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Alright, buckle up! We asked folks to spill the tea on the weirdest, funniest, and downright shocking stuff their doctors have said. Here’s what they shared - some are jaw-dropping, some are hilarious, and all are kinda unbelievable!
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You’ve got a uterine tumor the size of a grapefruit? Doesn’t matter; doctors just say, “Work harder to lose weight.” Bonus points if you have arthritis too—it’s all because you’re “fat.” Yep, apparently if you’re a plus-size lady, every ache is just about your weight.
A blood cancer survivor noticed swelling and pressure in her face and eyes, went to the ER, and was told it was anxiety. When she saw another doc, she was told, “You just have a big neck, it's okay.” Spoiler: She had dangerous blood clots and needed emergency care.
Husband has a very sensitive gag reflex, so the doctor joked, "You'll never make it as a gay man." Brutally honest or just plain weird? You decide.
Being a doctor sounds tough, and sometimes, they say stuff that’s just… unexpected.
Dr. Sarah Fraser, a family doctor in Canada, says doctors shut down when symptoms don’t fit the usual story. Add stress and burnout, and it’s no surprise weird comments slip out.
When asked if any of her therapist’s friends were single, the reply was, “They’re not your type. They’re too stable.” The patient laughed so hard they didn’t mind the apology next session.
A 13-year-old went to the ER in severe pain and was told she just had anxiety without an exam. Turned out she had a sneaky intestinal birth defect threatening her health. Guess she wasn’t overreacting after all!
Struggling with mental health and suicidal urges? One doctor replied with weight advice and delayed psychiatric help until after a hospital visit. Needless to say, that doctor didn’t keep that patient for long.
Ever heard of “medical gaslighting”? That’s when doctors tell you things like “It’s all anxiety” or “Your tests are normal,” even when you’re sure something’s up.
Dr. Fraser explains it’s often not on purpose but it’s still frustrating for patients.
A sweet 16-year-old came in with pelvic pain and fever. The doc saw stretch marks, stopped the exam, and said, “Lose weight.” Next day, hospital stay for infection. Yikes.
After a guy doctor painfully scraped away tissue for biopsies, he told the patient, “If you’d known you’d be such a baby, I’d have given you something for the pain.” Hint: It hurt a lot.
Sister was struggling with heart failure and treatment weight changes. At a nutritionist visit, she got told, “Those shorts are very short. Brave, at your size.” No, that was not a compliment.
When that happens, you start doubting your body, and that’s just no fun at all.
Chronic issues like fibromyalgia or long COVID are often misunderstood, leading to patients feeling ignored.
Mom and daughter both told their symptoms were just a bad cold. No lung check, no x-ray. Mom almost died; now she has permanent lung damage. They dumped that doctor fast!
Pregnant type 1 diabetic working hard for good numbers got called a “bad mommy” by a nurse. Husband made a fuss, and the nurse faced consequences. Sometimes you just can’t win.
The doc told the mom that her 3-year-old with mild cerebral palsy would never be an athlete. Fast forward years later: the kid’s an all-around sports star who runs, hikes, and even does parkour. Take that, doctor!
It can mess with your head and even delay getting the right diagnosis.
Many patients end up apologizing for their pain or stop going to the doctor altogether - ouch.
Doctor took one look at a patient’s nose (the one they were born with) and said the person who did it should be sued. Oof, savage much?
Doctor didn’t believe the pain from an ovary cyst and cut off pain meds. After surgery, they apologized, saying the patient probably underestimated the pain. A little late for that!
Teenager told her spine pain was just growing pains. Turns out she had a tumor. She got treatment and is now healthy and thriving. Don’t let anyone gaslight your pain!
Turns out, bias plays a role too. Women, people of color, and others sometimes get their symptoms brushed off more than they should.
Medicine hasn’t quite caught up with fairness yet.
Dad was told he had a condition, but when he asked what it was called, the doc asked, “What do you want it to be called?” It turned out to be a rare new illness connected to Agent Orange exposure.
Doctor said, “Looks like there’s a tumor in your brain.” A week later: "I never said that." Yep. Way to confuse a patient.
Midwife told a patient there was no heartbeat during her first ultrasound, no change in tone, like discussing the weather. Pregnancy journey just got traumatic—especially during COVID with no support allowed.
If your doctor isn’t listening, experts say: keep track of your symptoms and be your own health detective!
Taking notes, asking clear questions, and even bringing a buddy can help change the conversation.
No matter what’s wrong, if you’re a fat woman, doctors will probably tell you it’s all because of your weight. It’s the catch-all diagnosis no one asked for.
Doctor thought severe hives were PMS-induced “female hysteria.” No, it was an allergic reaction to hair dye. Turns out gender stereotypes aren’t just dumb—they can be harmful.
Doctor dismissed a new mom’s worries as overreacting. Three days later, her baby was stillborn. Sometimes second opinions can save lives.
A US survey found that over 94% felt ignored by their doctors, and over 61% felt blamed or told they were “crazy.”
If your gut says something’s off, getting a second opinion is totally okay and probably a smart move.
While doing a CT scan, the tech found a massive 14cm malignant ovarian tumor—huge enough to make him gasp. The doctor called even before the patient got home. Luckily, surgery and chemo led to 15 years cancer-free!
Specialist told patient’s chronic pain was just because they were “getting older.” It took two years to find a doctor who actually cared and diagnosed a treatable condition. Aging is not an excuse!
Doctor said skin blackened from stitches after a serious hand cut would never improve. Patient found a cream called Scar Fix; one month later, skin healed perfectly. Never underestimate a good lotion!
Doctor told a patient he didn’t have time to discuss their issue while spending 15 minutes chatting football with someone else. Patient switched doctors and filed complaints. Priorities, dude.
Some doctors try to blame every health issue on three things: your period, your weight, or your anxiety. If only life were that simple!
Doctor flat-out denied ADHD but suggested ‘smart kid syndrome’ and ‘tired mom syndrome.’ At least they eventually handed over a referral to someone who actually knew what they were doing.
Doc bluntly told a young teen she’d be blind by 18 with zero warning or support for how to handle the news. Spoiler: she’s still rocking her eyesight in her 40s.
After being hit by a car, ER doc tried to send patient home saying, “You walked here, so you’re fine.” Within minutes, lung collapsed and unconsciousness happened. Thank goodness for the nurse who knew better.
A 16-year-old asking for depression help got laugher and a rude reply. Ten years later, she’s a happy mom. Lesson? Don’t let the jerks win.
After previous breast cancer, patient’s surgeon shocked her by literally grabbing her breast and asking, “Why do you still have these?” Awkward much?
Doctor told patient to skip medication and get a relapse to get “back in the program.” Patient got meds later and felt better. Some advice is just worse than no advice.
Doctor told patient that 1200 calories isn’t working and eating 500 will definitely help. Talk about extreme nutrition advice!
Doctor breaks bad news instantly: cancer. Then, turns out it was a big false alarm. Rollercoaster of emotions, anyone?
Doctor blamed obvious hip issues on anxiety, hormones, and weight—even though patient was slim. No apology or recognition of bias. Yikes.
Doctor accused patient of TikTok obsession when she asked for hormone tests. Switched doctors and got diagnosed with PCOS. Moral: don’t let docs write you off.
Pregnant in severe pain from a herniated disc got advice: "If you don’t want to kill your baby, suck it up. Try breathing and herbal tea." Yep, that’s some top-notch medical advice.
A recovering anorexia patient was told to use intermittent fasting to lose weight after gaining some. Also, a doctor refused to prescribe anxiety meds, telling her to exercise more—despite her already working out 3 hours a day. Talk about tone deaf!
In labor, mom joked about watching Walking Dead with baby’s dad. Doctor pulled his blood-covered arm out and said, “I’ll show you The Walking Dead.” Bet that made the room a lot less tense!
At 16, patient with Guillain–Barré syndrome was told she had ugly feet but might find a boyfriend if she covered them up. Years later, husband was introduced, and neurologist was floored.
Doctor refused to treat patient without expensive CT scan. Nurse practitioner stepped in and solved it for $23 including office visit. Sometimes nurse practitioners are the real MVPs.
Psychiatrist told patient, “You’re too relatable to be autistic.” Spoiler: that’s not how autism works. Patient probably rolled their eyes.
Doctor gave a diagnosis of “bad uterus” based on zero tests. Ten years later, patient learned it’s not a real thing. Note to docs: don’t make up diagnoses.
Psychiatrist took a loud phone call and argued with a patient during session, then asked if she was right. Later, she told patient their hair looked like french fries. Patient left and never came back.
Doctor drops the dreaded line, “This won’t be covered by your insurance,” and suddenly all plans change. We feel for you, budget warriors.
At 22, doctor pointed out uneven breasts and asked if she considered implants. Also told patient she was “moley.” Not the kind of body positivity we need.
Patient seriously ill in early pregnancy got told through the wall that staff thought she needed a mental evaluation—and they nearly made her get one. Turns out she really was very sick. She switched doctors quickly.
Anesthesiologist took forever trying to get epidural just right. When patient asked if almost done, doc snapped, "Women have babies every day without epidurals." Go ahead, take that, pain!
Doctor called a healthy teen obese and pushed her toward an obesity support group, all while fussing about her thyroid size. Not exactly teen-friendly bedside manner.
Back in 1981, panic attack treatment boiled down to “Get your life in order.” Some progress since then, we hope.
Doctor made a hilarious mix-up, confusing what patient was squeezing with what it really was. Medical mix-ups can be funny (in hindsight).
Doctor’s grim prognosis: unlikely to regain feeling below waist. Patient? Nailed it and proved them right in a twist no one expected.
Hospital intake told family patient should have been admitted weeks ago and it’s a miracle she survived. Sadly, she was a skeleton at death, refusing food for months. Tough stories here.
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