‘I was being gaslit by doctors’ – Pastiche on the struggle to get an endometriosis diagnosis

Her meets singer-songwriter, Pastiche

Pastiche has bravely opened up about her harrowing experiences with both the music and healthcare industry in Ireland where she’s constantly fighting for her voice to be heard.

In an interview with Her.ie, Pastiche opened up about the struggles she faced in both the music and healthcare industries.

After years of struggling with excruciating pain and being ignored by doctors, the singer was eventually diagnosed with endometriosis but it was a long road to her diagnosis.

She explained that there were many moments where doctors completely ignored her and even gaslit her into thinking she was overreacting.

“I fainted in A&E and they just gave me Buscopan. That created a culture of me thinking I was just being dramatic. I didn’t want to go to the doctor or the hospital when something was wrong because I knew they would just dismiss me."

The singer explained that she was experiencing late periods, cystic acne, fatigue, and extreme pain when she came off the pill after 10 years.

She decided that her body needed a break, but this decision changed everything for her because her endometriosis symptoms started to appear more than ever before.

"I was being completely gaslit by doctors who made me feel like I was crazy"

Pastiche fought and fought to have her voice heard by doctors, but was forced to go private after stumbling over hurdle after hurdle. She felt like she was the problem until she made an appointment with a gynecologist.

Following a long-awaited surgery, her gynaecologist confirmed to her that she had stage four endometriosis.

Her doctor told her that it was “really bad” and that “it was everywhere”.

“In a way, I was so happy because I knew in myself that something wasn’t right and I finally had an answer."

“I was being completely gaslit by doctors who made me feel like I was crazy. They were just shutting me down.”

"Any white guy with an acoustic guitar can release a song and it’s groundbreaking"

It was a long road to her diagnosis, an experience that mirrors her career in the Irish music scene.

“It feels like a constant uphill battle. My experience with healthcare as a woman kind of mirrors my experience in the music industry.

“Any white guy with an acoustic guitar can release a song and it’s groundbreaking, but Irish female artists need to have a different look, a different vibe, a brand new sound to even have a look in.

“But then we’re told she’s too bossy, she’s too bitchy, she’s too old to be singing that.

"You just can’t catch a break," the singer said.

“Gender disparity in the Irish music industry is rampant, but it’s the same in healthcare,” she stressed.

Despite the ever-increasing hurdles in both healthcare and the music scene, Pastiche isn’t letting anyone stop her. She said she has “something deep inside that wants to be a singer”. 

“It’s something we have to do to live, but it is a sprint, not a marathon.”

With her determination, sheer talent, and ability to keep fighting, there’s no doubt Pastiche will be one voice you’ll constantly be hearing for years to come.

Dizzy by Pastiche is out now. The Dublin-born singer will also support Aiko at The Academy on November 17th, 2024.

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