Dr Pooja Belani- Consultant Rheumatologist

Dr Pooja Belani- Consultant Rheumatologist Expertise in Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology

20/12/2025

In rheumatology, we don’t begin by chasing disease names or lab reports, we begin by listening to your symptoms.

Joint pain, stiffness, swelling, fatigue, rashes, or unexplained fever may look similar at first glance, but each symptom carries important clues about what’s happening inside your body.

A symptom-based approach helps us identify patterns over time, understand how the disease is evolving, and detect conditions early, sometimes even before blood tests become positive.
This approach reduces the risk of delayed or missed diagnoses and allows treatment to start at the right time.

In autoimmune and rheumatic diseases, symptoms often speak before reports do.
That’s why how you feel, how long symptoms last, and how they change are just as important as any investigation.

Because in rheumatology, your story matters as much as your reports.



[ symptom based approach, rheumatology diagnosis, joint pain symptoms, autoimmune disease patterns, early arthritis detection, clinical evaluation, patient focused care, inflammatory joint disease, rheumatology awareness, Dr Pooja Bellani ]

18/12/2025

In rheumatology, treatment is not just about naming a disease, it’s about understanding symptoms first.

Joint pain, stiffness, swelling, rashes, fatigue, or fever may look similar on the surface, but the causes can be very different.

That’s why we follow two parallel approaches:
• A symptom-based approach to understand what the body is showing
• A disease-based approach to identify the exact condition behind those symptoms

Only when both come together can we reach the right diagnosis and start the right treatment without delay, confusion, or guesswork.

Because in rheumatology, patterns matter more than labels.



[ rheumatology diagnosis, symptom-based treatment, disease-based approach, autoimmune disease patterns, joint pain evaluation, clinical assessment, inflammatory arthritis, patient-centered care, rheumatology awareness, Dr Pooja Bellani ]

15/12/2025

Many patients rely completely on lab reports - but the truth is, a test can be negative and the disease can still be present.

This is exactly why clinical diagnosis remains the backbone of medicine.
Your symptoms, your medical history, your physical examination, and how your condition changes over time are just as important as any blood test or scan.

No report can fully replace what your body is trying to communicate.
A false negative report can create a false sense of relief, delay proper treatment, and allow the disease to progress silently in the background, sometimes causing irreversible damage.

So never take your symptoms lightly.
And never depend only on reports without a proper clinical evaluation.

Early diagnosis based on both clinical judgment and investigations is what truly protects your long-term health.



[ clinical diagnosis, false negative test, early disease detection, autoimmune diagnosis, rheumatology evaluation, symptoms vs reports, medical misdiagnosis, patient awareness, timely treatment, Dr Pooja Bellani ]

Expert consultation for Arthritis, SLE, Vasculitis, Pediatric Arthritis, and other complex joint diseases - now availabl...
15/12/2025

Expert consultation for Arthritis, SLE, Vasculitis, Pediatric Arthritis, and other complex joint diseases - now available in Godhra itself.

There is no need to travel outside the city anymore for bone, joint, and autoimmune diseases.

👩‍⚕ Dr. Pooja Bellani
MD, DM (Rheumatology) – JIPMER, Puducherry

📍 OM Hospital, Godhra
🗓 Every third Tuesday of the month

🗓16 November 2025, Tuesday.
⏰ 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM

📞 For appointments: 6357 347 959

Expert care. No shortcuts.






08/12/2025

Many patients ask about the Autoimmune Diet Protocol (AIP) - but the truth is, extreme elimination diets are not for everyone and can lead to nutritional deficiencies.

Instead of stopping multiple food groups at once, the smarter approach is to identify your personal triggers.

If your pain suddenly increases, look back at:
• Any new food you added
• Seasonal changes
• Sun or UV exposure
• Recent viral infections
• Missed medicines
• Dehydration or social drinking (especially in gout)

In nearly 70% of patients, a clear trigger can be identified.
Knowing your trigger helps you avoid future flares without unnecessary food restrictions.
Autoimmune care is not about fear, it’s about awareness and observation.



[ autoimmune diet protocol, elimination diet risks, arthritis flare triggers, joint pain triggers, lupus sunlight flare, UV radiation autoimmune, viral infection trigger, immunosenescence, gout dehydration trigger, rheumatology guidance, Dr Pooja Bellani ]

05/12/2025

“Can I take Omega-3 in Arthritis?”

A question almost every arthritis and autoimmune patient asks.
Yes, Omega-3 is one of the most scientifically supported supplements in medical research.
It can help reduce inflammation in autoimmune diseases and is generally safe when taken from a good-quality source.

Fish-based Omega-3 is the most bioavailable, while vegetarian sources like walnuts, flax seeds, and chia seeds offer very limited absorption.
So if you’re vegetarian, supplements may be needed — but only if your body tolerates them.

Also remember:
Omega-3 is NOT a replacement for your medicines.
The effective research-backed dose is 2 grams per day, which may not suit everyone.

CONTRAINDICATIONS OF OMEGA 3 SUPPLEMENTS:
1) Bleeding disorder. Patients on warfarin, heparin
2) Allergies to fish products
3) Atrial fibrillation

DISCUSS WITH YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE STARTING ANY SUPPLEMENT



[ omega-3 fatty acids, autoimmune disease support, arthritis supplements, fish oil benefits, vegetarian omega-3, low bioavailability, inflammation reduction, rheumatology advice, omega-3 dosage, Dr Pooja Bellani ]

01/12/2025

Should we stop wheat? Should we avoid gluten completely?

The truth is a gluten-free diet is needed ONLY when medically diagnosed.
Unless you have celiac disease or true gluten sensitivity, stopping gluten can do more harm than good.

Unnecessary gluten avoidance removes essential whole grains from your diet, increases cardiovascular risk, and can lead to multiple nutritional deficiencies.

Your food should heal you, not limit you unnecessarily.
So always consult your doctor before switching to a gluten-free diet.

Your body gives the clearest signals observe your reaction to gluten/wheat and take the final decision with your doctor’s guidance.
Proper diagnosis, not fear, should guide your choices.



[ gluten-free diet, wheat allergy, celiac disease symptoms, gluten sensitivity diagnosis, nutritional deficiencies, cardiovascular risk, rheumatology diet advice, healthy grains, Dr Pooja Bellani, autoimmune diet myths ]

27/11/2025

Read this article for more details and medical evidence: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30485934/

Many patients say, “We’ve stopped eating dals, pulses, and all protein because we heard we shouldn’t eat them.”

But this is one of the biggest mistakes you can make for your health.
Protein is essential for your body, your muscles, your enzymes, your hormones, your immunity… everything depends on it.

When you stop protein:
• Your body cannot make the proteins it needs
• Your muscle mass starts dropping
• And lost muscle eventually turns into fat
This weakens your body and worsens inflammation.

Even in conditions like gout, we never stop protein.

We only avoid animal protein, because it is purine-rich and sharply increases uric acid, which can trigger gout attacks.
But vegetable proteins - dals, pulses, legumes - not only are safe, they are necessary.

So please don’t fear protein.

Removing it from your diet harms your body far more than it helps.
Eat balanced, listen to your body, and always take medical advice before making major changes to your diet.

Purine-rich foods like pulses and beans are not only safe, but they actually help reduce the risk of gout. So make your food choices wisely and based on the right information.



[ protein intake, gout diet, uric acid foods, plant protein sources, muscle loss, autoimmune diet, arthritis nutrition, purine foods, healthy eating habits, Dr Pooja Bellani ]

24/11/2025

NOTE: This video holds true for all autoimmune rheumatic diseases except GOUT.

Patients often get confused about what they “should” or “shouldn’t” eat,
because every system of medicine says something different.

But the truth is simple: listen to your body.
Sour foods, fermented foods, raw or cooked foods, all have their own benefits.
What matters is whether your body tolerates them well.

If a food worsens your symptoms, avoid it. If it suits you, include it.
The only things everyone should avoid are processed, packaged, junk, and deep-fried foods, because they harm all bodies equally.

Your body is the best guide when it comes to food. Trust it.



[ food myths, fermented food, sour foods, Vitamin C benefits, prebiotics, autoimmune diet, food intolerance, healthy eating, processed food harms, Dr Pooja Bellani ]

20/11/2025

“Can we prevent our children from developing autoimmune diseases?”
This is one of the most common and most important questions parents ask and fortunately, the answer brings reassurance.

While we cannot change the genetic tendency, we have significant control over the environmental and lifestyle factors that shape a child’s immune system.
A healthy lifestyle doesn’t guarantee prevention, but it can greatly lower the chances and strengthen overall immunity.

Simple habits like:
• Eating a balanced, nutritious, anti-inflammatory diet
• Maintaining good sleep routines
• Keeping stress levels low
• Avoiding smoking and alcohol exposure
• Treating infections early rather than letting them become chronic
• Ensuring adequate Vitamin D
• Getting safe and moderate sunlight exposure

All of these support a healthier immune response and reduce chronic inflammation - which is key in preventing autoimmune triggers.
Small, consistent choices in daily life go a long way.



[ autoimmune prevention, child immune health, lifestyle modification, anti-inflammatory habits, vitamin D importance, chronic infection risk, stress and immunity, healthy diet for immunity, autoimmune disease risk, Dr Pooja Bellani ]

17/11/2025

Many parents ask if they should get tests like Rheumatoid Factor or HLA-B27 done for their children “just to be safe.”
But the truth is please don’t get these tests done without symptoms or without a rheumatologist’s advice.

A positive report in a healthy child does not mean disease, and in many cases, it only creates unnecessary anxiety and stress for the entire family.
Half of the people in the “pre-clinical” stage never develop any illness at all, and tests like HLA-B27 can be positive even in perfectly normal individuals.

Trust the process, watch for symptoms, and consult a specialist before doing any tests.
Awareness prevents fear unnecessary tests don’t.



[ rheumatoid factor test, HLA B27 test, unnecessary testing, arthritis diagnosis, preclinical arthritis, autoimmune awareness, child joint pain, musculoskeletal symptoms, rheumatologist advice, Dr Pooja Bellani ]

Address

Bhailal Amin General Hospital, Bhailal Amin Marg, Gorwa
Vadodara
390003

Opening Hours

Monday 10:30am - 1pm
5:30pm - 7:30pm
Tuesday 10:30am - 1pm
5:30pm - 7:30pm
Wednesday 10:30am - 1pm
5:30pm - 7:30pm
Thursday 10:30am - 1pm
Friday 10:30am - 1pm
5:30pm - 7:30pm

Telephone

+919974142914

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