Being stuck in the system without a diagnosis or effective treatment is very scary and maddening. Going through the medical system is a big fear of mine.
Interestingly, and anecdotally, I've noticed that auto-immune diseases such as the author's Crohn's, and my wife's Fibromyalgia/vasculitis seem to affect women more frequently than men.
I can confirm firsthand that the author's major points are all things that have borne out since my wife's diagnosis. We've had good doctors and less-good ones; frustrating insurance dealings that seem to change year-to-year with no rhyme or reason; and supportive friends who may or may not actually understand.
However, we (maybe just me, I havent looked at recent literature) don't yet know if that is due to selection bias. Women are simply more likely to see a doctor for their health concerns.