Naga Munchetty has revealed the powerful phrase she believes can help patients feel truly heard during a GP appointment. The BBC Breakfast presenter, who’s been open about her adenomyosis diagnosis, shared her advice in a recent conversation on Woman’s Hour.
Despite experiencing symptoms of the condition since her teenage years, Naga’s journey through the healthcare system has been anything but smooth. Adenomyosis is a condition where the inner lining of the uterus grows within its muscular wall, causing significant discomfort. There’s no cure for it, and for Naga, the struggle has been ongoing.
During the interview, she discussed a chapter from her new book about her experiences with doctors, where she admits she was initially nervous to write about it. “There’s a chapter in here, which I was really nervous about writing, called ‘The GP Appointment’, because I thought, ‘This is going to sound really patronising, everyone knows how to book a GP appointment,'” she explained. “But, this is more about what you say. You make a list, write down your concerns, and you prepare”, reported Birmingham Live.
One of the most important pieces of advice she shared was a sentence that helped her feel heard: “The best sentence I found is, ‘this is negatively impacting the quality of my life.'” She continued, “You cannot ignore that. ‘I have had to take time off work, I am losing my job, I have been unable to care for my children.’ You have to be specific, and they must offer you help.”
Naga also stressed that GPs do want to help, but that it’s essential for the doctor-patient relationship to be a partnership. “They want to. This isn’t about GPs not wanting to help. This has just got to be a better partnership, so that you are listened to,” she said.
Naga has been dealing with the condition since she was a teenager, experiencing severe symptoms like heavy menstrual bleeding, intense pain, and nausea. At one point, she sought treatment through private healthcare after enduring years of discomfort.
She shared how her periods were so painful, she had to set an alarm through the night to change her period products. “My periods basically involved flooding, which meant that I would also have to set an alarm through the night to change my period products. I’d sleep on a towel. I was in so much pain that I would sometimes sleep on the floor so that it would be painful that way, so I wouldn’t have to think about the other pain.”
Her struggles didn’t end there: “I would pass out, I would vomit, I would have diarrhoea, and I would still be going to work.” Naga also recounted how she had to wear two pairs of knickers and always pack spare tights because of the unpredictability of her condition.
Reflecting on her past conversations with doctors, Naga expressed frustration, saying, “But no one ever asked me or investigated why they are so heavy. I was told, ‘you’ll grow out of it’, what nonsense. ‘It’ll be better when you have a baby’, so I’ve got to have a baby to stop being in pain?”
Don’t Miss These:
- Parents Spot White Glow in Toddler’s Eye – Devastating Cancer Diagnosis Follows
- ITV This Morning Goes Wild as Britain’s Got Talent Star Drops Trousers Live on TV
- BBC Breakfast’s Sally Nugent Shocks Viewers by Halting Show with Important Message and Heartfelt Thanks
- Stacey Solomon ‘Devastated’ Over Bafta Loss: ‘I’m Not Taking It Well,’ She Tells Fans
- Experts Warn Prince Harry’s Fallout Could Tarnish King Charles III’s Legacy
