NHS Patient Rights

Guest101

RandyRos wrote: »

Sorry, I've probably put this in the wrong place but I can't find anywhere suitable.

I just want to know if a consultant can legally refuse you an operation you need because of your high BMI?

Yes, absolutely, A high BMI can have serious complications with anaesthetic amongst other things.

DomRavioli

RandyRos wrote: »

Thanks for all the replies, even the ignorant ones about depression and weight loss.

I am actually 19 stone, so ideally I know I need to lose 10stone. I have always known it. I'm 42 now and have tried many times and many ways to lose weight. I don't ignore professionals who tell me to lose weight, but with depression your feelings and self loathing override your logical brain. If you can't understand that last sentence then CONGRATULATIONS you have never been depressed, I am so happy for you.

In Feb I joined a community gym and was attending once or twice a week in my latest attempt to lose weight. I'd had the ablation 5 months previously and the blood and pain had gone. Unfortunately in May the blood and pain came back even worse than before and hasn't stopped since! Yes that's right, I'm bleeding ALL the time now. So that's put paid to the gym. It has also worsened my depression. I wasn't losing any weight, but I was feeling fitter and stronger.

It's extremely frustrating that people assume overweight people sit on their bums all day. I never have done. I have kids to look after, a house to run, a big garden to maintain, animals to tend to and a large dog to walk daily.

My doc has referred me for the latest weight loss scheme which I said I'd try, but I'm not holding my breath.

Yes I understand about the anaesthetic risk, but tbh I couldn't care less if I died. Docs say it to try and shock me, but it many ways they'd be doing me a favour. I am Manic Depressive, death doesn't scare me. My meds don't cure my depression, they just stop me from trying to kill myself-most of the time. I'm happy to sign whatever they want so there's no come back on them if I died. The waiting list is 6 months long, all I ask is to be ON IT while I try again (in vain) to lose weight. Is that too much to ask?

As someone with BPD (like the insane version of bipolar), that's a cop out. You might not care if you died, but the people treating you WOULD. You want to put someone through an unnecessary death, the mountains of paperwork, the investigations as to why they went against all policy, the long (sometimes years) road back to getting back to normal because of one person?

I worked in the NHS for a decade before due to ill physical health I left. There is no way you are having that operation at 19 stone, Not now, not ever.

So start doing something about it if you really want it. It isn't easy, but you have to show some willing.

selement

Yeah the greater risks to you will be why they are refusing I'm afraid

Could you try slimming world? You may lose that 5 stone without extra exercising as although they encourage exercise they say it is not necessary to lose weight. I found it hard to stick to personally (I'm a sucker for a takeaway) but then I felt happy enough after losing a stone and a half (still 1 stone over weight though). My friend has managed to stick to it strictly and lose over 9 stone on it and is now on the low side of a healthy bmi. If you want it enough its easier to stick to I think.

Are you on anything for PCOS? My friend has that and was given Metformin which actually helps with weight loss She was super dedicated and I'm sure she would have lost the weight regardless!

baby_lemonade

19 stone?? Gordon Bennett, you haven't got a leg to stand on. They're quite within their rights to refuse the op. Don't pester PALS with this, pester your GP to get you onto a weight loss support group.

gettingtheresometime

selement wrote: »

Yeah the greater risks to you will be why they are refusing I'm afraid

Could you try slimming world? You may lose that 5 stone without extra exercising as although they encourage exercise they say it is not necessary to lose weight. I found it hard to stick to personally (I'm a sucker for a takeaway) but then I felt happy enough after losing a stone and a half (still 1 stone over weight though). My friend has managed to stick to it strictly and lose over 9 stone on it and is now on the low side of a healthy bmi. If you want it enough its easier to stick to I think.

Are you on anything for PCOS? My friend has that and was given Metformin which actually helps with weight loss She was super dedicated and I'm sure she would have lost the weight regardless!

I was going to suggest slimming world as well.

I was always a weight watchers girl but am amazed at the amount you can apparently eat and lies weight with Slimming World.

Whilst I can understand your frustration OP perhaps a different approach to the situation may help. Can you not go back to your GP and explain that whilst you appreciate you have to lose this weight, the meds you're taking are counteracting any efforts so can they be reviewed and at the same time what are the health effects of losing blood all the time?

Rather than force the doctors to do something which they can refuse to do, you need to find ways of working with them to achieve what you want.

Sncjw

It will be due to anaesthetic risk as the bigger you are the more risk you have esp with your breathing. The hospital will also have policies that doctors follow. The ccg and world health organisation also places recommendations there's also research papers that help to determine what is safe for patients. He wouldn't have just said no without a reason. I suspect it's the weight issue. If the docs are referring you to weight loss place then it's telling you you need to do something about it. If you have kids why not take them to a park and have a nice walk or play a foot ball game. Exercise is supposed to help your depression too.

mr_rush

you cannot force a doctor to treat you. excess weight unfortunately is a significant risk in terms of anaesthesia and post op recovery. thresholds vary depending on surgery and other comorbidities - therefore if you were unfortunate enough to be stabbed or shot, you'd be operated on as it was 'life or death'. If it's for an elective op such as knee replacement then the risks of operating can outweigh the benefits. you are entitled to a second opinion, to seek this speak to the original surgeon who can refer you onwards or your GP.

helcat26

Can you go to your GP and discuss other options, for example (and I am not advocating these just suggesting a direction for a discussion with your GP)
- hormonally stopping your bleeding with an implant or depo
- aiding your weight loss with a gastric balloon (does not require surgery as is swallowed)
- reviewing your medication as a whole


I don't think you could make them operate in your current condition whoever you complained to.


Good luck you sound miserable.

csgohan4

selement wrote: »

Are you on anything for PCOS? My friend has that and was given Metformin which actually helps with weight loss She was super dedicated and I'm sure she would have lost the weight regardless!

Metformin is not licensed for PCOS and your GP may not prescribe it to you. It is not used to treat weight gain in PCOS but menstrual irregularities.


http://patient.info/doctor/polycystic-ovary-syndrome-pro


In regards to the OP, they may consider orlistat as I assume their BMI is greater than 35 and would fit the criteria for this weight loss pill. But no guarantees this may work.


Weight loss is not just about exercising, in fact it needs to be effective exercise, not once or twice a week pottering about in the pool. NICE recommend 30 mins of exercise which makes you breathless and increases your heart rate every day. Looking after the kids or house chores do not count.


Not to mention about effective dieting. I suggest OP make a food diary and consider what she can cut out in the whole week.


Take ownership of you weight and no matter how you want people to sugar coat it or not happy to hear the truth, politically correctness goes out the window when your health is at risk.


Your Obese and there's no beating around the bush. Don't direct your weight to other's, do something about it and quick, otherwise a heart bypass or diabetes is round the corner.

skint_chick

The higher your body fat the more oestrogen your body stores - this causes the hormone disruption that means you're constantly bleeding. If the gynae consultant has ruled out anything more sinister then it's as simple as that. I had the same issue 2years ago and it was horrific, passing large blood clots and constantly flooding. I actually changed my diet to cut back on dairy and wheat and started walking more. Once I'd lost 3 stone (which only took a few months) the bleeding calmed down and a month or so later my cycle was back to normal.

Even a 10% weight loss will help your hormones are that seems a much better way of doing things that having surgery - and losing a bit of weight can only help your mental health by making you feel positive about your achievement. I know it's hard to not feel sorry for yourself and pin all your hopes on surgery fixing things but if it's not going to happen then the sooner you take control of the situation the better you'll feel. You need to find an alternative for eating when you're feeling sad - like talking to someone, writing in a journal, colouring, watching a comedy movie. I do embroidery so my hands are too busy to eat! It is hard to focus on losing weight when you have other stuff going on but you are worth it and if it stops your bleeding then it's a great reason. You might also want to check out DIM tablets, they've worked well for me with keeping hormone induced emotions in check and you can get them at health stores and on amazon.