Sydney woman details ‘humiliating’ moment pharmacist mistook her for ‘a junkie’

A Sydney woman living with a debilitating disease was horrified by scenes at the chemist when trying to obtain prescribed pain medication.

A young woman living with endometriosis has detailed a horrific encounter with a pharmacist after she tried to obtain prescribed painkillers for the debilitating condition.

Anna Dooley, 30, is one of 830,000 people in Australia who endures agonising symptoms as a result of the disease, which can include intense cramping, pain on or around your period and heavy bleeding as well as discomfort during sex and when urinating.

It’s caused by tissue, similar to that which lines the uterus, growing outside of the female reproductive system, Endometrosis Australia states.

Symptoms vary from person to person, but for many they are crippling – and can also cause infertility.

Ms Dooley began experiencing symptoms from the age 13 but wasn’t diagnosed until she was 21 and now relies on painkillers during flare ups to help cope with the varying intensity of pain.

However, the Sydney woman recently opened up about the judgment she receives for taking a high volume of pain medication, detailing a degrading encounter with a pharmacist who accused her of being a drug addict.

Anna Dooley has gone viral after explaining the ‘humiliating’ moment a pharmacist mistook her for ‘a junkie’. Picture: Instagram/annadooley

The 30-year-old actually lives with endometriosis and requires strong pain medication. Picture: TikTok/@thehooleydooley

“I had the most humiliating experience with a pharmacist who in front of a whole shop of people accused me of being an addict,” she explained in a now viral video.

“Not even a ‘hello’ or ‘how are you’, just a ‘careful you might overdose’.

Ms Dooley was quick to try and explain she had endometriosis, but said the pharmacist “didn’t let me speak”, and instead handed her a Naloxone spray.

The medication is used to reverse or reduce the effects of opioids and it’s given out free under the national Take Home Naloxone program.

“I felt awful,” Ms Dooley explained, before telling the chemist “I’ve been called a junkie before” but it was a common misconception.

“Imagine if I was an addict, how dare you just broadcast this everyone,” she said between tears.

“But all these women and uterus owners being labelled junkies after being told to take a pain med so they don’t clog up hospital beds.

“I tried to explain but he kept talking over me. It left me feeling ashamed, humiliated and reminded me that there is still so much ignorance around those living with chronic conditions.”

She’s undergone four surgeries for the debilitating disease. Picture: Instagram/annadooley

Ms Dooley, an comedian who has a show called “Endhoe” based on the painful condition showing at the Sydney Fringe Festival from September 12 to 16, eventually stopped trying to explain her situation in order to escape the horrifying encounter.

“I ended up agreeing with everything he said because I was so mortified and wanted to get out of the situation quickly,” she said on TikTok.

“Why don’t you ask me questions and treat me like a human being and stop embarrassing me in front of everyone.”

But she pointed out, this isn’t the first time she’s been made to “feel shame over the last 15 years in regards to taking painkillers”, describing its regular occurrence was “wild”.

“The conversation around pain relief is harrowing,” she said.

“We all understand the strict laws around pain killers, we’re well aware. Being made to feel as though ‘you’re the problem’ doesn’t leave you – and it certainly doesn't take the pain away. “No one should have to convince someone they need help.”

Ms Dooley is fed-up with the medical industry making too many assumptions about female pain. Picture: TikTok/@thehooleydooley

Her video resonated with women around the country. Picture: Instagram/annadooley

While Ms Dooley turned off the comments on her original video, she’s posted an update mocking those who give “unsolicited advice”, which many women have used to leave messages of support.

“I have had endo since I was 17 now 58. was called a junkie at a Sydney hospital not once but during two visits,” one commented.

“It’s so sh*tty that you have to go through that… educating the supposed educated,” another lamented.

As one suggested: “Call and complain about him. Abhorrent attitude towards you, I’m so sorry this happened.”

Ms Dooley has undergone four surgeries to treat the “cruel disease” since being diagnosed and opened up about the worst parts of living with endometriosis on Instagram in August 2022.

“The 10/10 pain isn’t the scariest bit, the not knowing when the pain is coming is,” she wrote.

“Unfortunately even in Australia there are some ignorant and arrogant doctors and nurses – but there are some absolute gems out there.”

She also detailed how black women in pain have a 31 per cent higher chance of not being believed their pain is real, also noting that trans and non-binary people can live with endometriosis too.

News.com.au has contacted Ms Dooley for further comment.