Emergency room Series : Effects Of Losing Body Confidence

As the saying goes, perception is reality. And when it comes to battling body demons, We tend to use our perception of other people's body image and that influences how we feel about our own bodies.

A lady in her mid twenties was brought to the ER today by her mother and sister. They complained that she had been feeling restless, sweaty and dizzy lately. They said they tried to ask her what was wrong and she would it was work stress

On physical assessment, her blood pressure was a little over 140 for systolic and over 100 for diastolic which was not normal for her age. Her heartbeat was quite fast too and she looked restless and was sweating a lot. Her eyes were yellow and she coughed a lot. She had a moderate size for her age : neither fat or too slim. We asked her if she has been sick for sometime or if she had been treating herself at home and she said no.


We started her on drugs that would lower the blood pressure slowly and the heartrate. We took some blood samples and We also started her on malaria and thypoid treatment plus antibiotics. After about an hour, her heartbeat began to rise and fall anyhow. It would go from over 100beats and suddenly drop to 45 beats. (like DJ beats) That kind of thing could cause a massive heart attack. 

The doctor pulled a defribillator machine close to her, in case the heart stopped. All of a sudden, it went back to normal 80 something beats. The doctor asked if she was on drugs or contraceptives and all manner of personal questions (because we know ladies now do very funny and dangerous things with drugs these days), she said no. We asked the relatives to wait outside. 

The doctor then switch to our 'military mode'. The doctor told her that she was going to die today and her heart had failed. (I turned around to laugh small because if I did in front of her she would know we were lying) She started crying. The doctor then begged her to tell us what's going on so we can know what to do.


Well, she said she started using a slimming tea (name withheld) 2 months ago. When asked why, she said the guy she has a crush on at work doesn't like chubby girls and she wants to impress him. The doctor asked her if she knew that the side effects of these teas are fainting, nausea, vomiting and stomach cramps. She said no. 

 When asked if she knew the long-term side effects were increased heart rate, high blood pressure, agitation, diarrhea, sleeplessness, kidney problems, liver damage and sometimes rectal bleeding, she said no. 

She was advised to stop and she was told that she was beautiful just the way she looked and that if the guy doesnt like it, then so be it. We asked her if she wants to see a psychiatrist she said" haba I'm not mad na". "Then Why kill yourself over a common human being? The doctor asked. She wasnt even as chubby as she claimed.


Women are notorious for passing the baton when it comes to body image. If a woman says 'I'm so fat,' the other woman might feel like she has to say 'no, I'm the fat one. Have you seen my thighs?' Then there's this back and forth over whose body is worse to elevate the other person."


Don't get me wrong. It's highly important to look good and maintain a good body weight and shape. But that shouldn't be to the detriment of your health. A lot of patients ask me the drugs to use to get slim and have a flat tummy. The funny part is when women that just delivered by vagina or CS are asking me that. I tell them that it's a balanced diet and healthy exercise (because some exercises aren't healthy) . So far you are using up the energy gotten from the foods you eat for your daily activities, there will be little or no fat remaining to be stored up in your body.

 We shouldn't push our body to the point it breaks down. If you feel you're on the big size, try to google 'anorexia,' and see young people battling not to die because they have a mental condition that makes them lose appetite. They are desperate to have the appetite and body you're trying to lose and shed. Let's play this weight game wisely and safely