MEDICAL GASLIGHTING MEMOIR by author Anneke Vliegen, diagnosed with a combination of chronic, rare, barely visible and fluctuating diseases.
Anneke describes her journey to happiness, after a misdiagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) brought her condescendence, humiliation and neglect. For twenty years, this medical gaslighting continued until she was close to death. The discovery of adrenal insufficiency, lupus and hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) led to improved care and respect.
The medical world had heard Anneke’s hooves, and assumed she needed to be treated like a horse. It turned out she was a zebra – one of the exceptions to the rules. There are all sorts of hooved species which get missed or mistreated. Shame and guilt stop many from sharing their experience. By telling her story Anneke hopes to raise awareness. It offers recognition, insight and hope. Prevention and a more effective therapeutic process are the aim.
Terug