A friend with multiple sclerosis

Today I found out that a family friend is in the hospital.
This person was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis when he was 20 years old. Now he's around 50.
He started walking with a cane first, then he couldn't walk at all, and this past year he lost his ability to use his hands.
Now he can only move his head.

I'm very shaken by these news.

What infuriates me is that the doctors at Evaggelismos Hospital -which is a public hospital- demanded money to operate on him and treat him (which is illegal and is called 'fakelaki') and that the secretary in charge of appointments delayed his treatment for a year because she wanted money as well (illegal too).

It's beyond unfair how capitalism has turned our society into a money obsessed monster, how even one of the noblest professions has long lost its true meaning.

People who work in Health are supposed to be caring, to be willing and happy to save lives. They're supposed to comfort the ill, to show them hope. I'm not saying they should do it for free, but money should never be the main drive behind choosing a profession that has helping people at its core.

Dear medical professionals...

It seems free healthcare comes at the price of psychological trauma and bullying.

You may be scratching your head right now, thinking 'What is she on about?'

Well, there are many incidents I could refer to: from being prescribed medication that almost killed me, to receiving racism for being Greek, to being judged for my appearance, to not being taken seriously as a patient, etc. etc. etc.

Today, however, I'm going to refer to one specific issue that has been coming up over and over again.

Fatshaming.

So...

Dear medical professionals,
This is an open letter to all of you, to stop. Stop immediately. Stop fatshaming your patients.
Your job is to help people, not to judge them and be rude to them.
You're -supposedly- educated people, who try to help people be healthy, yet you attack their mental health ferociously, by fatshaming them.
Yes, being fat can be unhealthy. We know. So stop.
Nevertheless, there are many people who are fat and are healthy. And live long happy lives.
You have no way of knowing if someone is healthy just by looking at their weight.
There are many thin people who are extremely unhealthy.
But you should already know that.
You are not allowed to have biases. You are not allowed to be discriminatory. You are not allowed to fatshame.
Do you hear me?
Due to the nature of your job, you have to be aware of your wording and demeanor at all times.
Because your rudeness and assumptions can affect someone's life for ever.
So you don't get to be mean. You simply do not have that right.
You are in a position of power and you know it. But with power, comes great responsibility.
Patients are vulnerable, and they are in your hands. So you do not get to crush them whilst in there.
You ought to be polite and professional at all times.
And if you can't, change professions. For you exploiting your patients' vulnerability consists malpractice. And that makes you a criminal.

Kind Regards,
A patient who won't tolerate your ignorance anymore

Hashimoto

I have been fat shamed all my life. More than often by medical professionals.

For years, no one ever even considered the possibility that I wasn't fat due to my diet, but due to a health issue.

When I was 19 I was diagnosed with Hashimoto, a thyroid dysfunction.

What Hashimoto does to you is basically this: it fucks your metabolism up. Nothing works as it should. Since it is an autoimmune disease there is no cure. You can just take medication to stop it from getting worse.

You can experience hair loss, extremely dry skin, growing hair in places that you shouldn't, depression, anxiety, insomnia, fatigue, abnormal weight gain and so on. I ticked most of those boxes.

Fast forward to 2015, me being 26 years old and taking my thyroid meds.

I had to bring my meds from Greece because UK doctors wouldn't prescribe my meds for me (even though they happily prescribed opiates and antidepressants).

When I finally convinced my GP that I need my medication she prescribed the wrong amount of mg for me. And she did that on purpose. I waited for a few months and upon realising I was gaining weight for no reason (I eat healthier than most people) I went back to see her.

So, when I explained to her that she needs to change my dose she said I should see a dietician. I explained to her that I will not tolerate fat shaming and that being a vegetarian I eat extremely healthy.

She arranged for a few blood tests and an ultrasound (which may take up to a couple of months to take place). She said we could discuss the dose after I get the results back and see a dietician.

So that leaves me hanging for the next few months, not knowing how my body will react -considering I'm not taking the right amount of medication.

However, I know that if I was wealthy and I could afford a private doctor I would have been tested properly and prescribed all the right medication that I need in no time.

Apparently the price you have to pay for not being wealthy is jeopardising your health.