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

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.

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 COVERED * Infrared sauna and autoimmune disease * Natural ways to reduce inflammation * Infrared sauna benefits for women * Autoimmune disease and chronic fatigue * Managing autoimmune symptoms naturally * Wellness tools for moms with chronic illness * Sauna safety and best practices * Heat therapy and inflammation * Autoimmune disease after pregnancy * Self-care for moms with autoimmune disease Chapters * 00:00 Introduction to the Autoimmune Mom Podcast * 07:06 Historical and Cultural Significance of Saunas * 12:31 Best Practices for Sauna Use * 18:13 Personal Experience with Infrared Sauna

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 burden * Bridging the gap in healthcare is essential for patients with complex medical needs Chapters * 00:00 Introduction and Health Insurance Disaster * 08:17 Impact of Missed Infusions and Alternative Medication * 15:09 Upcoming Guest and Bridging the Gap in Healthcare * 20:44 Reflections on the Broken Medical System

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 Lord * Faith plays a crucial role in claiming ownership of joy and peace * Starting the faith journey is about taking the first step and making it a part of daily routines * Fostering resilience and faith in children's lives is essential for their well-being and growth * Click the link to go directly to her website: Faith with Jenna Schutt-The Joy Reflex™ | Embrace Faith, Find Joy — Join Us [https://www.jennaschutt.com/] Chapters * 00:00 Diagnosis and Early Symptoms * 07:11 Faith and Coping * 12:13 Living Out Faith * 17:34 Faith and Medicine * 24:16 Value and Worthiness * 32:17 Writing and Sharing the Journey * 38:42 Starting the Faith Journey

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 parenting * Self-care and modeling for children Self-care is important * Parenting with chronic illness * Support and community are essential Home Page - Mamas Facing Forward [https://www.mamasfacingforward.com/] https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CsBZz3NhE/ [https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CsBZz3NhE/] Chapters * 00:00 Introduction and Technical Difficulties * 10:58 Pregnancy and Parenting with Chronic Illness * 20:01 Talking to Children About Chronic Illness and Self-Care * 25:54 The Importance of Self-Care * 39:42 Practical Parent Survival Tips