Hey Ragen! Off topic from this newsletter issue (though I love Dr. Larmie!) — I got my booster shot today and insisted on the longer needle! I had already heard about the issue through the fatosphere but wasn’t sure I wanted to go through the trouble of advocating for myself, and your newsletter about the topic a while back inspired me. I want the most effective protection and I don’t want my fat body blamed by incompetent healthcare! Thank you so much for covering the topic in your usual brilliant way.
It did take an annoying amount of convincing as three of the pharmacy employees all kept exclaiming ”but it’s such a huge needle!” and telling me that no one has ever asked for the longer needle (I was also amused by being asked repeatedly if I was sure I was over 200lbs, I haven’t been weighed in years nor do I keep track but I’m somewhere around 350lb I think.)
The pharmacist who gave me the vaccine seemed incredibly uncomfortable that I wouldn’t be able to handle it and continued to make comments. They truly seemed to be shocked that I insisted or that I cared. Oddly enough, it hurt a lot less — like, not at all — than my original two doses which I assume were given with the standard, shorter needle. Thought I would share that in case anyone else is worried about it hurting more like I was!
I told the pharmacist it was completely painless when they asked if it was terrible and urged them to encourage folks in larger bodies to use that needle because it’s important we get proper healthcare since weight stigma impacts us so strongly. I am pretty sure that that pharmacist is never going to forget me...they were receptive and friendly, just completely shocked by what I was saying. I am so glad I spoke up!
Thank you so much for sharing your story. I'm so sorry that you faced pushback on this - it's horrible that pharmacist's 'ignorance is putting fat people's lives in danger. I'm so glad that you kept pushing to get the care that you deserved (and shouldn't have even had to ask for!)
Hey Ragen! Off topic from this newsletter issue (though I love Dr. Larmie!) — I got my booster shot today and insisted on the longer needle! I had already heard about the issue through the fatosphere but wasn’t sure I wanted to go through the trouble of advocating for myself, and your newsletter about the topic a while back inspired me. I want the most effective protection and I don’t want my fat body blamed by incompetent healthcare! Thank you so much for covering the topic in your usual brilliant way.
It did take an annoying amount of convincing as three of the pharmacy employees all kept exclaiming ”but it’s such a huge needle!” and telling me that no one has ever asked for the longer needle (I was also amused by being asked repeatedly if I was sure I was over 200lbs, I haven’t been weighed in years nor do I keep track but I’m somewhere around 350lb I think.)
The pharmacist who gave me the vaccine seemed incredibly uncomfortable that I wouldn’t be able to handle it and continued to make comments. They truly seemed to be shocked that I insisted or that I cared. Oddly enough, it hurt a lot less — like, not at all — than my original two doses which I assume were given with the standard, shorter needle. Thought I would share that in case anyone else is worried about it hurting more like I was!
I told the pharmacist it was completely painless when they asked if it was terrible and urged them to encourage folks in larger bodies to use that needle because it’s important we get proper healthcare since weight stigma impacts us so strongly. I am pretty sure that that pharmacist is never going to forget me...they were receptive and friendly, just completely shocked by what I was saying. I am so glad I spoke up!
Thank you so much for sharing your story. I'm so sorry that you faced pushback on this - it's horrible that pharmacist's 'ignorance is putting fat people's lives in danger. I'm so glad that you kept pushing to get the care that you deserved (and shouldn't have even had to ask for!)
Thank you for sharing this!! So glad you advocated for yourself.