Is your doctor listening to you? Actually listening?

In today’s world of medicine, many patients aren’t being heard. In fact, many are being completely dismissed, invalidated, and sometimes even insulted. Especially when it comes to women’s health, doctors sometimes don’t take women seriously. The doctor-patient dynamic here has damaged people, even to the point of causing diseases to get worse.

This is Angela Allen’s experience. Angela is a psychiatric ER nurse based out of North Carolina. So far in her life, she’s had quite the battle with endometriosis. She’s had over five surgeries and a multitude of doctors totally reject her plea for help, treatment, and care. Even as a nurse, she, too, has struggled with the cold doctor-patient power dynamic.

Today, we talk about our overall experiences with endometriosis. The three of us each take turns telling stories about our surgeries, treatments, total rejections by doctors, and the trauma that is associated with this cycle as a result. Angela specifically talks about her own healing process and how she’s learned to advocate for herself in the doctor’s office prior to going under the knife.

Get ready to learn more about how to find your voice in the doctor’s office, self educate, and empower yourself to get the treatment you deserve.

Some Question I Ask:

What was your process in getting diagnosed with endometriosis? (4:45)
What feedback did you receive after your first surgery? (7:39)
What have doctors told you that really shocked you? (15:52)
What’s it like for you to switch from being the nurse to the patient? (17:23)
How can someone practically prepare for a doctor visit? (18:30)
How did you prepare yourself for a potential hysterectomy? (23:20)
How do you feel when you see the uterus as a symbol of unity and strength depicted now in social media and in art? (25:05)
What’s your job as a nurse in a psychiatric ER like? (38:04)

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

How endometriosis can be diagnosed. (4:48)
About Angela’s experience of her pain being dismissed by her doctor and being labeled a drug addict. (7:48)
Why the doctor-patient dynamic disserves patients. (17:27)
How to find your voice in the doctor’s office. (18:37)
Why a hysterectomy may be needed to help treat endometriosis. (21:34)
About the intangible grief and isolation after having an unwanted hysterectomy. (25:34)
How to cope with the grief tied to a hysterectomy. (32:34)
About the long-term effects of being dismissed by your doctor due to severe chronic pain. (35:04)

Resources:

Endo Coach RN Website

Connect with Angela:

Instagram

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Emergency Pod: The Good Place Finale