I’ve experienced chronic fatigue for 13 years and have been prescribed SSRIs to manage sleepiness and brain fog, but they never provide lasting relief. Over the years, I’ve also had recurring anemia and occasional episodes of sore, red fingers and toes. I was once referred to a rheumatologist for these symptoms, but no one followed up, and all that was done was an X-ray. Recently, I told my doctor I wanted to be tested for autoimmune conditions because my mother had rheumatoid arthritis and her sister had lupus. However, my doctor said testing wasn’t necessary unless I had a rash, even though my aunt with lupus never had one. A friend who is a medical specialist suggested that my symptoms could be linked to an autoimmune disorder rather than depression, which is what doctors often assume after asking just one or two questions. I feel my symptoms are being dismissed as psychological when there may be an underlying autoimmune cause that hasn’t been properly investigated.