I felt too whakamā to go to the doctor

I had just moved to a new city for uni and was constantly sick and tired for more than a year and had gone to the doctors 5 times. They…

I went to the doctor for a cold, they pulled up notes from a "confidential" counselling visit where I said I was stressed about University and they told me I…

The last time I went to the GP she was rude and uncaring. My blood pressure was raised (I explained that this always happens at the Drs (white coat syndrome)…

i have really struggled with wanting to go to the doctor as i have been misdiagnosed in ways that really hurt me and have been through a lot of mishandling…

Went to public mental health as my life is falling apart and I have no where left to go for help. The follow up letter they sent my doctor was…

I told my doctor I was treated so badly by a mental health professional it caused me to have a breakdown and selfharm for the first time in many many…

I was in my doctors office, tears streaming down my face, saying I don't know what to do any more, I can't function, life is so hard. They said "well…

Last time I was on antidepressants the wait to see my GP for a repeat prescription took too long I ran out. I gave up trying to see my GP…

Going to the doctor is a waste of time and really embarrassing. Nobody likes talking bout their bowel movements but a couple of years ago I “bit the bullet” and…

Portrayed as a lazy bludger - how embarrassing! A recent ACC Case Review report came back with 12 pages of “conclusions” regarding my 3-year recovery from a head injury, many…

I hate the way medical professionals make assumptions based on incomplete information or statistics and guidelines rather than treating people on a case by case basis. I got a copy…

About 30 years ago I had some “eating issues” and a diagnosis of “bulimia nervosa” was listed in my medical records. When I gained online access to my records I…

Why is everything done by telephone or email now? Why have we just become a number/case/file instead of a living breathing real person? Who decided that kanohi-ki-te-kanohi was old fashioned,…

For almost 2 years after a “concussion” I had been suffering from undiagnosed BPPV, (a form of vertigo). I would have “turns” almost daily where everything would spin, I’d want…

I haven’t been to the doctor for many many years. 20+years ago I had a great doctor who then retired , i was unregistered at his practice, I rang once…

I had always had very painful periods. I had my daughter at 16 yrs old. I am now 35. I had been rushed in to emergency plenty of times and…

I still continue to avoid going to the doctor about my potential external hemmroids. They have caused me significant pain and discomfort for over 15years. I do not feel comfortable…

I went to the dr because my anxiety was out of control and depression was creeping in fast. My child at the time, was about 13 months old and still…

I’ve felt too whakamā to go to the doctors multiple times in my life. I am a māori woman with a rare disability & also endometriosis. Anytime I go I…

I have a phobia of medical appointments after a history of negative experiences. I avoid going to the doctors when I’m unwell and I worry frequently about any undetected conditions…

I can't go to the doctor about my acne or pimples, doctors don't take that stuff seriously when you're 40. Only teenagers care about their skin. It's embarrassing to be…

I went for a cough, I couldn't sleep because of it, my ribs hurt and I had sharp pains. I used to have asthma and after 4 weeks of coughing…

When I got my first period, it was crazy heavy and extremely painful. I had no previous experience and all my Mum said was "oh, you take after your grandmother".…

I had an emergency csection 5 years ago and woke up from it deaf. Kept in hospital for a week due to stroke risk but fobbed off about my hearing,…

I've had 4 children , and after my last child's birth, which was brutal to say the least, I've suffered from incontinence. Which as a female, is super embarrassing to…

I was only diagnosed with ADHD at 45 after my son was diagnosed. It took a self assessment to get an GP referral then almost a year and large amount…

I’ve only just now received an ADHD diagnosis just about 27 years old, after years of waiting for my doctors incorrect info about referral acceptance - and after years of…

I know that I have ADHD but growing up I didn't and until I was 37, I didn't know. I just thought I wasn't as good as other people at…

Any illness I went to the doctor with would always end up with the answer to be, 'lose weight and we need to check for diabetes as you are an…

For years I endured painful swelling in my lower legs and knees, chronic pain in my hips, chronic lower back pain, and the gradual onset of debilitating chronic fatigue. I…

I am trans non-binary. Every time I go to the doctor I have a non-affirming experience in terms of how I am spoken to/about. This, combined with body dysphoria, means…

I experienced sexual trauma as a child and experienced ADHD like symptoms, hypervigilance, anxiety, nightmares, poor sleep, low mood, negative self assessment, difficulties at school, and anger. I could not…

Have lost count on how many times I have tried contacting Mental Health services requesting the Mental Health Clinician to contact us regarding medications for my son who has a…

I have lost confidence in doctors, feeling like I always have to justify being there taking up their time - which is new to me as I had good experiences…

I arrived here when I was one years old, however going to the doctor was always an intimidating process. My family would change jobs frequently, and every time we shifted…

My relationship with alcohol wasn't a problem. Not as far as I knew. I was normal, fitted in with my family and friends, drank almost any beverage on offer. As…

As a trans person I am tired of feeling like I'm having to fight my doctors. Its been two years now of begging but they give me crumbs and expect…

When I went to the Dr for hormone therapy he refused for 6 months because he refused to read updated guidelines for informed consent

I choose not to go to the doctor because when I do I am treated and spoken to as if I'm negligent or an idiot. I have an extensive history…

As an immigrant, when I was on my student visa or work visa, I felt too WHAKAMĀ to visit the doctor because if they were to discover any serious health…

Back in my mid-20s, I was working multiple jobs. I would wake up early and finish late, after which I would participate in drinking and casual drug use. I became…

I feel whakamā when I visit the doctor for my insomnia. It's been a constant struggle for me, and I've seen many GPs about it. Their advice is to exercise…

I felt like I had to wait for symptoms to get worse or unbearable because they minimise the pain and almost always give me paracetamol and antibiotics and thats it.

I live in a very rural community, our district has fewer than two people per km2. Over the past four years, we have gone from having three doctor’s offices to…

I have children, children have accident. My son fell off a stool that shouldn't have been in the kitchen (thanks other children). Had a cry gave a hug and was…

I felt a hard lump in my breast it was small and hard and getting more uncomfortable, I thought to myself this isn't good. I told a friend of mine…

I noticed was a difference in the texture under my skin in my sternum area, felt like hard lumps - Im a Registered Nurse so dutifully went to my GP…

I was extremely disappointed how my Tane, Maori Male Mid 40's, was stigmatised and discriminated against,ed disrespect, arrogance, and racism practices. The non-Maori registered nurse, did not know how to…

Every time I go to the Doctor I am judge, and asked questions I don't understand. - Young Mum

I avoid going to the Doctor because I can't afford it. I would rather go through the pain and suffering, then spend our money on seeing a doctor for 5…

I'm a māmā of four boys living in ***** (location withheld) and I've put off visiting the doctors for a number of reasons. The biggest reason is I don't trust…

I migrated to Aotearoa from overseas as a skilled migrant to fulfil a skills shortage. On signing up with a PHO I arranged for my overseas doctor to send my…

Hello there, I am a mum of 3. My oldest daughter is 19 now and she is suffering from anxiety and depression. What I would like to share is how…

My kōrero is more about an experience that has now made me too whakamā to kōrero about it again. I went to see our local doctors and wanted some support…

It’s so hard to get an appointment for that day you need it. Multiple times I’ve called and they have no doctors or are fully booked.

When I called to make an appointment with the GP I tried to give them some info so they didn’t misgender me. I told the lady on the phone my…

The lady on the desk is so rude, always get the hit up for costs, “YOU WON’T BE ABLE TO SEE THE GP BECAUSE YOU OWE $133. $133!! YOU”RE GOING…

I hate talking about myself. I get overwhelmed with all the questions. My aunty tells them she will speak on my behalf, but they still ask me questions – even…

When my mum was young, a chiro pinched a nerve in her neck, leaving her with a permanent tremor in her right arm and neck. Years later she was misdiagnosed…

For a long time, I was having a really rough time in my relationship – my husband was violent and angry with me and the kids. When I was at…

I went to the GP about perimenopause. First question: Do you smoke? and then he prescribed antidepressants. “You think you’ve got menopause? And what makes you think you’re in menopause?…

Heaps of times I’ve gone to the docs sick and been asked if I’m a druggy or alcoholic. Like they think I'm just there to feed a drug addiction. I’ve…

In my family, we’ve been taught to believe that you basically had to be dying before you’d even think about going to the doctors - there’s a GP shortage, they’re…