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!
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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
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