I am constantly hearing complaints from the medical community about how patients are no longer listening to their doctors and seeking “dangerous” alternative treatments instead of following their recommendations. I would argue that patient culture is changing. The younger generation of patients - millennials, at least - do not expect or want quick fixes. We understand that our bodies are inherently complicated and are more interested in looking deeper to find and work on deeper, root causes of health issues compared to older generations. Most of us don’t just want a medication or five that relieves our symptoms temporarily; we want to know why the symptoms are occurring in the first place and start there. The fact of the matter is the current healthcare industry is not meeting our needs and we are being forced to seek out alternative care, and guess what, sometimes it works.
In this blog post, I will be sharing my personal experience with medical gaslighting and why I will go to a doctor if something may risk life, limb, or disability, but it’s very unlikely that I will ever go to a doctor for my general wellness needs again.
Heads up, we are going to be talking a lot about poop, so if that bothers you, skip this blog post!
In a heartfelt and candid blog post, I share a deeply personal journey through the struggles of navigating the healthcare system in search of answers for debilitating digestive issues. Frustrated by the dismissal of symptoms as anxiety and depression by primary care and the long, painful road through misdiagnoses and ineffective treatments, this story is a testament to the changing patient culture that seeks understanding and treatment of root causes rather than temporary fixes. This narrative not only highlights the challenges of living with chronic conditions but also the transformative power of perseverance and self-advocacy in the face of a healthcare industry slow to meet the needs of a new generation. My experience, from medical gaslighting to finally finding some relief, is a compelling call to action for more compassionate, holistic care, making it a must-read for anyone feeling unheard by their healthcare providers. Get a paid subscription to delve into my journey and support a move towards a healthcare system that listens, understands, and adapts.
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