First of all, it’s not all in your head. If you’re noticing a mix of changes in your body and feel ignored by your doctor, this blog may be helpful to you. Here, we unpack what it’s like to have a mix of symptoms that might be affecting your energy, your sleep quality, your hair growth and texture, or your digestion. The autoimmune spectrum is a place where symptoms overlap, and serve as a signal for us to learn more. Ultimately, it helps us work towards finding you the relief that you deserve.
When we say spectrum, we mean a continuum. Symptoms and signals from our body are not simply white or black, yes or no. The autoimmune spectrum specifically helps us recognize imbalances or dysfunctions happening in the immune system. It is a tool to identify where your symptoms are currently, understand how they have evolved, and point toward the root causes of the imbalances you are experiencing.
Along the spectrum are a range of mild symptoms that aren’t always recognized as signs of autoimmune disease. At the far end of the spectrum is where we see the active state of formal autoimmune disease, where the body is attacking itself as a result of immune dysfunction.
Where you fall on the autoimmune spectrum can be influenced by a mix of root causes such as gut health, inflammation, or other lifestyle factors. Listening to our bodies and addressing these root causes through nutrition and lifestyle shifts can help reverse and/or prevent full-blown autoimmune disease.
Symptoms that relate to autoimmune conditions can sometimes feel vague or hard to pinpoint. They often overlap with other conditions or lifestyle factors, too, especially when you don’t have a diagnosis to explain everything. This is part of why an autoimmune condition can be difficult to identify.
Some of the most common symptoms that we see in our clients include:
If you’re reading this and identify with some or most of this list of symptoms, that does not mean that you should self diagnose. But it does mean that it might be time to dig a little deeper and understand what’s happening in your body.
Autoimmune diseases include different types of diseases, and a broad range of symptoms. We work with a lot of people who live with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis and Rheumatoid Arthritis, but research has named over 80 different autoimmune conditions. Everyone’s journey toward a diagnosis can be a little different. On average, it can take up to 7 years to fully diagnose an autoimmune condition. Trends across the dominant medical system and insurance providers, as well individual health journeys can make it tricky to confirm a diagnosis.
We know it takes time and energy to try and piece together your health story. In conventional (or allopathic) medicine, providers are each working within their own specialty, so you may hit dead ends speaking to multiple specialists who don’t talk to each other and who don’t see the bigger picture. Some of our clients have seen more than 10 doctors or specialists before finding us or before getting a diagnosis.
On the other hand, holistic medicine (including functional nutrition) comes from a perspective where the whole body is seen as one integrated system, where all symptoms are valuable parts of the story, and potentially part of the solution.
There isn’t one type of test that is considered an autoimmune disease test. Unfortunately, a lot of the testing that’s offered by medical providers or that is covered by insurance doesn’t give us the full picture, either. Many are comparing “normal” to outdated ranges so you may be told not to worry or that everything’s fine, even when you still feel discomfort, pain, or other autoimmune disease symptoms. Check out our blog on thyroid testing, where we go into more detail on this!
Luckily, we have functional medicine tests. These can help show us a more comprehensive picture of what might be out of balance in your body. Different tests offer information about what’s going on in your body nutritionally or hormonally, or in your microbiome. We recommend you work with a professional who knows how to consider your symptoms, and interpret functional medicine test results. It takes understanding that our body dances a complex dance between our organs, our food, vitamins and minerals. The goal is to work together to create a plan that will steer you towards a new chapter of wellness.
Since autoimmune conditions can span different areas of the body, and the symptoms are often attributed to (or blamed on) other conditions, it can feel incredibly frustrating to get answers.
When you’re being shuffled from person to person within the fragmented network of conventional medicine, it can also feel like you’re being gaslit as you try to justify your concerns over and over.
At ThrivingBiome, we are here to listen. Your body carries wisdom that we want to support; and your health is important to us. Consider working with us when you’re ready to learn more.
In the meantime, here are some resources we would like to share with you:
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