Will Doctors Ever LISTEN to Us?

During my lifetime, I have been through eight surgeries: (1) Heart surgery-Patent ductus arteriosus — First-ever done on a 3-year-old, (2) Tonsils, (3) Cancer (cervical), (4) Tubes tied, (5) Hysterectomy, (6) Heart surgery (SVT — Catheter ablation), (7 & 8) Cancer (squamous cell — they had to go in twice, and where I had it, was the first these doctors had ever seen and it became a teaching case) — all in less than 50 years.

I truly felt dismissed by doctors when I had SVT, which started when I was 13 — incorrectly diagnosed until I was 38. For twenty-five years, I was told it was anxiety. Finally, the SVT was corrected with a 5-hour surgery in 2006.

The next time was when I wanted a hysterectomy but only ended up getting my tubes tied.

The doctor kept looking at my husband all the time. Of course, it was my hysterectomy, not my husband’s, but the doctor refused, claiming “you are too young” and “you might change your mind.” Never mind that I was over 30, had a child already over the age of 10, and that hubby #1 and I didn’t want kids after five years of marriage. Still, the doctor would only tie my tubes.

About ten years later, I finally got my hysterectomy. The hoops they make you go through to get approved for that! Oh yea, they also needed my current husband’s permission. Don’t you love that one?