i believe that women are discriminated
against in the medical world. Not by all
doctors but I believe they are the
majority. They don't take womens concerns
seriously and often think that our
problems are emotional instead of real.
Quick to say you are depressed or treat
you as if you are a hypocondriac. For ten
years I was having problems with my heart.
They started when I was 14y.Old and got
worse. I began looking for help at age
18. Palpatations, rapid heart rate(160
bpm) out of the blue and when i'm
sedentary, numbness and tingling mainly in
my left arm and sometimes pain, dizziness,
and shortness of breath. I discussed this
problem with 5 private practice doctors
(all men but even one woman doctor) and 2
e.R. Doctors during a 10 year period.
Only the e.R. Doctors did an ekg. But
all of them said it was panic attacks and
put me on zanax! And a variety of
anti-depressants. 10 years later I go to
work for a cardiologist office and after
awhile (still having problems) I spoke to
a nurse about it and she took my blood
pressure. It was fine. She suggested
that I see one of our 13 doctors. So I
did. They ran tests including an
echocardiogram which concluded that I had
a mitral valve and tricuspid valve
prolapses. Not deadly but life disrupting
symptoms. The doctor knew it was a
prolapse just by listening to my heart and
hearing my symptoms. The echo just
confirmed his opinion. Later I found out
that it is hereditary and that both my mom
and my grandmother have it. (my mom has
one and my grandmother has two like me.)it
is also common in women. Like 1 in 10
women have it. But not all have symptoms.
Tell me why wouldn't these other doctors
have done further testing and be so quick
to put me on zanax and anti-depressants.
Which I did not need. Other experiences
have happened as well that have led me to
believe that the doctor I saw did not take
me seriously and also that when I ask
questions they don't seem to really want
to answer them. As if I don't need to
understand or won't understand what they
are going to tell me. I took a class in
college called fitness for life. It
stated just what I had suspected.Statics
show that women are sometimes discrimated
against because of the male perception of
women. I will find the book and quote it
to you later in another post to update
this one. Well I think we women should
try to do something about this. I'm not
sure what at this time. But I will think
about it. Please share any opinions,
experiences, or suggestions with me.
Thanks. :d
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latoya_bryer
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 02 Jan 2004 Posts: 73 Location: New Orleans
True Posted: 03-15-04 05:35am
Yes I do believe some doctors do treat
women as though they never know what is
wrong with themselves but I just have on
question. Did you post it on labor and
delivery because you figured only women
would read it or just by accident?
|
2ferano
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 23 Dec 2003 Posts: 3717
Posted: 03-15-04 09:05am
She posted it in a lot of different
places....Probably to get the most
response.
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sandyallen
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 02 Feb 2004 Posts: 4580
Change! Posted: 03-15-04 11:14am
If you feel discriminated against with
your Dr. Then just get another Dr. A
lot of doctors now adays are afraid to do
anything because of all the lawsuits and
the system does not help either you just
have to keep trying until you find the
right one and don't wait until it is too
late!
Always,
sandy
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ajay70
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 19 Nov 2004 Posts: 4 Location: MN
Discriminating of Females By Doctors Posted: 11-19-04 04:18am
First things first there are many doctors
who work hard at thier jobs and do care.
But as with everything there is always the
exceptions. One I am sorry that it took
ten years for you to get a doctor who toke
you seriuosly about your heart condition.
As far as my own personal experiences I
have had one was while I was in the
military I was assaulted. I didn't even
know right away something had happened
exactly but things didn't seem right.
When I went to the doctor and I asked him
to test me for any type of drugs because I
should not have anything in my system not
even tylenol he completely ingnored my
request and told me I should get help with
drinking problems and that I wasn't
drugged. I also reported to him that I
had been assaulted and he didn't even
report it. I don't know if it was
because he was a guy, didn't care, didn't
believe me or whatever. This isn't to
say all military doctors are bad either.
But for anyone that reads this, no matter
what the situation whether it is for a
headache or assault or any other condition
if you don't feel comfortable with your
doctor get a new one or atleast another
opinion from a different one. And if you
feel you have been discriminated against
file a grievence. If it doesn't solve
your sitituation it will probably help the
next person who comes along.
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melissa22
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 16 Jun 2005 Posts: 7 Location: Indiana
I Do Agree Posted: 06-20-05 20:36pm
I can agree with a lot that you have
stated. I fell at work from an over head
conveyer six foot up. I fell onto a metal
grated walk way, landing on both knee's.
Was made to walk over half a mile to the
office. Was sent to the hospital.
(company hospital) got stitches and was
told to come back in a few days. So long
story short I saw 12 different doctors all
men 18 visits to the company hospital. 20
about 18 different male physical
therapist. Was made to do therapy on an
injured knee. I worked every day chucking
mail bags. 2lbs. To 100lbs bags. 60
bags a minute not an easy job. I weighed
140 at 5'3 and could bench 90lbs a hundred
times. I was thick but definitely in
shape. So the 12th doctor, was angry to
see me once again. Threw his hands up and
told me I was only faking an injury to get
attention. He finally told me after I
argued with him for an hour, that he would
give me a referral to see a specialist,
just to shut me up. So I went to the
specialist and was in the waiting room
picked up a women's health magazine.
Found out that active people tend to have
knee problems. Now this disease i'm
talking about is often found in athletes.
Saw the specialist and guess what. Dr.
Lintner took two x-rays. Came back in the
room and told me you have chondromalacia.
The same disease I read about in the
women's health magazine. Had two
surgeries to correct the damage and
haven't had too many problems sense then.
If it wasn't for Dr. Lintner at
ortho-indy i'm sure I would be dealing
with knee problems still to this day.
Needless to say all the male doctors
thought I was a whiny female who couldn't
take the job. Yeah jokes on them. I got
hurt was dismissed and sued that stupid
company. I didn't get as much as I could
have but enough. Yeah there are a lot of
men who put women into some sort of stereo
type. Out of about 40 men only one
believed and would listen to my
complaints. One out of 40. Thats a
shame. He sat down asked me how active I
was. Told him swimming for 8 years biking
every chance I got and poof he said let me
take two xrays and I think I know whats
wrong. I told him I found out reading
this magazine but I was going to wait to
see what he thought. Just wanted to test
him you know. He was not offened at all.
When I told him what I had been through
with all the other doctors. He told me
thats why there are so many lawsuits
against doctors. You get one who thinks
he knows it all and the rest just follow.
Thank god one good doctor gave me the time
of day. Thanks lintner......
i had morning sickness on another level
than normal, it's called hyperemesis
gravidarium. Basically, I was puking all
day everyday and had to go to the er twice
to get an i.V and get rehydrated.
One of my old obgyn's said it wasn't
realistic.
caca!
Symptoms of hyperemesis gravidarium
severe nausea
persistent excessive vomiting (more than 3
or 4 times a day)
dehydration.
A decrease in urination due to
dehydration.
Maternal weight loss or failure to gain
weight.
Rapid heartbeat.
Headaches and confusion.
Skin may become pale-looking and dry.
If you feel that you have the symptoms
above, please talk to your doctor about
it. There are steps doctors can take,
including anti emetic drugs, which can
help you make it through your pregnancy to
term. This is not a condition that you
should "grin and bear it" through
i finally got a doctor that is awesome, he
prescribed me with "benadryl" it's an
allergy medication but it works wonders!
I've only thrown up once since i've been
on it which it's been a month.
