1. Let’s start with the classic: What’s your worst, funniest, or most awkward period story?

When I first got my period, I had no idea what it was at the age of 12 so I was hysterical. My older sister came up and gave me a pad and I put the sticky bit on my pubes and then when I went to “take my pad off” I ripped out my pubes. 

2. What have you demystified about your female body that you wish you knew when you were younger?

That just because you have body fat doesn't mean you are fat all my teenage and adult life I thought I was fat because I had body fat and my BMI told me I was overweight. 

3. What was your diagnosis experience like?

Diagnosed with hypothyroidism due to being constantly low in iron. Potentially have Crohn's or IBS just waiting for a referral for a colonoscopy but I do not have health insurance, so the wait is 42 days just to get an appointment. Also, due to not being taken seriously for 7 years plus about my stomach issues (irregular bowel motions sometimes 3 days without going poos, bleeding from the bum, constant burning pain in my stomach from eating food) I was told constantly just to write a food diary and "Oh you will just be intolerant to food". I had one nurse a few weeks back where I was just like please help me so she referred me to complete a couple faecal sample tests and said “it will most likely come back as mild”. She said it came back as moderate and I wasn't even having a flare up at the time. Due to being undiagnosed for whatever I have I now have vitiligo an autoimmune disease which causes skin discolouration. 

4. How has your condition changed your daily life?

Constantly affecting my energy levels being low in iron is a struggle. You just feel so drained, then you get an iron infusion, feel good for a month and back to where you started. Crohn's can also cause low iron so if I get diagnosed with Chrons it will explain that. Having stomach issues is a constant struggle of what you should get, when should you eat etc then eating the wrong thing and being unable to move because you are in such pain. Now I also have discoloration on my face which is always on my mind to being a girl who doesn't wear makeup to it's something I'm always conscious about. 

5. What symptoms made you think something wasn’t right with your body?

Just the low energy thinking that I am just tired from a long day with the kids, also the stomach issues at first I just thought oh I just have a sore stomach when I eat eggs and now it's all different types of food, oats , mushrooms, eggs, fish etc and then being shrugged off from the doctors made me think that I was just being dramatic. 

6. Have you tried anything that has helped you manage your symptoms?

I take Doctor Libby's iconic iron pills, zinc and magnesium and yes, Doctor Libby's iron pills work and keep my iron up. I'm not sure how much yet until I have my blood test in March to follow up but I have been taking them for 2 months now. Diet: I track everything I eat in my fitness pal. I know what foods to avoid but sometimes I will still get a sore stomach even if I haven't eaten those types of foods. 

7. What’s one thing you wish more people understood about women’s health?

If you believe something is not right in your body, fight for yourself as you would fight for your kids' health. Fight for your own just because a doctor has told you that there's nothing wrong doesn't mean that there is. I was talking to a nurse who works in a chemist, and she was telling me that they are not allowed to tell people to change their diet instead of going straight to medication because the medication makes them money. 

8. If you could tell younger you one thing about your body, what would it be?

Research, listen to podcasts, watch videos and learn about your body. You are what you eat.

9. When your body feels hard to live in, how do you take care of yourself?

As a mother of a 6 year old and a 1 and a half year old I have been really bad with taking care of myself because I'm always tired I am always over stimulated but in the last month I have been making an effort to workout, eat the right foods and go for a weekly sauna because I deserve to feel good.