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10 Signs Your Symptoms Might Be Autoimmune

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Beechill Clinic Belfast

If you’re constantly tired, struggling with bloating or brain fog, or dealing with unexplained aches and skin flare-ups, you’re not alone. These symptoms can seem random or unrelated — but they are often early warning signs of an autoimmune condition.

At Beechill Clinic Belfast, I see many women who have been told their symptoms are “stress”, “age”, or “normal blood results”, yet deep down they know something isn’t right. Autoimmune conditions are frequently underdiagnosed, especially in women, and catching them early can make a life-changing difference.

What Is Autoimmune Disease?

Autoimmune diseases develop when your immune system — designed to protect you — mistakenly starts attacking your own tissues. There are more than 80 recognised autoimmune conditions, including:

  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
  • Lupus
  • Coeliac disease
  • Psoriasis

These conditions can affect almost any part of the body: joints, skin, gut, thyroid, nerves, and even hormones. Early symptoms are often subtle and easily dismissed.

10 Signs Your Symptoms Might Be Autoimmune

Here are the most common early symptoms I see as a rheumatologist in Belfast, and why they matter:

  1. Unexplained Fatigue

Waking up tired despite 7–8 hours of sleep or hitting an afternoon crash regularly.

  1. Brain Fog

Difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness, or feeling mentally “slowed down”.

  1. Joint or Muscle Pain

Aching, stiffness, or swelling that moves around the body or has no clear injury.

  1. Bloating, Constipation or IBS

Digestive issues are a major early clue — up to 70% of the immune system sits in the gut.

  1. Skin Rashes or Hives

Especially when symptoms flare unpredictably, worsen with stress, or are sun-sensitive.

  1. Thyroid Imbalance

Cold intolerance, weight changes, low energy, or mood shifts may signal Hashimoto’s.

  1. Frequent Infections or Slow Healing

Your immune system may be overactive in some areas and underactive in others.

  1. Hair Thinning or Hair Loss

A common early sign in autoimmune thyroid disease, lupus, and chronic inflammation.

  1. Numbness or Tingling

Especially in hands or feet — may point to nerve inflammation or autoimmune neuropathy.

  1. Mood Changes

Anxiety, low mood, or irritability that feels “biological” rather than situational.

Why Autoimmune Symptoms Are Often Missed

Most autoimmune conditions develop gradually over years. Early symptoms overlap with everyday issues such as:

  • Stress
  • Perimenopause
  • Thyroid imbalance
  • Digestive problems
  • Iron deficiency

Routine blood tests often fail to detect early immune dysregulation — meaning women are reassured despite ongoing symptoms.

This is why so many patients come to Beechill Clinic Belfast looking for a deeper, more complete assessment.

A Deeper, Root-Cause–Driven Approach

At Beechill Clinic, I combine my training as a Consultant Rheumatologist with a comprehensive whole-person approach, exploring factors that commonly trigger autoimmune activity, including:

  • Gut and microbiome imbalance
  • Latent infections
  • Chronic inflammation
  • Environmental or toxin exposure
  • Hormone shifts (especially perimenopause)
  • Nutrient deficiencies (vitamin D, zinc, magnesium, iron)
  • Stress load and nervous system imbalance

Understanding why your immune system is reacting is the key to calming symptoms and preventing progression.

What You Can Do Next

If you recognise several of the symptoms listed above, don’t ignore them. Your body is communicating with you.

Looking for autoimmune support in Belfast?
You can book an appointment at Beechill Clinic Belfast for a full rheumatology and immune health assessment.