Welcome to the Phoenix Helix podcast dedicated to autoimmune resilience. While there is no cure for

autoimmune disease, the choices we make every day can have a powerful impact on how we feel.

I'm Eileen Laird, your host. In this podcast, I interview experts in the fields of nutrition, lifestyle,

mindset, and integrative medicine. I also interview people with

autoimmune disease just like you. We can learn so much from each other. This podcast is named

Phoenix Helix, and it's after the mythical bird that rises from its own ashes. If you've ever felt

like your autoimmune disease knock you down so hard you would never

rise again, never underestimate your ability to rise.

We all have a phoenix within us.

A short disclaimer, I'm neither a doctor nor a nutritionist and the opinions expressed here

are personal.

I do interview medical professionals on the show, but it's meant to be information, not medical advice.

So always consult with your health care team before making your own medical decisions.

Now let's get on to Episode 201. Our topic today is Rheumatology tests. If your doctor suspects you have autoimmune disease, you will often be

referred to a rheumatologist, and there's a list of tests they run as part of the diagnosis process.

If you're diagnosed with autoimmune disease, there are a list of tests that help monitor your

disease activity going forward, and also your response to any prescribed medications you choose to take.

What are these tests and what does each one measure? How important are they in the diagnosis and

monitoring process? These are the questions we'll be answering today. I believe in being an

empowered patient and part of that is clearly understanding the medical care we receive.

So our goal today with this episode is to help you understand your lab work better.

If you're undiagnosed and have never received these tests, after listening to this podcast,

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