This isn’t just about medication. It’s about the pattern so many ADHD mums find themselves in — chasing answers, finding partial relief, and then hitting a wall you never saw coming.

In this raw, unfiltered episode, Jane shares the deeply personal story of what happened when her body could no longer tolerate ADHD medication — and how a lifetime of overlapping diagnoses, chronic conditions, and medical gaslighting shaped the road to that moment.

From discovering she had lipedema after years of pain, to navigating a brutal and underfunded surgery system, this is an honest account of resilience, privilege, and the fight to be taken seriously in a medical landscape that often dismisses women’s health. It’s about grief for the tools you lose, hope for the ones you gain, and the messy truth of managing ADHD when your options suddenly shrink.

💬 In this episode, we cover:

• The moment ADHD meds stopped being an option — and what came next
• The hidden connection between neurodivergence and lipedema
• What lipedema actually is (and why it’s so often misdiagnosed)
• The physical and emotional toll of chronic pain
• What it’s like to navigate an inaccessible surgery system in Australia
• Why women’s pain is still minimised, dismissed, and underfunded
• The real cost — financial, physical, emotional — of managing an “invisible” disability
• What needs to change so ADHD mums aren’t left without safe, effective support
  
  

💭 This episode is for you if:
– You’ve ever had to choose between functioning and your health
– You’ve been dismissed or told to “just lose weight” when something was wrong
– You want to understand the overlap between ADHD, autism, chronic pain, and women’s health neglect
– You’re tired of hearing “we can’t help you” from the systems meant to support you

Check out IG posts here.

Listen to Part 2: The Lipedema Op: The Invisible Illness You Weren’t Supposed to Notice

📚 Resources & References

Related Episodes:

Connection Between ADHD, EDS and POTS

Listen here on Spotify

Listen here on Apple

Lipedema surgery information

• ADHD Mums blog post  — Photos, personal journey, and practical tips for navigating the lipedema surgery system.
• Check your symptoms – Lipedema Foundation — Clear, accessible checklist to help identify potential signs of lipedema and start informed conversations with health providers.

💓 SVT (Supraventricular Tachycardia)

• Heart Foundation – Heart Arrhythmia & SVT — Evidence-based info on symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment for heart rhythm conditions including SVT.

🦓 Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS)

•  Ehlers-Danlos Society Australia — Advocacy, support, and medical resources for people with EDS.
• Episode 41: ADHD + EDS and POTS – Spotify | Apple Podcast — How these conditions overlap, with expert and lived-experience insight.
• Episode 62: Burnout, Pain & Weird Symptoms? The ADHD Link No One Told Us About – Spotify | Apple Podcast — The hidden ADHD links to chronic pain, fatigue, and “mystery” symptoms.

🧬 RYR2 rare heart gene

• MedlinePlus – RYR2 Gene Information — Plain-language explanation of this rare genetic variant linked to heart rhythm issues.

💬 Community

•  ADHD Mums Facebook Group — A safe, neuro-affirming space to connect with other ADHD mums, share resources, and get support.

JOIN THE COMMUNITY:

Have questions or want to connect with other ADHD mums? Join our supportive Facebook group here and dive into the conversation. No question is too small, and I love answering in a group format!

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COLLABS:

For collaborations or speaking engagements, email me at jane@adhdmums.com.au.

MORE RESOURCES:

Still unsure if ADHD or autism applies to you or your child? Take my recommended self-tests here.

🧠 TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:
ADHD medication side effects, ADHD mums, stimulant intolerance, lipedema, neurodivergence and chronic illness, women’s health funding, medical gaslighting, ADHD alternatives, chronic pain management, surgery access Australia, disability advocacy, invisible disability, health privilege, neuroaffirming care, ADHD burnout, emotional resilience.