So honored to have been part of this! 🩵 I hope this series will counter the lopsided narrative that "losing weight is reducing inflammation" both clinically and scientifically. Taking a deep dive into the literature on this topic was such an educational experience for me. Thank you Ragen for the opportunity! I am excited to get feedback from the readers of Weight and Healthcare! Will crosspost on my newsletter, too!
We have been watching a Latino client at our mental health clinic waste away with HS; he was once a sturdy young man with what was believed to be cystic acne, and now he looks like a frail elder, requiring two canes to walk and doing so as if he's been on horseback for weeks. Needless to say, he has lost weight; his HS just gets worse and of course in the current opiate environment he cannot get the pain control he needs.
I'm looking forward to hearing more about the inflammation question -- thank you so much for addressing this topic. Are there guidelines for testing inflammatory markers? What triggers this testing other than (as I have seen) a provider trying to convince a person to lose weight in order to reduce their inflammation?
I wish there were more HS specialty clinics than the meager number we have now! But I hope your client would be put on a biologics, a 3rd one just got approved a few weeks back. Almost al of my patients are Latinx.
And yes, when I teach HS at AAFP, I tell physicians "giving pain control is just part of practicing good medicine." It's the right thing to do.
I’m about to go to the doctor this week about my inflammation - thyroiditis (possibly caused by undiagnosed hypothyroidism) and swollen lymph nodes. This is so helpful! I’m looking forward to the rest of the series! Thank you!!!
Oh no!! Our understanding of HS is so far still very limited compared to other conditions that aren't so stigmatizing. There are likely many sub-types of HS within the umbrella term and some are responsive to weight changes some aren't. And one small study shows up to 2/3 people who lost weight drastically experienced flareups. As a result, when patients come to me asking for weight loss surgeries as solutions to their HS, I tell them about the data I know of and encourage them to work with me first and treat HS medically. We work on countering weight stigma which can make HS so much worse. Of course, when patients still want to be referred to weight loss surgery, that's also within their rights to do so. But when they get to the surgeons, I worry they will get cut. </3
In an essay I wrote recently, I said I could come into the ER with my intestines hanging out, and there's a fair chance the attending physician would tell me if I just lost weight, my problems would be solved. Claiming weight loss as a be-all and end-all cure-all kills fat people. Assuming that thin = healthy kills thin people. People of all sizes can develop health problems.
So honored to have been part of this! 🩵 I hope this series will counter the lopsided narrative that "losing weight is reducing inflammation" both clinically and scientifically. Taking a deep dive into the literature on this topic was such an educational experience for me. Thank you Ragen for the opportunity! I am excited to get feedback from the readers of Weight and Healthcare! Will crosspost on my newsletter, too!
Wow, looking forward to the next articles.
I’ve had HS for nearly 30 years. I don’t talk about it much (with anyone) because doctors have been objectively terrible about it.
🩵 Can't imagine what medical trauma the healthcare community has caused you.
This was a very thoughtful and kind comment. Thank you very much.
We have been watching a Latino client at our mental health clinic waste away with HS; he was once a sturdy young man with what was believed to be cystic acne, and now he looks like a frail elder, requiring two canes to walk and doing so as if he's been on horseback for weeks. Needless to say, he has lost weight; his HS just gets worse and of course in the current opiate environment he cannot get the pain control he needs.
I'm looking forward to hearing more about the inflammation question -- thank you so much for addressing this topic. Are there guidelines for testing inflammatory markers? What triggers this testing other than (as I have seen) a provider trying to convince a person to lose weight in order to reduce their inflammation?
I wish there were more HS specialty clinics than the meager number we have now! But I hope your client would be put on a biologics, a 3rd one just got approved a few weeks back. Almost al of my patients are Latinx.
And yes, when I teach HS at AAFP, I tell physicians "giving pain control is just part of practicing good medicine." It's the right thing to do.
Ohhhh, thank you for this! And I am really looking forward to the rest of this series.
I’m about to go to the doctor this week about my inflammation - thyroiditis (possibly caused by undiagnosed hypothyroidism) and swollen lymph nodes. This is so helpful! I’m looking forward to the rest of the series! Thank you!!!
What a wonderful article! I can’t wait to read the rest of this well researched information!! Thanks so much to both of you. RLS xx
Have literally been told my HS would go away if I lost weight. I accidentally lost 60 lbs last year due to stress and have more lesions than ever.
Oh no!! Our understanding of HS is so far still very limited compared to other conditions that aren't so stigmatizing. There are likely many sub-types of HS within the umbrella term and some are responsive to weight changes some aren't. And one small study shows up to 2/3 people who lost weight drastically experienced flareups. As a result, when patients come to me asking for weight loss surgeries as solutions to their HS, I tell them about the data I know of and encourage them to work with me first and treat HS medically. We work on countering weight stigma which can make HS so much worse. Of course, when patients still want to be referred to weight loss surgery, that's also within their rights to do so. But when they get to the surgeons, I worry they will get cut. </3
I, too, am looking forward to reading more. Thank you!
In an essay I wrote recently, I said I could come into the ER with my intestines hanging out, and there's a fair chance the attending physician would tell me if I just lost weight, my problems would be solved. Claiming weight loss as a be-all and end-all cure-all kills fat people. Assuming that thin = healthy kills thin people. People of all sizes can develop health problems.
One big reason why I hate doctors who have no empathy…mostly white men doctors! I haven’t seen a doctor in 2-3 years!
Thank you for doing this important work! I look forward to reading the rest of this series