Wait! What did my rheumatologist just say?! All of my labs are back to normal, and all the markers that previously indicated lupus are now negative? It took a while for that to actually sink in after my rheumatologist appointment yesterday. But as I sat in my car pouring over my blood work results, expecting to find something he overlooked (because he has before!) I slowly realized that it was true.

Once I was satisfied that my labs did indeed support what the doctor had said moments ago, I replayed the encounter over in my mind. I was convinced I would remember something that would prove it was too good to be true.

He told me I looked good, my tests were great, and I should just continue doing whatever it is I’m doing. He acknowledged that we had gone back-and-forth between a lupus and long Covid diagnosis, but eventually there were enough lupus indicators to support a diagnosis. Now that my test results are all back to normal, he felt that long Covid had triggered lupus but now it’s finally run its course. He mentioned that lots of people have been struggling with post Covid symptoms lingering well beyond a year or two, as he himself took over a year to get rid of his symptoms after having Covid.

But regardless of what we call everything that I dealt with over the past few years, there is no denying the fact that my blood work is indeed back to normal — and that’s without being on any medication for eight weeks. So for me that’s really telling. 

My labs have looked decent for a while, but I’ve always been on at least one (if not several) medications which would explain the improvement. But not this time! Even my ANA test was negative, which means my body is no longer making antinuclear antibodies that attack my body’s own tissues. When positive it is an indicator of autoimmune disease being present. All of my tests that were previously abnormal indicating autoimmune disease, are now totally fine!

I can’t tell you how good it feels to examine my blood work and see everything back to normal without the assistance of meds! It makes sense though, given how I’ve been feeling lately. Just two months ago I was still dealing with pain, discomfort, fatigue and frustration of being stuck in a running rut where I felt terrible all the time. But then I radically changed my diet. Since then I’ve been able to run farther and faster (for the most part) and I don’t wake up in pain anymore. Is it possible that the illness just finally ran its course and is out of my system? Sure. Could it have been an extremely clean diet? Honestly, I’m convinced it’s both.

I have no scientific proof for either of those possibilities. All I have is what I’ve personally experienced and learned from countless specialists and endless hours of research. After I changed my diet (from vegan to all raw vegan with no sugar, and with a high volume of cruciferous vegetables) there was a major improvement in symptoms, and for that I am grateful.

It’s hard to believe I left a doctor’s appointment without multiple future appointments for labs and follow ups and without some sort of frustration. Maybe that’s why I am finding it hard to celebrate. I’m so used to something going wrong that I’m expecting the other shoe to drop. 

I did find myself smiling a lot on the drive home, and thanking God over and over. There’s no denying the nightmares of the last few years, but there’s also no denying all the good that’s coming from this, most notably my attitude shift and greater appreciation and gratitude for life. I’m so grateful God used this battle to open my eyes. I’m sure I’ll have a lot more to say on all of this eventually. For now, though, I’m going to take a moment to be grateful and let it all sink in! I want to hear my doctor’s words over and over just a little longer —

“All of your tests for lupus are now negative. Everything looks great!“