Navigating Healthcare: A Woman's Struggle Against Medical Misogyny
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Understanding Medical Misogyny
Today marks Benzodiazepine Awareness Day, prompting me to share a personal experience that underscores the challenges many women encounter in healthcare.
A Winter Incident
In December 2019, I was out caroling with my son's Beaver Scouts group. The winter was surprisingly mild in Manitoba, leading to icy conditions. As I stepped outside to join my boys, I realized I had forgotten my mittens. In my haste to return inside, I slipped dramatically on the icy steps, landing heavily on my shoulder.
For a moment, I lay stunned and in pain, but I managed to get up. Though my shoulder ached terribly, I didn't believe I had sustained any serious injury, so I decided to continue with the caroling festivities.
Despite the pain, the event was enjoyable, and the children’s off-key singing brought joy to our community. However, that night, the pain intensified, preventing me from sleeping. By four in the morning, I surrendered to the discomfort and went to the emergency room, hoping for a quick resolution.
Emergency Room Experience
After spending two hours in the emergency department, I left without an X-ray or effective pain management. The attending doctor seemed utterly fatigued and dismissed my pain, suggesting I take NSAIDs. When I inquired about further options for pain relief, the doctor asked if I consumed alcohol. After confirming I do, he prescribed me a benzodiazepine.
Benzodiazepines, which are central nervous system depressants, are often used for anxiety relief. However, I was not anxious; I was in pain. This encounter highlighted a troubling dynamic: a young male doctor overlooking a female patient’s legitimate pain.
While I understand the pressures faced by medical staff, I believe healthcare should prioritize patient needs over convenience.
Informed Consent in Healthcare
I recognize that I lack medical training, but I expect healthcare professionals to ensure I am informed about my treatment options. In my case, neither the doctor nor the nurse mentioned I was receiving a benzodiazepine until I asked for clarification.
The risks associated with benzodiazepines, including dependency and tolerance, are significant, and patients deserve to be informed about them.
Seeking Better Care
By 6:30 a.m., my frustration peaked, and I decided to visit a minor injury clinic that opened at 7 a.m. Although my wait was lengthy, the doctor there took the time to conduct an X-ray, confirming there was no break or dislocation. Instead, he diagnosed severe strain and inflammation in my shoulder, offering me real pain relief and a prescription for physiotherapy.
Fast Forward to Today
Now, in the summer of 2024, my shoulder is still not fully healed. While the pain has diminished, I continue to experience tightness and numbness, likely due to ongoing inflammation affecting the nerves in my arm.
This experience reflects a broader issue within healthcare: women and those presenting as female often find their pain dismissed. Historically labeled as "hysteria," such dismissals stem from outdated notions of gender roles.
Many women, as well as gender minorities, face misdiagnoses and inadequate treatment. My own struggles with undiagnosed Celiac disease further exemplify this pattern, as doctors disregarded my symptoms in favor of more gender-conforming explanations.
Highlighting Unseen Issues
As Farideh often points out, the medical community has insufficiently studied the female body. This gap in knowledge contributes to the systemic issues women face in healthcare.
Returning to My Writing
After a six-week hiatus from Medium, due to frustrations over compensation and treatment of writers, I am back with a series of articles. I appreciate your continued support as I embark on this new writing journey.
The first video, The Women Hitting Back Against Medical Misogyny, sheds light on the experiences of women challenging the biases in healthcare.
The second video, Medical Misogyny: Why Are Women Overlooked In Healthcare Systems Globally? | CNA Correspondent, explores the global implications of medical misogyny in healthcare systems.