Misdiagnosed

Women are all too familiar with the struggle to get their symptoms taken seriously by doctors. These are their stories, plus pro tips for how you can take charge of that gut feeling that something's wrong.

It Happened to Me: Real talk from women who've been there

Before She Was Diagnosed With Multiple Sclerosis, This Dancer and DJ Saw 14 Specialists

Before She Was Diagnosed With Multiple Sclerosis, This Dancer and DJ Saw 14 Specialists

It took three years and countless doctors and physical therapists for Diane Palaganas, 36, to find out what was really causing the leg tremors and weakness that made it increasingly difficult to continue her dancing career.
Doctors Dismissed the Lump on My Neck as a ‘Swollen Lymph Node’ for 5 Years—but It Turned Out to Be Cancer

Doctors Dismissed the Lump on My Neck as a ‘Swollen Lymph Node’ for 5 Years—but It Turned Out to Be Cancer

During her first year of medical school, Diana Cejas went to the doctor because she found a lump on her neck. She was told it was “nothing to worry about” and that antibiotics would take care of it.
This Woman Had Burning Breast Pain, but 4 Doctors Told Her 'Breast Cancer Doesn't Hurt'

This Woman Had Burning Breast Pain, but 4 Doctors Told Her 'Breast Cancer Doesn't Hurt'

The burning pain in Sarah Dickinson's right breast started when she was pregnant, and doctors explained it as a side effect of her developing milk ducts. But an ultrasound after she gave birth showed something more serious.
Degenerative Disc Disease Was Causing My Crippling Back Pain, but Doctors Blamed My Posture, My Purse, Even MS

Degenerative Disc Disease Was Causing My Crippling Back Pain, but Doctors Blamed My Posture, My Purse, Even MS

This 38-year-old woman visited countless medical experts over 4 years—and came away with countless misdiagnoses. Finally, one specialist actually read her MRI and discovered the real cause of her debilitating pain.
My Constant Insomnia Turned Out to Be a Symptom of a Rare Disorder Called Hypophosphatasia

My Constant Insomnia Turned Out to Be a Symptom of a Rare Disorder Called Hypophosphatasia

After doctors couldn't figure out why she was suffering such terrible insomnia, Heather Barrow, 41, did her own research—and she learned she was born with a rare genetic disorder that also affected her mom and teenage daughter.
I Had Symptoms of Preeclampsia During My Pregnancy—but My Ob-Gyn Kept Shaming Me for My Weight Gain

I Had Symptoms of Preeclampsia During My Pregnancy—but My Ob-Gyn Kept Shaming Me for My Weight Gain

My doctor was so focused on the 52 pounds I'd gained by my third trimester, she missed a pregnancy disorder that could have killed me and my unborn child.

More Misdiagnosed

My Doctor Misdiagnosed Me With Seasonal Allergies—but I Actually Had Lung Cancer That Spread to My Brain

My Doctor Misdiagnosed Me With Seasonal Allergies—but I Actually Had Lung Cancer That Spread to My Brain

At first, Gina Hollenbeck was told that her chronic cough was due to seasonal allergies, then a second doctor chalked it up to gastric reflux. It was a chest X-ray she insisted on paying for out of pocket that led to her terminal cancer diagnosis.
One in 10 People With Any of These 3 Serious Conditions Will Be Misdiagnosed, a New Study Says—Here's Why

One in 10 People With Any of These 3 Serious Conditions Will Be Misdiagnosed, a New Study Says—Here's Why

It's time to talk about why medical misdiagnosis of the so-called Big Three conditions are scarily high.
Before She Was Diagnosed With Small Fiber Polyneuropathy, Doctors Misdiagnosed This Woman's Pain for 18 Years

Before She Was Diagnosed With Small Fiber Polyneuropathy, Doctors Misdiagnosed This Woman's Pain for 18 Years

The Lump in My Breast Was Growing—but My Doctor Kept Dismissing the Possibility That It Was Cancer

The Lump in My Breast Was Growing—but My Doctor Kept Dismissing the Possibility That It Was Cancer

It Took 2 Years of Unexplained Symptoms Before Doctors Finally Diagnosed Me With Type 1 Diabetes

It Took 2 Years of Unexplained Symptoms Before Doctors Finally Diagnosed Me With Type 1 Diabetes

Doctors Completely Missed My Brain Swelling and Sent Me to a Mental Health Facility for Schizophrenia Instead

Doctors Completely Missed My Brain Swelling and Sent Me to a Mental Health Facility for Schizophrenia Instead

You Got This: How to be your own advocate

Diagnostic Errors Make Up One-Third of Serious Malpractice Claims, Study Shows

Misdiagnoses are the most common, costly, and dangerous medical errors.

All Misdiagnosed

Doctors Thought I Had MS, Chronic Fatigue, and a Heart Condition Before I Got the Right Diagnosis: Anxiety

Doctors Thought I Had MS, Chronic Fatigue, and a Heart Condition Before I Got the Right Diagnosis: Anxiety

One Woman's IBS Struggle: "It Took Me 7 Years to Be Diagnosed"

One Woman's IBS Struggle: "It Took Me 7 Years to Be Diagnosed"

This 30-Year-Old Personal Trainer Has Stage 4 Lung Cancer. You Wouldn't Know It by Looking at Her

This 30-Year-Old Personal Trainer Has Stage 4 Lung Cancer. You Wouldn't Know It by Looking at Her

For 6 Years, Doctors Kept Telling Me I Had PMS—but It Turned Out to Be Brain Cancer

For 6 Years, Doctors Kept Telling Me I Had PMS—but It Turned Out to Be Brain Cancer

My Doctor Dismissed My MS Symptoms as 'Stress'—Even Though My Body Was Going Numb

My Doctor Dismissed My MS Symptoms as 'Stress'—Even Though My Body Was Going Numb

This Woman Had to Have Emergency Surgery After Doctors Thought Her Terrible Pelvic Pain Was a Harmless Cyst

This Woman Refused to Leave the Hospital Until Doctors Properly Diagnosed Her Terrible Pelvic Pain

A Doctor Told This New Mom to Lose Weight—but It Turned Out She Had Cancer

A Doctor Told This New Mom to Lose Weight—but It Turned Out She Had Cancer

This Woman Saw 13 Different Doctors and Took 3 Blood Tests Before She Was Finally Diagnosed With Lyme Disease

When This Woman Went to Her Doctor With Lyme Disease Symptoms, She Was Told She Should “Try Meditation”

Doctors Kept Dismissing My Back Pain—Until I Was Finally Diagnosed With Terminal Cancer

Doctors Kept Dismissing My Back Pain—Until I Was Finally Diagnosed With Terminal Cancer

My Vagina Felt Like It Was on Fire for a Year—but Doctors Kept Telling Me It Was Just a Yeast Infection

My Vagina Felt Like It Was on Fire for a Year—but Doctors Kept Telling Me It Was Just a Yeast Infection

I Had an Eating Disorder for 21 Years—but Doctors Wouldn't Diagnose Me With Anorexia Because of My Weight

I Had an Eating Disorder for 21 Years—but Doctors Wouldn't Diagnose Me With Anorexia Because of My Weight

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