Medical Gaslighting - It's not in your head!

Episode 123: What is Medical Gaslighting? If you have migraine or another chronic pain condition, chances are you have experienced medical gaslighting. Medical gaslighting can result in a form of medical trauma, and it can alter the manner in which we interact with the healthcare system. It can make you feel sicker, cause you to shut down, or to question yourself and the validity of your pain. It can also make you feel helpless or angry.

In this week's episode Lindsay Weitzel, PhD, asks Melissa Geraghty Psy.D. about the effects of medical gaslighting and what we can do about it.

Follow the National Headache Foundation's podcast HeadWise, as host Lindsay Weitzel, PhD, has informative discussions with headache experts on the latest treatment, research, lifestyle recommendations, and personal stories about living with migraine disease and headache disorders. HeadWise can be found on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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#podcast #migraine #headache #healthcare #gaslighting

[jylanais]

There is a difference between being assertiveness and aggressive, but unfortunately, as women our assertiveness can be interpreted as aggression.

[chainsgirl]

This video was very affirming. I was told in my last visit “Are you listening to me?” 4 times. I was told “You don’t have to be here. You can go see someone else.” He told me to put my phone down after he asked me to look up a test result from a different clinic. He was very aggressive. He was rude. I felt dismissed. I felt unheard. I felt crazy. I felt small. When we got into the car I cried. I cannot go back to him. From a different dr, this is in my chart: Given all this, I did suggest that it was possible that there may be at least some amount of psychiatric contribution to her symptoms. This does not mean that she is "making up" her syncopal episodes, but that perhaps her mental health is not currently optimized, and that improvement in this area may also help with her syncopal episodes. How am I supposed to take that? My mental health is making me pass out? I’m angry. Hurt. Sad. Doubting myself. And of course, anxious. Bc now I need a new primary and I’m already trying to devise a strategy where I don’t come off as crazy.

[cchambersglenn]

You made me realize I was gaslighted at Mayo Clinic. It was a terrible experience.🤕

[thecakeisalie]

medic especially male tend to do gaslighting if they are out of knowledge to help the patient and don't want to say it. Often an ego problem. Thinking that helps me if I am being gaslighted

[squdTrcksandclouds]

As a woman, now in my 50s, it took 40 years to be diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos syndrome. I LOVE this video...this is soooo validating!
And, there ARE doctors out there that will listen, and when I was diagnosed at 49 years old, my doctor was sooo validating to all of the issues.
Lastly, preventing medical gaslighting NEEDS to be trained to ALL medical staff.

[mariegracebrabandt]

THIS! "🎤 " blowing me away. So for me over 25 years and finally getting the right dx a few days ago. Love your channel and info and guest. Learning a whole new way of living and treating my symptoms with the right dx. Thank you I'm glad I found you. ☺️ 🤗❤️

I did actually write letters to all the doctors that treated me badly and even sexually abused me. I sent my letters and left those doctors. Gaslighting is so destructive. Were already going through so much already.
I actually got one neuro fired and 1 chiropractor that couldn't practice for a very long time. They need to be held accountable. They cost me years and with so much trauma I was already going through in my relastionships. We need to be our best advocates 💪

[janncoons]

Over the last four years I thought it was me. The total lack of any respect or human decency is appalling . Even though I did all that was required of me made my little list. They're just not interested I am not sick enough for them to make enough money off of their Pharmaceuticals stock

[LedgerAndLace]

My experience has been that if I'm on the chubby side, I'm told to "eat less and exercise more." That old chestnut. When I'm thin, I hear, "Your tests are normal, there's nothing wrong with you." So clearly it's all in my head.

It's very rare that I've been in a doctor's appointment where I didn't have a migraine. Just getting to an appointment is exhausting, never mind trying to be coherent and have to communicate. I give them my medical history notes written out--which they may or may not actually even read. So then, this is what I did: I made a video of myself when I was feeling functional and start with, "If you are watching this video, it means I have a migraine."

The first thing I tell them is how to communicate with "Migraine Me", which is to speak softly and SLOWLY, and WAIT for a reply. Also, jokes are wasted on me because I won't get them. Then, I give a summary of migraine symptoms, triggers, what therapies & meds I've tried. The video is about 6 minutes, but is pretty comprehensive.

It's one thing to have an advocate, but even they might not be effective in their communication about what's going on with your condition. Video provides a clear contrast of "Normal Me" vs. "Migraine Me." It allows you to advocate for yourself.

[toddb]

It makes you lose faith in all medical practice. Makes it really hard. I've been caught up in this mess since COVID and I finally found a doctor I can trust!

[fibromyalgianational]

Oh the labs are fine!! I didn't realize this all had a term when I was younger. Family can be super challenging! Great conversation. Thank you!

[woobielocks]

Oh my goodness, I really appreciate this validating and educational video! I’ve been going through 5 years of psychiatric trauma with this stuff. I moved to a different state, and I would have never moved if I had ever imagined any state would be so uniformly uneducated, inhumane, and harmful in their medical gaslighting. I actually went into emotional shock for a week. It’s torn my life and physical health to shreds. Great to hear your story and know it can be different. I almost forgot what anyone on my team might say. 🎉

[ppmny]

I started having migraine w/ aura, no headache years ago. All doctors were saying "You're too stressed and anxious." Flash forward to November 2020, the auras started coming more frequently and I started bleeding constantly with abdominal pain. First doctor said I had tubal ligation syndrome (non-existent dx). Second doctor said I had Adenomyosis but gave me the option for hysterectomy.

Had the hysterectomy August 2021. Turns out I had silent, extensive endometriosis and ovarian/fallopian tube cancer.

Watch those migraine symptoms. They were my only warning for excess estrogen output that likey caused the ovarian cancer.

[kristateufel]

I’m so happy I found this channel, I get terrible cluster migraines. Just wanted to say thank you for this channel and this topic . Makes me feel like I’m not alone.

[kukalakana]

Closest i can recall is from a boss i had at a taxi company, who did not understand that when i took a migraine tablet i was not supposed to drive.

Also... i have anxiety and yes there's no such thing as "just a panic attack."

[Lucy-jqvr]

Thank you for your show! I have chronic all kinds of issues. I don’t think it comes from my gut, or it’s coming from brain, fog, gut, , food, intolerance, chemical intolerance, depression, sometimes trouble breathing. I do doubt that I have anxiety, but all of these issues, whether they’re from anxiety or not are still issues heart palpitations nightmares at night and I have been told I OCD all kinds of things made fun of. I am 67. This some of these started when I was 30 and recently with more stress are the complete food, intolerances, etc., ADHD. I am on my 10th doctor right now and I’m trying to get some of them to refer me just for a heart checkup or a lung check up and it is like pulling teeth. I am thinking of taking my son with me who is an attorney. I know he doesn’t have time but I have all the same emotions that both of you have. Thank you.

[annstar]

I completely “check out” and forget to ask the most crucial questions in Dr. Appointments based on so much medical trauma and gaslighting. It’s really awful :(

[camberwins]

Excellent, excellent talk! I write for a couple of different medical sites, I was wondering if I could write a synopsis from this video to share? I would absolutely give credit and link to your video. Thanks!

[joeh]

Have experienced this with having mesh implant reactions. Can write a book. Crazy 🤪

[bojigirl]

It’s kinda funny. I get told that I’m having migraines when they want to put off looking for a brain mass. If they are not gaslighting one thing, they are gaslighting another. The problem is that they are always gaslighting until the problem gets too big. I did have a brain tumor and now it’s inoperable. Thank you, doctors.

[CatsPawPrint-]

Agreed, . Extremely annoying telling Me how I Feel or acting as if I don't know my own Body.! Especially coming from a Damn Man... Ugh.!
Appreciate this Discussion. It applies to myself as well. Thank you.