People with autoimmune diseases are often excluded

To the editor: Laurent Neergaard’s article explores the medical mystery that lupus (and other autoimmune conditions) effectively characterizes the journeys of many patients, including myself (“The Pressure to Find Help for Autoimmune Diseases, Including Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lupus” November 10).

The mentioned “idleness” and “gassing” are very real, especially when it comes to women’s symptoms. Yet I have been dismissed and misdiagnosed by male and female doctors, all medical professionals as bedridden and incapable of listening to the truth. Equitable trauma is frequently dismissed by members of the public, or even close friends, for not seeing the automatic conditions. If people don’t see it, they don’t believe it.

My saving grace is finding doctors (and other medical professionals) with authentic compassion, an open ear, and the ability to see deeply. Kudos to patient Ruth Wilson for not only standing up for herself to find the right diagnosis, but also volunteering to educate others about lupus and chronic disease in general. It took self-advocacy, adequate health insurance, family support and the courage to finally unravel my own medical mystery.

Alexis P. Markowitz, Playa Vista