Hey everyone, just a rant here. I know this is more for the Break Room, but I just started back working and can't quite pay for a premium membership yet. It's not really a rant, more a pathetic whine
Today I finally get my rear in for a physical. With 4 kids, sometimes I forget to take care of myself. So, I'm feeling good about going in to get myself checked out. First thing when the NP comes in, she looks at my kids and says, "Couldn't you get anyone to babysit for you?" Well, if I could, I would have done that, instead of dragging a 5 year old, a 2 year old and a 5 month old in here. So, she asks her nurse to play with them while I get checked out. Because, you know, that is what we nurses do.....babysit.
So, I get on the scale. I'm pretty happy to see that I'm back to my pre-preganancy weight. Now, granted, I can stand to lose a few pounds (okay, I'll be honest, maybe 15 or 20), but I just have to watch my eating habits....nothing major. My NP sits down and we start talking. She says to me, "So, what do you want to talk about, besides the fact that you're overweight." Well, thank you for that. But what I really want to talk about is me quitting smoking. I ask about trying Wellbutrin but I get shot down because I'm breastfeeding (okay, get that) and that I should "just do a program because you have to really want to quit, you shouldn't need any meds or patches." If I didn't feel I needed that, I wouldn't ask for it. I also asked about medication for my migraine. Since I was pregnant and now breastfeeding, I haven't been on my regiment of Neurontin/Relpax. The answer I got was just to try other things instead of meds. Once again, if they worked, I WOULD DO IT! While filling out my lab slip for blood work, she says to me, "they just have an obese dx code here, I wish they'd have one for overweight" OKAY, I GET IT ALREADY!!!
In the end, I walked in hoping that I'd get relief from my headaches and on my way to quitting smoking, and walked out of there feeling like a fat, nicotine addicted loser, no better off than when I came in, except now I feel like my image of myself has been horribly distorted all this time and I should be really concerned about getting this weight off. I never thought of myself as really overweight, and I fit in the same size I have for years. But, I guess the truth hurts, and that's what's really bothering me.
Anyway, like the eternal optimist I am, I walk out of there, get myself some Nicorette gum, and go on the Weight watchers website to check out what they have to offer. And then, after hearing my DH won't be home until late, struggling with my kids who are just fighting all day long, getting them all out to Vacation Bible school and volunteering there while trying the nurse my 5 month old, I go out and get myself a BLT hoagie and a pack of smokes.
God bless you! That NP is no good.. .. I think the Surgeon General said that quitting smoking is just as difficult as quitting heroin. What a B(*()0, anyways I quit this year by tapering. It drove me nuts when the cigarettes were gone for good... I actually asked for ativan for a week and got it. from my PCP... You dont realize how much you depend on those smoke breaks......................... as far as the weight is concerned I always refuse to be weighed... I absolutely hate it... ( Just so you know, quitting smoking is really difficult. I went on wellbutrin one time to quit... I am a multiple time quitter and I lost weight, stopped drinking coffee, and stopped smoking.) The wellbutrin did give me some really bad headaches those. I read in your post that you have migranes.
I think I read somewhere that quitting smoking ( if you can ) is the physical equiv of losing 70 lbs...
I understand how frustrated you feel. It takes a lot to go into an office visit and admit you need help. When you are shot down like that, you just want to cry....
I went to my NP the other day with a similar situation. I'm very overweight (75 - 100 pounds). My dad is diabetic, my mom is pre-diabetic. My NP was awesome. She gave me the name of a great nutritionist to call, and was very supportive. When I called to make an appointment with the nutritionist, I was told that my insurance won't cover it since I'm a diabetic. The cost is $120 an hour. The receptionist said if I had diabetes, I would still have a $35 co-pay. (Don't get me started on our crummy insurance plan. My husband owns his own business, so our rate is high and the coverage is terrible.)
I hung up the phone and cried. :crying2: I finally thought I would get the help I need to get healthy..... I've tried WW before, but I really need someone to look at my food journal every week for a while - one on one. I need lots of emotional support & encouragement, and I didn't feel that at a WW meeting of 75 people! I'm starting nursing school in the fall, and I'm embarrassed to leave the house. It's going to be hard enough to be an "older student" without being the "older, obese student".
I understand how frustrated you feel. It takes a lot to go into an office visit and admit you need help. When you are shot down like that, you just want to cry....
I went to my NP the other day with a similar situation. I'm very overweight (75 - 100 pounds). My dad is diabetic, my mom is pre-diabetic. My NP was awesome. She gave me the name of a great nutritionist to call, and was very supportive. When I called to make an appointment with the nutritionist, I was told that my insurance won't cover it since I'm a diabetic. The cost is $120 an hour. The receptionist said if I had diabetes, I would still have a $35 co-pay. (Don't get me started on our crummy insurance plan. My husband owns his own business, so our rate is high and the coverage is terrible.)
I hung up the phone and cried. :crying2: I finally thought I would get the help I need to get healthy..... I've tried WW before, but I really need someone to look at my food journal every week for a while - one on one. I need lots of emotional support & encouragement, and I didn't feel that at a WW meeting of 75 people! I'm starting nursing school in the fall, and I'm embarrassed to leave the house. It's going to be hard enough to be an "older student" without being the "older, obese student".
Beth
What a drag! I wonder what would work for you? Maybe someone will have some suggestions.
I gotta figure out how to cut and paste, that was PURE comedy and I see a rewarding career in stand up looming in my future (may be an oncoming train but ya never know)
God bless you! That NP is no good.. .. I think the Surgeon General said that quitting smoking is just as difficult as quitting heroin. What a B(*()0, anyways I quit this year by tapering. It drove me nuts when the cigarettes were gone for good... I actually asked for ativan for a week and got it. from my PCP... You dont realize how much you depend on those smoke breaks......................... as far as the weight is concerned I always refuse to be weighed... I absolutely hate it... ( Just so you know, quitting smoking is really difficult. I went on wellbutrin one time to quit... I am a multiple time quitter and I lost weight, stopped drinking coffee, and stopped smoking.) The wellbutrin did give me some really bad headaches those. I read in your post that you have migranes.
I think I read somewhere that quitting smoking ( if you can ) is the physical equiv of losing 70 lbs...
Good Luck let us know how it turns out.
You are absolutely correct...nicotine is as addicting as heroin, more so than cocaine or most other substances. And it is not the nicotine that is harmful (per se) it is the other stuff in the cigs that cause all the probs. There are a number of nicotine delivery systems - patches, gum, lozenges, etc - try until you find one that works for you.
Good luck trying to quit. It is tough but can be done. I quit w/ patches when they were first released - worked for the company that manufactured them.
Find a good PCP to assist you w/ this -- your NP scores low marks in many areas.
Just curious if the NP knew you were a nurse or not? It almost sounds like you got the canned speil that all her patients get- not that is right though. Sadly depending on the patient population things get dumbed down/ put bluntly as thats the only way to get through to them. From your discription thats the idea that comes to mind for me. Still I probably would like the other posters stated find some one else to see.
I understand how frustrated you feel. It takes a lot to go into an office visit and admit you need help. When you are shot down like that, you just want to cry....
I went to my NP the other day with a similar situation. I'm very overweight (75 - 100 pounds). My dad is diabetic, my mom is pre-diabetic. My NP was awesome. She gave me the name of a great nutritionist to call, and was very supportive. When I called to make an appointment with the nutritionist, I was told that my insurance won't cover it since I'm a diabetic. The cost is $120 an hour. The receptionist said if I had diabetes, I would still have a $35 co-pay. (Don't get me started on our crummy insurance plan. My husband owns his own business, so our rate is high and the coverage is terrible.)
I hung up the phone and cried. :crying2: I finally thought I would get the help I need to get healthy..... I've tried WW before, but I really need someone to look at my food journal every week for a while - one on one. I need lots of emotional support & encouragement, and I didn't feel that at a WW meeting of 75 people! I'm starting nursing school in the fall, and I'm embarrassed to leave the house. It's going to be hard enough to be an "older student" without being the "older, obese student".
Beth
Beth try tops it is very cheap. Check out tops.org and see if there is a meeting near you! I think the first one is free just to ck it out
You've just reminded me of why I don't go to physicals unless I have to.
I had a female OB/GYN who saw scars on my body and was astonished. "What are these? They look like cigarette burns!" (They were old boo-boos that I picked until they scarred over.) That was my first and last visit to the gyno doc--8 years ago. I don't pay to be humiliated on the exam table.
I've also had another female doctor refer to me as the "Worm Lady", due to my childhood problem with pinworm infestations. Um, THANK YOU! :imbar
It's not like I ask the worms to come live in my...well, you know...
Thankfully, neither doc was as vicious or full of "attitude" as the NP that the OP had to live with. That woman would sent me home in tears!!
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Just curious if the NP knew you were a nurse or not? It almost sounds like you got the canned speil that all her patients get- not that is right though. Sadly depending on the patient population things get dumbed down/ put bluntly as thats the only way to get through to them. From your discription thats the idea that comes to mind for me. Still I probably would like the other posters stated find some one else to see.
Rj`
so because we are nurses, we should somehow be treated better? I am sorry I disagree. I think this treatment, whether canned or not, is inappropriate for ANY patient. I don't like indifferent and cold treatment at all. And I rarely tell anyone I am a nurse. I would like to be just their patient when getting care.
Specializes in Telemetry, ICU, Resource Pool, Dialysis.
so because we are nurses, we should somehow be treated better? I am sorry I disagree. I think this treatment, whether canned or not, is inappropriate for ANY patient. I don't like indifferent and cold treatment at all. And I rarely tell anyone I am a nurse. I would like to be just their patient when getting care.
I hate to say it, but if the NP did know she is a nurse, she may have been more condesending than usual. Sometimes ( I said sometimes) there is that "I'm so much smarter than you" attitude. I've noticed it at times. But for the most part, the NPs I've seen personally (only a couple) have been super.
I, also don't tell my doctors I'm a nurse. What for?? My PCP knows because he's seen me at the hospital. He doesn't treat me any differently, except he usually gives me whatever I ask for! He has never lectured me over smoking or anything else. When I went in looking for an antidepressant, he said "you know, wellbutrin will help with the smoking if you're ready to quit yet" I said, no not ready yet, he said OK, and we went with something else.
While filling out my lab slip for blood work, she says to me, "they just have an obese dx code here, I wish they'd have one for overweight" OKAY, I GET IT ALREADY!!!
:crying2: I finally thought I would get the help I need to get healthy..... I've tried WW before, but I really need someone to look at my food journal every week for a while - one on one. I need lots of emotional support & encouragement, and I didn't feel that at a WW meeting of 75 people! I'm starting nursing school in the fall, and I'm embarrassed to leave the house. It's going to be hard enough to be an "older student" without being the "older, obese student".
RENAISSANCE RN
230 Posts
God bless you! That NP is no good.. .. I think the Surgeon General said that quitting smoking is just as difficult as quitting heroin. What a B(*()0, anyways I quit this year by tapering. It drove me nuts when the cigarettes were gone for good... I actually asked for ativan for a week and got it. from my PCP... You dont realize how much you depend on those smoke breaks......................... as far as the weight is concerned I always refuse to be weighed... I absolutely hate it... ( Just so you know, quitting smoking is really difficult. I went on wellbutrin one time to quit... I am a multiple time quitter and I lost weight, stopped drinking coffee, and stopped smoking.) The wellbutrin did give me some really bad headaches those. I read in your post that you have migranes.
I think I read somewhere that quitting smoking ( if you can ) is the physical equiv of losing 70 lbs...
Good Luck let us know how it turns out.