Have you ever gone to the doctor, explained your symptoms, and been told “it’s all in your head”? For many patients—especially women—it’s an experience that leads to more than just frustration. It can have lasting emotional and psychological consequences.
On this week’s Roggin Report, Fred Roggin raised the issue of medical gaslighting, where patients feel their concerns are invalidated or ignored. Research shows that 81% of women say their symptoms have been dismissed by a medical provider at some point.
Contributors Sue Abramowitz and Tammy Bleck joined the conversation to share their personal experiences.
Sue recounted a troubling story from years ago when she was advised to have a hysterectomy. The surgery was scheduled, but once she was on the operating table, the doctor changed course.
“When he came in the next day with stitches everywhere, he said, ‘Oh, I didn’t have to do it. So I just sewed you up,’” Sue recalled.
Years later, Sue moved to the Coachella Valley and began experiencing severe pain again. This time, another doctor took her seriously and identified tumors that required a complete hysterectomy and oophorectomy. “It made me realize I have to trust myself, not doctors,” she said.
Tammy Bleck shared that her experience with being dismissed by doctors has been ongoing. “If I had a nickel every time this happened, I’d be sitting in my villa in Italy,” she joked.
She said the experience can lead to shame and self-doubt, and even prevent women from seeking help in the future. “It’s one of those things that I think is getting better, but maybe I’m just better at handling it now.”
The segment wrapped with a reminder that validating each other’s stories is a powerful way to foster community support. “If we listen to one another, we become a good neighbor,” Fred said.
credit: NBC Palm Springs
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By: Fred Roggin
May 22, 2025
