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Arin922

1y ago

Struggling to Advocate for Myself as a Chronically Ill Patient

After my most recent doctor's appointment I have realized that I am really bad at advocating for myself. Being chronically ill all my life I have been convinced by doctors that I am making up symptoms. I know now as an adult that I am not and that what is happening to me is real but I always end back up as a scared girl in the doctors office thinking they know best. I try to have someone come with me as much as possible but it can't always happen. The doctors have gotten so far into my thoughts that I have actually rewritten memories to fit their narrative of my sickness. When I was talking with my mom the other day I brought this up. We were talking about when I first got diagnosed with pots. She tells a story that every time I would pass out I would get a weird grin. For the longest time she thought I was faking because of (I was young and she thought I wanted to get out of things). So one time when I passed out she poked me with a pin to see if I was faking. I never moved and when I woke up my arm hurt. She believed me after that and has been a great advocate. Though I remember this instance it is different in my head. I have convinced myself that I was faking passing out and that I just somehow willed myself not to move.

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MrsD2023

1y ago

😥how sad. We shouldn't have to put up with this medical gaslighting, we're going through enough already! Hope you get some advice on here, my foggy brain is blank sorry, but sending love all the same x

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