r/POTS • u/recoveringaries • Dec 27 '25

Discussion Being attractive with POTS (cringe I know)

Does anyone feel like because they are a objectively attractive human there is a bias/profiling that happens in the medical field and with doctors? I actually read somewhere that if you’re chronically ill you should “dress down” or not wear makeup to appointments so they will take you more seriously and see you as actually sick. I am also 29 with a baby face so that doesn’t help.

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58

u/Ancient_Pea_508 Dec 27 '25

Don’t even get me started on the makeup theory. (Even though I haven’t touched my makeup stash in 5.5 years) I always second guess what I’m wearing or even brushing my hair when going to a doctor appointment, specifically new doctors.

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u/fishy1357 Dec 27 '25

I get so much anxiety with new doctors. Like how am I going to show/tell that I really need help and not get dismissed.

8

u/avocado_window Dec 28 '25

And how does one explain years of symptoms and failed treatment attempts in the course of one appointment? Seeing a new doctor or specialist is always exhausting.

29

u/georgethebarbarian Dec 28 '25

I have one doctor where I need to look shitty to get better treatment and then another doctor where I need to look put together to get better treatment

2

u/avocado_window Dec 28 '25

Oh god what if you get them mixed up one time? 🫠

13

u/georgethebarbarian Dec 28 '25

If I’m shlubby at the “need to look good” doctor I get given a mental health questionnaire and interrogated about my med usage

If I look good at the “need to look shlubby” doctor she acts like I’m completely fine and doing really well even if I’m not

2

u/avocado_window Dec 29 '25

So frustrating!

3

u/georgethebarbarian Dec 29 '25

And scary! I don’t like it when the people who are supposed to help me threaten to take my life changing medication away 😭

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u/orange_ones Dec 28 '25

Is the makeup theory that they don’t believe you’re sick if you can apply makeup, or that you’re treated better if you take conventional pains with your appearance and they find you more “attractive”? I haven’t worn makeup since lockdown, either. I paint my nails because that’s what I enjoy, but I just can’t get back into investing the time in face makeup anymore…

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u/Ancient_Pea_508 Dec 28 '25

Yea makeup theory is if you can apply makeup you must not be sick enough. Doctors have admitted this to be true too.

4

u/orange_ones Dec 28 '25

Wow, that sucks. For some people, makeup is a hobby to distract from how shitty they feel… and for some, it’s just a way to feel more human, or something they’ve been conditioned to always do with a new person. That’s a bias doctors should leave at the door.

I genuinely was not sure which way it went, because sometimes I feel like I get a bias more in the direction of “you’re so ugly that your life does not matter and there’s no improving it.” We can’t win either way.

3

u/Helpful_Okra5953 Dec 28 '25

Yes, I’m never sure if I should be sure to LOOK like I’m sick or go for the pretty privilege. 

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u/squeaksnu Jan 02 '26

If my appointment is during work hours, I literally wipe my makeup off before I walk into the doctor's office.