Got an ED? Recovering? Tough!
Jan 20th, 2010 by heidi
I’ve been searching for a size-friendly physician in the Seattle area for some time now. My GP has been nice enough but I know that, deep down, she’s desperate to tell me to lose weight. I could deal with that but her assistant has gotten very bad about returning calls (I have asthma and am fat, two risk factors for H1N1, and they never returned my call about getting on the waiting list – no worries, got it through work last week, but still…a doctor should return calls!).
So, last summer I had asked my nutritionist for HAES-friendly docs. She said that many of the doctors that they work with tend to be full but suggested calling a nurse practitioner who works close to my area (North Seattle). I finally got around to calling her today, because of this persistent not-answering issue from my current doctor. “Oh, let me see if she’s accepting new patients,” said the receptionist. I was then transferred through to someone else (office manager?), who said that said nurse practitioner did have appointments available and what was I needing to be seen about?
A thyroid check, replied I, and mentioned that I’d been referred to her by my nutritionist. She asked my nutritionist’s name and then asked if she could ask me a “personal question.” Of course, I told her (doesn’t mean I have to answer, right?”
Did I have an eating disorder?
Yes.
Nurse Practitioner In Question is not accepting new ED patients.
But…that’s not what I want to see her about! Doesn’t that matter?!
She’s not accepting new ED patients.
Even if I’m in recovery and NOT intending to discuss those issues with her?
She is not accepting new ED patients.
BUTBUT!
Yeah.
Well, gee. I don’t think I’ve ever been turned down by a “family practice” doctor because of a specific health issue. What a bloody slap in the face. I’m actually quite shaky now and almost on the verge of tears – this woman offered no other referrals, no reasoning behind the refusal to accept new ED patients, and no sympathy whatsoever.
Even if I could, I wouldn’t see the NP in question.
I also e-mailed my nutritionist to let her know, because I’m doing pretty well in recovery from compulsive eating, all told, and well along my path to intuitive eating. Imagine what hearing THAT could do to someone who wasn’t anywhere near the point I am now, if it’s making me this upset.
And people wonder why fat people don’t go see the bloody doctor more often. Maybe because even if we’re TRYING to get better (those of us who are emotional eaters), we still get slapped in the face.
Wow, that’s some crazy s&!t
WTF? I’ve never had a doctor (or nurse practitioner) ask me anything like that as a prerequisite to becoming a patient!
That is RIDICULOUS! I’m so sorry that happened to you. I know how hard and important a good doctor-patient relationship is. I hope you find someone worthy.
What the hell??
I am trying to find a size-friendly GP in the Seattle area too and haven’t found anyone yet
We should keep in touch!
Definitely! It never registered with me that you’re in Seattle too (my mom’s also a pastor, in Kirkland, and got her MDiv from Seattle U!) Small world!
I am so sorry, Heidi. That’s horrible. I hope your nutritionist stops recommending her then.
(((hugs)))
I’m sorry about what happened to you, but ED’s are not weight specific.
Wriggles – I don’t understand your comment in light of my post? I’m in no way claiming that EDs are weight-specific (however you intend that to come across). I am a compulsive eater. I also am fat. The two are not synonymous. I was seeking a doctor with an HAES approach, who will not blame my size for any and every health issue I have.
I’m afraid I don’t understand what your comment means or what issue you have with my post.
You’re point was about not taking you on because of ED’s. OK. But then you end;
And people wonder why fat people don’t go see the bloody doctor more often.
Ah – essentially I was making the comment because the whole reason I called the doctor in the first place was because she’d been recommended as someone who took an HAES approach. Because I’m a fat person, I have to go above and beyond to find a doctor who will see me as a PERSON and not just as a fat person, at least in my experience.
When this type of thing happens it makes me even less willing to see a doctor than I was in the first place. I didn’t intend to suggest that fat = ED for everyone, although for me it does. Sorry that wasn’t clear!
That’s OK heidi, I’m sorry if it sounded like an attack on you. What I maybe should have said is that this might have overlap with other ED’s like anorexia and so forth. I’ve heard people say that they’ve had troubles with doctors, insurance companies etc excluding them from care/coverage due to other eating disorders.
I suppose I was wondering if your experience is part of a general trend in medical responses to eating disorders.