It doesn’t have to be this way. Doctors are typically under educated on autoimmunity, and unaware of the vast amounts of research.
This means patients are on their own when it comes to understanding their condition and how to manage it.
But thousands do it successfully.
And so can you.
...when you’re repeatedly told you’re "perfectly healthy"
It takes the average person with autoimmunity about 10 years and 20 different doctors before someone finally diagnoses them with autoimmunity.
In the meantime, patients are told they’re perfectly healthy.
I first began practicing functional medicine in the late 1990s.
I love what I do and am continually driven to empower people to manage their own chronic health conditions.
My first book changed the paradigm of thyroid care and autoimmunity, and my second book introduced new brain health strategies that are now commonly embraced.
More than one autoimmune disease
An unmanaged autoimmune disorder means an out-of-control immune system. This significantly raises your risk of developing more than one autoimmune disease.
Brain inflammation and degeneration
Unmanaged autoimmune disease can lead to brain inflammation and brain autoimmunity, increasing your risk of neurodegenerative disorders.
Chronic inflammation and immune dysregulation
Unmanaged autoimmunity can keep the body in a state of perpetual inflammation. This will inflame your brain, lead to hormonal imbalances, and exhaust your immune system.
Increasing food and chemical sensitivities
The immune breakdown that leads to autoimmunity also causes many people to develop an intolerance to multiple foods and chemicals.
Leaky gut
Leaky gut is frequently cited as a cause of autoimmunity. But unmanaged autoimmunity can cause leaky gut and other gastrointestinal problems.
Up to a third of patients in primary care, and up to 2/3 of those in specialty clinics have “medically unexplained symptoms” — about 70 percent of them women.
The average autoimmune patient has to see many doctors over many years before one will finally run antibody tests and diagnose them.
I have always found my autoimmune patients have good instincts. They intuitively knew when something isn't right.
I have also found that those who educate themselves and take charge of their health have better outcomes.