It is crazy to me that womens’ pain is so ignored. I’ve always (half-) joked that if men got periods, there would be 30 alternatives to midol by the end of the month. Maybe we’re just better at crying like babies?

As a chronic pain sufferer, I experienced the same as you, explaining where I am limited in life rather than expressing how much pain I’m in gets much better results.

A similar problem I’ve had is that I tell my doctors I have terrible sinus pain. Often the response to that is that I should consider allergy meds, as well as a confirmation that I am indeed “pretty stuffed up”.

But when I say I cannot sleep a full 8 hours due to sinus blockage, suddenly we need sleep evaluations, humidifiers, antihistamines prescribed, methods for lubricating my sinuses, netti pots, etc.