Obesity! Will that word follow me to the grave :(

[WL WARRIOR 690]

I recently got to see my past and current medical records because I am trying to overturn my insurance company's decision to cut me off since I will soon be going over their income limit with my salary raise. Before I tell you what I found in my records, let me take a moment to highlight the real truth: I am moderately healthy. The only physical/mental issues I am still plagued with are hypothyroidism, mild to moderate anxiety/depression, and a mild skin condition.

However, my records indicate that I suffer from a long list of diseases and inflictions. Many of these were problems I had over 15 years ago and that I consider conditions that I have RECOVERED from. I totally understand your repulsion with being labeled OBESE. My gosh, you have gone through sweat and tears just to get that ugly label off your plate. But the truth is that you will probably carry that label the rest of your life even if you became anorexic.

I compare this to my "drug addict" label that I have to carry around even though I've been clean for 15 years. About 17 years ago, I had terrible inflammation in my joints because of rheumatic fever. The Vicodin that was prescribed not only alleviated this pain, but also instantly relieved me from anxiety and depression. It was like letting go of the100 pounds of bricks that had weighed me down for over 10 years. I felt optimistic, awake, energetic, and hope for my future. It took over a year to finally get help because I did not want to be forever labeled as a drug addict. I wasn't in a back alley shooting up heroin with dirty needles after not sleeping for days or taking a bath for a month. However, that is the image many people get when you have a drug addict label. Even at NA meetings, you have to present yourself as a drug addict. You can present yourself as a recovering drug addict, but the truth is that you will be recovering the rest of your life even if you never touch substances again.

As a teacher that works with children with special needs, I could debate endlessly the pros and cons of labeling. Like lipstick lady mentioned, a label does tell a doctor what you have been through and an awareness that certain symptoms have a chance of returning again. A doctor shouldn't prescribe codeine Syrup for my bronchitis due to my past substance abuse tendencies. Likewise, a doctor probably shouldn't prescribe Zyprexa (for depression) either, since a side effect is about a 20 pound weight gain.

One could say that having this kind of opinion helps me to feel better about turning in my appeal with all my past health conditions and diseases. If they took the time to really read through my past medical file, they should be able to gather that I'm not afflicted with most of these problems anymore or not to the same extent. My doctor has filled out the insurance paperwork already and has informed me that she has put all my past health conditions onto the current health problem report. I would like to believe that she did this because she believes that past medical problems will always stay with a patient or because related symptoms could someday return. However, I think she may have done it so that she can continue getting paid.

Edited August 15, 2015 by WL WARRIOR

[Babbs 14,680]

It's just a medical term. We all suffer from the disease of obesity.

Just like an alcoholic, even if you stop drinking, you are still considered an alcoholic.

[sweettea 300]

@@WL WARRIOR @@Babs I never thought of it that way.

[CowgirlJane 14,259]

I am so sorry this hurt you so much. I have to agree with lipsticklady and others though..obesity is a medical term. It took me YEARS to admit it applies to me. I feel like you put yourself through emotional turmoil when you give it so much power. Its just a word.

I hope you see the humor in the story i will share. In the 1990s a friend was expecting a baby and at nearly 40, that was unusual at the time. She accidentally saw her chart and written in huge letters at the top was the phrase "advanced maternal age". We joked about that for a long time because no woman wants to be called "old" for any reason..haha. Damn doctors.

[Babbs 14,680]

@@SWEETTEA

I don't want to derail the thread, but yes, I had a doctor explain it to me that way. We have the disease obesity. And like any disease, there are treatments and there are cures. WLS is a treatment for the disease, not the cure. Eating right, exercising, tracking calories etc is the treatment, not the cure. That's why if you stop the treatment, the symptoms of the disease return (weight gain). Made total sense to me.

[RJ'S/beginning 5,358]

Somehow I got it in my silly head that if you work hard enough and lose enough that no one will remember who you used to be. I know that is wrong thinking. But the word jumped out at me from the page and I handled it badly!

Today it is just another day. I don't care anymore!

But I think if we give people labels and don't see changes or growth then that is a sad commentary on how we view life. Once in a box of labels, always in a box of labels!

[Babbs 14,680]

@RJ'S/beginning

I get it. The first time a doctor called me "morbidly obese" I wanted to cry

And I can understand the shock of you seeing it on your chart now, when you are actually on the "normal" BMI category. I would have felt it too, until I thought about it a little.

But my initial reaction would be like "Hey! How DARE you say I'm STILL OBESE!" Lol.

[RJ'S/beginning 5,358]

@RJ'S/beginning

I get it. The first time a doctor called me "morbidly obese" I wanted to cry

And I can understand the shock of you seeing it on your chart now, when you are actually on the "normal" BMI category. I would have felt it too, until I thought about it a little.

But my initial reaction would be like "Hey! How DARE you say I'm STILL OBESE!" Lol.

the point is that nothing else was on the sheet. none of my other problems. Or issues. Just OBESITY! That was not even the reason I went to see him. It was because of my Hypoglycemia. Then he transferred me to the Dietitian. There was no reason for that to be on that sheet. Yes I see it is part of who I will always be but it had nothing to do with either visits.

Monday I go see a cancer doctor. I am sure that he won't have OBESE written as the reason I am there. It is just stupid!

My size or previous condition had nothing to do with the visits to either appointments.

[CowgirlJane 14,259]

I hope that is nothing serious.

I DO tell all docs of my obesity history because my body is changed permently by obesity. Example is that xray did not show arthritis in my hip but it hurt.liked made and got worse with PT. My detailed description of medical history prompted a different series of xray that of course found advanced arthritis in that hip. They called it "central" arthritis which is related to obesity history.

Anyway glad you are over it and I often get pissed off that even losing all that weight I STILL have consequences to deal with... so i can relate.

Monday I go see a cancer doctor. I am sure that he won't have OBESE written as the reason I am there. It is just stupid!

My size or previous condition had nothing to do with the visits to either appointments.

[Alex Brecher 10,500]

What an unfortunate incident! I am sorry it happened to you and made you so upset. It sounds like it was an innocent but difficult to forgive mistake on the clinic’s part. It also sounds like it was just coincidence that it happened to you (a successful WLS patient).

It is unfortunate, but true, that diagnoses stay with you for pretty much forever on your health record! At least it’s a good reminder of where you’ve been and how far you’ve come.

Regarding the hypoglycemia, it is does seem possible that it is reactive hypoglycemia. One thing your doctor might test for – if you haven’t already gotten this done – is your A1C levels, which are a better indicator of blood sugar levels over time.

About carbs: is it possible for you to consider eating small amounts of “healthy” carbs if that seems to be what your doctor suggests? Or do you feel that even healthy carbs like oatmeal and whole wheat Pasta would be trigger foods or too hard to keep under control?

Anyway, sorry you had to deal with this mistake!

[RJ'S/beginning 5,358]

What an unfortunate incident! I am sorry it happened to you and made you so upset. It sounds like it was an innocent but difficult to forgive mistake on the clinic’s part. It also sounds like it was just coincidence that it happened to you (a successful WLS patient).

It is unfortunate, but true, that diagnoses stay with you for pretty much forever on your health record! At least it’s a good reminder of where you’ve been and how far you’ve come.

Regarding the hypoglycemia, it is does seem possible that it is reactive hypoglycemia. One thing your doctor might test for – if you haven’t already gotten this done – is your A1C levels, which are a better indicator of blood sugar levels over time.

About carbs: is it possible for you to consider eating small amounts of “healthy” carbs if that seems to be what your doctor suggests? Or do you feel that even healthy carbs like oatmeal and whole wheat Pasta would be trigger foods or too hard to keep under control?

Anyway, sorry you had to deal with this mistake!

Good point Alex. I will ask about testing for my A1C levels.

She did suggest healthy carbs. Both that you mentioned, I am having trouble digesting them. I will look at more legumes as she got excited that I enjoy them.

So far this week I have had two attacks. But was able to catch them before they got really bad!

I know it is Reactive Hypoglycemia. I was diagnosed with that. But for some reason as I am an emotional person and affected by things around me. It seems to trigger the attacks more then say others who are less sensitive to their surroundings. This is who I am. My nature! I cannot change this part of me. If I/they can't figure out a way to help me then it will be one more pill I have to take daily.

Still it does not change the fact that I would do it all over again. To be where I am today!

[betrthnever 107]

IMHO, I feel like I will always be an obese person, no matter what my weight. I've been morbidly obese, normal weight, and back to obese many times that my weight and health WILL always be something I will have to fight for.

[CowgirlJane 14,259]

I think that is a very realistic attitude. People assume the further you are out from your surgery the more it is "behind you" but I think maintenance is really just as hard and without the constant "wow you look fabulous" type encouragement. I am hanging in there more because i love how I feel and I just cant bear the idea to be obese again...

IMHO, I feel like I will always be an obese person, no matter what my weight. I've been morbidly obese, normal weight, and back to obese many times that my weight and health WILL always be something I will have to fight for.

[IncredibleShrinkingMan 437]

Whenever you go to an appointment where body weight and nutrition are the subjects of the care, it will always be there. However, when it is not a current diagnosis, some may still treat it as one because of the always elevated risk that we could backslide and re-enter that reviled land. Same with diabetes, many medical professionals never actually officially removed your diagnosis as a condition since they prefer to treat that (and obesity) as dormant and in remission, rather than cured. But that is obviously a fiery debate that you can read all over the internet. Of course, there's an elevated chance we return to either of those conditions than the average skinny person whose never had either one. For the most part, though, it would just appear as part of your past medical history. And who cares about the past. We live for now and for the future.

If it makes you feel better, if you go to a specialist for reasons unrelated to weight or weight loss surgery, I don't see why it would ever be noted as part of your history, even in cases where you need to list WLS as part of your past surgical history. It isn't a label that follows you around except in cases where your past weight is directly relevant to a current condition or treatment plan.

[jmw1982 59]

I completely understand why the OP takes such offense to the label of obese. I am considered a healthy obese which seems to be a contradiction in terms.

When I was pregnant, my OB forced me to take the 3 hour glucose test 4 times despite all the results being within the normal or even hypoglycemic range. They just couldn't understand how someone so fat wasn't diabetic.

I also have a history of epilepsy. I haven't had a seizure in 16 years following brain surgery and have been off all seizure medication for 6 years. There are no medical devises, metal plates in my brain or any other risk factors. However, this didn't stop a masseuse from refusing my massage appointment a few years ago. I think this was simply an excuse after she saw me to not have to touch the fat rolls, but regardless, I no longer disclose this when I make a spa appointment.