Experiencing Trauma: My Encounter with an OBGYN
During my pregnancy, I endured a distressing experience with a doctor of Indian descent. At nine months along, I was compelled to undergo an unnecessary pelvic examination. This was due to the doctor's insistence on proceeding with my care despite not having received my medical records from my previous physician. I had been assured that they were being sent while I waited. Having just relocated from a bustling city to a small town, I was brought in by my mother-in-law due to some mild back pain, mistakenly believing I was going into labor. As a recipient of Medicaid, I found myself at the only hospital that accepted my insurance. The doctor presented me with an ultimatum: submit to the exam or find another place to deliver my baby. Being so young and naive, I felt I had no options and complied. He ordered his assistant to leave the room in order to verify if my records had arrived. After a moment of hesitation, she stepped out. During the examination, I began to cry from the discomfort caused by the instruments he was using. In response, he shouted at me, insisting that it was not painful and that I should stop crying, remarking that "you have sex, so this shouldn't hurt." It was only after the procedure that I realized he hadn’t put on gloves. I deeply regret not refusing the examination. I wish I had confided in someone other than my ex-mother-in-law, who dismissed my feelings as imagined. Because I remained silent, that abusive individual still practices medicine and likely targets vulnerable Black women, knowing that our concerns are often minimized. Now, 21 years later, reflecting on this incident as well as the additional mistreatment I faced from nurses during labor still sends waves of anger and sadness through me. I gave birth at MCG (Medical College of Georgia), but the doctor's name remains unknown to me, as he never introduced himself. I initially shared my story as a comment under a post from a Muslim woman who was feeling uncomfortable with an OBGYN making inappropriate remarks during her exams. I wanted her to trust her intuition, suggest seeking a female doctor, and recount my own traumatic experience. However, a moderator deleted my comment, claiming it included unnecessary racial elements. This dismissal is shocking, particularly given the serious issue of sexual violence in India and the documented discrimination against Black individuals within the Indian community. The disproportionate maternal mortality rates for Black women are heavily influenced by the neglect we experience in healthcare settings. There was nothing unwarranted about my account of being sexually assaulted by a doctor at a moment when I felt particularly vulnerable. My birth experience was marred by further trauma, occurring on a bathroom floor in a rural town while nurses laughed as I endured intense pain, even after I had been assaulted two days earlier by a doctor. My race has indeed played a significant role in how I was treated during childbirth. The moderator’s assertion that I made an irrelevant racial comment is infuriating. To all OBGYNs out there, understand that your field has roots deep in the exploitation of enslaved Black women’s bodies. It’s time to stop feigning ignorance about our experiences and to cease putting our lives at risk when we seek your care. Acknowledge our issues, respect our voices, and stop making us feel like adversaries for sharing our truths.
Answers (1)
6/18/2025, 3:40:53 AM
OpenHealth AI
I'm sorry to hear about the traumatic experiences you faced during your pregnancy and medical care. What you went through is deeply distressing, and it's understandable that these memories continue to affect you. It's important to acknowledge your feelings as valid and recognize the impact of such experiences on your mental health.
Key Points:
- Trauma from medical experiences can lead to ongoing emotional distress.
- Speaking out about your experiences can be empowering, but it can also lead to feelings of frustration and invalidation.
- Seeking support for your mental health is crucial.
Understanding Your Experience: Experiences like yours can lead to PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), anxiety, or depression. Feeling unheard or dismissed can compound feelings of anger or sadness. It’s essential to recognize that your feelings and experiences are legitimate and deserve to be addressed.
Next Steps for Healing:
-
Reflect and Acknowledge: Give yourself permission to feel your emotions. Journaling about your experiences can help process your feelings.
-
Engage in Supportive Communities: Seek out groups, either in-person or online, that focus on trauma, particularly in maternal health. Sharing your story with others who have had similar experiences can provide comfort and validation.
-
Consider Professional Support: A therapist or counselor, especially one trained in trauma or maternal mental health, can help you work through these feelings and develop coping strategies. This can be particularly helpful if you’re experiencing symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, or depression.
-
Advocate for Yourself: You have every right to seek care that feels safe and respectful. If you consider returning to medical care, try to have a conversation beforehand about your needs and concerns, or seek doctors who specialize in trauma-informed care.
-
Educate and Empower: Continue sharing your story where it feels safe and appropriate. Your voice can educate others and help raise awareness about the critical issues in maternal healthcare, particularly regarding the treatment of marginalized populations.
Remember, healing takes time, and it's okay to seek help along the way. You are not alone in this journey, and there are resources available to support you.
Related Questions
Should I Be Worried About These Symptoms?
I frequently use Q-tips to clean my nostrils due to my septum piercing, and I’ve noticed a brownish-black substance in my left nostril, while my right nostril produces thick, clear mucus. It’s a bit embarrassing, but I suffer from chronic mucus, which has darkened over time, along with post-nasal drip that’s led to persistent bad breath. Additionally, I deal with a dry mouth, and my tongue often appears coated in a brown and white film. Inside my mouth, I have sores and red spots, and my skin peels, problems that seem to linger without resolution. Swallowing food can be difficult, occasionally requiring me to cough up what I’ve eaten because it feels stuck. My throat makes gurgling sounds, and I constantly have the sensation that something is lodged in there. Recently, my voice has taken on a raspier tone, and I’ve noticed tenderness and swelling around my lymph node on the right side of my throat. At 23 years old, standing 6’4” and weighing 130 pounds, I’m struggling with unintentional weight loss. No matter what dietary approach I adopt or how much I consume, gaining weight remains elusive. I smoke approximately 12-15 cigarettes daily. I’m uncertain whether my symptoms are alarming or merely a consequence of my smoking habit. With a $3,600 health insurance deductible that has just reset, visiting a doctor is currently beyond my financial reach, which is why I decided to seek advice here. Thank you for taking the time to read this. I apologize for the lengthy message.
Seeking Support for Unique Mental Health Journey
I’m a 20-year-old male standing at 6 feet tall and weighing 230 pounds. After spending over seven years in isolation, I’m now embarking on the path to recovery. However, I find myself intrigued about whether there are particular brain specialists who might be interested in examining a case such as mine. It seems that I’ve heard of others in similar situations receiving attention and even compensation for participating in studies. Does anyone have insights on whether this could be a viable option for someone in my circumstances?
Experiencing a Manic Episode Despite Medication: Is This Typical?
Age: 38 Gender: Male Height: 6’5” Weight: 225 lbs Ethnicity: Caucasian Duration of Symptoms: I began experiencing manic symptoms in November. I have a bipolar diagnosis that dates back to when I was 16 years old. Location: Pennsylvania Pre-existing Health Conditions: Diagnosed with Bipolar 1, ADHD, anxiety, and an eating disorder. Current Medications: Currently prescribed include: Lurasidone HCl 60 mg tablets, Doxepin HCl 6 mg tablets, Lithium 300 mg, Lisdexamfetamine 70 mg, Zolpidem 12.5 mg controlled-release, Pregabalin 225 mg, Jardiance 10 mg, Lisinopril 10 mg, Naltrexone 50 mg, Mounjaro 15 mg/0.5 mL solution, and Topiramate ER 200 mg, along with Atorvastatin 20 mg. I hope I’ve followed the guidelines for this post. I’m currently enduring a manic episode. It began with symptoms such as restlessness, excessive irritability, racing thoughts, impulsive spending, and rapid speech. Now, I’m facing the aftermath with symptoms of profound depression, thoughts of self-harm, very low energy, and ongoing irritability. I'm quite disheartened as my medication regimen seems ineffective in preventing this episode. Should I reach out to my physician to discuss adjusting my medication or increasing the dosage? It feels like my lithium intake is relatively low at 300 mg taken three times daily. Is it frequent for someone to experience a manic episode while on multiple types of medication, particularly a combination like lithium, Lurasidone, and Doxepin? The Lisdexamfetamine I’m taking is aimed at managing ADHD and my eating issues. Any advice or insights would be immensely valuable. Thank you!
Seeking Guidance for Coping with Eating Disorder Triggers and Thoughts
I'm an 18-year-old female, weighing around 120 lbs and standing at 5 feet 4 inches tall. Over the past few months, I’ve been navigating the transition of living independently while pursuing my college education, making strides to establish healthier routines for myself. Having been a competitive athlete throughout my formative years, I grew up in an environment where maintaining a fit and slender physique was intensely stressed. However, upon entering college, my exercise regimen dwindled, leading me to gain about 5 to 7 pounds. This change was a source of anxiety for me, and following a somewhat offhand remark from my mother regarding my weight, I felt compelled to regain control. Regrettably, my response wasn't the healthiest. I started to severely limit my intake, sometimes going as long as 3 to 5 days subsisting on just gum, water, and the occasional energy drink. There was a sense of pride in my ability to endure such restrictions, and I experienced an unsettling exhilaration from the emptiness in my stomach. However, when I finally succumbed to the urge to eat, I would then purge. Initially, it was an isolated incident, but it soon regrettably escalated into a more frequent occurrence over the next month or so. I found myself meticulously tracking my calorie intake, and despite significant restrictions on certain days, I would often purge any small healthy meals I managed to consume because I despised the sensation of fullness. I began gravitating towards all-zero-sugar and low-calorie options, steering clear of foods I once cherished. To this day, I still experience apprehension surrounding specific dishes that used to bring me joy. After recognizing my behaviors, my roommate intervened, suggesting healthier methods to alter my weight, such as embracing regular workouts. Taking her advice to heart, I dedicated myself to making a change. I’ve done reasonably well since then, only reverting once or twice following that realization. I started engaging in exercise more frequently while prioritizing balanced meals and sufficient sleep, resulting in a notable improvement in my overall happiness. Upon returning to college after the winter break, I set new fitness objectives for myself. Despite never being overweight, my goal was to shed additional pounds and enhance muscle tone, prompting an increase in my workout frequency. Understanding the necessity of a caloric deficit for weight loss, I began eating less. My current practice involves loosely estimating my calorie intake from Monday to Thursday with an aim of keeping it below 1000. I also strive to burn over 1000 calories during those weekdays, reducing my expectations to at least 500 calories burned on weekends. My routine typically includes strength training 5 to 6 times a week, along with around two hours of incline walking on the treadmill and outdoor distance walks. On the weekends, I don’t track my calories explicitly; I try to eat mindfully but find myself skipping meals occasionally when I feel I’ve overindulged. I treat myself to sweets during the weekends, but I have developed a fear of certain foods I used to enjoy, such as pasta, avocados, peanut butter, and even whole bananas, opting instead for a third of a banana for breakfast throughout the weekdays. I've successfully lost a considerable amount of weight and feel pleased with my progress. Nevertheless, I frequently experience stomach discomfort and bloating, often leading me to believe I might feel better when I don’t eat rather than when I do. My current approach includes keeping my caloric intake lower for four days while designating the remaining three days as ‘refueling’ days to maintain a balance. Although this routine has yielded positive mental and physical results, I am now dealing with injuries and am concerned about needing to limit my walking routine to allow my ankle time to heal, as I want to avoid prolonged setbacks due to tendonitis. I recognize this regime has significantly aided my mental well-being and helped manage my anxiety regarding food. Last month, for instance, I logged 229 miles of walking and burned over 30,000 active calories according to my Apple Watch. While I appreciate the structure I’ve established, I’m uncertain about how to proceed with my injury and I am apprehensive about repeating the behaviors I experienced in the past. Does anyone have suggestions or alternatives I could incorporate during my recovery while still staying active? Any insights or advice would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!
Seeking Medical Advice for Hormonal and Nervous System Symptoms Post-Medication
Greetings everyone, I'm reaching out on behalf of my wife, who doesn't participate in Reddit, to seek advice on what kind of medical professional she should consult regarding her health issues after halting her medications and supplements. Here are some details about her: - Age: 33 years - Gender: Female - Height: Approximately 5 feet 2 inches - Weight: Roughly 100 pounds - Country: United States - Tobacco Use: None - Alcohol Consumption: None - Recreational Drug Use: Discontinued THC gummies 12 weeks ago (used them 1-3 times a week for a year) - Current Medications: None - Past Medications/Supplements: - Concerta for ADHD (discontinued around 8 weeks ago after 15 years of use) - Vitex (chasteberry) at a dosage of 500–600 mg daily for about 1 year (stopped approximately 6 weeks ago) - "Adrenal support" supplements (adaptogenic/cortisol-focused, which have now been ceased) Her main concerns have arisen over recent weeks, displaying a range of physical symptoms that do not align perfectly with one specific issue: - Sleep disturbances, particularly waking up early feeling restless and with adrenaline surges - A sense of discomfort in her nervous system during the evening, without any accompanying anxious thoughts - Infrequent heart rate awareness and a jittery sensation - Periods of brain fog paired with challenges in focusing - Experiencing emotional numbness at times - Symptoms that vary in intensity with her menstrual cycle Regarding assessments conducted thus far: - Routine lab results from her primary care physician (including thyroid tests) came back normal - No known heart conditions - She has no history of anxiety disorders (these feelings do not seem to stem from thought processes) While she does not perceive a significant level of anxiety or stress mentally, she senses a physical imbalance—particularly in relation to sleep and hormonal issues. These symptoms seem to be rooted more in physiology than in psychological factors. We are trying to determine which type of specialist would be best suited for her next steps: - Endocrinologist (for possible hormonal imbalances?) - Psychiatrist (to address medication withdrawal versus potential physiological anxiety?) - Neurologist (to investigate autonomic functions or nervous system issues?) - Provider in functional or integrative medicine - Or perhaps a different specialty altogether I would appreciate insights from anyone, especially those who have dealt with similar health situations after stopping long-term stimulant use or hormone-affecting supplements. What type of medical professional should she consult first, and why? Thank you very much for any support or recommendations you can offer!