the issue of weight

[optometrygirl29]

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[Jason K]

THis may seem like a silly/strange question....but something one of the doctors i work for said to me the other day struck fear in my heart....I was recently diagnosed with RA and while dealing with pain I was given steriods for a number of months and gained some weight....when we were taking about my applying to Optometry schools she said pretty off handedly that I should porbably lose a few lbs while applying and before possible interviews. All im asking here is, is this really an issue? Please only serious responses..🙁

I've interviewed hundreds of applicants for optometry school and I couldn't have cared less how much an applicant weighed. I looked at academic track record and ability, personality, and references.

 

[optometrygirl29]

THANKS it makes me feel so much better to read this...as someone who knows me personally and knows what i had been going through, it really struck me to hear someone say it.. I understand from the health point of view I sort of understood what the intention was but to hear it in reference to my getting accepted kind of hurt me and scared me. I appreciate the feed back.

 

[mattosu]

I'm a big guy and was accepted without any problem. Unless you are too fat to fit through the door, I wouldn't worry about it affecting your application/acceptance to a school.

 

[optometrygirl29]

LOL well at least I get a laugh out of this! NO No that would be a little extreme. Does having a autoimmune disease hurt my chances?

 

[Blondiechick919]

On the other side of the coin, I tend to judge healthcare providers who are extremely overweight/smoke, etc. if you had a type II diabetic pt. with retinopathy who needed to get their BS and weight under control, they would be much less likely to take you seriously. You should try to get yourself healthy for your own reasons first, but I'm just being devils advocate.

 

[EyEGiRL7]

Blondiechick I appreciate your honesty...everyone judges people who are even the slightest overweight so im fully aware of that issue...i hope i didnt imply that i intend to stay overweight I just meant that i had gained weight.... the treatment options used to managed autoimmune diseases and severe pain is greatly scrutinized and with good reason however this meant treating symptoms with high doses of steroids because thats all they are allowed to do which means that i gained weight....of course im trying to get healthy im just saying it took a while to gain it and i cant lose it in a day

 

[Blondiechick919]

Blondiechick I appreciate your honesty...everyone judges people who are even the slightest overweight so im fully aware of that issue...i hope i didnt imply that i intend to stay overweight I just meant that i had gained weight.... the treatment options used to managed autoimmune diseases and severe pain is greatly scrutinized and with good reason however this meant treating symptoms with high doses of steroids because thats all they are allowed to do which means that i gained weight....of course im trying to get healthy im just saying it took a while to gain it and i cant lose it in a day

I fully understand the side effects of medication on weight. I'm on topamax for migraines and lost about 20 lbs before I stopped. All my family thought I was on DRUGS. (Cocaine) and it killed me. I know it's not the same thing, but I get judged constantly for my weight too because people insist that I'm too thin. People will always criticize because people love to be negative.

 

[optometrygirl29]

I wish i had migraines!! I know its hard to deal with the judgement sometimes and it is often discouraging...though i fully understand where you were coming from...you cant tell an overweight patient to lose weight and have them take you serious....its frustrating to the point I dont feel like telling people about it because i get the reaction that somehow my weight caused RA and not the other way around.....

 

[Optomchick]

I wish i had migraines!! I know its hard to deal with the judgement sometimes and it is often discouraging...though i fully understand where you were coming from...you cant tell an overweight patient to lose weight and have them take you serious....its frustrating to the point I dont feel like telling people about it because i get the reaction that somehow my weight caused RA and not the other way around.....

be careful what you wish for.

Also i"ve seen a ton of fat DOs on campus, i wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Blondiechick919]

I wish i had migraines!! I know its hard to deal with the judgement sometimes and it is often discouraging...though i fully understand where you were coming from...you cant tell an overweight patient to lose weight and have them take you serious....its frustrating to the point I dont feel like telling people about it because i get the reaction that somehow my weight caused RA and not the other way around.....

DON'T EVER WISH YOU HAD MIGRAINES. I wouldn't wish them on my worst enemy. I mean that.

 

[EyEGiRL7]

sorry i actually get migraines but not often enough to be considered a true sufferer but i know you are right i would rather have a few extra pounds that suffer that

 

[nicmc]

No, it's not a problem. Just make sure that you wear a suit that fits you well.