The Autoimmune Mom Podcast

Alexandra Atwell
  • 5.0 (10)
  • Kids & Family

Just a regular Mom living an irregular life of Rheumatoid Arthritis. We will be talking all things Mom and autoimmune - the good, the bad, the unexpected and of course the ugly but I will not let this be a space to be miserable. The world has enough of that!! Mom life plus Autoimmune in a podcast.

  1. 2d ago

    Autoimmune Disease and Fitness: Taking Back Control of Your Body

    What happens when your body feels out of control, and how do you parent through it? In this episode of the Autoimmune Mom Podcast, host Ali sits down with Jessica Griffin, a fitness and nutrition coach and mom of three, known on Instagram as NJFitMom. Jessica has lived with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease since she was 14.Jessica shares her story: The early days: hiding her symptoms from her parents and doctor as a teenager, then a hospital stay, steroids and big changes to her body.Finding agency: how food, movement and strength training gave her back a sense of control, and why she now says "meet yourself where you're at."Pregnancy and parenting: going through high-risk pregnancies on immune-suppressing treatment, raising kids through flares, and the worry about whether it affected them.A new flare: her first in about five years, how she handles the fear spiral, and the lesson that "this too shall pass."Midlife and change: menopause, kids leaving for college, and finding joy in trying new things.Ali and Jessica also talk about why food and exercise advice has to be personal, and why autoimmune disease is so often invisible. Key takeaway: You're not a bad mom, and you don't have to be a super mom. As Jessica's dad used to say, "lead with love." Find Jessica: Instagram @NJFitMom. She offers virtual one-on-one coaching and a midlife membership community.Want a shorter version (about 2–3 sentences) for platforms with tighter limits, or a different tone? I haven't published or changed anything.

  2. Oct 22

    Update 3 on Health Insurance and Treatment

    Ali shares an honest update on where she stands with her health insurance and her treatments. Her insurance stopped covering her infusions, and she hasn't had a treatment since April. Her symptoms are flaring just as the colder season approaches. She explains how a monthly cycle of buying new plans, waiting weeks for pre-approval and being denied left her without treatment for long stretches. Then she tells the part she hasn't talked about before. At a recent appointment she learned she could have taken her medication as an at-home injection for years. She also learned the manufacturer has a patient assistance program, and that approval took about 12 hours and delivery took under 48. Ali talks about why nobody mentioned it, her frustration with how the medical system communicates, and her own part in not being more upfront with her doctor. Original Episodes on Heath Insurance: https://www.theautoimmunemom.com/my-insurance-nightmare-as-an-autoimmune-mom/ https://www.theautoimmunemom.com/update-on-health-insurance-and-how-it-has-affected-my-life-today/ What you'll hearWhy her insurance stopped covering her infusions, and the surprise of a balance of around $82,000How the cycle of switching plans, waiting for pre-approval and getting denied left her without treatmentManaging a flare with prednisone while waitingLearning about the injection option and the patient assistance programWhy she was told the infusion is weight-based, and her doubts that weight is the whole storyA tip: if you have an insurance problem, your doctor may not know about it, so tell themHer thoughts on cash-paying for routine care and looking at catastrophic-only coverageComing next week: Ali's conversation with Jessica, a personal trainer living with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.Ali isn't a doctor, and this isn't medical advice. Talk to your own care team about your treatment options.

  3. Oct 15

    Psoriatic Arthritis, Motherhood & Finding Your Voice: Julie Croner's Patient Advocacy Journey

    A diagnosis can derail your life, your career, and your confidence in your own body—but it doesn't have to define your future. Julie Croner shares her journey from childhood joint problems and years of uncertainty to a life-changing psoriatic arthritis diagnosis in her 20s. Along the way, she faced avascular necrosis, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), melanoma, chronic pain, and a period of disability that left her struggling with her independence and identity. Julie explains how tracking her symptoms like a data analyst helped her identify personal triggers, advocate for herself with doctors, and reclaim a sense of control over her health. With the help of her mom's legendary medical binder and an online community, she went from feeling alone to building a career centered on patient advocacy. We also get honest about the challenges of living with autoimmune disease while navigating relationships, fertility concerns, pregnancy on biologics, breastfeeding, and raising four children. Julie shares the fears she faced about passing autoimmune disease to her kids, how she navigated her youngest daughter's life-threatening medical crisis, and why flares can sometimes arrive after the storm has passed. This conversation is a reminder that bad days don't equal a bad life—and that a diagnosis doesn't erase your worth or your ability to build a meaningful future. In this episode, you'll discover:How Julie's childhood symptoms and knee surgeries eventually led to a psoriatic arthritis diagnosisWhy her mom's medical binder helped connect the dotsHow an online autoimmune community changed her sense of isolationWhat six months of tracking food, sleep, pain, activity, and other symptoms taught herHow she used data to have more productive conversations with her doctorsWhat it's like to navigate fertility, pregnancy, biologics, and motherhood with autoimmune diseaseHow Julie turned her lived experience into a career in patient advocacyJulie works with Health Union and the Social Health Network, helping connect patient leaders, caregivers, and healthcare communities and amplify patient stories. Whether you're newly diagnosed, struggling with chronic illness, considering pregnancy, or learning to advocate for yourself, this episode offers practical insights, honest conversations, and hope for the road ahead. Timestamps00:00 – Introducing Julie's autoimmune journey 00:52 – Childhood symptoms, knee surgeries, and psoriatic arthritis 01:44 – Severe illness, chronic pain, and losing independence 02:39 – The “mom binder” that helped connect the dots 05:32 – Avascular necrosis, CRPS, melanoma, and treatment challenges 06:57 – Finding community through SpoonyChat 07:55 – Six months of symptom tracking and identifying triggers 08:50 – Using personal data to advocate with doctors 09:46 – Turning lived experience into patient advocacy 11:30 – Health Union and the Social Health Network 16:56 – Dating, relationships, and fears about being lovable 23:00 – Pregnancy, biologics, and breastfeeding 27:24 – Managing autoimmune flares while raising four children 29:02 – Her youngest daughter's medical crisis and delayed flares 34:15 – Fear of passing autoimmune disease to children 36:01 – Food, inflammation, and identifying personal triggers 39:40 – Advice for women with autoimmune disease who want a family 40:57 – Strength, faith, and accepting what you cannot control 42:43 – Why sharing your patient story matters 45:07 – Where to find Julie Connect with Julie: Learn more about her patient advocacy work through Health Union and the Social Health Network. https://www.instagram.com/itsjustabaddaynotlife/

  4. Oct 1

    A 30-yr Journey Thru Autoimmune & Motherhood and the Faith, Hope and Resilience That Got Her Through

    Misty shares her 30-year journey with autoimmune disease, motherhood, and the lessons learned along the way. This episode offers insights into managing chronic illness, advocating for yourself, and finding hope amidst challenges.Key Topics Autoimmune disease triggers and diagnosisThe impact of infections and dental health on autoimmune conditionsBalancing motherhood and chronic illnessThe importance of self-advocacy and questioning doctorsThe role of diet, weight management, and inflammationNavigating the healthcare system and insurance challengesThe emotional journey of living with autoimmune conditionsFaith, hope, and resilience in health challengesChapters 00:00 Introduction to Misty's autoimmune journey 02:04 The trigger: infection after wisdom teeth removal 04:02 Experiences with different treatments and therapies 06:57 The importance of self-advocacy and trusting your body 10:04 Living with autoimmune hepatitis and rheumatoid arthritis 15:06 Motherhood, sacrifices, and living with chronic illness 20:01 Managing weight, inflammation, and diet 25:05 The role of mental health, faith, and positive mindset 29:59 Navigating the healthcare system and insurance issues 35:06 Supporting children with autoimmune conditions 40:08 Advice for newly diagnosed mothers and self-care tips

  5. Sep 3

    Breaking down my Total Knee Replacement at 45

    Total Knee Replacement at 45: What Recovery Really Looked LikeAli shares the full story behind her total knee replacement, including why she needed it so young, what surgery and recovery were actually like, and what she wishes she had done differently. This episode is especially useful for anyone weighing a knee replacement while also managing chronic pain or an inflammatory condition. In this episode, Ali breaks down the layered history behind her knee damage, the realities of surgery day, and the hardest parts of the first few weeks at home. She also shares practical recovery tips, from ice machines and physical therapy to pain management and support at home. Key topicsAli explains why her knees were already vulnerable from years of high-level sports, including basketball, volleyball, track, golf, running, and working on her feet.She shares how rheumatoid arthritis and years of inflammation added to the damage over time.She talks about putting off surgery for years because knee replacements do not last forever and because the unknown was intimidating.The surgeon told her both knees eventually needed replacement, with the right knee being much worse than the left.She describes the surgery-day experience, including being discharged the same day and having to do physical therapy almost immediately.Ali details how the initial post-op medication strategy did not work for her, leading to severe pain and a difficult few days.She explains why pain control needs to stay ahead of the pain in the first nights after surgery and why a strong support system mattered so much.She shares how bruising, sitting upright, bathroom use, and basic movement were harder than she expected in the first phase of recovery.She emphasizes the importance of doing physical therapy and home exercises consistently to protect range of motion and avoid setbacks.Ali talks about recovery tools that helped most, especially the ice machine and a body-molding ice pack.She reflects on the emotional side of recovery, including how humbling it was to rely on family for weeks.She shares that losing some weight before surgery helped, and says she would do the procedure again now that she knows how much better her knee feels.

  6. Aug 25

    The Emotional Reality of Rheumatoid Arthritis & Recovering from 3 surgeries at 45 years old

    The emotional reality of rheumatoid arthritis surgeries at 47Ali shares the lived experience of navigating rheumatoid arthritis as a mother, including hand surgeries, a total knee replacement, and the emotional toll of losing independence during recovery. This episode is as much about mindset, grief, and self-forgiveness as it is about the procedures themselves. In this solo episode, she walks through what led to each surgery, why she delayed treatment for years, and how that choice affected her body, motherhood, and mental health. It matters because she speaks plainly about the gap between “being strong” and actually getting the help you need. Key topicsAli explains how rheumatoid arthritis progression led to serious damage in her hands and right knee.She describes spending four to five years trying holistic healing alone, including acupuncture, supplements, chiropractic care, and food changes, before accepting medical treatment.Her dominant right hand developed severe pain, a locked pinky, and eventually ligament damage that required surgery and reconstruction with a ligament taken from her arm.She shares how the first hand surgery required weeks of immobilization, then rehab, then a second surgery to remove scar tissue and restore movement.Ali reflects on the mental spiral of realizing her body had deteriorated because she was trying to prove she could heal without conventional treatment.She talks about motherhood during those years, including not being able to brush her daughters’ hair, cut food, or do basic daily tasks because of hand pain.Her right knee replacement was prompted less by routine pain and more by safety, since her knee would lock while driving and moving from gas to brake.She compares the recovery experience across surgeries and says the knee replacement was harder physically, but ultimately more life-changing.Ali emphasizes how much she struggled with being dependent on her mother for help after surgery, especially with laundry, meals, and childcare routines.The episode closes with her message that listeners are not alone, especially those told they are “too young” for major procedures.Timestamps00:00 - Why this episode is about motherhood, pain, and autoimmune disease 02:27 - From marathon-running to struggling up a driveway a year later 04:04 - How hand pain affected parenting and daily life 06:46 - The doctor visit that revealed ligament damage 08:16 - First hand surgery and ligament reconstruction from her arm 09:46 - Rehab, scar tissue, and needing a second hand surgery 11:08 - The mental gymnastics of accepting surgery 13:17 - Why she had two surgeries within one year 15:42 - Recovery, anesthesia, and intense physical therapy 17:41 - Why the right knee replacement became a safety issue 19:52 - Choosing surgery after delays, deductible pressure, and scheduling luck 20:51 - What the knee surgeon said about replacement longevity 22:24 - The brutal first weeks after knee replacement 23:51 - Why athletic conditioning helped her rehab faster 25:45 - The life-changing payoff of a functioning knee 27:05 - The emotional difficulty of needing her mother’s help 29:24 - Depression, gratitude, and being done feeling unwell 30:50 - Health insurance stress and a future left-knee surgery 31:47 - The big takeaway: “too young” does not mean untreated Notable quotesCopy “I let my body eat my ligaments.” Copy “I cannot believe that I ignored pain so long that it ate through a ligament.” Copy “You’re not the only person who goes through these types of things.”

  7. Aug 12

    Update on Health Insurance and How it Has Affected My Life Today

    Today I am updating you on where I stand with my health insurance issue and how that has translated to life today - flares in all!

  8. Jul 21

    How to Be an Empowered Patient: Strategies for Navigating the Healthcare System

    If you've ever left a doctor's appointment feeling rushed, unheard, or unsure what just happened, this episode is for you. Living with an autoimmune disease often means navigating specialists, insurance companies, medications, lab work, and appointments that can feel overwhelming. But what if there were simple ways to become a more empowered patient? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Terry Adirim, former Chief Medical Officer for the U.S. Military Health System, emergency physician, healthcare policy leader, and author of The Prepared Patient: Your Guide to Surviving the Health Care System (Johns Hopkins University Press, August 2026 Drawing from more than 25 years inside the healthcare system, Dr. Adirim shares what doctors wish patients knew, how to prepare for appointments, why advocating for yourself matters, and how to work with your physician instead of feeling like you're working against the system. We also discuss: ✔ Why so many patients leave appointments frustrated ✔ The "White Binder Method" that can transform your medical care ✔ How to communicate effectively with your doctor ✔ What to do when insurance denies treatment ✔ How AI tools like ChatGPT can (and can't) help patients ✔ Why healthcare feels so fragmented—and what patients can do today Whether you're newly diagnosed with an autoimmune disease or have been managing chronic illness for years, this episode will help you navigate healthcare with more confidence and less frustration.

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About

Just a regular Mom living an irregular life of Rheumatoid Arthritis. We will be talking all things Mom and autoimmune - the good, the bad, the unexpected and of course the ugly but I will not let this be a space to be miserable. The world has enough of that!! Mom life plus Autoimmune in a podcast.

Information

  • Creator
    Alexandra Atwell
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    26
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Alexandra Atwell
  • Show Website
    The Autoimmune Mom Podcast