Medical Gaslighting: How to Recognize and Overcome it | The Patient Story

[@ThePatientStory]

Have you experienced medical gaslighting? Share your story 👉www.thepatientstory.com/medical-gaslighting-survey/

[@mrsbailey]

Absolutely. They told my daughter to have me committed because I was crazy and no one could be experiencing what I experienced. My story would shake your thoughts.

[@KirstinMarlyce]

The timing of this video is incredible. I finished chemo 3 months ago and am struggling to book my follow up appointments due to years of having my concerns dismissed. I was literally told “At least it’s not cancer, so just forget about it and live your life.” Except it WAS cancer. And I walked around for a year while it progressed, not doing anything about it, because I didn’t want to be seen as difficult. Unfortunately, even being vindicated doesn’t undo the damage of being disbelieved. I am going to try and find a therapist to help me through this. Thank you for this video.

[@starflyer3219]

Unforgivable... I'm so sorry. I may be stating the obvious, but remember that it is not your fault. We can only do so much.

[@privateprivate2421]

How are you now a year later?

[@Jillybeej]

3 years of illness , being called a liar, or I’m just looking for drugs. Finally found out I have late stage Lyme disease that made me extremely ill. Finally getting the treatment I need to get my health back

[@denisekyle6603]

Me too , but denied treatment, I can’t handle taking the medication anymore and they are not allowing me to have a port , just trying to deal with it on my own 🙄💔😢

[@KRmedfndllcARCwof81213]

So sorry, you didn't deserve it. We need more medical justice.

[@tarat26]

5years or more I've struggled with odd symptoms and didn't feel at all well. I had back pain on one part of my spine... They offered physio and said it was muscles, I said I felt pressure on my chest and shortness of breath, extreme fatigue. Ended up having hypothyroidism and stage 3 breast cancer with mets in my spine and around my kidney. I was told I was just trying to get a full box of pain meds so I could sell them. Didn't even know the term "gaslighting" never heard of it before. Sadly a family member was Gaslighted for around 10 years until diagnosed privately with stage 4 cancer that had gone everywhere. I don't know if you can ask GP to document things here in the UK England, or ask things to be added to your notes. They are very good at ignoring you. I was even scoffed at by a female consultant privately even when we said we would pay to 'rule things out ". Google was right. I can totally relate to the lady saying" I told you so ".

[@user-yt5dg8nf6y]

Drs need to educate themselves on Menopause. Lack of Estrogen can make you look crazy! It causes exteme anxiety/panic attacks in some woman. If your a woman of a certain age and you feel lost, anxious or just not yourself get your hormones checked out. Get your B12 and iron and Vit D checked out as well. Take supplements if your low, dont leave it to a dr to tell you. Take charge ladies, nobody cares more about your health and wellbeing than YOU!

[@whats3219]

I have given up on trying to get help from doctors except for things that are really obvious and easy for them.

[@greatestshopper1077]

I was gaslighted for 36 years but fortunately for me, my Mother didn’t give up. Before I saw my 1st Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner, she took me to specialist even a cancer specialist. I was 42 and unable to work before I was diagnosed with an autoimmune thyroid disease. And the gaslighting was real because once I saw a rheumatologist in 2020 I was finally given the prescribed immune suppressant that they have been treating my condition since the 70’s when my symptoms first began. Imagine that. Our medical community is so broken that it can prevent first the proper diagnosis for 36 years and second keep a patient from proper treatment for 48 years. It’s pathetic but I tell my story to say do not give up on yourself. Seek none traditional medical resources, do your own research. I recently had to explain to a young woman how to use her works health insurance by continuing to see physicians that told her that there was nothing wrong with her even though she was over weight, exhausted and less mental sharpness. All while getting healthier results using TCM but relying on the multiple diagnostic testing that her regular physician used to gaslight her about her concerns. And Fifty years of surviving this medical system, I now am able to enjoy my life with tools at my disposal that help me LIVE❣️

[@ChristinaChrisR]

Yep

[@KRmedfndllcARCwof81213]

Second opinions scare and can make them think twice...

[@cypresswyvern]

For 9 years ive been bounced around from Specialist to specialist. From doc to doc. Chronic Pain in body and mind from much trama. Its so difficult to live with everyone thinking this isnt as bad as they think it is. Even after brain surgery to help with Chari Migraines, my docs and family don't understand. Pain clinics are totally inhumane and terrible turnstile type treatment.😢 Most Doctors dont believe Chronic Pain Sufferers. Inadequate relief and gaslighting from medical personal offen make those suffering more depressed. Lets hope these strict rules and teaching methods by the government and medical leaders are changed. God bless everyone who suffer needlessly. Legalize all medicinal plants 🌱

[@pamelcakes04]

I have been experiencing this for the last 3 years. My health and quality of life are declining and I just want to know whats happening to me. They have literally brought in, on 3 separate occasions mind you, psychologists and told me that I am in need of their services. I need help and no one seems to care. Its terrifying honestly.

[@user-yt5dg8nf6y]

What are your symptoms?

[@JuanDiazSilvermyst]

This is what im expecting right now. My body feels so weird and abnormal. Have the same symptoms over a month and all doctors are telling me its anxiety. I tell them its not cause i have felt anxiety. I felt stress. I know my body. The worse part is that they aren't trying....they just think im a 38 guy thats stress out about not feeling good. Hoping to get answers soon.

[@janeofthejungle4]

I had insanely high blood pressure that was observed by several medical professionals (docs and nurses) who all kept dismissing it and saying the machines had to be broken. They said this because I wasn’t showing any pain or discomfort. I was a walking ticking time bomb. I finally forced a doctor to just do a manual test. That’s when I was finally taken seriously and was immediately treated with medication. And that was just BLOOD PRESSURE! I was at over 200 over 160. I was in an extremely dangerous situation and none of them ever bothered to just double check. They all just kept saying, “oh no, it can’t be THAT high, the machine must just be broken” 😡

[@katem3961]

The frustration of not being listened to! Six years ago I was experiencing extreme pain in my head, behind my right ear. I saw four different Drs over several months and each said "Oh your ear canal is a little red, so heres some antibiotics, it will be fine within a few days". It wasn't. I kept telling each of them that the pain was not in my ear but in my head, indicating the spot. One Dr even said it may be because I had hairy ear canals! I continued to deteriorate, felt dreadful and the pain, unrelenting and affecting my life and work. Finally, in desperation I made a 700km car journey to a major city and had a consult with a previous long term family GP. Though he also doubted it was anything too serious, he knew me well and listened, agreeing to send me for a CT scan of my head. As soon as the first scan was done, the next day, I knew something was wrong. The staff suddenly started talking to me really kindly and apologised that they had to put an IV cannula in my arm and rescan my head using contrast. They asked if I was on my own or was someone with me in the waiting room, I replied I was alone and they looked at me with concern and told me to drive safely. I had barely left the hospital when my GP called my mobile phone, he was so upset. "Oh, Kate, you have a 5cm tumour/mass!" I was in to see a specialist within 24 hours, surgery within 48 hours after that, undergoing a five and a half hour surgery. I'm recovered now but what makes this worse is I'm a Registered Nurse and they still didn't listen to me. I knew something was wrong, yet dismissed over and over. Stand strong and always advocate for your own health, no matter what, it could save your life!

[@starflyer3219]

I wish you a full and speedy recovery. ❤

[@sandymutert8495]

Everyone better realize we now need to be our own ADVOCATE! Also take another person in during the visit..sometimes that also helps….hopefully!

[@marydahm6851]

As a woman of color, I am so tired of medical gaslighting, especially by male doctors. It’s made me tired of trying to ask, incredibly depressed and disappointed that I trusted them.

[@ad6417]

Please understand that this situation crosses racial lines. Please don't make this another issue about race.

[@DreamsOfFinland]

I live in a community over 55, most women living here are told what symptoms we have are nothing. There has been abuse galore, we fight back by reporting in print any medical stuff that harms us to the hospital or clinic where the abusers work. I have been told I was "attention seeking" and worse. Nurses who would not give me pain meds ordered and needed, giving me things that are toxic to Alzheimer's, all kinds of stuff.

[@ninamartinez5171]

There needs to be a class lawsuit because no accountability = no changes absue of power will continue 😢

[@KRmedfndllcARCwof81213]

I hear you. I resent being called a liar by medical personnel...

[@vtmielfgirl]

This was incredibly emotional to watch as it is something I had to learn to do for myself over 20+ years ago. I had been misdiagnosed by several doctors who refused to listen, which resulted in surgery that could have been avoided. It was after this when I started learning all I could about health and alternative therapies and how to heal my own body, which I do to this day. Not always an easy, quick fix - but drugs and surgeries can be avoided (unless one suffers a trauma from an accident - then meds and surgeries will be needed). Advocate for yourself at all cost and learn about how food is the cause of most illness. We are our own best healers!

[@darlenefalast9419]

Medical staff prefer not to be specific. I call that gaslighting because they never want to admit they don’t have an answer.

[@stephsserenity7290]

I know MANY people of different ethnicities, men and women, that have been medically gaslit and I still will never understand why she brings up race or sex in this, regardless of ‘studies’. I don’t care what your race or sex is, you are always at risk of being medically gaslit and you HAVE to be an advocate for yourself. I have SEVERAL stories myself and one for my daughter. Do not let studies make you think you’re less likely to encounter medical gaslighting for ANY reason. You tell your doctor you want the all the tests run and if they say “no” or “let’s wait and see…” tell them that you want your chart notated right then that you requested testing and tell them to print it out with the date on it for your records. I respect the doctors that earn my respect, otherwise, they are no different than anyone else in any other field, they paid for a degree and were trained but they don’t know everything. You know your body better than anyone else, stand up for you!

[@francinelong2264]

Yep, 2 minutes in and she starts with "people of color are more at risk for gaslighting." I stopped listening right there. Not wasting my time on a video tainted by Woke ideology and therefore not based in truth.

[@pjaypender1009]

It is just a fact that you're far, far, FAR less likely to be gaslit and have your symptoms taken seriously if you're a white cisgender man. I'm sorry you don't like that, but it's well studied and is a FACT.

[@Stillwater1967]

It took me 55 years and tons of medical gaslighting to finally get my Ehlers Danlo diagnosis. I research and read and I had put together this diagnosis. I was and am in pain daily and because of my self medication issues I’m now gaslit to live out the rest of my life in pain

[@mnmdisney]

THIS is my story, MANY different lymphnodes are large and getting worse, lost 46 lbs, severe night sweats, on & on, "we don't know what's wrong, have a nice day, NEXT!" My labs have been getting worse each month. Thank u for making this🦋🩵🦋

[@judithwood6419]

I had a cousin who was told by Doctor that a thin young man like himself no way could have diabetes. He died that weekend of a diabetic coma. Unfortunately, our cousin did not tell us the name of the doctor he saw, because if we had knew who he was he was gonna sue his Pants off. It does not take much to test for diabetes. You can use a little dipstick to see if his sugars was too high and he could’ve just gave him the injection of Rose and he would’ve survived it but he died at 29.

[@pjaypender1009]

And this is the result of medical fatphobia, and an example of how the bias against fat people also harms thin people. At the same time as your thin cousin was told he couldn't be diabetic because he was thin a fat person who doesn't have diabetes is being told they must because of fat. The fact is, fat doesn't cause diabetes. Correlation isn't causation. In fact, high blood sugar causes weight loss. Thin people not only can have diabetes, unexplained weight loss could be an indicator of diabetes.

[@brendamagallanes7621]

After being gaslit by 4 doctors and their colleagues, 2 ER teams, my Nephrologist, my therapist, I hope to someday still have all my body parts and my life and not be disfigured or more disabled by the time I get a diagnosis. Take pics. Before and after pics and pics of symptoms that come and go (these symptoms don't always happen in front of other people) have helped my family understand

[@kathycowan2221]

My Dr sucks. Diagnosed my toe with a fungal infection. I actually had hammer toe that required surgery. That's just the beginning. I despise that man.

[@beasaroseco5840]

With all the technology HOW can they keep missing the diagnosis. Are they stupid or just evil?

[@ursulasmith6402]

Evil, they have the cures for themselves, most of doctors do.

[@adampantriangle2424]

most just don't care, sadly

[@alfasiger4178]

Both. Medical errors are the 3rd leading cause of death in the US. The core issue is the education and training. Its mediocre. And the minimum requirement to graduate is a C.

[@dianepayne9100]

Both

[@nbarnum81]

Always ask your doctor “what is your differential diagnosis”…they have to go through the steps of how they ruled out specific issues. If they can’t answer that, then they’re blowing you off. (Pediatric and Peds Hospice RN)

They need to revisit their cognitive bias education. The longer they are in medicine the more they forget the “interesting cases” they loved early on but now it’s just someone overreacting or “it’s probably nothing…” ok as a nurse we see some bizarre stuff and from the patient side which is critical. They are run by objective findings makes we wonder why we even assess subjective findings. Ugh I hope your comment helps so many it is so important to say this.

[@ad6417]

I have every symptom of Sjogren's disease and I have tested positive on every single blood test for that condition. The rheumatologist however had a secretary call me to tell me that I'm perfectly healthy and that the blood work results and my symptoms are caused by aging. My eye Doctor and my primary care Doctor both believe I have an auto immune disease. I have decided to quit taking calls from the rheumatologist and go in a different direction.

[@summer5834]

Someone told me if you have good insurance then less gaslighting. I have state insurance and my symptoms are getting ignored so I stopped going to the doctor.

[@janncoons7445]

All the real doctors died or retired. All we have is a bunch of insurance programmed AI's. As apathetic as a starving saber-toothed tiger with the bedside manner of a slug. And they frown on self-medicating😂 cracks me up. As usual they say one thing and do another

[@SB-mm9zh]

I'm afraid I have experienced this big time from the medical profession. The bottom line is that they seem to think that patients couldn't possibly know their own bodies . Even if you've had no record of attending them often, perhaps to some indicating you are not a hypochondriac, they don't take that into consideration. They seem to assume these days that everybody is a hypochondriac and the assumption is that you're having a hard time in life, stressed - perhaps a little crazy even. Mine ended up being a pancreatic tumour which, thank God, hadn't changed into cancer though it's one of the ones that does and even though it was bigger than the size they normally become cancerous. You would think I had proved myself as a patient but no. Went back with a problem in my groin - pain, found it had to swing my leg in and out of car due to it. Fobbed off for a year. Just as with the tumour, I went in for an ultrasound to a hospital explained symptoms to the scan person and, in both cases, was lucky enough that they believed me and said they would go "the extra mile" to look. Note, I had already been scanned once in one hospital for the pain in abdomen and fobbed off a year prior to tumour being found. It was a second hospital and person who had the manners to listen to the patient who found the tumour - took me, the patient, seriously. the second thing turned out to be a hernia which, when surgeon operated told me it was "running into problems". Still not listened to by GP practice. It has happened again this year when I presented with bleeding in abdomen (bruising in under skin for no apparent reason). GP fobbed me off. Turned out to be bleeding probably from my pancreas or vein associated due to op I had on pancreas. What are we supposed to do, I had changed GPs, gone to various specialists, none listened to me until problems were found a year or two later.

[@BeenasBookshelf]

Thank you for this

[@kellyluvskolors2083]

Imagine strong family history of Strokes & TIA's. At 38 strong healthy full of life person waking for work and arm is dead. Person knows immediately, they ARE having an active stroke. Immediately goes to the local rural ER. They do a CT without contrast. It doesn't show the massive clot in the middle Cerebral artery, because brain death cells have not begun to show damage yet. The person is NOT treated with TPA, NOT admitted for 24hrs observation, NOT re-scanned, sent home with a dead arm lasting 8 days, because they were gaslight. Made to question themselves. Which had a 2nd stroke dead arm again for 3 days (no treatment sought), 3 weeks later 3rd stroke same spot dead arm again lasted 5 days (no treatment sought), a 4th stroke 2 weeks later, dead arm lasting 6 days (no treatment sought), 4 days after the 4th stroke began 5th stroke along with dead arm, now numbness in the right side of face & speak, and right leg sought medical treatment immediately at a different rural ER. At 1st they were NOT convinced either, they had no neurologist on staff, used OSU partners to confirm, LUCKILY FINALLY received TPA. Regained some movement, limitated strength in right side. HOWEVER, permanently lost dominant right hand all function. Stabilized & life flighted to OSU. Observed, questioned, repeated MRI'S & CT scans, and massive amounts of lab work. Released 4 days later with ZERO communication from HEAD of OSU Stroke Team. They said NOTHING to the person or all their family there with them. 10 weeks later the 6th stroke effecting entire right side head to toes. Sent back to OSU again NO TREATMENT provided by either hospital. Observed in OSU ER overnight head of stroke department sending me home that morning. Saying only "You need to see a vascular neurologist, right away" "We do not see that you are having another stroke." As person is dressing to leave nurse comes RUSHING in & askes "Where are you going the Radiologist is SEEING you ARE in the middle of having another stroke." I explained what the admitting head of stroke director at OSU WEXNER Medical said. The nurse appeared horrified. And I left. Luckily since they FINALLY told the person after surviving 6 likely 7 strokes, 3 being Major CVA, & 4 TIA's, permanent disability. Person FOUND a neurologist that LISTENED. Discovered a neck injury which caused 80% occlusion of a jagged jello consistency tartar/plaque (because the blockage was like jelly & wasn't HARD) at injury site in left carotid artery combined with STRONG family history of CVA & TIA, along with heterogeneous Factor V with Leiden, and other genetic blood issues. And endarterectomy with a vien patched over the jello from inner thigh, because the blockage could NOT be removed upon opening the artery and discovering the mushy blockage.The Neurologist that listened & That Vascular Ssurgeon SAVED that person's life. Then... 9 years later, same person Imagine needing treatment for Anxiety & Panic attacks, including Insomnia from Medical gaslighting and medical induced trauma PTSD. Because of Allodynia & fibromyalgia, Cervicalgia, Cervical spondylosis, Cephalgia, cervical nueritis, during a bilateral cerival Radio-frequency ablations C2-C4 treatment procedure the local anesthetic was ineffective. Person was NOT NUMB. And the mental health provider's only solutions are prescriptions for antidepressants when they do NOT work for that particular person. They had previously already tried too many to count with UNSUCCESSFUL results, and suffered ALL the side effects. The person tried explaining what they & their previously retired physician found that actually worked with the LEAST NEGATIVE side effects. However, the person being called a hysterical malingering woman. And the mental health physician is MORE than willing to prescribe antidepressants until the person passes away, with a horrific non-existent "quality of life".

[@tammymorse7347]

This happened to me and I have FQAD.

[@KRmedfndllcARCwof81213]

I was claimed to have Mr and no there's no way i have it because other possibilities exists and doctors are too inexperienced to understand it.

[@cpg8000]

Jennifer Kilkis, Ph.D., doesn’t know what she’s talking about. In fact, her response is dull, and she clearly doesn’t want to be ostracized from her medical community at Yale by talking poorly about the medical community. The irony is that her response is “gaslighting”. She doesn’t understand the difference between “intent” and “motivation”.

[@foreverhomewithdiane.35]

STOP STOP STOP quit putting COLOR of a persons skin and who experiences more pain...We are all just people not a color!!!!!!!

[@Lost-mb1gj]

Yeah but we don’t get treated the same as white patients. You can’t pretend it’s not the case.

[@pjaypender1009]

Women and people of color do experience way more medical gaslighting. This is well documented. It's a fact. Your privilege is showing.

[@tessabiggs2917]

But all research points to the fact that the highest rate of people that are gaslighted are woman and black people. So it does have something to do with colour.

[@michelleharper2940]

@@Lost-mb1gjabsolutely! All it takes is RESEARCH. Its not an option or point of view. Read studies, read the stats- POC, women and immigrants experience this more than whites. This is coming from a white female who has experienced this with doctors.

[@ad6417]

​@@Lost-mb1gj I'm caucasian and what do you know about how I get treated?

[@ritahall2378]

OMGoodness I’m shocked This .. Every word is nonsense and untruths It’s ok to continue to spend money time and shame