Katy, darling, you’re braver than you realise. My last smear was done under General Anaesthetic cos they couldn’t get the speculum in. They tried 3 times and then booked me straight for a surgical procedure. The last time I had a smear that wasn’t even an option because I was just a troublesome patient. I still remember being told to stop screaming because I would upset the other women in the waiting room! Fuck that. We know our bodies and yet we are always learning new things too. Medication changes. Procedures change. Doctors change. But we know our own body journeys.
Yes, you’ve said it before and yes, I again read to the end, hardly able to breathe, feeling every assault to your body in an emotional wave, thank goodness, not in the physical.
You were treated so badly, you weren’t listened to, you should not have had to endure it. In some ways, the fact that you have had the strength to go through it and record it, is good. You will help so many women who face similar issues. Maybe they will be able to stand firm and not put up with such treatment.
I wish I could give you a hug but maybe I would get more from that than you.
I cried reading your story. So many of us have experienced similar treatment. I was once yelled at by a doctor for taking up her and her staff's time over a medical issue that was completely outside my control. It was humiliating. And of course, I shouldered the blame because I didn't understand. I needed medical care and instead was dismissed because I didn't have the right clinical terms or vocabulary to describe what what going on and they did not have any interest in helping someone that did not fit into their "normal" parameters.
My heart goes out to you and I thank you for sharing your story. It helps us out here to realise that we're not hysterical or difficult. We're people. Just a little extra, and not by choice. Thank you.
Bless you. It's so frustrating isn't it? Because they hate it when we know about our conditions because we are not doctors and we are interfering, but they also hate it if we are not able to talk about what is the matter with us. We literally can't win.
Jesus, Katy, you are never too much (or its opposite) you are practically perfect just how you are... and can you IMAGINE a man needing to go through these procedures and the amount of pain relief that'd already have been invented simply for their endurance of these? I would also like to meet a medical practitioner who has ever commented to a male patient they might like to be quieter and calm down -- and I'm hardly ever sexist :( I'm SO bloody cross on your behalf xxx
Thank you. You are so right. I keep thinking about what if men were told they had to do all this and I know that there would be better options for them and it makes me so mad. xx
Katy I know how you feel. I don’t have the gynecological problems you have had but I do or did have a tipped cervix and at age 11 I had 10 cysts on one ovary and a large one on the other ovary . And, I have had multiple health conditions all my life and doctors who don’t believe me that I have everything wrong with me that is. So I know all you are going through to some extent. But I also have people outside of the medical community who don’t believe me too mainly extended family who think I should be doing more then I can do because of my health issues. And I feel guilty and depressed from it. But, we both just need to buck up and keep trying to not feel guilty or it’s our fault.
Katy, I am a married man and my wife a retired Nurse Practitioner here in Minnesota. She has had her own issues over the years that as a man I cannot begin to know what it’s like. Your story brought tears to my eyes. I am so sorry for your pain. We (men) have no clue.
Bollocks to anyone who makes you feel bad over a medical issue that you have no control over. I'm sorry that you have had to deal over and over with people who think they know more than you do about your body.
My issues don't compare to yours, but I have felt "abnormal" when it came to periods and sensitivity. Thank you for bravely sharing this. It helps to validate each other, even indirectly, especially when so many systems do the opposite.
I struggle with modern healthcare, where we're supposed to trust studied experts but balance that with knowing ourselves. Why do these have to feel mutually exclusive, void of respect?
Since my dad passed, knowing the run around he went through, I've been extra skeptical. I've since come across the Patient Revolution. I've only scratched the surface of all the org does, but I subscribe to their idea that "industrialized" healthcare treats as molded widgets instead of unique individuals. Here's the link to learn more: https://www.patientrevolution.org/
I wish you comfort and peace in the days and weeks ahead.
It is getting better I think, but it has taken so many terrible experiences and so much bravery from women to push even these tiny changes forward, and it's exhausting. x
Not too much. Never. It’s never too much information to share, knowledge is power remember and you’re pretty damn amazing to share your experiences. I’m just sorry you’ve had such repeated horror versions of shit shows to deal with. And all of that sentence is an understatement.
Katy, darling, you’re braver than you realise. My last smear was done under General Anaesthetic cos they couldn’t get the speculum in. They tried 3 times and then booked me straight for a surgical procedure. The last time I had a smear that wasn’t even an option because I was just a troublesome patient. I still remember being told to stop screaming because I would upset the other women in the waiting room! Fuck that. We know our bodies and yet we are always learning new things too. Medication changes. Procedures change. Doctors change. But we know our own body journeys.
Thanks for this. It really helps. x
Yes, you’ve said it before and yes, I again read to the end, hardly able to breathe, feeling every assault to your body in an emotional wave, thank goodness, not in the physical.
You were treated so badly, you weren’t listened to, you should not have had to endure it. In some ways, the fact that you have had the strength to go through it and record it, is good. You will help so many women who face similar issues. Maybe they will be able to stand firm and not put up with such treatment.
I wish I could give you a hug but maybe I would get more from that than you.
All hugs very welcome. xx
I cried reading your story. So many of us have experienced similar treatment. I was once yelled at by a doctor for taking up her and her staff's time over a medical issue that was completely outside my control. It was humiliating. And of course, I shouldered the blame because I didn't understand. I needed medical care and instead was dismissed because I didn't have the right clinical terms or vocabulary to describe what what going on and they did not have any interest in helping someone that did not fit into their "normal" parameters.
My heart goes out to you and I thank you for sharing your story. It helps us out here to realise that we're not hysterical or difficult. We're people. Just a little extra, and not by choice. Thank you.
Bless you. It's so frustrating isn't it? Because they hate it when we know about our conditions because we are not doctors and we are interfering, but they also hate it if we are not able to talk about what is the matter with us. We literally can't win.
Jesus, Katy, you are never too much (or its opposite) you are practically perfect just how you are... and can you IMAGINE a man needing to go through these procedures and the amount of pain relief that'd already have been invented simply for their endurance of these? I would also like to meet a medical practitioner who has ever commented to a male patient they might like to be quieter and calm down -- and I'm hardly ever sexist :( I'm SO bloody cross on your behalf xxx
Thank you. You are so right. I keep thinking about what if men were told they had to do all this and I know that there would be better options for them and it makes me so mad. xx
If you need me to fly over and slap some sense into some "doctors," let me know. I hear you.
It may be an option! Thank you. x
Katy I know how you feel. I don’t have the gynecological problems you have had but I do or did have a tipped cervix and at age 11 I had 10 cysts on one ovary and a large one on the other ovary . And, I have had multiple health conditions all my life and doctors who don’t believe me that I have everything wrong with me that is. So I know all you are going through to some extent. But I also have people outside of the medical community who don’t believe me too mainly extended family who think I should be doing more then I can do because of my health issues. And I feel guilty and depressed from it. But, we both just need to buck up and keep trying to not feel guilty or it’s our fault.
I'm lucky that I am an obstinate so and so. I keep getting up and going again. It's just exhausting sometimes. xx
Katy, I am a married man and my wife a retired Nurse Practitioner here in Minnesota. She has had her own issues over the years that as a man I cannot begin to know what it’s like. Your story brought tears to my eyes. I am so sorry for your pain. We (men) have no clue.
Thank you.x
Bollocks to anyone who makes you feel bad over a medical issue that you have no control over. I'm sorry that you have had to deal over and over with people who think they know more than you do about your body.
Thank you. x
You are brave and strong. Thank you for writing this and thank you for sharing it. ❤️
Thank you. x
You are brave. I am sorry you and so many other women have had to be.
Thank you. x
My issues don't compare to yours, but I have felt "abnormal" when it came to periods and sensitivity. Thank you for bravely sharing this. It helps to validate each other, even indirectly, especially when so many systems do the opposite.
I struggle with modern healthcare, where we're supposed to trust studied experts but balance that with knowing ourselves. Why do these have to feel mutually exclusive, void of respect?
Since my dad passed, knowing the run around he went through, I've been extra skeptical. I've since come across the Patient Revolution. I've only scratched the surface of all the org does, but I subscribe to their idea that "industrialized" healthcare treats as molded widgets instead of unique individuals. Here's the link to learn more: https://www.patientrevolution.org/
I wish you comfort and peace in the days and weeks ahead.
Thank you. I will have a look at it. It's good to have more knowledge, always. x
Oh I hear you. Hystersocopy for some women (including me) needs a GA and there should be no question. I'm sorry you've had such terrible experiences.
It is getting better I think, but it has taken so many terrible experiences and so much bravery from women to push even these tiny changes forward, and it's exhausting. x
Not too much. Never. It’s never too much information to share, knowledge is power remember and you’re pretty damn amazing to share your experiences. I’m just sorry you’ve had such repeated horror versions of shit shows to deal with. And all of that sentence is an understatement.
TattyS x
Thank you. xx
It’s too true Katy, it’s too authentic, it’s too breathtakingly accurate. Wow who’d believe it? Me!!
Thank you. xx
My goodness! What an ordeal you have been through. Sending you love.
Thank you. x
God, this was so enraging and upsetting to read. You are brave and brilliant and I’m so sorry.
Thank you. x