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I spent 20 years trying to find a rheumatologist who would take my positive lupus test results, symptoms, extensive family history, and potential comorbidities seriously and give me a diagnosis and treatment. Nobody would listen until I was 23 because I was "too young." After 23, they started accusing me of just wanting medical marijuana.

At 27 I finally found a doctor that would take me seriously. We spent 2 hours going over the 15 years of medical records of mine that are accessible digitally, as well as some physical records from before that that my mother kept in a safe. The doctor ordered an absurd amount of tests and gave me a diagnosis when they all came back indicating that I, indeed, have lupus. She saw the same results in all of my records, too. I've tested positive and have had all of the other indicators my entire life. Like I am a textbook case of Systemic Lupus Erythematous that attacks the joints and connective tissue.

She started me on treatment and for the first time in my life, I'm not ruled by my pain and fatigue. I actually have a life now. I have started doing things that I've always dreamed of doing because now I can. I'm not chained to my bed anymore.

All of the doctors that refused to treat me despite positive test results and symptoms because I was "too young" or "just wanting marijuana" can rot in Hell. "Do not harm" my ass. I spent twenty years suffering, with multiple pediatricians and general practitioners sending me to every rheumatologist they knew of to try to get treatment for what they, non-specialists, believe I suffer from.

I drive two and a half hours one way every 6 months to see my rheumatologist and it's worth it because she gave me my life. I'd say she gave my life back to me, but I never had one to begin with. I'm actually living now. 20 years too late if you ask me, but better late than never.

To be fair, did she even try yoga?