Dec 6, 2008

The perfect doctor

With the experience of the past 30 years on earth, I thought nothing about medical professionals could surprise me. I've been told to get bariatric surgery because it's a magical cure for PCOS. I've been told to lose weight or die. I've been told that not hating my body means I have a personality disorder. I've been told to look it up on the web seconds after a diagnosis. I've argued with doctors and corrected doctors (many don't appreciate that)

After all that I'm fairly cynical about doctors. The majority see a fat woman and think that I eat too much and don't exercise because I weigh around 120 kgs. Even the more respectful doctors suggest losing weight for health reasons. There are reasons why I weigh 120 kgs but I refuse to categorise myself into a "good fattie" or a "bad fattie". However, I do find it particularly evil and ignorant of doctors to suggest losing weight when I have a certified medical disease that prevents weight loss.

Dengue fever struck me two weeks ago - a final gift from the developing world. I have since been seeing a very hot, witty and intelligent doctor who was already ticking all my boxes. Very competent and thoughtful.

Today he took the cake, as it were. My ankles are swollen for some unknown reason probably unrelated to the dengue. They've been swollen for the past six months. He's given me diuretics and requested to weigh me. This was the first mention of my weight. I refused. He explained his reasoning.

He reckons I'm carrying about 5 kilos of water weight. He wanted to weigh me to track that 5 kilos until I got back to the right weight for me.

Yes he said the right weight for me. I almost started crying. He implied that I'm fine the way I am. I know that but first time ever that a medical professional treated me as a person rather than a big fattie.

I almost launched myself across the desk to shove my tongue in his mouth but I restrained myself.

How am I gushing so much about human kindness? Why is his behaviour exceptional when it should be standard? I am used to walking into a clinic with gritted teeth prepared to fight for my right to be treated as a human being and not an insect. It's a relief to know that I don't have to always play defence.

Happy thoughts to Dr N, the perfect doctor

6 comments:

Laura said...

Hi, I just found your blog. I'm overweight as well and also had to suffer offensive remarks made by doctors. My own family doctor actually said, "You can't possibly feel good about yourself looking like that." She's bone thin of course. It's good to know that there are decent doctors out there.

elle said...

know how you feel. I've written a couple of times about why i hate going to the dr's.

Unknown said...

I almost launched myself across the desk to shove my tongue in his mouth but I restrained myself.

Give him a kiss for me while you are at it, will ya? He seems to be quite a rarity.

Mór Rígan said...

Yeah AD especially since they are so rare. This is one of the only doctor that has treated me like a person. I find it amazing that his kind are so rare.

Mór Rígan said...

Thanks for commenting elle. I'm a big fan of your blog though more a lurker than commenter :-)

Mór Rígan said...

I will GG. It makes it easier than doing it just for myself!

Dr N., here I come!