025 Normal Labs, Real Symptoms: Patient Advocacy & Hope with Rheumatologist Dr. Reeti Joshi

When your labs say “normal” but your body says otherwise—Dr. Reeti Joshi shares advocacy tools, faith, and hope for chronic illness. What You’ll Learn Why “normal” labs can still miss real disease activity—and how doctors actually interpret results in context of your story Concrete ways to self-advocate (questions to ask, when to seek a second opinion, and how to communicate across specialties) How a physician with her own autoimmune disease builds trust, listens, and practices shared decision-making Why second and third visits often unlock key history—and how to prepare for them “Never give up”: practical encouragement for long hauls, older patients, and anyone feeling burned out by the system The quiet power of faith/spirituality, community, and small daily rituals (hello, hot tea ☕) in the healing journey Memorable Quotes “Patients rarely read a textbook. In autoimmunity, you often have to turn the textbook upside down.” —Dr. Joshi “I can’t interpret your labs without hearing your story. History is the first test.” —Dr. Joshi “Sometimes advocacy means not taking no for an answer—and overcoming gaslighting to get the care you need.” —Dr. Joshi “Never give up. There’s always new science coming—and there’s always a next right step.” —Dr. Joshi “We’re very adaptable; we reshape life around illness. Part of the work is seeing how long this has really been with us.” —Dr. Joshi Reflection / Journal Prompt for the Week When did my symptoms truly begin (not just when they became unbearable)? What parts of my life have I quietly reshaped around illness—and what do those patterns teach me now? Who is my “pillar of strength” (doctor, nurse, friend, spouse, community)—and how can I lean on them this week? One Tiny Step for the Week Bring a 1-page “advocacy sheet” to your next appointment: Top 3 symptoms (with impact on daily life) 3 questions you need answered 1 non-negotiable (e.g., “I need you to explain how this plan fits my actual day-to-day limits.”) Resources The One-Minute Joy Journal (find one thing good, even on hard days) → [Link to your product] Contact Dr. Reeti Joshi: [email protected] Find support & community: The Unseen Sisterhood newsletter → [Link] Patient advocacy starter list (questions to bring): “How does this result fit my symptoms?” “If this lab is ‘normal,’ what else could explain my pain/fatigue?” “What’s the next step if this plan doesn’t help in 4–6 weeks?” “When should I seek a second opinion or a higher-level center?” Credits Guest: Dr. Reeti Joshi, MD, Rheumatologist Host & Producer: April Aramanda Show: The Invisible Illness Club Podcast Music/Editing: Envato