"I have been told by men that I’m being dramatic and that it’s just laziness."

I’m an award-winning writer and editor living in New York City, where I currently work at BuzzFeed as the Senior Lifestyle Editor.

"In fact, he immediately booked the earliest available operating room time, two days later. Thankfully, I was able to regain the ability to lift my arm fully and most of the strength and feeling in my dominant arm and hand, but not all. Most of the pain is gone, but I have to take special nerve pain meds for the rest of my life or be miserable.

As a woman, you literally have to drag your whole family, including your spouse and two young children, to RETURN to the ER at 4 a.m., crying in excruciating pain, before doctors even remotely take you seriously, and if they cannot find an obvious reason for your pain, they will shrug and send you home with prescription-strength ibuprofen, if you’re lucky. It is even worse for women of color. Women, be persistent and DEMAND referrals until someone takes you seriously."