Nursing school is making me a little bit neurotic. Apparently, it's a common phenomenon. Every time we learn about a new disease process, I start to wonder if I have it. My legs are falling asleep ... I must have peripheral vascular disease!
So anyway, to combat my ensuing craziness, I decided to make an appointment for a physical. I met my new primary care Doctor yesterday. She was very nice and did a thorough assessment. She also gave me a lab slip for the battery of blood work. Then, as we were wrapping up, she said something that surprised me.
You know, for your height, you may be a little overweight.
This is not really news to me. I've been overweight since Gummy Bear was born. I have also been to several different doctors (with several different specialties) in the 4 years since that happened. No one has ever mentioned my weight. I wonder how many of them thought it was easier to let it go. After all, no one loves to be reminded that they are overweight, and I'm only a little overweight. I'm sure lots of people get really defensive if you dare to mention that they could stand to lose a few pounds.
Still, new Doctor had the guts to have the discussion with me. She looked up my BMI, and said that if I could lose 10 pounds, I'd be right in the middle of "average" weight for my height. She went on to remind me that a healthy weight sets me up for a healthy life.
So, bravo, new Doctor! Way to have an uncomfortable conversation for the sake of, you know, health. In honor of new Doctor, I'm going to work on getting off that last 10 pounds. Thanks for the kick in the rear!
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3 comments:
Oh man, I could never be a nurse precisely because I would get crazy paranoid about having strange illnesses. It's bad enough just having access to the internet!
Also - I agree, way to go new doctor! My nurse practitioner has never said anything to me, even though I am also a little overweight. Strangely enough, it was my neurologist who brought it up.
Agreed.. Its not just allergies, what if it is chronic sinusitis, or Hmmm, why do I suddenly feel an abdominal pulse, I must have an abdominal aortic aneurysm! And I 2nd the Dr., I have never had it mentioned to me that I am overweight (although almost to the normal range now!) and often wondered why she never brought it up. It is hard to bring up those tough subjects. I find it interesting as I read through H&Ps of patients where it states that they are not tobacco or alcohol users then read in a consult report that they indeed are. It makes me wonder if some Docs just don't want to go there out because they would then be responsible for educating that patient...
I have found at the hospital in particular, there is so much going on with a patient that it would be hard, if not impossible, to actually address it all. Still, I was glad to see that some doctors are still willing to have the hard conversations.
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