Bad gyn, or is this true?

[laurensellscorn.livejournal.com]

Hey guys. I know I've recounted horror stories of my previous GYN, between misdiagnosing me with yeast 7 times in a row, hurting me during speculum exams, and telling me outright BS lies about my reasons for painful sex. I quit seeing her, and now have a good NP and referral GYN.

Thing is, though, my older sister recently went to my previous GYN and came back almost in tears. She went in for a pap and pelvic exam for BCP's, and the doctor told her she couldn't give her an exam or pills, because "You're too fatty in the stomach for me to feel your organs" and said her weight indicated heart trouble that wouldn't allow her to prescribe the pill. Switching now isn't an option for her because she lost her medical insurance, but I'm gonna recommend my local PP I've gone to.

My sis is about 5'2" and about 220, which is obese, but I wanted to know if it actually IS possible to be unable to feel the pelvic organs? This doctor just seems like a freaking she-bully who blows off her patients so she can go do beaver hair removal next door. I'm horrified at the way she was treated, even IF there was a medical reason she couldn't do the exam.

Thoughts?

Comments

[amigone.livejournal.com]

when I was 260 (I'm more now), they could feel mine. It's BS.

Because she's fat there's no indication she has a heart problem unless she's been diagnosed. Fat = higher risk. Not definate fact.

[majellen.livejournal.com]

I'm 5'3" and (prepregnancy) weighed 250-260. They never had any problem feeling my organs, or if they did, they didn't tell me.

Excessive weight is not indicative of heart trouble. It can CAUSE it, but there are a lot of other causes for being overweight. Including, of course, being a big ol' couch potato, but it could also be thyroid issues, PCOS, etc.

You and your sis should both write letters of complaint about this doctor - I'm not sure where you can send them, but you should look into it.

[archangelbeth]

The American Medical Association's page on reporting ethical violations should give guidelines on where to write letters of complaint. I, too, would encourage you to write letters of complaint, as it sounds like this person is not just rude, but could be life-threatening to her patients with the misdiagnoses.

[edie22.livejournal.com]

That's a horrible thing to say. I've been to several different ob/gyn's for my pap every year and never has one said that kind of thing to me and I'm fat too. That's horrible. I agree with the writing letters of complaint, and a regular doc can do all the things the gyn does, they just don't always do them. My nurse practitioner gave me my pap this year and it was fine.

[lionessvalenti.livejournal.com]

Total BS. I'm 260, with a lot of weight in the stomach, and I've had midwives, my GYN, and my family practitioner tell me exactly what organ they're feeling as they're feeling for them. My GYN has never even mentioned my weight to me in any of the time I've gone there.

[agata.livejournal.com]

How awful that she had to go through that.

Regarding the BCPs I believe that her eight does not matter. I had a short chat with my gyno and he said that women, whether 120 or 220, are prescribed the same.

[agata.livejournal.com]

eight = weight, erm..

[grrlx.livejournal.com]

I would take action to report this guy. I believe you would do this through your state's medical board. Here is a link (http://www.askdrwalker.com/index/medboards.htm) to get you started; if they can't help you then I'm sure they can point you in the right direction. No one should ever have to go what you ladies have gone through, and I would definitely try to prevent it from happening to others.

[madam-rptr.livejournal.com]

iawtc

[laurensellscorn.livejournal.com]

Thanks, all of you! I feel so ignorant posting this, I had a massive inkling it was wrong, but I've luckily never been a heavy girl exposed to such mistreatment.

I'll definitely look into reporting her.. failing that, at the very least I'll be sure to pen her office saying she's lost the loyalty of a family of women, and I'll be telling all my friends about our experiences.

[andijustsmile.livejournal.com]

It's baloney. It can make things a little more difficult, but doesn't entirely prevent them form being felt. I'm between 220 and 240 right now, and I have never ever had a problem getting birth control.

[starzysky.livejournal.com]

ARGHHHHHHHHHH

This makes me angry. I think you can write the state medical board with a complaint.

[http://users.livejournal.com/__recidivist/]

Just a reminder, for the folks reading, of this http://www.cat-and-dragon.com/stef/fat/ list of fat-positive doctors, including GYNs

[majellen.livejournal.com]

Cool link. :)

[tyrsalvia.livejournal.com]

Oh, thanks for posting that! I'll add that into my VP referral links.

[rockstarbob.livejournal.com]

It's also the first item here on the Web site:

http://vaginapagina.com/links.php?linksSectionFilter=Health

:)

[turkituck.livejournal.com]

UTTER BULLSHIT. I"m the same height and the exact same weight (tho I carry most of it in my boobs and butt, I still have a big belly), and I"ve NEVER EVER had any doc say that they coulodn't do a pelvic because of 'being too fat'. Holy, hell, someone sue that bitch for cruelty. *fumes*

[threetoedcharli.livejournal.com]

While I do think the way the doctor present it was totally out of line it actually can be more difficult to perform a bimanual exam on someone who is overweight. If there is too much abdominal fat it can be more difficult to assess. It's usually written medically as something like "difficult to asses-body habitus".

With that being said, being overweight alone does not keep a person from obtaining birth control. It doesn't seem like she has cardiovascular issues. I think the doctor was inappropriate and agree that she should find care at another provider.

[marionravenwood.livejournal.com]

Like everyone else said, it's bullshit.

Weight can make it harder to feel pelvic organs, but that doesn't have anything to do with whether you can safely use HBC. Pelvic exams don't have anything to do with whether you can use HBC.

High blood pressure does make HBC more risky, and overweight people may be more likely to have high blood pressure, but it doesn't sound like the doctor even measured that.

HBC may be somewhat less effective in women who weigh more (whether it be from fat or just a tall, muscular person). That doesn't make it less safe, just less effective; some doctors may recommend slightly higher dose pills for bigger women.

[asunlitrose.livejournal.com]

I'm 5'6 and 275. I wear a size 22.

My NP has never ever said anything about not being able to feel my organs. She always does that part of the exam. I've also been on two types of birth control, weight never being mentioned either.

Have you and your sister considered reported this GYN to someone? You don't have to, but I would. She shouldn't be allowed to practice medicine, especially in a field in which doctors need to be especially sensitive and understanding. You could write a letter to her office, but I don't believe it will help much. Complaints are better received by superiors, like a state medical board, or a head doctor of her office, if there is one.

[insert-emo-sn.livejournal.com]

I am having a REALLY hard time even wrapping my head around a doctor being so damn unprofessional. Like, I'm actually in awe. I'm so sorry that your sister had to go through that (and that you had to go through the experiences you did!). Definitely DEFINITELY, please, look into reporting her. :( *hugs*

[hapi-phantom.livejournal.com]

I'm 5'6 and 200 lbs, with most of my excess weight in my stomach area. My gyno has NEVER said anything like that to me and I have no problems obtaining a prescription for BC. I know you've been told this before but I'm so sorry your sister had to go through that.

[kage02.livejournal.com]

i suggest you both report this doctor... im sure she is breaking all kinds of ethic rules, and such.

[gedicht.livejournal.com]

Everyone's said it, report her and call bullshitsies. Mostly I'm commenting to express how pissed off I am DX

Good luck with your sister! Make sure you get her to a good gyno ASAP so she doesn't take the previous "doctor's" response to heart.

[accident-scene.livejournal.com]

wow, that's horrible. i'm bigger than that and they've never had trouble finding my organs...the only problem i have is that i'm really ticklish and i'd start cracking up during the exam, so they'd have to go looking again...hehe

[zayichik.livejournal.com]

The unbelievably horrible bedside manner aside (is this doctor even board certified?)one doesn't need to have their ovaries felt to be prescribed bc. there is no medical reason for it, but it's done more as an accepted practice rather than anythig else. so yeah, it's time for you to take this doctor to task, if not for you then for your little sis.

[esme.livejournal.com]

I've had a similar experience. Before being on BCP, my body would just randomly and heavily spew forth from the girly bits. It happened during my senior year in college. Having no insurance, I went to the student health services where the NP and GYN both told me, right after poking my belly, that my fat was causing the problem. Nice. Add on the fact that they treated me like some two-bit slut...Yeah. I'm not entirely comfy with gyno exams now because of that experience.

I truly hope your sister has a better experience with the PP doctors and/or NPs. As others have suggested, you both should report this beastly doctor. That is no way to treat someone when they are in a pretty vulnerable position!

[nightchild01.livejournal.com]

I agree with everyone else - total bull and it's awful that you and your sister had to go through that crap. I recomind reporting this doctor, as well. It's very likely that you are not the only people she's treated this way and she should be reported.

I hope your sister manages to get over the trauma and finds a good doc who will treat her the way she deserves - with respect and kindness.