Millions of Americans affected by 'medical gaslighting' every year

Dr. Simone Wildes, infectious disease specialist, said patients should do research and speak up if they think doctors aren't taking their symptoms seriously.

#ABCNL #MedicalGaslighting #SpeakUp

[khalilahd.]

This definitely happens. It’s truly disappointing to go to someone who is supposed to help you and you get pushed away.thank you for bringing awareness to this. Something has to change 😕

[Kc-dqzj]

When I was 17 I started having pain in my lower stomach on the left side. I went to my doctor and he told me I was fine. The pain got worse over the months, every time I went to see my doctor he would tell me it was all "In my head" or I was "Seriously exaggerating". Eventually the pain was so bad I would vomit through out the day. One day shopping with friends I pass out and get taken to the ER. The ER did an ultrasound and found a cyst the size of a "toddlers head". I had to have emergency surgery and my ovary removed. Apparently, it wasn't "in my head" at all 🙄🙄

[TrishDriveZoo]

Two of my family members are dead due to this exact reason. Thank God someone is bringing this to light.

[talesfromtheleashexpatdogl]

My child works in a hospital and she said NEVER leave a family member alone.

[chartroy]

Medical care has dropped extremely low in quality over the last decade+

[harpergrace]

I’m unfortunately one of these people don’t trust the healthcare system at all and if you get a second opinion you are dr shopping 🤦🏻‍♀️

[dawnlovescouture]

It absolutely happens, and it’s scary. I think a lot of it has to do with some doctors being so full of themselves that they don’t want to explore what can be wrong.

[letitiajeavons]

Even psychiatric/psychological symptoms are real. Suicidal thoughts, depression, panic attacks, and debilitating anxiety are still really serious. Diseases of the brain should be taken seriously too.

[ckphotography]

Why is the responsibility all on the patient to do the work? How about the medical community step up and take steps to recognize this is a problem and improve their approach?

[lastonanisland]

Not all doctors graduate at the top of their class.

[hollyhillhouse]

This right here is exactly why it took me 9 years to get a diagnosis of Narcolepsy. At the time he told me without hesitation, "This is anxiety. It's in your head, and you need to find a psychiatrist who knows how to do their job." I found out later that my MSLT study results and clinical presentation were well within the diagnostic parameters. He was pissed off that my psychiatrist made the referral. It took me a decade to get the diagnosis which is required for insurance to pay for treatment. I went through high school and undergrad with untreated narcolepsy and suffered horribly.

If you are working in medicine or thinking of working in medicine and this is how you plan to treat your patients - do us a favor and STAY OUT.

[College.is.a.ripoff]

I'm glad this is finally being reported on. And did you all hear about the nurses getting angry with the court about that one guilty nurse who killed her patient?? This is why people shouldn't blindly trust doctor's and nurses. They need to be held accountable and there should be an organization to oversee what they're doing. They've literally been getting away with murder for years. They make sick patients sign waivers saying they cannot sue for medical malpractice too 🙄 why was this ever legal??

[poodlegirl]

I am a senior and had a major surgery and was very ill after I got home. My husband took me to the doctor and he just gave me a pill and opened my wound a bit and sent me home. A few hours later hubby had to call an ambulance. I was in sepsis and transferred to a big hospital. He should have never sent me home, almost died.

[jessicaf]

I went to doctors repeatedly for years asking for tests to see if I had chrones, lupus, or anything like that because I had IBS and swollen lymph nodes all the time. They just told me to try changing my diet. No tests ran at all.
No one took me seriously until I got very underweight and was always shakey. One blood test showed I needed my thyroid removed.

I went to the ER with intense chest pain and they assumed it was an "anxiety attack". Xray showed it was pleurisy.

I hate doctors at this point. They cost a fortune, dont care or listen, treat me like I'm a hysterical teen instead of a mid 30s woman. Diagnose you before running tests half the time. Its infuriating and exhausting.

[KirraTheCleric]

This has been happening to me for over 25 years. I’m now disabled because of it.

[sheilashields]

This happened to me more than once, and led to severe health consequences. Thank you for bringing awareness. However, I don’t believe that the Dr’s who do this will ever change.

[vickijenkins]

I've been going through this for about 5 years .It took me 8 months to see a do nothing neurologist.

[annstar]

I have experienced the worst medical gaslighting especially from gynecologists. It is just devastating. Thanks for validating us!!!

[Sparkysings]

This has happened to me so many times. If it wasn’t for me advocating for myself and being very tenacious I don’t know what would have happened. I saw 10 ob/gyn’s when I was younger. I had endometriosis and knew I had it. One Dr said I had “no right” to be in so much pain and two others said it was all in my head. I had it so bad I ended up having a hysterectomy at age 29. I wish docs were better educated so they won’t do this any longer.

[haveagoodday]

This happened to me after I was diagnosed with Diabetes. My Doctor at the time told me my blood sugar was so high because I was eating a lot of carbs. I was so sick I couldn't even eat lettuce. I went to the ER that night and found out I was Type 1 not Type 2 and would have died if I listened to that Doctor.