By: Liv Walker 

If you’ve ever walked out of a doctor’s office feeling dismissed, confused, or certain that something is wrong even though you’ve been told “everything looks normal,” you’re not alone. Functional and regenerative medicine expert, Dr. Debra Muth, says the experience is far more common than most women realize.

In her upcoming book release, Seen at Last: Uncovering Women’s Misdiagnoses & Reclaiming Health, Dr. Muth shares her own journey through misdiagnosis and the lessons she’s learned from treating thousands of women over the past 25 years. 

On the Hope Comes to Visit podcast, Dr. Muth shared her personal story of unexplained symptoms and how naturopathic medicine changed the course of her life.  

“When I was 28 years old, I had some symptoms…. I had this weird numbness and tingling, burning, and pain. I remember going in to see my doctor, and I told my husband, I’m coming out with one of two diagnoses, it’s either going to be fibromyalgia or they’re going to tell me I have MS,” she told host Danielle Elliott Smith. 

Within minutes of that doctor visit, she had her answer—but not the one she hoped for. The doctor told her she had Fibromyalgia and handed her prescriptions for narcotics and antidepressants, and told her to prepare to be disabled within four years.

Muth had a new baby at the time and felt defeated, “That was all you have to offer me?… I went out to the car bawling my eyes out,” she said on the podcast.

But instead of accepting the diagnosis, Muth connected with friends who had experience with alternative medicine. A naturopathic practitioner discovered she had thyroid dysfunction and yeast overgrowth in her body—issues that had been missed in her earlier evaluation. Muth says that within weeks of dietary changes and added supplements, her symptoms disappeared.

That experience reshaped her career and ignited her passion for women’s health. Today, Dr. Muth is the founder of Serenity Health Care Center and is known as a “medical private detective”.     

Throughout the years one of the most striking realities Dr. Muth has seen and heard from patients is how long women wait for accurate diagnoses.

“It takes us 4.6 years longer, typically, to get diagnosed for anything,” she said on the Hope Comes to Visit podcast. 

“Autoimmune diseases, thyroid diseases—we’re often dismissed and told it’s anxiety, it’s depression, you’re just stressed.”

Part of the problem, Muth explains, is that women’s bodies have historically been underrepresented in medical research. As a result, many conditions present differently in women, yet diagnostic models are still largely based on male physiology.

“Women are just thought of as smaller versions of men,” she says. “And that couldn’t be further from the truth. Our biochemistry is different. Our hormones make us different.”

Photo Courtesy: Debra Muth

She noted that the difference can be life-threatening. Women experiencing heart attacks, for example, often present with symptoms like jaw pain, headaches, or fatigue instead of crushing chest pain. As a result, they are more likely to be dismissed.

“Oftentimes women are sent home and told, ‘Honey, it’s just anxiety,’” Dr. Muth says.

During her chat with Smith, Muth also noted that another major issue is the interpretation of lab results. Many women are told their tests are “normal,” even when they’re experiencing clear symptoms.

“Our traditional healthcare lab system is set up to catch 90 percent of the people,” Dr. Muth explains. “If the range is from 10 to 100, and you’re at 11, they’ll say you’re fine. But that doesn’t mean you’re optimal.”

Vitamin D is one example. While the typical “normal” range may start at 30, Dr. Muth says optimal levels are closer to 60 to 80.

In Seen at Last: Uncovering Women’s Misdiagnoses & Reclaiming Health, Dr. Muth outlines why women are misdiagnosed, but also explains how a variety of chronic symptoms can stem from overlooked root causes—ranging from hormone imbalances to environmental toxins. 

“We have over 85,000 chemicals in our environment that we’re exposed to on a regular basis,” she says. “And many people are sensitive to these things. They just don’t realize that’s what’s causing their symptoms.”

Even something as simple as renovating a home can trigger fatigue, headaches, or joint pain if the body is reacting to chemicals in paint, flooring, or furniture.

“Everything off-gasses,” she explains. “That off-gassing can take seven to ten years. So when people say, ‘I have a brand-new house—there’s no way I could be sick,’ you probably are really sick from the brand-new house.”

She says that, in any case, after hearing a patient’s full history, her medical detective approach kicks in.

How to Advocate for Your Health

So what should women do if they feel something isn’t right?

First, Dr. Muth says, come prepared.

“Go in loaded with as many questions as you possibly can,” she advises. “Ask what tests they’re running and what they’re hoping to find.”

She also encourages patients to track their symptoms in a journal for at least a week before an appointment.

“The more information you can give us, the better,” she says. “Write down everything you’re feeling and what makes it better or worse. That’s where all the meat and potatoes are,” Muth said on the podcast.

Nutrition is another foundational step. “We have to eat a solid, healthy diet—whole foods, lots of colors, fruits, vegetables, proteins, start there. It makes a significant difference,” says Dr. Muth.

Prevention and awareness are key, but to anyone facing a serious diagnosis, here is some simple advice that many do not immediately consider:

“Get a second and a third opinion,” Dr. Muth says. “And don’t do it in the same hospital system.”

Dr. Muth says she wrote the book to explain the ongoing epidemic of misdiagnosis, but also push forward solutions and help those affected learn how to advocate for their health.

At its core, Seen at Last: Uncovering Women’s Misdiagnoses & Reclaiming Health is about validation. It’s for women who know something is wrong but haven’t been able to find answers.

“We don’t have to give up,” Dr. Muth says. “We don’t have to just say, ‘I got this label, and this is my life.’ It doesn’t have to be that way. Intuition is data; if your body says something is off, believe it.”

Photo Courtesy: Debra Muth

Seen at Last: Uncovering Women’s Misdiagnoses & Reclaiming Health will be available for purchase in Spring 2026.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.