'...he said, “I am not interested in POTS and EDS.” I asked what I was supposed to do about medical care, and he said, “Find someone interested.”' My jaw literally dropped when I read that. Wow. Ugh!!
I guess in a way it was better that he showed his hand, rather than giving you ongoing substandard care? It's hard to imagine that a doctor with this perspective is providing adequate care for any of his patients. This would be the equivalent of me as a therapist saying to a client, "Go call someone who cares."
I'm a family doctor in Ontario, and I am also a person living with a chronic disease/disability. I have recently started teaching residents and physicians about ableism. Jessica- I'm so sorry you had this experience. It's totally unacceptable. I am inspired to keep doing my small part to try and change hearts and minds... but it does sometimes feel like an uphill battle. I will share this story next time I'm teaching.
Oh, Jessica, This is so familiar, but it still breaks my heart to heart how it happened to you. That feeling of powerlessness as a doctor walks away-just because they can-you really captured it.
I've never been told something like this in so many words, but last year I got the brush off from a gastroenterologist who couldn't get off the phone with me fast enough after worrisome test results...and he prescribed the wrong test.
At this point I should never be shocked by all the ways we’re let down by the medical industrial complex, and yet I still am! What an absolute butthole. Also, separately, very excited to see Jessica here!
I got called "obstetrically boring" by the OB. I was suffering hugely with my disability pain and eventually had a spinal ops day after a c section. But I was OBSTETRICALLY BORING none the less.
I think it was probably more a clunky way of saying "the baby is fine, the baby growing bits are fine, your body is not". But it stuck with me because of how hard it was to be taken seriously as physically disabled and pregnant.
I feel like "obstetrically interesting" is like a opposite of a backhanded compliment. Like, it's a good thing, but said in the most offensive possible way.
In Australia my pregnancy would have been managed by midwives due to being uncomplicated. But the container growing a baby, as in my body, was suffering, so the hospital put me with OB. So I was a very boring case for their speciality.
'...he said, “I am not interested in POTS and EDS.” I asked what I was supposed to do about medical care, and he said, “Find someone interested.”' My jaw literally dropped when I read that. Wow. Ugh!!
Yes! I couldn't believe he came out and said it.
I guess in a way it was better that he showed his hand, rather than giving you ongoing substandard care? It's hard to imagine that a doctor with this perspective is providing adequate care for any of his patients. This would be the equivalent of me as a therapist saying to a client, "Go call someone who cares."
I'm a family doctor in Ontario, and I am also a person living with a chronic disease/disability. I have recently started teaching residents and physicians about ableism. Jessica- I'm so sorry you had this experience. It's totally unacceptable. I am inspired to keep doing my small part to try and change hearts and minds... but it does sometimes feel like an uphill battle. I will share this story next time I'm teaching.
What a thoughtful comment. Thank you for doing some very heavy lifting. It's heartening!
Oh, Jessica, This is so familiar, but it still breaks my heart to heart how it happened to you. That feeling of powerlessness as a doctor walks away-just because they can-you really captured it.
I've never been told something like this in so many words, but last year I got the brush off from a gastroenterologist who couldn't get off the phone with me fast enough after worrisome test results...and he prescribed the wrong test.
UGH.
At this point I should never be shocked by all the ways we’re let down by the medical industrial complex, and yet I still am! What an absolute butthole. Also, separately, very excited to see Jessica here!
so are we!!!
I got called "obstetrically boring" by the OB. I was suffering hugely with my disability pain and eventually had a spinal ops day after a c section. But I was OBSTETRICALLY BORING none the less.
that's awful Briar. "obstetrically boring" seems like quite an unnecessary/mean spirited thing to say.
I think it was probably more a clunky way of saying "the baby is fine, the baby growing bits are fine, your body is not". But it stuck with me because of how hard it was to be taken seriously as physically disabled and pregnant.
I feel like "obstetrically interesting" is like a opposite of a backhanded compliment. Like, it's a good thing, but said in the most offensive possible way.
In Australia my pregnancy would have been managed by midwives due to being uncomplicated. But the container growing a baby, as in my body, was suffering, so the hospital put me with OB. So I was a very boring case for their speciality.