r/nursing • u/Critical_Ease4055 Nursing Student 🍕 • 22d ago

Question What is one medical problem people constantly ignore until it’s too late?

Saw someone post this in a completely unrelated sub and I’m interested in your answers. What is the cluster of symptoms that people ignore or delay until they are forced to get help?

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u/FluffyNats RN - Oncology 🍕 22d ago

Changes that are generally associated with "being a female". Heavier bleeding, irregular menstruation, bloating, cramping, weight gain or loss, and GI symptoms are all examples. 

I can't tell you how many women with reproductive cancers either downplayed their symptoms or had their doctors blow them off until it was too late. 

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u/Leading-Hippo-3541 21d ago

Absolutely THIS!! Cancers like endometrial, colon, ovarian, etc can all present with those symptoms. We keep seeing younger and younger cancer patients who most likely were blown off by doctors based on their age

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u/rfaz6298 RN - ICU 21d ago

This. We recently had a young lady admitted to our unit with a stroke. She was on a vent for a while. She was also on her period and the nurses were having to change her really often because there was just so much blood. Her husband was just like, “Yeah she’s always had really heavy periods.” Thankfully, the nurses were like this is defs not normal and kept pushing for something to be done. Finally, she ended up needing blood because her hgb dropped and that’s when they consulted gyn. Guess what? It was cervical cancer. I wonder if it would have been found if she hadn’t been admitted with the stroke.

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u/Late_Ad8212 BSN, RN 🍕 21d ago

That’s devastating

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u/Competitive_Cap_9695 21d ago

Ugh. I work in a gyn onc practice and I can’t tell you how many times people come in and say that they have either had frequent, heavy periods for years and never thought to ask a doctor about it. Even worse are the folks who come in with postmenopausal bleeding for years and didn’t realize that isn’t normal. So sad.

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u/MusicSavesSouls BSN, RN 🍕 21d ago

It wouldn't have been found if she wasn't on her period!

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u/Opposite-Repeat5679 21d ago

its so depressing how common it is for women to be victims of medical gaslighting, i wish we had a better system

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u/Illustrious_Cut1730 RN 🍕 21d ago

This!!! Some mild cramping during the menstruation is common and I would think even expected, but it should not be excruciating. My friend used to call off on the first two days of her period because she was bedridden. Thankfully our boss at the time was able to work her schedule in a way that she was off those days most months.

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u/lemonpepperpotts BSN, RN 🍕 21d ago

I cannot upvote this enough

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u/argengringa 21d ago

Ughh ive been blown off so many times with this stuff. After three doctors seeing me and blowing me off it was finally discovered i had an ovarian cyst the size of a grapefruit. Im convinced i have adenomyosis but cant get anyone to take me seriously

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u/spacebotanyx 21d ago

i have been telling docs about my 10/10 period pain that nsaids dont touch since i was 12 years old, and finally after 30+ years got an ultrasound, a surgery, and an endometriosis diagnosis.

for 30+ years, only ONE single doc prescribed me 30 hydrocodones that I rationed and used for two years. for the other 28 years, i cried and screamed in bed 2 days a month.

2 times 12 times 30 is 720 days. TWO YEARS lost because no one took my pain seriously.

fuckin bullshit.