When Doctors Don’t Listen - The Cost of Being Dismissed
Thu Jan 22 2026
In this episode of Life Beyond The Mic, Shawna and LaLa talk about why they’re stepping away from one-size-fits-all, textbook medicine and embracing a more holistic, individualized approach to healthcare, all while preparing for the snowstorm of the century. They open up about medical gaslighting, being dismissed by doctors, and the importance of doing your own research, bringing case studies to appointments, and getting second (and third) opinions. Both share moments when doctors didn’t listen, and how they were right all along. LaLa discusses the devastating reality of medical negligence and how her colon ruptured after five doctors failed to take her symptoms seriously.
Shawna also shares a major update: after 36 years of unanswered questions, she recently met with a genetics doctor who may finally have answers related to her Cerebral Palsy and other long-standing health issues that have gone unexplained for decades. This episode is a reminder that patient advocacy saves lives, holistic health looks at the whole person, and you are allowed to push for answers, even when the system makes it hard.
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In this episode of Life Beyond The Mic, Shawna and LaLa talk about why they’re stepping away from one-size-fits-all, textbook medicine and embracing a more holistic, individualized approach to healthcare, all while preparing for the snowstorm of the century. They open up about medical gaslighting, being dismissed by doctors, and the importance of doing your own research, bringing case studies to appointments, and getting second (and third) opinions. Both share moments when doctors didn’t listen, and how they were right all along. LaLa discusses the devastating reality of medical negligence and how her colon ruptured after five doctors failed to take her symptoms seriously. Shawna also shares a major update: after 36 years of unanswered questions, she recently met with a genetics doctor who may finally have answers related to her Cerebral Palsy and other long-standing health issues that have gone unexplained for decades. This episode is a reminder that patient advocacy saves lives, holistic health looks at the whole person, and you are allowed to push for answers, even when the system makes it hard.