r/WomensHealth • u/Difficult-Unit9618 • 11h ago
Just had the worst appointment I’ve ever had
19 yr female. ever since I was 11 I’ve had strange “spells” or “episodes” with my heart that result in dizziness, chest fluttering, nausea, vision going white, weakness etc. all the fun things and on one occasion when I didn’t sit down soon enough: a seizure. i recently just started pursuing a diagnosis or some kind of clarity on the problem around two months ago. I’ve had a few appointments, an er visit, and a heart monitor. I went to the cardiologist today and was absolutely flabbergasted by the level of condescension. He said young girls js do that when they stand up their blood pressure can drop or spike and it’s normal. And to js live with it and drink water. and that its probably all coming from the 6 medicines I take for PMDD and PCOS. Mind you, I’ve taken all these meds for years for my PCOS, nothing has changed and I had the symptoms before getting meds. And he said to cut back on my meds because there’s no way I need two antidepressants. My fiance tried to stand up for me and said I’ve had this for years and he proceeded to raise his voice to say ”ok but she’s on SIX MEDICATIONS at 19. She does not need all those. obviously it’s not just the medicines but it’s a large part of it” then he continued rambling about how it’s just the medicine. then he told me to cut back on my meds and make sure I ”actually have PCOS and need any meds” he contradicted himself 100 times during the appointment and I left just feeling defeated and brushed off. My heart monitor results showed abnormalities, but he daid that was “a small episode that likely was coincidence and wouldn’t happen again”
the whole thing felt so dismissive and the way he spoke to me felt very sexist. I don’t know what my next step is. I’m still facing these symptoms and it’s affecting me every day