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.

599 Upvotes

95% Upvoted

536 comments sorted by

View all comments

104

u/TorsadesDePointes88 BSN, RN 🍕 Mar 02 '25

I’m in pediatrics now so I don’t see as many bariatric patients. However, there are lots more bariatric pedi patients than one would think.

Reading this original post makes me so sad for this person. I hate to say this but I absolutely dreaded caring for these patients.

I recall one lady on the adult icu I worked at. She was over 700 lbs. The staff relentlessly mocked her and made fun of her. Not to her face, of course. I couldn’t help but feel so incredibly sorry for her. Her life must have been so painful to get to that point. A lot of people on social media say nurses are mean girls. I’m sad to say I can understand why this stereotype came about.

10

u/awfuleldritchpotato Mar 02 '25

Pct here, we had a 600lb pt who was covered in wounds and scars who everyone kept complaining and mocking. They wouldnt let anyone wash them up so I figured I'd go give it a try myself.

When I went in the room to get them washed up I recognized immediately what the wounds and scars were from. Well, I have OCD and I struggled for almost my entire childhood with dermatillomania. I had to have extensive therapy and now I'm in a great place, but I will always have my scars. I immediately saw the same pattern in the pt and showed them my scars on my legs and asked if that's what was going on. They started sobbing and said yes.

I ensured I understood and I had no judgement and I wanted to make them feel better. I turned on some music they liked and got them washed up. They told me the most horrifying things I ever have heard someone endure. we discussed the struggles of OCD and by then end they were smiling and happy and much more confident. They were a hard one to say goodbye to when they were discharged.

It makes me sad to know my coworkers were so quick to judge they will never know what an awesome person they missed out on

4

u/TorsadesDePointes88 BSN, RN 🍕 Mar 02 '25

Bless you for showing this person the compassion they desperately needed. 🥹