Yeah I’ve been asked to guess my weight multiple times when I refused the weigh in. I’d like advice on a situation that happened recently if anyone has any, I’m not sure the best way I could’ve handled it. I went to get an mri for my lower back, and refused to be weighed. The nurse checking me in kept insisting I give a weight, and I told her I couldn’t because of an eating disorder history. She said the computer system wouldn’t let her finish checking me in unless I provided a number. I gave her a number that was probably around my weight and started crying I was so triggered by it, and felt like my no had no power. Another time a pcps office told me to guess and when I refused said they needed a number for insurance purposes, so I gave one and again felt really, really bad. I feel like there could be a workaround in both those situations but I’m not sure what.
Both parts of this piece have been - as one expects from you, Ragen - well researched and VERY
informative. You did mention something I've never heard of and which I find VERY frightening:
Guessing a patient's weight? Is that a doctor's office or the state fair - guess my weight and
win a giant, stuffed panda! That doc would merit my last-ditch move: "You're FIRED!" Have
always made it a point to let a new doc know that he/she is am EMPLOYEE, hired to help me
with maintenance work on my home (the body I live in), and any repairs that aren't DIY-possible.
Beyond that, they are required to do nothing, certainly not to make suggestions unless asked.
Weighing in - as I point out to anyone who asks me to do it - is NOT a medical necessity unless
we're talking about a medication with a weight-based dosage, i.e., anaesthesia. It's not always
easy to get this point across, but once you do - it's SO worth it in terms of feeling empowered
in the management of your own care.
Yeah I’ve been asked to guess my weight multiple times when I refused the weigh in. I’d like advice on a situation that happened recently if anyone has any, I’m not sure the best way I could’ve handled it. I went to get an mri for my lower back, and refused to be weighed. The nurse checking me in kept insisting I give a weight, and I told her I couldn’t because of an eating disorder history. She said the computer system wouldn’t let her finish checking me in unless I provided a number. I gave her a number that was probably around my weight and started crying I was so triggered by it, and felt like my no had no power. Another time a pcps office told me to guess and when I refused said they needed a number for insurance purposes, so I gave one and again felt really, really bad. I feel like there could be a workaround in both those situations but I’m not sure what.