Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations with Dr. Izabella Wentz

In this episode of Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations, Dr. Izabella Wentz interviews Melissa Schreibfader, registered nurse, board-certified functional medicine practitioner, and founder of the Functional Nurse Academy. Melissa shares her personal story of navigating postpartum thyroiditis, Hashimoto’s, chronic fatigue, and chronic Lyme disease after years of being dismissed by both conventional and functional medicine providers.

Together, they discuss why Lyme disease is often overlooked as a root cause of autoimmune disease and chronic symptoms, how postpartum immune shifts can trigger illness, and why many patients continue struggling despite following restrictive diets and expensive supplement protocols. Melissa also shares the therapies that helped her finally recover and explains why nurses and healthcare professionals are uniquely positioned to transform chronic illness care through functional medicine.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

Why many people with chronic illness feel failed by both conventional and functional medicine. Melissa shares how she was repeatedly told her symptoms were “just anxiety” before eventually being diagnosed with Hashimoto’s and chronic Lyme disease. She also opens up about feeling preyed upon by expensive wellness protocols that focused heavily on supplements, without identifying the true root cause of her symptoms.

How postpartum hormone shifts can trigger autoimmune disease and chronic infections. Melissa explains how pregnancy and postpartum immune system changes may activate underlying infections or autoimmune conditions that were previously dormant. We also discuss how nutrient depletions, inflammation, sleep deprivation, and hormonal shifts can create the perfect storm for thyroid issues and chronic illness after pregnancy.

Why Lyme disease is often missed – even by functional practitioners. Melissa shares that many chronic Lyme patients never recall a tick bite or the classic “bullseye rash.” She explains why standard Lyme testing can miss up to half of chronic cases and why more advanced testing methods may be necessary when symptoms persist despite doing “all the right things.”

The surprising symptoms chronic Lyme disease can cause throughout the body. We discuss how Lyme can mimic countless conditions, including chronic fatigue, anxiety, depression, joint pain, neurological symptoms, cardiovascular issues, nerve pain, autoimmune disease, and chronic inflammatory response syndrome (CIRS).

How Melissa finally got her health back after years of chronic illness. Melissa shares the therapies that helped her recover, including herbal protocols, ozone therapy, and a treatment called LymeStop. She explains how healing Lyme often requires supporting the immune system, calming inflammation, replenishing nutrients, and helping the body recover after years of chronic infection.

Why nurses and healthcare professionals are uniquely positioned to change the future of chronic illness care. Melissa discusses how functional medicine allows practitioners to focus on prevention, root causes, nutrition, stress, sleep, and early dysfunction – rather than waiting until patients become severely ill before intervening.

Tune in to learn more about chronic Lyme disease, autoimmune triggers, thyroid healing, and how to uncover hidden root causes that may be keeping you sick.

Be sure to subscribe to the Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations podcast so you don’t miss an episode!

Sign up for the Thyroid Pharmacist Weekly Thyroid Solutions Newsletter here: https://thyroidpharmacist.com/gift/

For the full list of resources and products mentioned in this episode, and to get the full episode transcript, see complete show notes here: https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/podcast/

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In this episode of Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations, Dr. Izabella Wentz speaks with Michael Antonelli, founder and CEO of Healthgevity, about peptides, bioactive proteins, and precision longevity. They explore why eating well, exercising, taking supplements, and managing stress may stop delivering the same results – and how changes in cellular signaling, age, stress, hormones, and physiology can shift what the body needs.

They also dive into emerging compounds, including PEA, BPC-157, spermidine, lactoferrin, paraxanthine, shatavari, and oral peptides, exploring their potential applications for brain health, metabolism, hormones, recovery, and healthy aging. Plus, learn why testing, personalization, and addressing underlying pathways may help when traditional strategies are no longer enough.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

Why do diet, supplements, and exercise sometimes stop working like they used to? Michael explains how changes in cellular signaling, stress, aging, and physiology can create health plateaus – and why it may be time to reassess what your body needs rather than simply try harder.

Do peptides really need to be injected? Michael and Dr. Wentz unpack what peptides and bioactive proteins are, how different delivery methods work, and why oral peptides are an exciting area of innovation. If you’re fascinated by peptides but don’t like needles, you’ll want to tune in here.

Could the right combination of compounds be more powerful than any single ingredient? They explore synergy and why targeting multiple biological pathways may help with stubborn symptoms and health plateaus. Michael shares his “one plus one equals four” approach to creating more targeted strategies.

Brain fog, “tired but wired,” weight challenges, and poor recovery – what can help? Michael discusses new compounds being explored for brain health, stress resilience, metabolism, sleep, and cellular repair, and how targeting different signaling pathways may help address specific concerns.

Could low ferritin be part of the reason thyroid treatment isn’t working as well as expected? Michael explains the connections between iron, lactoferrin, thyroid function, energy, and hair loss, plus why taking more iron isn’t always the answer. Learn why the missing piece may be about addressing underlying pathways rather than adding medications or supplements.

What if the future of longevity isn’t about living longer, but living better? From spermidine and autophagy to emerging bioactives, Michael and Dr. Wentz discuss new approaches to healthy aging, fertility, recovery, and cellular health – with a focus on extending healthspan, not just lifespan.

Tune in to learn more about peptides, cellular signaling, thyroid health, emerging therapies, and the future of personalized longevity.

Be sure to subscribe to the Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations podcast so you don’t miss an episode!

Sign up for the Thyroid Pharmacist Weekly Thyroid Solutions Newsletter here: https://thyroidpharmacist.com/gift/

For the full list of resources and products mentioned in this episode, and to get the full episode transcript, see complete show notes here: https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/podcast/
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In this episode of Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations, Dr. Izabella Wentz interviews fertility expert, licensed acupuncturist, Chinese medicine practitioner, and author Aimee Raupp for an empowering conversation about fertility, ovarian health, and the science behind reproductive longevity. Dr. Wentz also shares her personal journey with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), low anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), Hashimoto's, and becoming pregnant naturally at age 43 after being told donor eggs were her only option.

Together, they explore why many long-held beliefs about fertility after age 35 may be outdated, and how factors like inflammation, mitochondrial function, immune health, insulin resistance, environmental toxins, and thyroid health all influence fertility. They also discuss the connection between Hashimoto's, premature ovarian insufficiency, endometriosis, and unexplained infertility, along with emerging therapies that are bringing new hope to women navigating fertility challenges.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Why the "fertility cliff" may not be as steep as we've been told. Aimee explains why current research suggests ovarian aging is influenced by mitochondrial function, inflammation, and the environment surrounding the egg – not just your birthday. She also discusses why many women over 40 still have healthy eggs and why fertility should be viewed more holistically.

How Hashimoto's, premature ovarian insufficiency, and endometriosis are often connected. Aimee explains how autoimmune disease, chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, and endometriosis can all contribute to fertility challenges, and why identifying the underlying cause is far more valuable than focusing on a single lab marker like AMH.

Why optimizing your health matters more than chasing "perfect" lab numbers. Aimee shares how thyroid hormone optimization, anti-inflammatory nutrition, gut health, environmental toxin reduction, nervous system regulation, and key nutrients, can support both fertility and overall health.

The exciting new science behind ovarian rejuvenation and regenerative medicine. Aimee discusses research on ovarian PRP, stem cell therapies, mitochondrial support, peptides, GLP-1 medications, and other emerging approaches that may help improve egg quality and ovarian function in some women.

Why ovarian health is about much more than having a baby. Aimee explains the growing evidence that healthy ovaries play an important role in longevity, cardiovascular health, bone health, and healthy aging – making ovarian function important even for women who aren't planning to become pregnant.

Why individualized care always wins. Whether you choose Chinese herbal medicine, supplements, hormone therapy, or fertility treatments, root cause medicine and personalized protocols consistently outperform one-size-fits-all recommendations.

Tune in to learn more about fertility, Hashimoto's, ovarian health, and the root-cause approaches that can help support reproductive wellness at every stage of life.

Be sure to subscribe to the Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations podcast so you don’t miss an episode!

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In this episode of Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations, Dr. Izabella Wentz interviews Jennifer Fugo, a clinical nutritionist, host of The Healthy Skin Show podcast, and an expert in uncovering the root causes of chronic skin conditions like eczema, chronic hives, dermatographia, and histamine-related symptoms.

Jennifer explains why she believes many people have been given an incomplete explanation of histamine intolerance, introducing the concept of "histamine overload" and exploring what may actually be driving symptoms such as chronic hives, itching, flushing, food reactions, headaches, and other histamine-related issues. Together, they discuss the surprising gut infections that may overstimulate mast cells, why restrictive low-histamine diets often fail to address the real problem, the limitations of stool testing, the role of mold and mycotoxins in fueling histamine overload, and the evidence-informed supplements, probiotics, liver support, and medications Jennifer uses to help stabilize mast cells and support long-term healing.

In this episode you’ll learn:

Why histamine may not be your real problem. Jennifer explains why she prefers the term "histamine overload" and reveals the hidden triggers, including gut infections and mold, that may be driving skin symptoms like hives.

The surprising gut bugs that may be keeping your hives from healing. Jennifer explains how H. pylori, Blastocystis hominis, parasites, fungal overgrowth, and other hidden infections may overstimulate mast cells and keep chronic skin symptoms coming back.

Why eliminating more foods may actually backfire. Jennifer explains why a low-histamine diet can be a helpful short-term tool, but being on overly-restrictive diets without addressing the root cause can leave people too fearful of food. It is possible to enjoy food again and expand your diet once the root cause is addressed.

Why testing doesn't always tell the whole story. Jennifer explains why stool tests can miss hidden infections, what blood work and symptoms can reveal, and why clinical detective work is often just as important as lab results.

Could mold be making you react to everything? Jennifer explains how mold exposure and mycotoxins can destabilize mast cells, fuel histamine overload, and even make you unusually sensitive to supplements, food, and environmental triggers.

How to naturally support histamine balance. Jennifer shares the nutrients, probiotics, liver support, and other strategies she uses to stabilize mast cells, reduce histamine overload, and help people expand their diets, regain confidence around food, and get back to living their lives.

Tune in to learn why histamine may not be your real problem, and how identifying hidden root causes could help you finally move beyond chronic hives, food reactions, and persistent histamine symptoms.

Be sure to subscribe to the Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations podcast so you don’t miss an episode!

Sign up for the Thyroid Pharmacist Weekly Thyroid Solutions Newsletter here: https://thyroidpharmacist.com/gift/

For the full list of resources and products mentioned in this episode, and to get the full episode transcript, see complete show notes here: https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/podcast/
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In this episode of Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations, Dr. Izabella Wentz speaks with Elizabeth Clark, a former laboratory diagnostics researcher turned educator who specializes in nervous system regulation, advanced self-muscle testing, and the concept of "interference fields" – areas of scar tissue or injury that may disrupt communication within the body.

In this conversation, they explore an emerging perspective on healing that goes beyond the usual root causes, diving into the potential role of scar tissue, dental work, nervous system regulation, emotional stress, and "interference fields." This thought-provoking conversation offers a fresh way to think about the missing pieces that may be standing in the way of lasting healing.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Could old scars, piercings, or dental work be affecting your health? Elizabeth explains the concept of "interference fields.” She shares why old injuries, surgeries, tattoos, piercings, and dental procedures may sometimes play an unexpected role in chronic symptoms.

The surprising connection between dental implants and thyroid health. Elizabeth shares her personal story of developing thyroid dysfunction after dental work and how removing a problematic implant dramatically changed her health. She also discusses why even biologically compatible materials can sometimes trigger immune reactions or interfere with healing in sensitive individuals.

The emotional patterns Elizabeth commonly sees in women with thyroid issues. Elizabeth explains why feelings of not being heard, suppressing your voice, chronic people-pleasing, humiliation, and self-sacrifice frequently show up in women struggling with thyroid dysfunction, and how chronic stress may influence healing alongside physical root causes.

Why mold, viruses, toxins, and emotional stress often travel together. Rather than acting independently, Elizabeth explains why these factors may compound one another, creating a perfect storm that keeps the body stuck in survival mode. She shares why addressing only one root cause may leave people feeling like they're taking two steps forward and one step back.

A different way to gather clues about your body's unique needs. Elizabeth explains advanced self-muscle testing as a screening tool that she uses to help identify potential stressors and priorities for healing. She also shares why no single test tells the whole story and why combining multiple sources of information often leads to better decisions.

An unconventional therapy that may help address "interference fields." Elizabeth explains the principles behind neural therapy, why it's more commonly used in Germany than the United States, and how practitioners use it to help address scars and other areas that may contribute to nervous system interference and chronic symptoms.

Tune in to learn more about nervous system regulation, interference fields, emotional health, and the many factors that may influence healing in Hashimoto's and chronic illness.

Be sure to subscribe to the Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations podcast so you don’t miss an episode!

Sign up for the Thyroid Pharmacist Weekly Thyroid Solutions Newsletter here: https://thyroidpharmacist.com/gift/

For the full list of resources and products mentioned in this episode, and to get the full episode transcript, see complete show notes here: https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/podcast/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices