Need to be weighed, but no scale can measure me!

My surgeon does not do bariatric surgery exclusively, so he has never invested in a scale that can weigh someone over 350 lbs. This is a common problem with doctors, as my OB/GYN and Primary Care Doctor are also unable to weigh me. I am approaching my surgery date (1-30-06) and they need an exact weight. The doctor has left it up to me to find somewhere that I can be weighed. He suggested the fire station or the Farmers Market (I can take a lot of embarassment, but I dont think I can bare this level of humiliation.) Does anyone have any suggestions? Has anyone else been faced with something like this?

Have you considered contacting the hospital where you are scheduled for surgery? I was 432lb when I had my surgery and while their regular scale in the operating area wouldnt go high enough, they had another one in another area of the hospital that went higher. I have to tell you that I am a bit concerned that a doctor who performs WLS (whether it is his primary field or not) should invest in a scale for this exact reason. To ask you to go on the hunt to find one when you are already emotionally taxed about your weight, is crazy ! My heart goes out to you as you figure this out. Prior to surgery, I was faced with many embarrassing and challenging situations, many of which no one else could ever relate to unless they were also over 400lb. I feel your pain and wish you all the luck in the world in your journey. Today, I am 18 months postop, 202lb less and have a complete life. I wish that for you too. Good luck! Amy

HAS YOUR SURGEN EVERY DONE THIS SURGEY BEFORE? PLEASE MAKE SURE HE CAN DO THIS WLS. SO MANY COMPLACATIONS CAN HAPPEN IF HE IS NOT TRAINED FOR WLS IT IS A MUCH HIGHER RISK. ASK HIM HOW MANY WLS HE HAS DONE. ALSO MAKE SURE THE HOSPITAL IS PREPARED FOR WLS SURGERYS. THIS KIND OF WORRYS ME THAT HE DOESN'T HAVE A SCALE TO WEIGH YOU. I AM ALSO PRE-OP. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO EMAIL ME. GOOD LUCK AND PLEASE THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS. SHERRY

Baptist Hospital has one in the pre-op testing room on the 1st floor in the pavillion. It is a digital scale and I weighed on it once at about 355. Just call them to verify before you head out. Good luck. Terri

Alisa, I too would be concerned about having bariatric surgery with a surgeon who is not able to weigh me and I would urge you to think carefully about that. That being said on to the problem at hand... I live in Jacksonville also and know what a challenge it can be to find a place to weigh. One time I called Weigh****chers and asked them if they could weigh me for my doctor. That was when they had the office on Beach Blvd. and they did several times without me joining their program. I was over 400 lbs then. The only problem is that some of the people there are not very good at using the counterweight that allows the scale to weigh over 350. You might try calling Dr. Yasrebi's office and ask his office staff if they could possibly weigh you. I know I was weighed there as high as 510 lbs. If you explain your situation I think they probably would do it for you at least once or twice. You may also want to ask your surgeons office staff to call Dr. Y's office on your behalf. I also know the imaging/xray department at Baptist Beaches has a scale that goes up to I think 510lbs. I would of course call them and ask if they could weigh you or have the surgeons office call them for you. Sometimes it is just easier to do it yourself. If you try all of these without success please email me and I will try to help you. I do know of another place but I hesitate to put their name "out there" without talking to them first. Hope this helps you. Good Luck! Kat

I so appreciate the advice you have given and I am going to check into these suggestions tomorrow. I am so glad I posted this message as I was totally out of ideas! I understand that my situation is very unusual and it does trouble me that the surgeon I have chosen is not completely prepared to deal with someone my size, but believe me when I say, I have done a lot of research and this doctor is experienced and has a good reputation. He was actually recommended to me by my Primary Care Doc, and I completely trust her opinion. Dr. Shariat has numerous reviews on this web forum and they are all positive. I honestly think that he has not been faced with a patient as large as me. The other people who have written reviews about him seem to be in the 200-350 pound range. As you know, once you cross that threshold into the 350+ world, everything becomes more difficult. The light at the end of the tunnel is in sight and I can't turn back now. But again, I really appreciate your advice and the kindness shown by everyone who I have encountered on this web forum. My surgery is just 10 days away, so please keep me in your thoughts.

Alisa, Best wishes will everything! You are about to begin an amazing journey. After your surgery, maybe you can champion behind your surgeon through his support group meetings or with his office staff and help him understand the importance of getting a scale to accommodate EVERYone. If he has the recommendation of PCPs in your area, then surely he could help many others who are Super Morbidly Obese and change their lives forever too! I am certain there are people out there who are NOT pursuing WLS because they fear the scale and many to admit they can't lose weight on their own. I avoided going to my doctor for years because of that myself. I wish I could share my story with each of them sometimes. Oh well... Keep us posted on your progress after surgery ! Amy

well first off.... a surgeon that dont do bariatric only worries the heck out of me.... i would change drs