Hashimoto's Disease: Jo's Lived Experience. 28 Years With This Thyroid Autoimmune Condition

Two Weeks Wearing a Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM): The Surprises, the GP Conversation and a Plan for Future Me

Hello and welcome to Midlife Unfiltered. It’s great to have you here. Really. It is. Thank you. Why I Started Looking Those body changes, noticeably different, is where the conversation starts. I talk about the changes I saw and felt in my body, a few years post-menopause that had me wondering. The new belly fat that had never shown up like this before (even after two kids) and a shifting gut routine. Around the same time, I got serious about my bone health, reversing my osteoporosis to osteopenia. I explain how I started running my own ‘N-of-1’ experiments, changing mostly what I ate, one variable at a time to see what impact that might have. The CGM Experiment I share why I chose Vively for my two-week CGM trial. An Australian option that measures and interprets glucose data, with an AI bot and a human team to ask questions of. I wanted to know and to have some support as I went along. I talk about deliberately pushing the experiment, changing up my usual diet some days to see what impacts that had on my glucose levels. Logging sleep, exercise, and nutrition each day. That logging was important. It helped enormously to know how what I was eating and doing that lead to the glucose response in my body. What Surprised Me I walk through what surprised me: * Refined carbs (bread especially) were the biggest triggers - pastries, scones, pizza even oats all spiked me, but bread was the worst offender. * Broken sleep wrecked my nighttime glucose, pushing me straight into the red zone. * Protein flattened my spikes — even pasta with bolognaise and parmesan was fine. * My morning coffee with soy milk and collagen was okay for the most part too. This is my body’s data - everyone’s results will look different. Turning It Into Something for My GP I talk about asking Claude.ai to condense Vively’s 31-page report of my daily data and logs into a summary version to give to my GP (General Practitioner) at my up coming annual check-up. The report was not a tool to self-diagnose, but one to open a deeper conversation with my doctor based on my data and the patterns observed. The Outcome: more indepth blood tests to be done that included fasting glucose + fasting insulin + HbA1c together, so we can calculate my HOMA-IR score. I’d not had that done before. Fasting insulin isn’t part of a standard Australian blood panel, so it’s an out-of-pocket add-on that’s roughly AUD$30, but I think is worth it. Enter Dr Florence Comite I talk about discovering endocrinologist and precision-medicine practitioner Dr Florence Comite, in a podcast conversation with Dr Vonda Wright (I follow Dr Vonda for bone health insights). Dr Comite talked about the five biomarkers every midlife woman (and man) should test for: fasting glucose, fasting insulin, HbA1c, cholesterol risk ratio, and free testosterone. So much of what was said in that conversation made sense to me, I bought Dr Comite’s book Invincible - defy your genetic destiny to live better, longer and have devoured it from cover to cover learning much. She also recommends her patients wear a CGM for at least 2 weeks, to gather their unique data that gives clues to their sugar metabolic health. Boom! Literally what I had just done. The Window of Opportunity To act and influence the tragectory of our metabolic health. I specifically talk about a chapter in her book that really stood out for me - its chapter on Aging Pattern #1: A Disorder of Carbohydrate Metabolism. Could this be what I’d just seen wearing my CGM? I talk about how she writes that insulin resistance can show up decades before diabetes does. Not years, decades! So why do we wait? Similar to my bone health journey, if I had known my status earlier, I’d be in a completely different position today. I would have made sure to strengthen my bones well before perimenopause, so the later decline wouldn't have been so detrimental. Armed with the right information and know-how early enough, decades is a significant window of opportunity to act and influence our metabolic health for the better - for future You and Me. Why wait? Precision Medicine & N-of-1 Medicine I explore the concept of precision medicine, drilling into genetics, biomarkers, lifestyle and environment instead of leaning on large population averages. And N-of-1 medicine, where you’re not the average, you’re the whole study. I raise the open question of whether this kind of more personalised care will ever be available to everyone, not just those who can afford it, in the decades to come. What will a visit to the doctor in 10, 15, 20 years look like? Final Thoughts I close by reflecting on how subtle and gradual midlife changes can be, and how continuous data plus context (sleep, activity, food, timing) lets you catch the nuance instead of waiting for something to become a diagnosis. I talk about the value of small, consistent tweaks, and the honest, open partnership I have with my own GP because we’re setting my health plan, together. Thanks for being here. I hope you find this episode helpful. What’s been your CGM experience or curiosity about wearing one? Let me know in an email (hello@midlifeunfiltered.com.au) or comment below. If there is someone you think might benefit from hearing it, please share this with them. References * Vively [https://www.vively.com.au] (CGM program, Australia): https://www.vively.com.au * Dr Florence Comite & Dr Vonda Wright, “The 5 Biomarkers Every Midlife Woman Must Test” — The Dr Vonda Show, #156: * Dr Florence Comite, Invincible: Defy Your Genetic Destiny to Live Better, Longer [https://www.theinvinciblebook.com]: [https://www.theinvinciblebook.com] https://www.theinvinciblebook.com * Dr Vonda Wright [https://www.drvondawright.com]: https://www.drvondawright.com Thank you to everyone who tuned into my live video! Join me for my next live video in the app. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit midlifeunfiltered.substack.com [https://midlifeunfiltered.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Dementia Life: Barb has cared for, loved and lost 5 people with dementia, including husband Peter.

In this very open and honest conversation, Barbara shares with me her remarkable story of caring for 5 loved ones who had dementia. Her mother-in-law, her mum, a dear aunty, her aunty’s close friend, and her husband Peter. She wanted to share her story with you so that if you’re also caring from someone with dementia it might give you some light in the darkness. If you are yet to care for someone with dementia, her story might shed some light on what it can be like. Personal stories give us a richness, a door to deeper understanding. Awareness about dementia is a focus for this podcast. Sharing stories like Barb’s help to bring that in a very relatable way. Beyond the medical and research facts. Real life. Dementia Life. Thank you Barb for your care, your devotion and courage to speak your story for others. Join Us As We Talk About… Peter’s Story Barb gives us insights into what it was like caring for her much loved husband Peter, the clues that dementia was presenting itself and how the condition progressed. Peter was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at 65 and lived with it until he passed away at 76. Getting that diagnosis took two years. It was Barbara’s persistence, shaped by her care of four loved ones previously with dementia, that finally got that diagnosis. She describes the early signs, some that were easy to miss if you didn’t know what you were looking for. Barb knew. She’d seen some of them before. The many phone calls (sometimes 30 a day) Pete would make to her. The misplaced keys, forgotten meetings and the day Pete got completely lost driving a way home he was so very familiar with. That was the most confronting for Peter. The Masking One of the things Barb opens up about is how well Peter masked his dementia. He was very good at covering things up. His doctor couldn’t see what she could see. Colleagues at their car dealership weren’t ready to believe changes needed to be made in their business; but Barb could. Peter himself wanted to keep it a secret, which raised the painful question, ‘how much do you share, with whom, and when?’ Balancing his dignity and wishes against the practical reality of keeping him safe. That was hard. What Helped Barb shares some of the things that helped with these challenges. Reframing, not confronting. When it was time for Peter to stop driving, his doctor told him it was his eyesight that was making it unsafe for him to drive. Not dementia. Peter could accept that. He never would have accepted “you can’t drive anymore because you have dementia.” Finding the kind path to the same truth helps enormously. It maintains dignity and keeps things calmer. Loving understanding of family and friends - it helps to keep things calm which always helps. Confrontation does not. Keeping routines alive. Peter loved a glass of red wine and a beer. Rather than take that pleasure away, Barb switched to non-alcoholic versions. He never noticed. He was happy. (Unlike my Dad who knew! “This wine tastes sh#t.” I think it was his Italian DNA that gave him the clue. In the end, he didn’t even want it.) Peter also kept playing table tennis almost right up until the end. A computer on a desk in his room made the space feel familiar. Small things that brought familiarity and comfort. On that computer he could see videos and photos of the family. Patience. Patience. And More Patience. Barb talks honestly about what it takes to answer the same question as though it’s the first time, every, single, time. Easier said than done. But keeping things calm, she says, was everything. Music. Barb shares how profoundly enjoyable and soothing music was for Peter. So much so that she did a course in how to use it therapeutically, for Peter and for others in the care facility he was eventually placed in too. The Nature of Peter’s Care Over Time. Barb talks about how Peter’s care changed over those 11 years. From being at home full-time, to day care growing from one day a week to four, their daughter covering another day. Eventually Peter moved in to full-time residential care for his last 15 months with his final days, his palliative care at home where he passed away. That transition came after Barb had a serious accident and badly damaged her leg. She also opens up about the physical reality of caring for someone who has become incontinent and how that tipped the scales. It was too much to handle. Respite care, was a turning point - 2 weeks became 3. It gave her room to breathe and recover. It helped her to see clearly that Peter was being looked after beautifully and that what she was able to do given her injury, was not as complete for him. That perspective is something you can only appreciate when circumstances change and the care you’re used to doing at home is no longer possible to do. [Personally I have had quite a few people say to me that “I’d never put my partner in a home”. The stigma around that I find is still so very apparent, it’s hurtful. No one wants to wish or wants their loved one to be placed in a care home. To take them from a home they love being in, that you share together. That was one of the hardest days of my life, my Mum’s life, the day Dad went into full-time residential care. But after 3 stays in hospital for Mum, we couldn’t risk her health declining rapidly as well. It’s often the kindest thing to do. Doesn’t make it easy, but it’s kind. Dad was looked after so very, very well, just like Peter was]. Self-Care Is Essential Barb talks openly about how she came to understand that taking care of herself was essential too. How self-care for her was one day a fortnight. A non-negotiable massage. Planning Ahead — While You Still Can One of the most valuable parts of our conversation is when Barb talks about the importance of getting ‘your ducks in a row’ early. The legals like enduring power of attorney and medical wishes. Honest conversations about end-of-life preferences while the person you love can still be part of them. In Australia, dementia patients are not eligible for voluntary assisted dying, so these decisions need to made before dementia progresses too far. Barb also shares how she contacted the palliative care team well in advance, in line with Peter’s wishes. How that preparation made his wishes a possibility. Those last five days were at home, surrounded by family. Three households moved in. Six adults, seven grandchildren. Food, music, singing and time with Peter. Together. So very precious. Thank you for sharing your story, Barb. And thank you for listening. If you’re a carer right now we want you to know that we see you. It’s so very hard. It’s lonely. It’s demanding. Much of what you do goes unnoticed, is under appreciated and under-valued. You give up so much. Our experiences though different, have similarities. We see you. We appreciate all that you do. The light in the dark does show up at times. Hold on to those precious moments. Got a dementia life story you’d like to share? I’d love to hear it. Email us at hello@midlifeunfiltered.com.au [hello@midlifeunfiltered.com.au] or send me a message. Sharing these personal stories matters. For dementia awareness. Those who live with it. And those who care for those who do. For all of us. Because in the not too distant future, perhaps even now, we will all know someone whose life has been touched by dementia. If you think there is someone in your life who would find this conversation helpful, please share it with them. Dementia awareness matters. Carer awareness matters. Thank you. See you next episode. Anita xx p.s. Barb vanishes in the end - the internets strikes again! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit midlifeunfiltered.substack.com [https://midlifeunfiltered.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Your Curiosity Is Your Superpower in an Age of AI.

Kiki Hart (Louise Cooper) and I are bringing conversations that explore what it means to be human in a fast-evolving, fast-paced digital world. And how Kiki is here to help. Curiosity in the Age of AI In this episode, we explore one of the most important questions of our time: how do we stay genuinely curious and human, in a world increasingly shaped by AI? We talk about AI as a tool. Not a replacement for us. How we interact with it, the traps we can fall into, and the choices we make about how we use it. How this determines not only the quality of what we get back and the importance of what we bring to keep the balance - our midlife skills, wisdom, and humanity. What We Cover An AI Recap What do we actually mean by AI, and how might we use it day to day? We start with the basics, so everyone is up to speed. Input and Output The questions we ask shape the answers we get. We talk about why the quality of our prompt matters and why thinking before we type is more important than most of us realise. The Traps Lost in Conversation Anita shares her own experience using AI — and how easy it is to forget we’re speaking to a technology tool, not a person. The ease, the flow, the warmth, the apparent understanding. It’s designed to feel human. And that’s how blind trust can creep in. Bias: Building, Boosting and Bracing When we ask questions in a way that’s more likely to return answers we’re already seeking, we’re building our own bias in. Algorithms then boost and amplify those patterns and over time, they brace them, creating fiercely protected viewpoints that block new perspectives. We talk about how to counter this: crafting prompts that invite alternative views, ask for blind spots, and actively fact-check. The key is cognitively wrestling with what AI gives you, not merely receiving it. Cognitive Laziness and Critical Thinking Critical thinking is a skill. One that builds curiosity, keeps us sharp, and helps us stay discerning. It’s also a skill that can quietly erode when we outsource too much of our thinking to AI. For younger generations (digital and AI natives) this skill may not have been built much at all. But as Midlifers, we know the world before AI and heavy technology reliance. As Digital Migrants, this gifts us with perspectives and capabilities that genuinely matter. We look at what cognitive laziness is doing to our brain health and why this matters, drawing on fascinating research on London taxi and ambulance drivers. Curiosity and the Art of Not Being Fooled Being objective. Reasoned. Discerning. Self-regulated in how we engage with AI tools. There are two very different ways to use AI: * AI to enhance our thinking - where we do some thinking first, bring our own knowledge, map it out, and test ideas as we interact with AI * AI as a direct output machine — where we accept the answers, no questions asked. We talk about the research on what the second approach is doing to brain development in young people and changes in older people. It’s something we all need to be aware of. Intuition and Emotional Intelligence Will these deeply human capabilities rise in value as AI takes on more of the cognitive load? Will having AI do some of the thinking free up space for intuition and emotional intelligence to flourish? Are you using your intuition when you use AI? The Social Cost If we stop practicing curiosity in the offline world, with each other, what does that look like over time? We talk about the role of human connection on longevity, and what’s at stake if we let connection in our communities slip away. Privacy and De-Identifying Prompts This matters a lot, especially in professional settings. Avoid using real names or “I” in our prompts. AI remembers your interactions and tailors its responses accordingly. Keep things hypothetical. Protect what’s personal and commercial in confidence. Where To From Here You’re not too old. You’re not too far behind. It is absolutely not too late. Explore AI with curiosity. Grab the prompts from Kiki Hart’s “Are We Outsourcing Curiosity?” article here [https://kikihartwhatnow.substack.com/p/are-we-outsourcing-curiosity] to give yourself a head start. They are bullet points in the post. As Midlifers, we bring something genuinely valuable to this conversation: life skills, knowledge, wisdom, and the discernment that comes from living through change. We also have a real opportunity — and perhaps an obligation — to help bridge the critical thinking gaps that younger generations are navigating. That lived experience is a superpower. Together, with curiosity, we can keep bringing the human to an AI world. AND If you enjoyed this episode and think this conversation would be interesting or helpful for someone in your life, please share it on. We’re all about awareness here. Got any comments or questions? We’d love to see them? Post them below. Coming Up In our next chat (in about six weeks), Kiki, Louise and I will be talking about Truth and Authenticity in an AI World. We’d love for you to join us. We’ll go live, then post the recording with show notes shortly after. See you then! If you’re not a subscriber, maybe become one so you find out when we go live and when the recording and show notes are ready. Thanks! Anita xx Resources Are We Outsourcing Curiosity [https://kikihartwhatnow.substack.com/p/are-we-outsourcing-curiosity] - Kiki Hart As AI gets smarter, are we getting dumber? [https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/as-ai-gets-smarter,-are-we-getting-dumber] - University of Melbourne Navigation-related structural change in the hippocampi of taxi drivers [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10716738/] - PubMed Your Brain on ChatGPT: Accumulation of Cognitive Debt when Using an AI Assistant for Essay Writing Task [https://www.media.mit.edu/publications/your-brain-on-chatgpt/] - MIT Media Lab AI Platforms to Explore * ChatGPT [https://chatgpt.com] — Day-to-day tasks and conversation * Gemini [https://gemini.google.com] — Google’s AI – also good for everyday use drawing on Google’s ecosystem of familiar products * Claude [https://claude.ai] — Especially good for writing and factual summarising * Meta AI [https://www.meta.ai] — Good for generating images and social media style queries * Perplexity [https://www.perplexity.ai] — Great for research; shows its sources clearly so you can cross-check Tip: Each AI has a different “personality” and is optimised for different jobs. Try a few and see which one feels right for you. Our Human experience in this live video: We are human after all and life happens. In this chat Louise ‘disappears’ as her phone decided it was too hot a conversation and needed a minute to cool off. She also mentioned the hypothalamus and meant to say hippocampus. Meet Kiki Hart Kiki is a digital persona created by Louise Cooper — born from the digital world, but sharing Louise’s perspective. Around 40 years of age, she’s your guide to navigating technology without losing yourself. She observes and informs, so you can decide what to do with it. Exploring how culture, technology and modern life are reshaping identity, attention and relevance. Follow Kiki Hart on Substack [https://substack.com/@kikihart] Thank you to everyone who tuned into my live video! Join me for my next live video in the app. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit midlifeunfiltered.substack.com [https://midlifeunfiltered.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Awakening Feminine Wisdom with Megan Dalla-Camina

Hello and welcome to another episode of Midlife Unfiltered. We are so glad you’re here. Erica and I are very excited to bring you this episode because it’s a topic that brings together many popular conversations we’ve spoken of here in the podcast, with a brilliant woman who has dedicated decades to it. As a best-selling author, award-winning teacher and PhD researcher in women’s spirituality Megan Dalla-Camina has gathered decades of insights. Through her Women Rising platform serving over 10,000 women, in 76 countries, across many ages, stages and cultures, she’s witnessed the same threads of yearning, again and again. More than the burnout, the endless striving, the quiet ache of disconnection. More than the roles she’s performed, the versions of herself she’s outgrown, the world that taught her she wasn’t enough. She Who Remembers: Awakening feminine wisdom in a world ready for her return is Megan’s latest book. A sacred call to the woman who knows there is more. We’ve been shaped by it. Perhaps unaware, perhaps feeling the full force of the push and pull of a patriarchal society that teaches us to strive, to do more, to perform. A way that is incongruent with more feminine codes of intuition, embodiment, devotion and presence. The rhythm of our cycles and seasons. In this chat with Megan, we explore what Feminine Wisdom actually is, why so many of us have lost touch with it and why the world needs it now. A beautifully rich conversation that explores: The Signals. The Awakening : learning to stop and listen. To pay attention. To ask the questions needed to get clear on ‘what do I want?’ “If I asked that question and was truthful to. Myself, I would literally have to …. So we don’t. We deflect, we distract. Because it’s hard.” The Power Of Asking The BIG Questions: how that questioning literally changes us. Something shifts inside. It can’t be undone. “The BIG questions will keep coming back, until you answer it.” Then What?: Because we are often afraid of what might come up…and then what? What comes next? Who Are You At Your Core?: Megan shares a framework she uses with her clients. A framework that helps to unearth who we are, beneath all the layers. Midlife Is An Invitation: a calling for more depth, for deeper connection with self and others. A yearning for something more – our spirituality. Critical Space & Quiet: why it’s critically important and how to welcome in the unknown. To let the inner knowing rise. “The quieter you get the more you hear. How quiet are you prepared to get, to hear what it is that you know?” Learning To Trust Ourselves: the erosion of self-trust and the cost, the betrayal of abandoning ourselves. Feminine Wisdom puts you on your own side, your own ally. Megan shares four practical steps to begin rebuilding that trust. Embodiment: our bodies know. They always have. We’ve been taught the only knowledge that matters is the rational, the linear, the cognitive. Whilst they are valuable, there is more. Megan offers simple practices to try over two days - to begin noticing, to feel it in your body before your rational mind overrides it, saying ‘no’. We talk about the consequences of continuing to override the messaging in our body. Women Are Exhausted and In Denial: We call it out in this honest conversation. Across cultures, across continents. What happens when we ourselves permission to acknowledge it? What choices would we make? Why Feminine Wisdom, Why Now?: Why the world is not just ready, it’s waiting for it. About Megan’s Latest Book: She Who Remembers: Awakening feminine wisdom in a world ready for her return is for women navigating life transitions, midlife shifts or a quiet spiritual longing they can’t quite name. A woman like you. Like us. I must admit, I pre-judged this book before I began to read it, wondering if it might be a bit too ‘woowoo’ for me. It certainly was not that at all. I was so very wrong. This book touched my heart, my soul. It gently reached in, took my hand and lead me home. Not a book of instruction. A beautifully thoughtful book where every word is deliberately chosen and placed. Both Erica and I felt that as we read it. A blend of soulful storytelling, cultural reflection and spiritual insight. With grounded practices that accompany each chapter inviting us to quiet, to listen and acknowledge. To choose. To act. Not in an obtrusive performative way. More like a loving guiding hand that gently nudges. A comforting companion for the sacred path home to yourself. Here is a small portion of a passage from the book for you. A passage that personally touched my heart deeply. A Blessing for She Who Remembers “You need only to be here. To be real. To be you. You are already the woman you’ve been waiting for. Now is the time to live your feminine wisdom. Now is the time to own your power. Now is the time for She Who Remembers.” Megan Dalla-Camina About Megan Dalla-Camina: Megan is a best-selling author, award-winning teacher and PhD researcher in women’s spirituality whose work is dedicated to helping women return home to themselves. She is the founder of Women Rising, a global platform that has supported over 10,000 women in more than 70 countries. With more than two decades of experience at the intersection of women’s empowerment, leadership and spirituality. Megan’s work bridges science, spirit and sadhana, offering a deeply grounded, accessible path to Feminine Wisdom and awakening. Before founding her own company, Megan spent 18 years as a senior executive at IBM, GE and PwC. In addition to her PhD research, she holds two master’s degrees in business and wellness/positive psychology. Megan write a weekly column in Psychology Today with millions of readers and her work has been featured in hundreds of major media outlets worldwide. Megan lives by the sea with her family where she writes, teaches and continues her PhD research on Feminine Wisdom, midlife identity and women’s awakening. Where to Get The Book: She Who Remembers: Awakening feminine wisdom in a world ready for her return is available from many major book sellers and from Megan’s online home at https://megandallacamina.com/ Connect with Megan: On her website: https://megandallacamina.com/ [https://megandallacamina.com/] where there is a wealth of resources and information. Definitely worth checking out. On Social media: Just search for Megan Dalla-Camina. Hint…she loves Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/megandallacamina/]. A big thank you! Florence Acosta [https://substack.com/profile/31310064-florence-acosta], Omixintel [https://substack.com/profile/496437643-omixintel], and many others for tuning into our live video with Megan Dalla-Camina [https://substack.com/profile/1616216-megan-dalla-camina] and for being here now. We hope you enjoyed our conversation and more importantly, picked up a few inspirational gems. If you have someone in your life you think would enjoy this conversation too, then please share it on. That would be awesome. Thank you. See you next week for another conversation on Midlife Unfiltered. Until then. Anita xx This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit midlifeunfiltered.substack.com [https://midlifeunfiltered.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Hashimoto's Disease: Jo's Lived Experience. 28 Years With This Thyroid Autoimmune Condition

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease of the thyroid gland, named after Dr. Hakaru Hashimoto, the Japanese physician who first identified it in 1912. It’s thought to affect between 1 in 6 to 1 in 8 women, with a peak onset between the ages of 45 and 55. Symptoms like fatigue, weight gain, brain fog, low mood and hair loss are routinely dismissed as just ‘life’ or perimenopause. Without a full thyroid panel that goes beyond standard TSH testing, a significant number of cases are missed entirely. Women are walking around with it, unaware. So let’s talk about it. Why This Chat? I asked Jo to join me for a few reasons: She’s fabulous. Jo will always share authentically, from the heart, believing we can all learn from each other, beyond the medical terminology. The power of personal story. 80–90% of Hashimoto’s cases are women, with peak onset at exactly the age range of the women we serve here at Midlife Unfiltered. Too many cases go undiagnosed. We want to raise awareness of this condition to encourage women to advocate for their thyroid health. What We Talk About In This Conversation How Jo found out she had Hashimoto’s: including what age she was and what her life looked like at the time. Symptoms: many of which Jo initially put down to being a busy, newly pregnant woman. Hmm. Sound familiar? Why it gets missed: many Hashimoto’s symptoms overlap with pregnancy, postpartum and perimenopause symptoms, which masks what’s really going on underneath. That, and the lack of thorough testing to identify it. Testing: the tests Jo underwent to get her diagnosis and what she monitors regularly now to track how well her treatment is working. Treatment: Jo’s current regime, both medical and lifestyle. Risk factors: including family history, which in Jo’s case is exceptionally strong. She has it on both her paternal and maternal sides. Her sisters, daughter and nephew all have thyroid disorders - a mix of Hashimoto’s, Graves’ disease and thyroid cancer. Pregnancy and thyroid health: Jo is passionate about this one. Knowing your thyroid status before becoming pregnant matters. Complications increase when Hashimoto’s is undetected. Associated deficiencies: Hashimoto’s often comes with key nutrient deficiencies including Vitamin D, iodine and others. Jo also experienced macrocytosis (red blood cell enlargement) which her doctor was thankfully across. The testing gap: we talk about what’s missing in our current health system, the full thyroid panel worth advocating for, and what each test actually reveals. What is ‘normal’ anyway?: Different labs, different ranges. Confusing? Yes. Important to know? Absolutely. Jo mentions a helpful information from the Australian Thyroid Foundation which is linked below. Why the thyroid?: what makes it so vulnerable, and the role of environmental endocrine disruptors (EDCs) in thyroid health. Jo’s Closing Tips Don’t brush off your symptoms. Tune in, take action, and don’t accept being dismissed. Know your numbers. Understanding your own results is one of the most powerful things you can do. Be thorough. Take a whole body approach. A diagnosis is just the starting point — supporting your overall health makes a real difference. Resources 🔗 Australian Thyroid Foundation — a brilliant resource and the peak advocate for thyroid health in Australia. Their site includes clear explanations of thyroid blood tests, what they show, and what’s considered ‘normal’: thyroidfoundation.org.au [https://thyroidfoundation.org.au/initial-thyroid-tests-and-diagnosis] 🎙️ Endocrine Disruptors (EDCs) — catch our earlier conversation with Andrea Dahr of Switch Natural on the impact of EDCs on our bodies. [Find it here. [https://open.substack.com/pub/midlifeunfiltered/p/hormone-disruptors-sneaky-everyday?r=4czhee&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web]] 🎙️ Jo Clark — find Jo and her top-ranking podcast Redefining Midlife over at Jo Clark Coaching [https://www.joclarkcoaching.com/]. She is an absolute gun. Share Your Story Have a Hashimoto’s story of your own? Drop it in the comments below. We learn so much from each other. Real life experience adds such a rich dimension. Found this conversation useful? Share it with someone you think would like to hear it. The more awareness we build, the better we can advocate for ourselves and each other. See you next week on Midlife Unfiltered. 🎙️ Anita xx This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit midlifeunfiltered.substack.com [https://midlifeunfiltered.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]