Hey doctors? If you’re reading this, I genuinely would like to know something. Why are so many of you so quick to dismiss us? Nobody wants to be sick. Nobody wants to spend their free time in waiting rooms, seeking referrals, or begging to be taken seriously. Yet, that’s what so many of us are forced to do, especially women. Listen, if a patient takes time out of their day to come to your office, it’s not because they’re bored or lonely. It’s because something is wrong and they need help. Patients are waiting 6-8 months just to see a specialist. That’s after countless hours, even days, searching Reddit, Facebook groups, Twitter threads, trying to figure out what their symptoms mean and which doctors will take them seriously. We miss work, birthdays, holidays, life itself, because our bodies are malfunctioning and no one will help. We’re not doing this “for attention.” We’re doing this because we’re sick. And we know our bodies. It makes zero sense for someone to go through all of this just for fun. Yet somehow, it makes sense to some doctors to call us dramatic, anxious, or fakers. If you don’t know what’s wrong, just say that. Don’t gaslight us. Dont write us off. Research for us, refer us out or consult with someone. Patients are doing so much just to be believed. Meet us halfway!