For years, Sarah* knew something wasn’t right.

She was exhausted—more than "I need another cup of coffee" tired. Some days, she struggled to get out of bed. Her joints ached, the rashes showed up at the worst times, her stomach was unpredictable, and the brain fog made it impossible to focus.

Doctor after doctor told her iterations of the same thing: "Your labs are normal... Your stress levels are high… Try exercising more… go on a retreat…get more rest...”

She was prescribed antidepressants, then anti-inflammatory medications, then acid reflux meds to treat the side effects of the pain medications. Yet, nothing helped. She started to wonder—Is it all in my head?

Finally, after years of frustration, we dug deeper and ran different tests. The answer? Lupus. Relief washed over her—she wasn’t crazy. But the next thought hit hard: Why did it take so long to get here?

Why Autoimmune Diseases Are So Hard to Diagnose

Sarah’s story isn’t unique. On average, it takes at least four years, working with at least four different healthcare professionals to receive a correct autoimmune diagnosis. Why?

💡 Symptoms Overlap: Fatigue, pain, and digestive issues—these could include anything from the flu to normal aging to thyroid problems to autoimmune disease.

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💡 Early Labs Often Look "Normal": Many autoimmune conditions don’t show up in routine bloodwork, especially if they are not done on a day symptoms are flaring.

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💡 Misdiagnosis Is Common: Patients are often told they have anxiety, depression, or IBS before the true cause is found.

The Bigger Issue: Women Are Dismissed Too Often

🔹 80% of autoimmune patients are women, yet they’re often told their symptoms are due to hormones, anxiety, or stress.

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🔹 Many healthcare professionals don’t recognize autoimmune disease in its early stages, leading to years of unnecessary suffering.

How to Advocate for Yourself

If Sarah had known these steps sooner, she might have found answers faster:

✅ Keep a symptom journal – Track patterns, flare-ups, and triggers for several weeks to identify patterns and trends.

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✅ Ask for specific tests – inflammatory markers like CRP and ESR are a good place to start—don’t settle for "normal" without deeper testing. Keep in mind, though, that these could be normal, and you may still have an autoimmune disease.

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✅ Get another opinion – If your healthcare professional dismisses your symptoms, find someone who listens.

Don't Wait for Answers

If you’ve been struggling with unexplained symptoms, you deserve real answers.

🔹 Share this email to help others going through the same struggle. Because the sooner you get a diagnosis, the sooner you can start feeling better. 💙

To Your Health,

Amy Loden Tiffany, MD

*Name changed to protect privacy.

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