The Autoimmune Mom Podcast

Join host Ali Atwell as she shares stories from women navigating autoimmune disease, parenting, treatment decisions, advocacy, and the challenges of building a meaningful life while managing chronic illness.

Recent Episodes

22
Sept. 3, 2026

Breaking down my Total Knee Replacement at 45

Total Knee Replacement at 45: What Recovery Really Looked Like Ali 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, an
21
Aug. 25, 2026

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

The emotional reality of rheumatoid arthritis surgeries at 47 Ali 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 h
20
Aug. 12, 2026

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!
18
July 21, 2026

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, healthc
July 7, 2026

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-
June 17, 2026

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