fat peoples problem

[solexander]

I dunno if it's just weight that factors in... at the time of starting testosterone for me, I was considered "obese" by BMI standards (I've lost weight since), but I had flawless vitals otherwise (I take pretty good care of myself for the most part, always just had a hard time losing weight), so they didn't really see a risk for me.

[Klaus]

I put on 20 pounds once I started taking medication for bipolar disorder, and I was terrified that my doctor was going to make me wait to start testosterone until I lost weight (which is difficult when your dysphoria leads to crippling depression, which most doctors trained in this seem to understand). They did a full blood panel and didn't even mention it, to my relief.

Once I got approved, they just counseled me in improving overall fitness levels since T increases certain risk factors. I can only speak for the experience I had with my facility, but unless your weight is causing bad levels that would make starting therapy dangerous, that's likely not going to hold you back. When I was counseled, I was told that the biggest issue with being overweight is that once you start T, you lose fat in some areas but gain easily around the midsection, and visceral abdominal fat raises the risk for other health problems. So basically, it's the same as being a cis guy.

[janetcgtv]

I'm overweight and diabetes also DVT(deep vein thrombosis) . Because of DVT I can't take hormones.
It isn't being overweight its the diseases that goes with it which goes against hormones. The treatment for DVT is coumadin (blood thinner) + the causing of bleeding from hormones one can get blood clots which can be fatal.
I also had a heart attack and to keep the stent(in vein) clear I take plavix and ecotrin more blood thinners.

[Rawb]

Okay, can I just jump in here and add that, weight is blamed for a lot of medical conditions, but not actually the cause.
Because I was overweight, about 260 at 5'6", (though I have been trying to loose weight, and have lost at least 20lbs in the past while), and my blood pressure is perfect, my cholesterol levels are perfect, diabetes runs in the family and I don't have it, I don't get tired easy. At my worst, you're maybe not about to see me run a mile, although I can walk it, and I have a really awful metabolism.
So anything about, "You can't take T because you're fat", is bullllll->-bleeped-<- and if some Doctor tells you that, you just need to get another Doctor who is less of a predjudice douche waddle   ^.^

I'm sorry, I get passionate about this sort of thing, because I know people who get treated like absolute ->-bleeped-<- because of their weight, and one friend who almost died because the doctor blew her off, saying her symptoms were cause she's fat.

[Tessa James]

Of course it is wrong to discriminate against people on the basis of their weight and relative fat.  Being overweight myself i still recognize that there are greater, well documented risks during surgery and anesthesia for people who are obese.  However we calculate it, the bottom line is we all deserve respectful comprehensive medical and surgical care.

I provided anesthesia for over 30 years and do not recall people being charged more directly because of their weight.  People may get charged more due to risk categories and again, being obese adds risk for invasive and typical procedures such as intubation during anesthesia and postoperative healing.  Once a person is anesthetized they are positioned for surgery and even that positioning carries greater risk of injury for the obese patient.  Drug metabolism, circulation and cardiac load are just a few of the real concerns for being fat and going under.

I love soft, full, indulgently round curves and yet I also know their is a cost.  That cost should not be exclusion from comprehensive care.

[EmmaD]

I think people love rules and an arbitrary measures mean they do not have to think too hard. In their minds, the decision on risk is taken out of their hands (hasn't actually because they came up with the measure they chose to apply).  It takes a lot more care and professional input to look at each patient as an individual and mange the case accordingly.

My psychiatrist asked for my weight and said I was borderline obese because I had a BMI of 26.  I am 5'11".  My doctor has me at 25 (18 - 25 is considered healthy or "normal") and told me not to lose any more weight.  The reason is that to get my BMI down to mid-range healthy would involve me losing too much for my height.  My waist to height and waist to hip ratios are fine.

It is a crude measure and is not necessarily a measure of health.  Just because all overweight people with huge health issues all have high BMI readings doesn't mean if you have a high BMI, you are unhealthy.  Just be prepared for the debate!

[JourneyFromConfusion]

As someone who is morbidly obsese (and working on it), the nurse expressed concern about my weight and that the blood tests they would do would see that everything would be okay. I have had no problems with high blood pressure, diabetes, etc. so when the blood test came back clean, I was cleared to start T. I think the only way they'd deny you HRT would be if your weight lead to some other health issues that HRT could seriously complicated.

[Tysilio]

A good doctor will work with you on any risk factors you have, and they shouldn't rule out T on those grounds. Before I started T, I had borderline high cholesterol, and my doctor gave me the choice of doing diet-and-exercise and waiting on the T for a few months, or starting on a statin along with diet and exercise, and waiting just a month. So... I'm taking the statin, and my levels are just fine. I sould be able to get off the drug if things stay stable.