Doctors Said She Was Fine — A Screw Was in Her Cerebellum with Bridget Dandaraw - Seritt

Doctors told Bridget Dandaraw-Seritt that she was fine. Four years later, a physician finally listened and discovered a surgical screw embedded in her cerebellum, with another working its way in. In this episode of Building the Noise, Bridget shares how surviving medical dismissal shaped her work as a fearless patient advocate. She joins Matt Toresco for a candid conversation about chronic illness, patient advocacy, prescription drug access, PBMs, healthcare policy, and why patients must have a meaningful voice in every decision affecting their care. ABOUT BRIDGET DANDARAW-SERITT Bridget is a patient advocate living with rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Sjögren’s syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, mast cell activation syndrome, and related complications. She is the founder of Advocates for Compassionate Therapy Now and serves as Community Impact Manager at Lupus Colorado. Through her advocacy, Bridget helps patients understand healthcare legislation, share their stories, testify before lawmakers, and fight for policies that protect access to care. KEY TAKEAWAYS • Why Bridget’s medical concerns were dismissed for four years • What happened when a doctor finally listened • How to advocate for yourself when you know something is wrong • Why patients shouldn’t be afraid to find a different doctor • How PBMs and rebates can influence medication access • The potential patient risks of prescription drug price caps • Why state healthcare policy can affect patients more directly than federal policy • How patients and caregivers can influence lawmakers • Why industry should support and amplify patient voices • How community helps patients overcome isolation WHY THIS MATTERS Patients are the reason the healthcare system exists, but their needs are often missing from the decisions that determine access, coverage, and treatment. Bridget’s story is a powerful reminder to trust yourself, stay persistent, find community, and speak up before someone else makes those decisions for you. What should a patient do when a doctor refuses to take their concerns seriously? Share your perspective in the comments. Subscribe to Building the Noise for more honest conversations about patient advocacy, healthcare access, policy, and the people working to change the system. 👍 Like this episode if Bridget’s story resonated with you. 💬 Tell us what patient advocacy means to you. 🔔 Subscribe and turn on notifications for future episodes. ▶️ Watch another Building the Noise conversation: [ADD VIDEO LINK] Guest and organization: Advocates for Compassionate Therapy Now & Lupus Colorado #PatientAdvocacy #Healthcare #ChronicIllness #PatientVoice #HealthcarePolicy