New town doctor blues

[resonant]

I wish there were some sort of Fat Underground for choosing a doctor, some national group that you could post to and say, "Dr. So-and-So: Is she going to pressure me to put a growing 14-year-old on a diet?" or "Their website lists 'medically supervised weight-loss' as one of their services. That probably means I shouldn't go there, right?"

I actually chose the kidlet's last pediatrician in our old town based on looking at photos and picking out the plumpest one. Seriously! But I'm not finding photos here. And the kidlet feels they've outgrown pediatricians, anyhow.


edited 2019 to retroactively correct the kidlet's gender pronouns

Comments

[jedusaur]

That really should exist. You could try checking out potential doctors on Yelp? Not an ideal solution, but there might be useful stuff in the comments.

[resonant]

I've not found very many doctor reviews on Yelp. In fact, I've not found very many doctor reviews anywhere, which makes me wonder whether people are afraid of lawsuits or something.

[boxofdelights]

There is firecat's Fat Friendly Health Professionals List:

http://www.cat-and-dragon.com/stef/fat/

[resonant]

None in my area -- but that's an amazing resource!

[florahart]

Maybe look for "Health at every size" (HAES) words?

[resonant]

I wish doctors had websites where they explained their philosophy, but I find that very rare.

[myalexandria]

I think I saw my pediatrician for the last time right before I went to college -- for whatever pre-college checkup I needed. I suppose I'd gotten a gynecologist at that point too.

[resonant]

If we were still in the old town, we'd stay with the pediatrician, because we both liked her. But in choosing a new doctor, it did seem a little odd to be looking for a pediatrician for someone who's old enough to drive in this state ...

Since writing the post, I've discovered a (prettily plumpish) pediatrician who specializes in adolescent medicine, so I think we might give her a try.

[azurelunatic]

Oh augh, that is not a fun search.

I wonder if there's a state-level or regional HAES forum that you could inquire with.

[resonant]

That's a good idea -- I'll look for one. All I want is for the kid to make it to adulthood without "fatty fat fat fat everything about you is all about the fat" engraved on her self-image -- is that too much to ask?

[via_ostiense]

All I want is for the kid to make it to adulthood without "fatty fat fat fat everything about you is all about the fat" engraved on her self-image

I wish my mom had cared about that, instead of the opposite. It makes a difference in day to day mental health. Kidlet is lucky to have you.

[mskitsch]

*delurks

There is. Oddly enough, that is exactly the sort of question that gets posted at Fatshionista (http://fatshionista.livejournal.com/).

If you don't want to join, would you like me to post it on your behalf?

*relurks

[resonant]

Good idea! I think I'll join up!

[octette]

When I am picking doctors for my sister, I call and interview them first. Also, you can make an appointment specifically to interview the doctor.

I also always try to remember: they are someone providing a service, and I can always leave in the middle if I don't like the quality of service they provide.

[resonant]

The funny thing is that I'm not worried about this with respect to my own healthcare at all, as I'm more than capable of getting up and walking out if someone trifles with me ... but no doctor has mentioned my weight to me since the early eighties.

But the kidlet is 14, and -- I don't know. Sitting quietly while a doctor told her she needed to be on a diet would be a thing that I don't want her to have in her brain, but "My mother dragged me out of a doctor's appointment when the doctor started pressuring her to put me on a diet" is also a thing I don't want her to have in her brain.

[octette]

When I was 14 (and anorexic and an athlete) and the doctor said I should lose weight, it would have meant the world to me if my mother had dragged me out of there and had a frank conversation with me about weight vs health. YMMV, obvs!

(I really do recommend interviewing doctors beforehand, even though it's kind of a time-suck.)

[cesperanza]

I second the thing about interviewing! It's worth letting them know straight up that its an issue for you (girls having good self-body image) and if they start to argue, go to the next one. You'll know the right sort of doctor right away I think!

[ghoti]

Adolescent pediatrician for the kidlet? No babies in the waiting room, but still sensitive to young peoples' needs. I had one at least partway through undergrad...
Unfortunately, no suggestions for your doctor search :(

[resonant]

Yes! In the time since I wrote the post, I've found an adolescent pediatrician listing in town, and I'm thinking it's a good solution.

[fullygoldy]

Right before I moved to the upper Midwest from SC, I had a physical and was told I was at least 15 lbs overweight, and needed to rectify that immediately. When I had my first physical up here, I was worried because I had gained instead of lost. I was amazed that my weight wasn't even a topic of that visit. 14 yrs, several Drs, and 20 more pounds later, my weight still isn't a topic. So maybe finding a sensitive Dr won't be as difficult as you fear.

[resonant]

Doctors used to talk to me about my weight when I was in college, but they don't any more -- even though my height and weight haven't changed since then and the blasted BMI recommendations have gotten more restrictive. I don't know what it is. They don't tend to talk to me about what I eat, either. My old GP used to ask me every year about my exercise routine, which I applaud.

But the kidlet's former pediatrician did pressure me to put her on a diet. Wonder if it's something to do with age? If so, that's pretty stupid -- she's still growing and I'm not!