Viral TikTok illustrates stark differences in the way women and men are treated when it comes to healthcare
Medical gaslighting Is it a Severe problem within healthcare—and a problem that vastly affects women at higher proportions than men. Women are calling for better healthcare and more medical gaslighting than ever before.
TikToker @hoyttwinadventures recently shared a video about the contrasts between how she and her husband were treated by their healthcare providers—and it’s upright demoralizing to watch this as a woman who’s had Multiple Experiences with medical gaslighting.
Related: How to advocate for yourself at medical appointments
“So my husband told me something last night that blew my mind,” she starts off saying. “He told me that he went to the doctor and the doctor asked him if he had any concerns and he was like, ‘Yeah, I’m super tired and I feel like I don’t have the energy that I used to.’ And the doctor said, ‘Well let me run some sleep apnea tests.’”
The TikToker stops, looks stunned, and continues. “When I went to my doctor, she asked me if I had any concerns and I was like, ‘Yeah, I am in chronic pain, I’m tired, I have no energy, I have no libido, I have pain when I have *seggsy* time, and I just feel so run down and defeated.’ And she goes, ‘Welcome to motherhood… Thanks for coming, see you next year.’ That was it.”
It was disgusting and completely inappropriate. This was especially true because, as it turned out, she does actually have. Two infections from her C-Sections—and she’s had them since she gave birth to her twin daughters Three Many years ago. That’s OK!!
It’s not.
“We can’t just say welcome to motherhood to women when they complain about being tired and being in chronic pain and having no libido. We’ve got to do better.”
Related: Self-advocacy is crucial when it comes to combating the Black maternal health crisis
We do. It takes more than women being brave enough to call out providers and advocate for themselves. listening respecting women and taking them seriously. Medical gaslighting in women’s health shouldn’t be a constant problem, but sadly it is.
And her video wasn’t even the worst part. It was shocking to see how many women shared their experiences with medical gaslighting, and had their concerns ignored.
“Mine just told me I was fat. We discovered that I had cancer in both my cervix and my uterus after advocating for myself repeatedly. Just fat though, right?”
“It’s maddening. My husband is treated with great care. I get ignored. I’m depressed over it.”
“And you would think our WOMEN doctors would understand ?? It’s insane.”
“We’ve been taught to normalize pain and endure it.”
“I think we should be able to get refunds from insurance when we have grievances with doctors like this because it’s so common and nothing will change if they keep getting paid to do nothing!” (That part
)
“The way sexism persists in the medical industry is so unjust. We have so many resources to devote to researching and helping with women’s health.”
“Not to mention ‘Welcome to motherhood’ probably cost you over $200 to hear it.”
Related: Experts share how to advocate for yourself during pregnancy
To be one of the few Many These are the disparities that women experience in the healthcare system. every single day It is not okay.
I’ve had ongoing health concerns since middle school. I’ve gone through high school, graduated college and now have a family of my own—yet I still Have the same health issues, if they aren’t worse. I’ve considered countless times of medical gaslighting. Is this okay? How can my symptoms be kept normal? How many times must I find a new physician before my symptoms are considered normal again? One of them finally takes me seriously—or, God forbid, before it’s too late?
I won’t continue putting up with being disregarded. I won’t continue accepting medical gaslighting at my appointments. No Women should.
Because when we’re constantly written off and then come to find out that we’ve been living with Real Health problems years… who’s there to help us then?
We Learn more our bodies. We Learn more when something isn’t right.
It’s not just about us. It requires a change in the whole healthcare system.
It requires respecting and value women more. It takes a lot of checking Correcting biases that lead to medical gaslighting. It requires listening and acknowledging women’s concerns. It’s not about making women question their symptoms. It requires not just chucking it up to motherhood or age—and actually doing some deep work to find possible root causes. It takes Believing that women know their bodies—because we do.
They are our everyday reality. Everywhere Every day of our lives. Through changes, I have learned to be attuned with them and grown with them. If nothing else, That matters. And That This calls for better medical care and less medical gaslighting.
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