Autoimmune disorders

[river]

Has anyone here been diagnosed with a specific autoimmune disorder alongside ME/CFS? What tests were used as evidence? (excuse the terminology, I've been listening to a lot of true crime podcasts and it was the only word I could think of )

I have reason to believe some symptoms I'm experiencing (not ME/CFS related) might be due to my immune system attacking the normal, healthy bacterial flora in parts of my body. I had basic immune function tests done many years ago (early on in my illness), which were normal. I know that there is known immune dysfunction in ME/CFS that can't be detected using publicly available tests so I'm not overly hopeful of being able to prove what's going on. Curious to hear people's stories.

[emsarah]

@river When I was being diagnosed I had high ANA markers apparently, so the doctor then checked for what auto antibodies (I think that's all the right terms ) might have caused that - I think things like lupus, sjogrens etc. But of course nothing showed up so not sure what that means. So I guess blood tests can diagnose some autoimmune things?

Maybe you would need a biopsy for other types? I know for Coeliac Disease they check with a biopsy if it shows up on a blood test.