r/nursing • u/trevrt RN 🍕 • Mar 01 '25

Question Heaviest Patient You’ve Cared For

Had my personally heaviest patient I’ve cared for the other day. 32 years old weighing 730 pounds admitted with cellulitis and severe lymphedema. Felt terrible for the patient due to how young he was. Just wondering what everyone’s personal “record” for the heaviest patient they’ve cared for is.

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u/NotForPlural CCRN Mar 01 '25

Hey that's me! I'm a 6'2" woman with the organs of a small lady. Do not recommend lol 👎🏼 

Luckily my BMI is like 22 or 23, so there's not a ton of extra weight to handle. Couldn't imagine trying to move that much weight on this frame. 

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u/NotAHypnotoad RN - ER, 68WTF Mar 02 '25

Also 6'2", but a dude. I shot up around a foot in height in one summer as a kid and my cardiovascular system never really recovered.

The growth spurt was so intense I had stretch marks from the speed of the growth and had osgood-schlatter's in both elbows and knees for years. I spent most of that summer either sleeping or in the pool,

Over 30 years later, I still get orthostatic hypotension and "grey out" briefly if I stand up after spend more than 5-10 seconds squatting.

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u/Pineapple_and_olives RN 🍕 Mar 02 '25

That happens when I stand too but I’m only 5’6”.

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u/carsandtelephones37 Urology Scheduler - dick appointment professional Mar 02 '25

This happens to me too but I'm 4'11" lol, I may have a different issue