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. 5d ago

    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!

  2. 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.

  3. Jul 7

    Motherhood with Ulcerative Colitis: Pregnancy, J-Pouch Surgery & Finding Your Voice

    Can you have a healthy pregnancy with ulcerative colitis? What happens if you've had J-pouch surgery? And how do you raise children while managing a lifelong autoimmune disease? In this episode of The Autoimmune Mom Podcast, Ali sits down with Amber Tresca, founder of About IBD and host of the About IBD Podcast, to discuss what it's really like living with ulcerative colitis for more than 35 years. Amber shares her journey from being diagnosed at just 16 years old to undergoing life-changing J-pouch surgery, navigating pregnancy after surgery, raising two children, and learning to advocate for herself in a healthcare system that doesn't always make it easy. Together, they also have an honest conversation about chronic illness, medical trauma, fatigue, insurance barriers, patient advocacy, and the emotional reality of motherhood with an invisible illness. Whether you're living with ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Hashimoto's, or another autoimmune disease, this episode offers practical advice, hope, and reassurance that you're not alone. In this episode you'll learn: • What it's like being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis as a teenager • Pregnancy after J-pouch surgery • How inflammation affects fertility and pregnancy • Why remission matters before trying to conceive • How chronic illness changes motherhood • The importance of advocating for yourself with doctors • Navigating insurance challenges with autoimmune disease • Why finding the right medical team can change everything If you've ever wondered whether motherhood is possible with autoimmune disease—or you're trying to balance parenting while living with chronic illness—this conversation is for you. Don't forget to follow The Autoimmune Mom Podcast so you never miss an episode. If this episode encouraged you, please leave a rating and review—it helps more moms discover the show.

  4. Jun 17

    Infrared Sauna Benefits for Autoimmune Disease: Can It Help Reduce Inflammation?

    If you're a mom living with autoimmune disease and searching for natural ways to reduce inflammation, manage fatigue, and support your overall wellness, you've probably wondered whether infrared saunas actually work. In this episode of The Autoimmune Mom Podcast, I share my personal experience using an infrared sauna as part of my autoimmune disease management plan. We discuss the potential benefits of infrared sauna therapy for inflammation, chronic pain, stress, fatigue, recovery, and overall health, along with important safety considerations for women living with autoimmune conditions. You'll also learn about the long history of sauna use across different cultures, including Finnish sauna traditions and other ancient healing practices that have used heat therapy for centuries. I review what current research says about infrared saunas, answer common questions people ask about infrared sauna benefits, and share practical tips for getting started safely. Whether you're newly diagnosed, navigating motherhood with chronic illness, or looking for holistic approaches to support your autoimmune health, this episode will help you understand if infrared sauna therapy might be a useful tool in your wellness journey. Topics CoveredInfrared sauna and autoimmune diseaseNatural ways to reduce inflammationInfrared sauna benefits for womenAutoimmune disease and chronic fatigueManaging autoimmune symptoms naturallyWellness tools for moms with chronic illnessSauna safety and best practicesHeat therapy and inflammationAutoimmune disease after pregnancySelf-care for moms with autoimmune diseaseChapters 00:00 Introduction to the Autoimmune Mom Podcast07:06 Historical and Cultural Significance of Saunas12:31 Best Practices for Sauna Use18:13 Personal Experience with Infrared Sauna

  5. Jun 9

    My Insurance Nightmare as an Autoimmune Mom

    Ali Atwell shares her ongoing health insurance disaster, including denial of insurance coverage for her rheumatologist treatments, missed infusions, and the financial burden on her family. She also discusses upcoming guest Terry Adirim and the broken medical system. Takeaways Health insurance denial can lead to missed treatments and financial burdenBridging the gap in healthcare is essential for patients with complex medical needs Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Health Insurance Disaster08:17 Impact of Missed Infusions and Alternative Medication15:09 Upcoming Guest and Bridging the Gap in Healthcare20:44 Reflections on the Broken Medical System

  6. Jun 3

    How Faith Carried Jenna Schutt Through Her Healing Journey

    Jenna Schutt shares her journey of being diagnosed with systemic mastocytosis and the impact it had on her life as a mother. She discusses the challenges of treatment, the role of faith in coping, and the development of a relationship with God. Jenna emphasizes the importance of self-worth and finding joy in the midst of adversity. Jenna Schutt shares her journey of finding true joy and peace through faith, even in the midst of health challenges and survivorship. She emphasizes the importance of claiming ownership of joy and peace through faith, offering free devotionals and resources to help others on their faith journey. Jenna also discusses the impact of her journey on her children and the importance of fostering resilience and faith in their lives. Takeaways Faith and coping: Faith played a significant role in Jenna's coping with her diagnosis and treatment.Value and worthiness: Jenna emphasizes the importance of recognizing one's value and worthiness, regardless of the challenges faced. True joy and peace come from a spiritual infusion from the LordFaith plays a crucial role in claiming ownership of joy and peaceStarting the faith journey is about taking the first step and making it a part of daily routinesFostering resilience and faith in children's lives is essential for their well-being and growthClick the link to go directly to her website: Faith with Jenna Schutt-The Joy Reflex™ | Embrace Faith, Find Joy — Join UsChapters 00:00 Diagnosis and Early Symptoms07:11 Faith and Coping12:13 Living Out Faith17:34 Faith and Medicine24:16 Value and Worthiness32:17 Writing and Sharing the Journey38:42 Starting the Faith Journey

  7. May 20

    Parenting with Chronic Illness: Coping with Mom Guilt, Flares, and Self-Care

    The conversation covers the challenges of parenting with chronic illness, including the impact on pregnancy, postpartum flares, and the importance of modeling self-care for children. It also delves into the experience of early symptoms and diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, as well as the communication of chronic illness to children. The conversation covers the importance of self-care, parenting with chronic illness, and practical parent survival tips. It emphasizes the need for support and community when facing the challenges of parenting with a chronic illness. Takeaways Chronic illness and parentingSelf-care and modeling for children Self-care is importantParenting with chronic illnessSupport and community are essential Home Page - Mamas Facing Forward https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CsBZz3NhE/ Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Technical Difficulties10:58 Pregnancy and Parenting with Chronic Illness20:01 Talking to Children About Chronic Illness and Self-Care25:54 The Importance of Self-Care39:42 Practical Parent Survival Tips

  8. May 13

    Nervous System Regulation and Autoimmune Disease: Can It Help You Heal?

    Can stress and trauma contribute to autoimmune disease? In this episode, Thy Da shares her autoimmune diagnosis journey and the lifestyle changes that transformed her health. We discuss nervous system regulation, stress management, the connection between trauma and chronic illness, and how mindset can influence the healing process. Thy also opens up about how living with autoimmune disease has shaped her parenting and reminded her to embrace the present moment. Follow Thy Da on Facebook Takeaways Autoimmune diagnosis journeyNervous system regulation and stress management Healing through mindsetImpact of trauma on autoimmune diseases Chapters 00:00 Autoimmune Diagnosis Journey07:03 Lifestyle Changes and Stress Management25:30 Mindset and Healing36:18 Trauma and Autoimmune Diseases47:01 Parenting and Health

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
10 Ratings

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
    20
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Alexandra Atwell
  • Show Website
    The Autoimmune Mom Podcast