A surgeon in Washington vented online, feeling exhausted after operating on a woman who had a very noticeable and easily detectable case of endometriosis. Shockingly, according to her, a specialist had previously told the patient otherwise, leading to the surgeon’s frustration.
Dr. Melissa McHale shared the endometriosis story on TikTok. She specializes in “minimally invasive endometriosis surgery,” and often posts about the subject. This story, however, stood out due to its virality. As of the writing of this article, it has garnered 4.9 million views, 686,700 likes, and 6,421 comments.
From the get-go, Dr. McHale’s frustration was evident. As seen in the clip, she was wrapped in a blanket and was lying on a table. She had just finished performing surgery on the aforementioned patient.
“You could see the endometriosis if you looked in her vainga, you could feel the endometriosis on exam, you could see it on ultrasound, you could see it on MRI, and you could speak to the patient and listen to her and hear that her symptoms are so classic for endometriosis,” the Washington doctor said.
However, despite the aforementioned signs, the patient, according to Dr. McHale, went to see a specialist. That specialist, who is unnamed, told her that she didn’t have endometriosis, and even told her she “would not do any further evaluation until the patient had completed the workup with GI [gastroenterologist].”
The Washington surgeon said that she was tired of this type of “nonsense,” wondering what those suffering with much lesser cases of endometriosis go through.
“I’m just very tired,” she concluded.
Similar Stories Shared, Reactions
As said above, the clip went viral and, therefore, sparked multiple responses.
Some users shared their stories surrounding endometriosis. One user said, “I am infertile because my endometriosis went undiagnosed for so long.” Others expressed their distrust of the healthcare system, with one viewer commenting, “This is why I’ve been hesitant in taking my daughter to a specialist.”
Meanwhile, some users criticized the doctor after misinterpreting her, believing she was “tired” of the surgery. One user said, “If you’re tired, imagine how tired your patient is.” Some commenters, however, defended Dr. McHale, responding, “You missed the point of this video entirely.”
Endometriosis can be a very touchy subject for many. After all, it is a condition that, if left untreated, can lead to infertility. As a result, many people reacted to the Washington doctor’s venting video, as they too share the same frustrations.
Based on her past clips, it appears that Dr. McHale will continue to advocate for endometriosis diagnosis, treatment, and the patients’ well-being.
