Preparing for a Rheumatology Appointment (ft. Dr. Alexis Barbut)

This week on Calling in Sick, I'm sitting down with Dr. Alexis Barbut — double board-certified in internal medicine AND rheumatology, with a clinical focus on reproductive rheumatology. If you’ve been curious if your symptoms could be autoimmune-y, currently have an autoimmune disease and question why the diagnosis keeps changing, or are autoimmune and curious about pregnant… this episode is the one you needed a year ago. We're diving into: 🔬 What rheumatology actually covers: it is so much more than joints. Lupus, scleroderma, Sjögren's, autoimmune muscle disease, vasculitis — and why symptoms overlap so much that diagnosis is often more art than science 🧬 Why women are so disproportionately affected by autoimmune disease: the two X chromosomes, estrogen, and genetic + environmental triggers equation that nobody fully understands yet 🩺 How you actually get diagnosed: why lab results can be completely normal during a severe flare, why treatment often targets symptoms rather than strict textbook labels, and what to bring to your first rheumatology appointment 💊 The treatment landscape: from first-line DMARDs to biologics to cytotoxic chemotherapies; what each tier means and when it's used 🤰 Reproductive rheumatology: everything you need to know about family planning, pregnancy and postpartum with an autoimmune disease I walked away with a deeper understanding of the disease umbrella I’ve been battling for 25+ years, and I know you will too! 🤍 xx, Alex 💬 Comment: What’s one diagnosis within rheumatology that you’ like Calling in Sick to do a deep dive on?! TIMESTAMPS: Intro: 00:00:13 Meet our guest, Dr. Alexis Barbut The 411 on all things Rheumatology: 00:04:37 What even is rheumatology? 00:06:43 Common symptoms that bring patients to a rheumatologist 00:14:09 Why autoimmune conditions are difficult to diagnose 00:20:40 What can trigger or cause an autoimmune disease? 00:26:45 Why autoimmune diseases are more prevalent in women Treatment and Advancements: 00:29:01 Current diagnostic criteria and testing 00:36:56 Navigating tiers of autoimmune medications Reproductive Rheumatology: 00:43:00 What is reproductive rheumatology? 00:53:41 How pregnancy impacts autoimmune diseases + postpartum care and managing the “4th trimester” 01:04:05 Pre-menopause, menopause, and Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Conclusion: 01:08:42 One Brain Cell Picks (books): Yesteryear and Calamity Club 01:11:22 Thank you for listening! ---------------------------------------------------------------- Stay connected and follow us on socials for more! • Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/callinginsickpod/ • TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@callinginsickpod • Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558234607568 • Substack - https://substack.com/@callinginsickpod? Connect with our guest, Dr. Alexis Barbut: • Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dralexis_md/ • TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@dralexis_md • Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579331585029&mibextid=wwXIfr&rdid=PtEzsgsks2uCgtjR&share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2F1YGSvh42E6%2F%3Fmibextid%3DwwXIfr%26utm_source%3Dig%26utm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_content%3Dlink_in_bio# ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/ #Rheumatology #ReproductiveRheumatology #AutoimmuneDisease #Lupus #Vasculitis #ChronicIllness #AutoimmunePregnancy #DMARDs #Biologics #WomensHealth #ChronicIllnessPregnancy #FourthTrimester #PreconceptionCounseling #Sjogrens #Scleroderma #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness #DrAlexisBarbut #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices