink. Jealous of your 20 minute test, ha ha...

Hi All, I had my Upper GI done just last week and wanted to talk about the experience to see if anyone else has had something similar happen. When I drank the barium fluid, it sat like a brick in my stomach and we had trouble getting the stuff to move to the small intestine for all the pictures they needed. The test took about an hour and a half because I spent so much time walking around, trying to get the juice going. It made me feel sweaty and dizzy and nauseous. When they finally got what they needed, I drove the 20 minutes home and vomited it all up again. I felt awful for two days, but only threw up once. Has this happened to anyone else? Is this a common thing? Post surgery - Do I have to do this test again? I shudder to think... Any input would be great, thank you!

I'm still here! Not a lot of updates... I did the Upper GI and hated it. It made me so sick and I vomited the moment I got home. Has this happened to anyone else? I might do a main post about it.

@NovaLuna Its crazy - It seems like we're just expected to grin and bear it. Don't kick up a fuss, expect to be treated badly, expect your needs will not be met. Like when the doctors ask you to undress and wear those crappy paper gowns / shorts / tops and they only come in a size Medium. Like.... Really? My game plan going forward is to speak up. I'm not embarrassed to ask for what I need.

@rickm ... you’d have employees “dress up” in a fat suit? This is confusing to me.

@nyjenn it’s both. It’s a mixed use office with many doctors seeing patients.

@sarahredwood I believe I'm getting the sleeve. Have you been to an informational meeting regarding types of surgery?

@GrungeGrownUp @sarahredwood Have you guys made appointments yet or completed the psych eval or Upper GI x-ray? Feeling nervous about both.

Hi guys! I think I’m an August person, too, although I don’t have an official date yet. Just had my second weigh in and I’m down 16 lbs. none of my clothes feel any looser, but that’s more because I only wear black leggings. 😂

Lifelong dieter - I've tried it all, spent all the money... Lost some, gained more - you know the drill. I'm considering the Gastric Sleeve and currently jumping through the hoops for insurance and all the doctors. Some topics that keep rolling through my head : - Is Weight Loss Surgery just a medically approved way into disordered eating? - How much of this is health based vs. fat phobia? - I'm really struggling to reconcile what is truth and what is fat-panic. Has anyone else had these thoughts? - I've only told a few people in my life I'm considering surgery. I want to get really smart about it before I roll out a plan to friends and family. Any hot tips would be great! Looking to speak with some women who've done WLS who started with 200+ lbs to lose

@TheAngryMeow @lisafrommassachusetts @Healthy_life2 @catwoman7 @AJ Tylo @epicdreams2020 Thank you all for your thoughtful responses! I appreciate your time and details you've shared. I feel like my post was a bit scatterbrained, but thats kind of where I am in all of this. I'm full of questions and jumped in the deep end. I've been reading a lot of YrFatFriend and Health at Every Size and Intuitive Eating articles. I feel like there is a lot of sanity there regarding body image, inclusivity, food and eating, etc. And I'm struggling with the permanence of surgery and commitment of "the rest of your life." Trust, my therapist and I have been working on these questions, so I do have that going for me. Food and eating are so deeply ingrained in family and relationships, its scary and unsettling to uproot and alter these behaviors. Which is part of why I want to get clarity and feel really smart about surgery before I tell them all. Again, thank you all for your kindness. You guys are great.

FOR REAL - I saw What's Eating Gilbert Grape in my youth and I never let that house fire leave my mind. Its one of the reasons I moved out of the rural California.