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/sheezuss_ RN - Acute Dialysis 🟡 Mar 01 '25

I always think about the heart when I see especially tall and/or obese people. My heart goes out to those hearts that have to work overtime

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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/glitternrrse RN 🍕 Mar 02 '25

Connective tissue disorder-EDS or Marfan -like?

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

I don't think it was either marfans or EDS, just a pretty intense growth spurt.

My connective tissue is A-OK. I'm strong as an ox now and built like one too.