Autoimmune diseases are becoming more common, and they affect millions of people worldwide. There are over 100 known autoimmune diseases, and in the United States alone, it is estimated that at least 50 million people have an autoimmune disease, the majority of which are women.
This of course does not account for all of the people who have autoimmune diseases, since so many people are struggling to get a diagnosis.
Diagnosis
Getting a diagnosis can be extremely challenging and costly, and in the United States, it takes the average person 4.6 years to receive one. This is often after seeing at least 4 specialists, and perhaps being misdiagnosed along the way.
After surveying autoimmune disease patients, the American Autoimmune Related Disease Association found that:
The majority of those eventually diagnosed with serious autoimmune diseases had significant problems in getting a correct diagnosis. Many were incorrectly diagnosed with a variety of conditions that have no specific blood test to confirm the diagnosis.
Many were told that their symptoms were “in their heads” or that they were under too much stress. Furthermore, the survey revealed that 45 percent of autoimmune disease patients had been labeled as chronic complainers or were told that they were overly concerned with their health in the earliest stages of their illnesses.
On average, autoimmune patients see four different doctors over a four-year period before a diagnosis is made.
Autoimmune.org
Every time I talk to one of my clients who has had her symptoms and concerns dismissed by her doctors, only to discover later that she was not crazy and that she actually had an autoimmune disease, I want to scream!
Our healthcare system is failing women with autoimmune illnesses, and this is unacceptable. Everyone has the right to be listened to and believed by their healthcare providers.
In my own experience, as well as my clients’ experiences, it has only taken one caring doctor who was willing to listen and make a difference in receiving a diagnosis.
How a Diagnosis Can Help
With all of the challenges and expenses involved in getting a diagnosis, you may wonder why you should even pursue one. However, having an official diagnosis (the correct diagnosis) can be beneficial for many reasons, including:
- You finally know what you are dealing with, and you can feel validated knowing that your concerns and symptoms are legitimate
- It will help you to find the right doctor who treats that specific illness
- This will allow your doctor to be more specific with his/her treatment plan
- The longer that an autoimmune disease goes undetected, your body will sustain more damage
- It will help you to build your healthcare team, so that you are supported by professionals who can help you to approach your care from different angles, such as medicine, nutrition, lifestyle, physical, emotional, and spiritual.
Client Story
One of my clients came to me with depression, suicidal thoughts, low energy, and extremely long, heavy periods. She was concerned that something was wrong with her thyroid, but none of her doctors were willing to do any testing beyond TSH (Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone) levels. Unfortunately, this marker only represents a small piece of the puzzle when we are looking at the health and function of the thyroid.
Additionally, she had been instructed by a mental health professional to take an anti-depressant, which she was told that she would need to take for the rest of her life. This was something that she did not want to do, if possible, given the long list of side effects that come with anti-depressant drugs.
Together we worked on a plan to incorporate specific nutrients into her diet that have been shown to support the thyroid and also help with depression. Within a couple of months, she was feeling much better, and her symptoms of depression and suicidal thoughts were significantly better.
While these were amazing results, we were still concerned about her thyroid. Her health history and current symptoms pointed to the fact that something was off, so I encouraged her to have a full thyroid panel done, including thyroid antibody levels.
Getting the Right Tests
After seeing multiple doctors who dismissed her concerns, told her that she was “fine”, and refused to do further testing, she decided to invest in a full thyroid panel, which I was able to help her to do through Evexia Diagnostics, one of the labs that I partner with.
When we received her results, I felt like saying “bingo”! Her thyroid antibody levels were very high, which is an indicator of Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. This is an autoimmune condition that often goes undiagnosed for many women.
We began focusing on dietary and lifestyle changes to support her thyroid and to calm her immune system. In the meantime, she found a supportive doctor who finally listened. After seeing her lab work, the doctor immediately diagnosed her with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and put together a treatment plan.
An Integrative Approach
She now has the support of her doctor who is handling the medical aspect of her treatment plan, and I am helping her to understand how she needs to approach her nutrition and lifestyle with an autoimmune disease.
This story illustrates the importance of listening to your intuition, finding the right healthcare team, advocating for yourself, and remembering that healing is holistic. This means that while medication can be an important part of the healing process, there are many other important factors to focus on in order to to fully heal. Having an accurate diagnosis is an important step in this process.
Ready to take control of your autoimmune disease and find relief from your symptoms? My signature 6-month program, Autoimmune Harmony will provide you with expert support and guidance, a personalized wellness plan, customized meal collections, and proven strategies, all tailored to meet your specific needs so that you will have the tools and knowledge you need to thrive. By the end of 6 months, we will take your flare-ups from frequent to few and far between, so you can live your life fully.
Don’t let autoimmune disease hold you back any longer – take the first step towards a healthier, happier life with Autoimmune Harmony. Schedule your Autoimmune Insight Session today!
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