‘It’s infuriating and shocking’: how medicine h... - Thyroid UK

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‘It’s infuriating and shocking’: how medicine has failed women over time

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator
18 Replies

I suspect many here could also write books about the issues discussed. :-(

Not intended to push you towards buying the book from the link - but simply out of interest.

‘It’s infuriating and shocking’: how medicine has failed women over time

In the eye-opening new book Unwell Women, Elinor Cleghorn uses her own misdiagnosis at the hands of male doctors as a jumping point for an alarming history lesson

theguardian.com/books/2021/...

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helvella profile image
helvella
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18 Replies
RedApple profile image
RedAppleAdministrator

'an inadequate, at times hostile system that’s more likely to offer women antidepressants and tranquilizers than referral for further diagnosis and more targeted care.'

Sounds a tad familiar 😡😡😡

bantam12 profile image
bantam12

I experienced this when my husband was alive, we were both hypo and both had similar heart problems for which we saw the same consultant, my husband always had immediate attention and not once was anxiety mentioned 😡 With our thyroid treatment he was prescribed T3 from our GP, I was denied it 😡

TSH110 profile image
TSH110 in reply tobantam12

That’s truly shocking

Gigi216 profile image
Gigi216 in reply tobantam12

Same in US my husband can always get an appointment quickly and I have to wait weeks to months. His doctors do complete workups etc I have to beg to get the blood work I’d like and sometimes I still dont get it. Men are catered to and taken more seriously everywhere it seems

JGBH profile image
JGBH in reply tobantam12

Not at all surprised! Sorry your physical and mental health were so neglected by arrogant bigots. We only know too well how untreated physical problems can create depression and a sense of being unworthy.

UrsaP profile image
UrsaP in reply tobantam12

Dreadful! Discrimination.

RedApple profile image
RedAppleAdministrator

'The UK government’s recent women’s health strategy, in which it solicited evidence from women about their treatment by the healthcare system, is groundbreaking,'

It would be even more groundbreaking if the UK government's women's health strategy actually included the rest of the UK and not just England! gov.uk/government/consultat...

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply toRedApple

I have just sent a correction email to the Guardian - though it is obviously far more a UK government fault than theirs.

knitwitty profile image
knitwitty in reply toRedApple

It would also be even more groundbreaking if they actually took any notice of anything the women said in response to this health strategy, I'm not holding my breath. The CMA are supposed to be looking into the price of T3 and the lack of competition between manufacturers, that all seems to have gone quiet.

I suppose if I don't expect anything to be done then any improvements are a bonus.

Hillwoman profile image
Hillwoman

Breaking a six month absence-in-dismay in order to respond to this... The same author also states she does not believe that patriarchy is responsible for this state of affairs. Which, coming from a supposedly rational academic, beggars belief. There are other well-regarded, very well-researched and well-argued books about the multiple ways women have been failed by the medical profession and international healthcare systems, and by other global social structures. I would point anyone interested in this problem to Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez, and Doing Harm by Maya Dusenbery.

knitwitty profile image
knitwitty in reply toHillwoman

I'll second your recommendation of Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez . My jaw fell open on several occasions when reading that book.

Hillwoman profile image
Hillwoman in reply toknitwitty

Mine too!

jgelliss profile image
jgelliss

Thank you Helvella for another great post . In truth many many of us could have written this book. Yet not much is being done about . Unfortunately history only repeats itself. If only Dr's would learn from their mistakes so that thyroid patients can have their well-being / health back.

JGBH profile image
JGBH in reply tojgelliss

Doctors do not think they need to learn more.... As for accepting mistakes... well I have not yet seen this happen. Of course, one does meet the “exceptional” doctor from time to time, but it’s rather rare, sadly.

jgelliss profile image
jgelliss in reply toJGBH

So True. You said it so well. Thank You.

JGBH profile image
JGBH

That is rather shocking! Yet it was always stated women outlived men...

serenfach profile image
serenfach

Many reference ranges for different things were set by testing fit young men...

Dummies to teach people CPR are all male, and when those who were trained were faced with a real woman, they did not know where to put their hands as there were boobs in the way. This included ambulance medics.

The only female crash test dummy is used sitting in the passenger seat...

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply toserenfach

With no consideration of monthly cycles affecting medicines, at all.

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