Discussion about this post

User's avatar
Michelle S's avatar

I'm not 55 yet but I am experiencing the beginnings of ageism subtly and more often. Though I've had chronic pain possibly since my late 20's due to work that has been physical, I am overall healthy. Often time doctors don't believe that i'm not on any medications but are quick to offer steroids or other medications for ailments without offering multiple options -so you're right, over-treatment and know your body...NEXT!

Todays doctors are younger too, and I find it difficult for a young woman/male gyno, for example, to understand my needs as a person who has passed through the "birthing" years. I truly felt that I really didn't matter to her her as patient last time I went; where do you go to find good help (RX)these days?

I think a lot of illness, too, has to do with diet and years of sugar, fat,and processed foods will eventually catch up and cause problems - older people, especially in homes or "controlled" environments, are fed crap food, then chased down with their meds, exacerbating inflammation and illness. Doc don't seem to recommend a change in diet first. Re-education. starting young, that's a key, but we've been saying this for years about everything. It's difficult to implement change.

Expand full comment
Annette Laing's avatar

Thanks so much for this, Don. Ageism, racism, and sexism (especially when it's combined with ageism) ...and I hate to add another factor, but I've seen it in action, and that's classism. I have always had good experiences with doctors, from GPs to specialists, in many years living in the South, but then I'm a white British woman-- understand, I just want such "privilege" to be the norm for everyone, and there are good people working for that in Georgia. Now I'm in my mid fifties, and I ran into my first ageist/sexist doctor here in the Midwest. I didn't see it at first: He was very relaxed and pleasant. But the dismissiveness began to add up, including a glorious moment when he muttered under his breath as though I weren't there when I wasn't quick enough to agree with his opinion of something controversial. That was when I realized that "nice" could cost me my life: He didn't see me as a fellow adult. For someone who has always had friends of all ages, even as a teenager, this was jarring.

Expand full comment
16 more comments...

No posts