Are You a Victim of Medical Gaslighting?

"It's all in your head you just need to lose some weight." Does this sound oddly familiar? Do you ever leave the doctor's office feeling confused, ashamed, or unheard? Chances are you are a victim of medical gaslighting. Unfortunately, there is a large knowledge gap in the medical field. The general diagnosis and treatment for any disease are often very different for each individual. For example, heart disease treatment for a man is very different compared to treatment for a woman. Because of this, there is miscommunication and knowledge on how everyone should be treated. It also allows for more room for medical gaslighting. This recent article goes into great detail on what medical gaslighting is, what are the signs, and how it can be avoided.

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- About Dr. Mary Claire Haver and The Galveston Diet -
Dr. Mary Claire Haver is board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology and is a Certified Culinary Medicine Specialist from Tulane University. She is a Louisiana State University Medical Center graduate and completed her Obstetrics and Gynecology residency at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB). She is also a Certified Menopause Specialist through The Menopause Society.
Dr. Haver was a clinical professor at UTMB and The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Dr. Haver has served as a Hospitalist, Associate Residency Director, and Assistant Professor in her career. In 2021 she opened Mary Claire Wellness, a clinic dedicated to caring for the menopausal patient.
Dr. Haver has amassed over 3 million followers across social media by posting advice for women going through menopause. She understands that menopause healthcare is in dire need of change and is proud to be leading the conversation.
Her educational background and her own experience led Dr. Haver to develop the national bestselling book and online program, The Galveston Diet, a three-pronged lifestyle plan that encourages fuel refocusing, intermittent fasting, and anti-inflammatory nutrition to manage hormonal
symptoms, stabilize weight, and revitalize the body as it ages to provide benefits that will last a lifetime. Dr. Haver is working on her second book,
The New Menopause, which will be released in the Spring of 2024.

#menopause #perimenopause #womenshealth #galvestondiet #pauselife #thenewmenopause

[unsungoath]

As a cis white man, I can say that I have seen 3 different doctors and with each of them I have left feeling unheard and my symptoms belittled. I don't believe its because they're racist or misogynistic, I think the issue is that doctors become complacent and are quick to make assumptions based on their experience. It's why I now seek holistic treatments for most of my symptoms and I've never looked back.

[Airflyte]

I don’t know about the cis white men but I had an Eastern Indian doctor tell me my problems were all in my head. He told me I needed marital counseling. I was there for a thyroid issue. After that I was too afraid to go to the doctor for about 4 years. Turned out I had Hashimoto’s and Graves Diseases.

[spiderling]

I volunteered at an event with a resident that was doing an ER rotation. They told me they were taught that 95% of the people coming into the ER were there for "mental reasons" and didn't actually need medical care. I would like to say I was shocked but this seems like a common belief held by the medical professionals around my town.

[deborahwilliams]

Thank you so much for this! I am a health Advocate who lives with a disability and medical gaslighting is not only real; but also a cultural reality in much of the healthcare system.

[iamthatiam]

We must all take 100% responsibility for our health, keep working on yourself and change doctors if you don't get assistance you need.

[QuickSilverHair]

Endometriosis pain, a perfect BMI but I was told to try harder to lose more weight even when I worked out 6 days a week and was eating correctly and very balanced, told to see a psychiatrist for my pain, told the pain I was feeling was not part of endo, etc. I don’t know how many trips out of that one office I sat in my car crying afterwards. It was awful and I thought I was seeing the best doctor in town. Women in Pain is one of the most ignored by doctors.

[Rafa-nnzw]

Very relevant for jab injury period... others and I have been dismissed as anxious when dealing with cardiac and neurological symptoms from the shot. I prefer a Dr being honest and acknowledging they dont know everything then dismissal and gaslighting.

[BoozersArm]

My new patient appointment I told my provider I was do have severe anxiety and agoraphobia BUT there was a situation I was concerned I may have had a stroke/heart/brain event - it was scary. The symptoms were completely different from my panic attacks and I figured I would have better luck getting the help I need from a PCP, than the ER.
Nope. After mentioning that and my circulation concerns in my legs, she told me it was just my anxiety and that the mention of my toes turning blue when sitting down was unrelated.
I preferred my old pcp, but after the beginning of the year I had to seek out a new provider at the the hospital.
No one seems to believe a young white female can have chronic mental and physic health conditions. But of course they wouldn't. Because they don't listen.

[littleninja]

Thank you for addressing this. I specifically chose medical practitioners in prviate, non-hospital practices to avoid the 'speed-dating' form of medical care forced upon the providers (15 mins or less with each patient, no matter what). I pay more for my health care, and it's worth every single penny.

[kaypendergast]

Me too. Big time. Nearly died as a result. Permanently injured as a result.

[amyaimster]

I am currently writing my old ob/gyn telling her how I feel about the way she dismissed my menopause symptoms 2 years in a row and why I left her practice. Perhaps it will open her eyes.

[aladyof]

I’ve been suffering with chronic/severe insomnia. If I don’t take my medication, I can be awake for 3 days straight. So, last Friday, I requested a refill as did my pharmacy. Yesterday, I called for help and have heard nothing. The ER may be my next step.
She has spoken about taking me off but surely rehab is going to be needed and time off work. I feel helpless.

[ticketyblue]

I asked my doctor for help and was told to try harder. I did, and nothing changed.

[Lemons]

I had to go to multiple doctors for many years for help. Don’t give up! You know your body more than anyone! Finally had proper care and 2 surgeries to resolve however I paid a heavy price. I had all the doctors who just said oh take this pill for depression or you need to lose weight BS too. Keep pushing forward and back. Just because they are doctors doesn’t mean they know everything that is absolutely fact!

[gabriellamelillo]

Ohhh my god Oh my god this is so true for me!! I have exhaustion, neuropathic pain, joint pain for years and we did a lot of blood tests and they told me there was nothing, that they did not know what I had but I felt that there was something was wrong ! so we finally had an MRI done and we discovered several demyelization plaques on the brain and 2 on my spinal cord, so it's probably multiple sclerosis, we almost told myself that it was stress yaaa stress

[caricruzrodriguez]

Yes!!
I was gaining weight & I told my Dr something was wrong. I was told I wasn't using my bioidenticals correctly.
My body type/weight was perfect for where I live and not LA or Santa Barbara. Could his 20 year old nurse be able to eat at my house because she eats clean. Maybe I was eating too much Cuban food
I needed to exercise more, etc

[lillianfallon]

hi I want to thank you so much.
in July I went to my sons graduation feeling like big fat over Weight lady .After seeing the photos the same day .I through away my dress .I was horrified to see me that size .I was working out eating well and I was still EXPANDING I was exercising like mad ...the next day I stubbled on your YouTube plant form .
I took your advice and started to fast. watched what I was eating 🙃 and within weeks I started to see a big difference .I've lost 1 stone and 7 inches...I'm in Greece and yesterday I actually put a bikini on and felt pretty good ..thank you doctor you have actually saved my life. and I mean that ...I was so low .because I couldn't understand why I was not losing the weight 😩....thank you 😊 🙏 😌 🙌 ☺️ xxx Lillian

[likewaterjkd]

i am literally internally bleeding...and suffering from im guessing a cancerous or untreatable meningitis ( or they just dont want to treat it ?? )..meningitis was first...i am internally bleeding from my brother breathing some kind of synthetic weed on me on purpose during the onset of the meningitis...( you fill your lung with air and you fill your mouth with the drug then you use the air in your lungs to push all the drug smoke in the air, he did this repeatedly for sometime ) and eventually it was either that or the meningitis ( what do i know ) that shut down my ability to go to the toilet for a good few days ! i lost the urge to eat / drink / pee / pass a stool and i also couldnt tell i was just tired ! SO THAT MEANS ! i had to CONCIOUSLY manage these things.. my energy by eating and drinking conciously...knowing that its all just stuck there...ide CONCIOUSLY try to pass a stool and i would only get a little pebbles worth..then around this time i woke up feeling something not right and i suspected internal bleeding...that was 3 months ago ! now im extremely bloated and its obviously fluid ! ive had 2 scans of my abdomen and guess what ! i went to a new doctor when i got the second abdomen scan and the results of my blood test, head scan, abdomen are ! blood only has high GGT ( apparently you only get this if you are alcoholic and i never actually do drugs or drink ) the head scan sais i have a aneurysm 3mm, the abdomen scan ! guess what !! THE DOCTOR ! didnt have the report on his computer !! sooo after my appointment i go to the reception and asked why he doesnt have the report since its been long enough and GUESS WHAT ? THEY HAD THE REPORT ! and they said thats weird..because all reports go off together...SO ! he gets the report ! she even prints it out and goes over to him with me ! i get told he will see me quickly soon this day so i wait abit and see him and guess what ?? he gives me a piece of paper of the results...NO MENTION OF ANYTHING WRONG...all it does is mention organs and that they are fine...i also brought my laptop which had pics of my swollen stomach AND in a front on picture ! you can see that my right side is far more fuller than my LEFT side ! this was because it is fluid and not fat ! and because i was just laying on my right side ! ( i assume thats why but obviously its not fat ! ) and i can just push my stomach and waves like crazy....so yea im dead soon...dont have signs of infection yet...and ive bled so slowly that only recently did my stomach become very rounded.
it looks like doctors or certain doctors get trained to edit and gaslight people ! and i bet there is atleast one at each place you go depending on how many doctors ! im in australia by the way and yes ive been told by the first doctor its just all in my head.

[dfinite]

For years!!! For two different illnesses!!! Chronic fatigue/Epstein Barr and Endometriosis. Suffered with both for years until diagnosis; and for the endometriosis, major surgery.

[elizabethk]

On the other hand people are too lazy to be active participant in their own health. You are the expert of your own body... not the doctor. My doctor and I have a collaborative relationship. Take time to research and understand your body. I'm 75, no aches, no pains, no meds. Learnt to eat well, exercise, and sleep. Try it people.