Twitter Thread Has Women Sharing Stories About Doctors Ignoring Their Concerns, Leaving Them With Serious Repercussions
"How do I know weight stigma in health care is real?"
Most individuals characterize the U.S. healthcare system as expensive and of low quality. Despite the fact that Americans spend more on medical crises than anyone else, the U.S. lags far behind other high-income nations in terms of equity, access to care, administrative effectiveness, and outcomes, according to Dr. Dean Ornish, a preventive medicine expert. "Our healthcare system often overlooks the unique needs of women, leading to significant health disparities," he states.
Anyone who has dealt with the system can attest to how costly it can be, yet there is always a glimmer of hope that they will be treated fairly. Unfortunately, that is something they don’t usually receive.
"Everything looks good! If you're still having issues, please return in a few months" is something that thousands of women worldwide would give anything to avoid hearing again. Yet, they continue to experience it repeatedly.
Women who can't shake the feeling that something is off with their bodies often seek the advice of medical specialists in hopes of finding answers and relief. However, doctors too frequently let them down by downplaying or outright dismissing their concerns.
Marisa Kabas, a journalist and reporter, experienced just that. She shared her infuriating story on her professional website, which sparked a trending topic. A mango-sized fibroid was growing in her uterus, and it was ignored by every doctor she consulted.
What's even more unsettling is that the majority of medical experts dismissed her symptoms as indicators that she needed to lose weight, a sentiment echoed by Dr. Michael Klaper, a physician who emphasizes the importance of listening to patients' concerns. "Ignoring symptoms can lead to serious health repercussions," he warns.
Not a single doctor looked into it
MarisaKabasI'm mad right now...
MarisaKabasI spent years loathing myself
MarisaKabas
I diagnosed myself
MarisaKabas
Following a specific person triggered the thought
MarisaKabas
It took me becoming a full-time patient
MarisaKabas
I'm applying all the lessons learned
MarisaKabas
I don't want to do it again
MarisaKabas
I resigned to blaming myself
MarisaKabas
Something has got to change
MarisaKabas
I'm angry about the amount of undue suffering
MarisaKabas
I'm sharing my uterine fibroid experience
MarisaKabas
I finally found a great doctor
MarisaKabas
Thousands of women responded with their stories in response to the woman's thread, which sparked an important discussion. We've gathered some of the most distressing and illuminating responses to share with you all, ranging from similar cases involving weight-biased attitudes to unfortunate circumstances.
Scroll down to read the comments, and if you want to join the conversation, be sure to share your experiences in the comments.
1. The doctor wanted to discuss my weight
LorcaDamon
2. Put it where your mouth is
JanetMcKennaLow
3. Let us fix the problem
SimonsonMolly
4. Society hates women, especially the fat ones
HerchieraM
5. He's just the state health commissioner
eflask
6. Some women just have painful periods
Mudhooks
7. My stomach couldn't flatten
madebydrlight
8. I definitely don't want children
toriapinklotus
9. She was diagnosed with a fibroid and a cyst
Mudhooks
10. Planned Parenthood
quiltsbypagan
11. What was she even talking about?
donellacandra
12. I begged them to go ahead
tdcave
13. It's been a thorn in my side forever
JamieBworth
14. There was no way to put them in place
cassidyrued
15. Dismissing everything as a weight issue
tinabgibby
16. My kid hates going to the doctor
KirstenMcEllig3
17. When I went for a second opinion
m00nslinger
18. To the point it drained my energy
Lulu_Beast
19. Maybe something's actually wrong with you
llamadolly
20. You should consider suing
Shann_ME
21. Guess what the problem was
QueenMorlock
22. Always blaming it on the weight
Beautidivergen2
23. Mine went undiagnosed for years
PfftMaybe
24. They just don't care
cate_mcd
25. I know what the fibroid symptoms are
blueroses_78
26. Woah!
authorjaycellis
27. No doctor ever mentioned it
kaytee_brenes
28. Ovarian cyst burst on me
DancingFraxinus
29. My mother's story
TheMaryFox
30. Just one of the many reasons
mehconomics
31. We don't do recreational ablations
heatherreed0599
32. Another woah!
BecEscala4
33. Joint pain from gaining weight
OhWeeBeasties
34. It's horrible that we have to suffer medical trauma
dillenrm
35. They still threw a jab at my weight
JessieMayReed
Numerous women responded to the incredibly upsetting questions in Kabas' widely shared thread, demonstrating how frequently medical professionals fail to address their patients properly. These stories serve as a sobering reminder of many of the grave flaws in the medical system and the fact that it is all too common for women's concerns to be disregarded due to entrenched gender stereotypes.
