Women Are Sharing Stories About Doctors Ignoring Issues Due to Their Weight

@MarisaKabas/Twitter

October 10, 2021, 8:49 am

The healthcare system has many flaws, but at least you can pay an enormous amount of money to get no treatment at all. That’s what happened to writer Marisa Kabas who started a viral moment by sharing her horrible healthcare story. Kabas alleges that her doctor left a fibroid to grow in her body because they couldn’t be bothered to look past her weight.

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“how do i know weight stigma in health care is real?” Kabas tweeted. “because i’ve had a mango-size fibroid in my uterus for *years* that has noticeably enlarged my lower abdomen, and not a single doctor looked into it. not one.”

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how do i know weight stigma in health care is real?

because i’ve had a mango-size fibroid in my uterus for *years* that has noticeably enlarged my lower abdomen, and not a single doctor looked into it. not one.

— Marisa Kabas (@MarisaKabas) October 6, 2021

Kabas shared more of her story in a thread, saying that she went through years of attempted weight loss, feeling terrible about herself because her belly continued to protrude no matter how much weight she lost. Of course it did, there were a number of fibroids inside! But no doctor would deal with it because they thought she was just overweight.

i’m furious that i spent years of self-loathing, wondering why i couldn’t flatten my abdomen, losing weight and seeing it still protrude.

i had fibroids—non-cancerous masses in my uterus. one massive fibroid, and three smaller. and i thought i’d personally failed.

— Marisa Kabas (@MarisaKabas) October 6, 2021

i’m truly beside myself knowing that if i didn’t follow a specific person on twitter who wrote about her own harrowing experience with fibroids, which triggered the thought “hey, maybe that’s me, too”, i’d be carrying around this physical and mental weight indefinitely.

— Marisa Kabas (@MarisaKabas) October 6, 2021

Kabas had to advocate for herself a lot for other health reasons, including getting two brain surgeries. She says without that experience, she might still not have gotten her fibroids treated.

i’m mad that just seven months after my second [successful] brain surgery—which i only got because of intense googling by my dad to find the right doctor—i’m having to apply all the lessons i’ve learned about doctors to make sure my fibroids get properly treated.

— Marisa Kabas (@MarisaKabas) October 6, 2021

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the one thing i didn’t expect to be told after my fibroid diagnosis was, “it’s not your fault.” but it was so important to hear. (and definitely not said by a doctor)

i had internalized so much guilt and shame around not achieving thinness that i had resigned to blaming myself.

— Marisa Kabas (@MarisaKabas) October 6, 2021

i am just truly appalled by the number of stories i’ve been sent since i posted this from people who’ve had similar experiences.

i am strengthened by the solidarity, but just so damn angry about the amount of undue suffering.

— Marisa Kabas (@MarisaKabas) October 6, 2021

The comments are filled with people who had similar experiences to Kabas, either also with fibroids or even other health conditions their doctors did not take seriously or investigate because of their weight:

1.

We always say that veterinarians have a tougher job than human physicians, because the vet’s patients can’t tell them what’s wrong. It sounds like the physicians don’t listen anyway.

— Tom McMillan (@farmer_nerd) October 6, 2021

2.

Nevermind that kids and adults experience and express pain differently. Especially those who are neurodiverse, have connective tissue disorders, or have neither of those things.

— Kelly (@luckyappricot) October 7, 2021

3.

Those of us who are considered over weight by the medical system are stigmatized and left to suffer on so many occasions and often traumatized by our experiences. I am so sorry you had to suffer for so long because of medical negligence.

— Yellow (@christine_haun) October 6, 2021

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4.

Oh Jayce, I hope you’re on your way to a full recovery and how sad that it took so long to be diagnosed. It shouldn’t be like this. You are a warrior.

— Buzzy (@clydesmommy224) October 7, 2021

5.

…“some women just have painful periods”, lack of libido gets advice like “relax” and “show some interest” rather than looking at a hormone issue for which there are hormones… Men get Viagra. Women get shrugged at.

— Mudhooks (@Mudhooks) October 6, 2021

6.

My previous GP ignored my suggestion of fibro for nearly 10 years. I’m a former nurse. I know what the symptoms are. Still no help from him. Moved away and my new NP sent me to a rheumatologist and guess what? I have fibro.

— Heather Wax Witch Thompson (@blueroses_78) October 7, 2021

7.

“You’re too young to be in that kind of pain!”
Yeah I know, but I am, which is the problem… so… let’s fix it??

— Molly Simonson, MPH (@SimonsonMolly) October 6, 2021

8.

I was in so much pain, and after 4 days went to get it looked at by a sports chiropractor who actually listened and took my pain seriously. He spent 4 weeks scraping my ribs back into place (ow). At that point there was no way to put them back into place without them breaking.

— Cass (@cassidyrued) October 7, 2021

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9.

I’m 38 years old, and the PP clinic I used in my 20s is the best care I’ve received anywhere.

— Fuck Jeff Bezos (@MayWeAllRise) October 7, 2021

10.

The idea that I have to have my husband’s input and STILL have a doctor reject a very reasonable request, was so stunning.

I also have hashimotos disease, and I constantly get the “just lose weight” from doctors like I don’t have a medical issue making that harder.

— Tricia Cave (@tdcave) October 6, 2021

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*First Published: October 10, 2021, 8:49 am