Daneka Etchells experienced severe menstrual symptoms beginning at age 12, including extremely heavy periods and excruciating pain. Initial doctor visits resulted in prescription of contraceptive medication that provided no relief. Despite multiple subsequent consultations, her condition remained undiagnosed and progressively worsened over an extended period.
Etchells eventually received a diagnosis of endometriosis, a condition affecting one in 10 women. However, by the time medical professionals identified her condition, it had developed extensively across nerves and ligaments connected to her legs. Although surgical removal was eventually performed, Etchells reports the prolonged delay resulted in permanent nerve damage and ongoing mobility limitations. She characterizes her experience as “medical gaslighting,” describing how healthcare professionals dismissed or invalidated her health concerns over approximately 17 years. A breakthrough came when she consulted a female GP who initiated medication and referred her to a gynaecologist. The average time to receive an endometriosis diagnosis is nine years, though Etchells’ diagnostic delay extended to 17 years, attributed partly to her neurodivergence.
Unable to continue performing due to pain, fatigue, and severe symptoms affecting daily functioning, Etchells eventually underwent private excision surgery after saving money and fundraising through GoFundMe. While this procedure provided some relief, she continues experiencing constant pain and relies on mobility aids. Etchells is currently performing in a disabled-led stage adaptation of The Secret Garden, which explores themes of medical dismissal and self-advocacy.
Playwright Tom Wentworth, who created this production, similarly experienced medical dismissal related to his cerebral palsy and recent urological issues. He rewrote the classic story to reflect disabled individuals’ realities, eliminating the miraculous cure ending and instead emphasizing self-advocacy and obtaining necessary support. Healthwatch England reports that experiences of medical dismissal occur frequently, particularly affecting young people, women, and LGBTQ individuals. The Department of Health and Social Care acknowledged medical gaslighting as a barrier in women’s health and outlined commitments to improving patient care through recent policy initiatives including Martha’s Rule for rapid condition reviews.