Woman Wrongfully Diagnosed With HIV While Pregnant at Age 19 Before Doctors Eventually Discovered She Had Lupus in a Case Now Inspiring Others to Advocate for Themselves
HEALTH — A woman’s devastating and years-long medical journey is gaining widespread attention after Shontia Matlock, now 39, revealed she was wrongfully diagnosed with HIV while pregnant at age 19 before doctors eventually discovered she actually had lupus. Matlock began suffering severe symptoms during her pregnancy including swelling, rashes, blisters, fatigue, kidney issues, and hair loss. The initial HIV diagnosis was devastating before retesting confirmed she did not have the virus, leading doctors on a continued search that ultimately uncovered the correct lupus diagnosis.
Severe Symptoms During Pregnancy at 19 Led to Initial and Devastating HIV Diagnosis
Shontia Matlock first experienced debilitating symptoms during her pregnancy at age 19, with swelling, rashes, blisters, fatigue, kidney problems, and hair loss all emerging simultaneously. After visiting a doctor, she was initially told she had HIV, a diagnosis that was emotionally crushing for the young pregnant woman.
Matlock described her reaction by saying her heart sank and she kept thinking it could not be right. That instinct to question the diagnosis ultimately proved critical to finding the truth.
Retesting Confirmed No HIV as Doctors Eventually Connected Lupus Diagnosis
Retesting later confirmed that Matlock did not have HIV, sending doctors on a continued search for the underlying cause of her serious and persistent symptoms. The correct diagnosis of lupus was ultimately reached, a condition that runs in her family and had affected her mother as well.
Her mother’s own lupus diagnosis proved to be a key factor in helping doctors finally connect the dots and arrive at the accurate diagnosis after the initial misidentification.
Matlock Now Urging Others to Trust Themselves and Advocate During Medical Situations
Matlock is now sharing her story publicly as a call for others to trust their instincts and advocate for themselves during medical situations. She urged people to listen to their bodies and speak up if something does not feel right, emphasizing that self-advocacy can be the difference between a misdiagnosis and proper treatment.
Her story serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of seeking second opinions and pushing for answers when an initial diagnosis does not align with what a patient knows about their own body.
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