Invisible Illnesses: Why Your Symptoms Deserve to Be Taken Seriously
October 24 • 2025
IBS. Insomnia. Fatigue. From the outside, you might look perfectly fine, but inside, it’s a different story. Too often, people dismiss these struggles. People might blame it on stress, chalk it up to a menstrual cycle, or say it’s just part of getting older.
In the video below, Dr. Priya Shah discusses the importance of listening to your body, and the importance of your provider listening to you.
When Symptoms Don’t Tell the Full Story
Many autoimmune conditions, like lupus, can be mistaken for other illnesses or brushed off as simple fatigue. Others, such as celiac disease, can mimic digestive disorders like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), making it even harder to identify the root cause. Because symptoms often overlap, think chronic fatigue, joint pain, brain fog, trouble sleeping, skin rashes, or persistent digestive issues. Patients may go months or even years without a clear diagnosis.
Some of the most common autoimmune diseases include:
- Lupus: A condition where the immune system attacks healthy tissues, leading to symptoms like joint pain, fatigue, rashes, and sensitivity to sunlight. Because lupus affects multiple organs, it can be difficult to pinpoint at first.
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA): An autoimmune form of arthritis that causes painful swelling, stiffness, and potential joint damage. RA can be mistaken for osteoarthritis or normal “aches and pains” of aging.
- Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis: A thyroid disorder where the immune system attacks the thyroid gland, often causing fatigue, weight changes, and sensitivity to cold. Symptoms can overlap with other hormonal or metabolic issues.
- Celiac Disease: Triggered by gluten, this condition damages the small intestine and often mimics digestive issues like IBS, bloating, or abdominal pain. Some people also experience headaches, anemia, or skin problems.
- Type 1 Diabetes: An autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, leading to high blood sugar. Symptoms like excessive thirst, frequent urination, or fatigue can sometimes be overlooked early on.
This overlap is why it’s so important not to ignore what your body is telling you. If you’re experiencing ongoing symptoms that don’t seem to improve with lifestyle changes or over-the-counter remedies, it may be time to dig deeper. Talking with a primary care provider and getting the right tests can help rule out or confirm an autoimmune condition, giving you the answers you need and a plan to start feeling better.
The Importance of Listening to Your Body
Your symptoms aren’t just in your head. Invisible illnesses may not always show up on the outside, but that doesn’t mean they’re not real. In fact, taking your symptoms seriously is the first step toward finding answers and feeling better.
How Aylo Health Can Help
At Aylo Health, our providers know how frustrating it can feel to not have clear answers. That’s why we take the time to listen, talk through your health history, order the right tests, and work with you to create a personalized care plan. Our goal? To get to the root cause, not just mask the symptoms. Because you deserve care that goes deeper than “it’s just stress.” Feeling unsure of where to start? Schedule an appointment today.