What a horrendous experience! I am so sorry for what you've been through. I also don't understand the absurdity of race coming into medical practice but I know it does. Humans can be incredibly cruel and un-empathetic. Sadly, that shows up a lot in clinics. I'm a white woman and I hate going. It sucks that you have to worry about another layer of poor care. May we all learn to do better and may you stay healthy.
The system is broken. You had horrible care and should report these people. Yes, go to ER next time if there is a next time. No one should have to endure what you did.
Oh, Brittany -- I am so sorry you had to experience this. Living with a chronic pain condition myself (and having it take about 20 years to have it properly diagnosed because it's invisible and the gene causing it wasn't even discovered until 2018), I feel your agony of being dismissed in that clinic -- and I've got white lady privilege! Thank you so much for sharing the excruciating battle that so many women face in getting care, including navigating child care. I wish our nation cared more for the health of everyone and offered support for people in your situation instead of saying nothing must be wrong if you somehow managed not to die on the way to urgent care.
There is movement now, especially with IUD insertion, to use anesthesia so that the presumption isn't "periods are painful, so this ought to be, too." For some folks, that means a light general sedation; for others, a local is sufficient (that was me). With a local, the doctor has to wait for the cervix to be numb enough to proceed, and if you've got neurological issues as I do, I take much longer to numb up than other people (dental work takes FOREVER). A good provider is aware of that and doesn't rush through or presume that you'll be fine with a few Tylenol. No one should ever send a patient home believing that what you experienced is "normal." That is medical misogyny in practice, topped with racism for extra fury.
I'm a non-medical, white, male reader... whose own guts churned not only to read of your pain but also of its routinizing by insensitive doctors and PAs. Godspeed.
Holy hell, what astronomically bad care. No one gets to tell you where on the pain scale you are. Thank you for such riveting writing, for persisting, for speaking out now in such a talented and generous way.
I’m a doctor ( Internal Medicine) with 40 years of experience. I’m also a woman who fainted from pain after an IUD insertion decades ago. Your story is infuriating, heartbreaking and too common. All I can say is I’m sorry. The medical profession failed you. Please know all ( white) doctors aren’t like that. I pray you will find the compassion and expertise you and your daughter deserve. Thanks for a beautiful memoir essay.
Oh Brittany. Geez. I didn’t know about that ridiculous myth, but did know about the sub-par treatment that POC can experience, in the medical world. This is such a sad story. How dare a doctor ask you what your pain level is, and then tell you that you lied. I hope this next experience is better, and whatever is going on is easily treatable.
Thank you for sharing your story. I hate that this is the reality for you and so many Black women. Will be thinking of you as you face your current GYN needs and hoping you are treated with the care and respect you deserve. This healthcare system has to change!
Great to see your writing and your stories! Beyond the obvious, you have a real skill to discuss important issues in a very engaging and informative way.
Thank you for this - women's pain and especially black women's pain is notoriously over dismissed. I've had a few IUDs put in and I've never had anything go wrong, but I'm still amazed that a routine IUD insertion is not treated with pain meds. I mean would a Vicodin an hour before really be that crazy?
I'm so sorry that this happened to you. Horrendous. I can't believe that the practitioner actually questioned your own assessment of pain level, just beyond.
It was something. I knew it was wrong but I was in too much pain to think rationally. Glad it's in my rearview. Hoping for the best with a new provider. Thanks for reading.
What a horrendous experience! I am so sorry for what you've been through. I also don't understand the absurdity of race coming into medical practice but I know it does. Humans can be incredibly cruel and un-empathetic. Sadly, that shows up a lot in clinics. I'm a white woman and I hate going. It sucks that you have to worry about another layer of poor care. May we all learn to do better and may you stay healthy.
It's a sad commentary on where we are with healthcare. Here's hoping things get better. Thanks for reading.
Thank you for sharing
The system is broken. You had horrible care and should report these people. Yes, go to ER next time if there is a next time. No one should have to endure what you did.
Sure is broken. Hopefully my daughter's generation can fix it. Thanks for reading.
From seeing my sister have multiple ERs visits and their ineptitude + indifference, I fear they wouldn't do anything to help either.
Possibly! I had a recent ER visit where I was treated with TLC. It's possible. Thanks for reading.
Oh, Brittany -- I am so sorry you had to experience this. Living with a chronic pain condition myself (and having it take about 20 years to have it properly diagnosed because it's invisible and the gene causing it wasn't even discovered until 2018), I feel your agony of being dismissed in that clinic -- and I've got white lady privilege! Thank you so much for sharing the excruciating battle that so many women face in getting care, including navigating child care. I wish our nation cared more for the health of everyone and offered support for people in your situation instead of saying nothing must be wrong if you somehow managed not to die on the way to urgent care.
There is movement now, especially with IUD insertion, to use anesthesia so that the presumption isn't "periods are painful, so this ought to be, too." For some folks, that means a light general sedation; for others, a local is sufficient (that was me). With a local, the doctor has to wait for the cervix to be numb enough to proceed, and if you've got neurological issues as I do, I take much longer to numb up than other people (dental work takes FOREVER). A good provider is aware of that and doesn't rush through or presume that you'll be fine with a few Tylenol. No one should ever send a patient home believing that what you experienced is "normal." That is medical misogyny in practice, topped with racism for extra fury.
Sending you love and strength!
I had no idea sedation was an option! I wish that was offered as an option. Thanks for reading.
I'm a non-medical, white, male reader... whose own guts churned not only to read of your pain but also of its routinizing by insensitive doctors and PAs. Godspeed.
I appreciate the concern...it was something I never wish to repeat. Thanks for reading.
Holy hell, what astronomically bad care. No one gets to tell you where on the pain scale you are. Thank you for such riveting writing, for persisting, for speaking out now in such a talented and generous way.
Thank you for reading ♥️
I’m a doctor ( Internal Medicine) with 40 years of experience. I’m also a woman who fainted from pain after an IUD insertion decades ago. Your story is infuriating, heartbreaking and too common. All I can say is I’m sorry. The medical profession failed you. Please know all ( white) doctors aren’t like that. I pray you will find the compassion and expertise you and your daughter deserve. Thanks for a beautiful memoir essay.
Thank you so very much. I appreciate this comment more than you know. ♥️
Oh Brittany. Geez. I didn’t know about that ridiculous myth, but did know about the sub-par treatment that POC can experience, in the medical world. This is such a sad story. How dare a doctor ask you what your pain level is, and then tell you that you lied. I hope this next experience is better, and whatever is going on is easily treatable.
Unfortunately this is our reality. Hopefully the next generation gets it right. Thanks for reading.
Thank you for sharing your story. I hate that this is the reality for you and so many Black women. Will be thinking of you as you face your current GYN needs and hoping you are treated with the care and respect you deserve. This healthcare system has to change!
Thanks my friend. <3
Thank you, Brittany, for sharing this so honestly and bravely.🙏🙏🙏
Story powerfully names realities too often dismissed, especially in healthcare 😞
Stories like this are essential to building awareness, accountability, and real change.
Thank you friend! <3
Great to see your writing and your stories! Beyond the obvious, you have a real skill to discuss important issues in a very engaging and informative way.
Thanks for reading my work and the praise. Right back atcha.
Thank you for this - women's pain and especially black women's pain is notoriously over dismissed. I've had a few IUDs put in and I've never had anything go wrong, but I'm still amazed that a routine IUD insertion is not treated with pain meds. I mean would a Vicodin an hour before really be that crazy?
A vicodin helps most situations imho... ;). It should be part of routine care. Hopefully things can change. Thanks for reading.
I'm so sorry that this happened to you. Horrendous. I can't believe that the practitioner actually questioned your own assessment of pain level, just beyond.
It was something. I knew it was wrong but I was in too much pain to think rationally. Glad it's in my rearview. Hoping for the best with a new provider. Thanks for reading.