Well.

It started with clumsiness at high jump. Then, midway through Year 12, Deanna Renee woke up partially blind in one eye. At just 17, she was diagnosed with *Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Her classmates shunned her, convinced MS was a contagious STI. The internet told her she’d be in a wheelchair by 25. Today, she is a viral content creator, proving them all wrong. In this raw and often hilarious episode of the Well Summer Series, Claire Murphy sits down with Deanna to discuss the reality of growing up with a chronic neurological condition. They cover the isolation of high school, the darkness of her early 20s and the "bohemian doctor" who finally gave her hope. Deanna also opens up about the unique challenges of living with an invisible disability - from being "uninvited" to Schoolies to battling "Karens" in car parks who don't believe she's sick enough to park in disabled spots. Plus, we learn how she turned her MRI scans into art and became a viral advocate on TikTok. Get ready to have your perceptions challenged by a woman who refuses to let a diagnosis define her future. *MS is the most common acquired chronic neurological disease affecting young adults, often diagnosed between the ages of 20 to 40 and, in Australia, affects three times more women than men. As yet, there is no cure. There is no known single cause of MS, but many genetic and environmental factors have been shown to contribute to its development. In MS, the body’s own immune system mistakenly attacks and damages the fatty material – called myelin – around the nerves. This results in a range of symptoms, but no two people experience MS in the same way.**Content Warning: This episode discusses suicide and mental health struggles. If you’re looking for more to listen to - every Mamamia podcast is curating your summer listening right across our network from pop culture to beauty to powerful interviews there’s something for everyone, explore here. We’ll be back to regular programming Thursday15th January. THE END BITS If this episode has raised any issues for you, or if you just need someone to talk to, please reach out to: Lifeline: 13 11 14 Beyond Blue: beyondblue.org.au All your health information is in the Well Hub. Follow Deanna Renee: Instagram TikTok Learn more about MS: Visit MS Australia for resources and the wellness guide mentioned in this episode. GET IN TOUCH Sign up to the Well Newsletter to receive your weekly dose of trusted health expertise without the medical jargon. Ask a question of our experts or share your story, feedback, or dilemma - you can send it anonymously here, email here or leave us a voice note here. Ask The Doc: Ask us a question in The Waiting Room. Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok. Support independent women’s media by becoming a Mamamia subscriber. CREDITS Hosts: Claire Murphy and Dr Mariam Guest: Deanna Renee Senior Producers: Claire Murphy and Sally Best Audio Producer: Scott Stronach Video Producer: Julian Rosario Social Producer: Elly Moore Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.Information discussed in Well. is for education purposes only and is not intended to provide professional medical advice. Listeners should seek their own medical advice, specific to their circumstances, from their treating doctor or health care professional. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/mplus/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to another episode of your Well Summer Series! We know that "relaxing" over the holidays is not always the reality, and that your calendar is probably bursting at the seams. So, we've condensed the show into bite-sized episodes - perfect for a quick drive to the shops or a 20-minute breather from the chaos. In this episode, Claire Murphy and Dr Mariam are back at Med School to investigate why one drink may sometimes send you over the edge while other times you can drink all night without feeling it. (Hint, it could be to do with where you are in your cycle...) And in the Quick Consult, Mariam answers a listener's question about a rarely discussed issue: The "never-ending" wipe and suggests simple bowel habits to fix this. If you find yourself wiping a dozen times or discovering "skid marks" later in the day, this episode is for you! And if you’re looking for more to listen to - every Mamamia podcast is curating your summer listening right across our network from pop culture to beauty to powerful interviews there’s something for everyone, explore here. We’ll be back to regular programming Thursday15th January. GET IN TOUCH Sign up to the Well Newsletter to receive your weekly dose of trusted health expertise without the medical jargon. Ask a question of our experts or share your story, feedback, or dilemma - you can send it anonymously here, email here or leave us a voice note here. Ask The Doc: Ask us a question in The Waiting Room. Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok. Support independent women’s media by becoming a Mamamia subscriber CREDITS Hosts: Claire Murphy and Dr MariamSenior Producers: Claire Murphy and Sally Best Audio Producer: Scott Stronach Video Producer: Julian Rosario Social Producer: Elly Moore Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.Information discussed in Well. is for education purposes only and is not intended to provide professional medical advice. Listeners should seek their own medical advice, specific to their circumstances, from their treating doctor or health care professional. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/mplus/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Happy New Year! We are kicking off 2026 with a story that will squeeze your heart in more ways than one. Imagine welcoming a perfectly healthy baby boy, only to be told ten days later that he has suffered heart failure after catching a common virus. That was the reality for Catie. Her son, Tom, was just a precious little newborn when an infection left him fighting for his life.The trauma that this caused to his heart meant he had to be kept alive for months by a huge 160kg machine known as a Berlin Heart while they waited for the impossible: A donor match. But waiting for a heart transplant is a unique kind of limbo. You are waiting for a miracle for your own child, while knowing another family has to face tragedy for it to happen. In an emotional episode of our Well Summer Series, Catie joins us to share the harrowing harrowing yet incredibly hopeful journey of the boy that they call Tiger Tom, the life-saving reality of organ donation, and what life looks like now for this precocious nine year old boy. And if you’re looking for more to listen to - every Mamamia podcast is curating your summer listening right across our network from pop culture to beauty to powerful interviews there’s something for everyone, explore here. We’ll be back to regular programming Thursday15th January. GET IN TOUCH Register to be a donor at DonateLife.org.auSign up to the Well Newsletter to receive your weekly dose of trusted health expertise without the medical jargon. Ask a question of our experts or share your story, feedback, or dilemma - you can send it anonymously here, email here or leave us a voice note here. Ask The Doc: Ask us a question in The Waiting Room. Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok. Support independent women’s media by becoming a Mamamia subscriber CREDITS Hosts: Claire Murphy and Dr Mariam Guest: Catie Eccleston Senior Producers: Claire Murphy and Sally Best Audio Producer: Scott Stronach Video Producer: Julian Rosario Social Producer: Elly Moore Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.Information discussed in Well. is for education purposes only and is not intended to provide professional medical advice. Listeners should seek their own medical advice, specific to their circumstances, from their treating doctor or health care professional. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/mplus/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to another episode in your Well Summer Series! We've been escaping our usual programming for a little summer fling and keeping things short, fun, and fast. We know you’re juggling a lot right now, so these bite-sized episodes are designed to give you a 20-minute breather from the chaos, whether you're in the car or just need a moment to yourself. In this episode, Claire and Dr Mariam (who drops a big gender reveal!) head to Med School to discuss "Poophoria," i.e. that feeling of pure bliss after a bowel movement - and the scientific reason behind it! They also discuss "Defecation Syncope", which is exactly as dangerous as it sounds... In the Quick Consult, Dr Mariam answers a listeners question about the unwanted guest at every Christmas party: Heartburn. She explains why "Gout and Reflux Season" is a real medical phenomenon and gives you the strategy to stop the burn without skipping the buffet. And if you’re looking for more to listen to - every Mamamia podcast is curating your summer listening right across our network from pop culture to beauty to powerful interviews there’s something for everyone, explore here. We’ll be back to regular programming Thursday15th January. GET IN TOUCH Sign up to the Well Newsletter to receive your weekly dose of trusted health expertise without the medical jargon. Ask a question of our experts or share your story, feedback, or dilemma - you can send it anonymously here, email here or leave us a voice note here. Ask The Doc: Ask us a question in The Waiting Room. Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok. Support independent women’s media by becoming a Mamamia subscriber CREDITS Hosts: Claire Murphy and Dr Mariam Senior Producers: Claire Murphy and Sally Best Audio Producer: Scott Stronach Video Producer: Julian Rosario Social Producer: Elly Moore Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.Information discussed in Well. is for education purposes only and is not intended to provide professional medical advice. Listeners should seek their own medical advice, specific to their circumstances, from their treating doctor or health care professional. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/mplus/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Imagine breaking a world record at the Commonwealth Games. It should be the single greatest moment of your life. But instead of wearing your gold medal, celebrating with your teammates, you are curled up in a hotel bed, alone and unable to move. That was the reality for Katja Dedekind, an Australian Paralympic Swimmer. Katja is visually impaired, but for her, that disability pales in comparison to the chronic condition she has been battling behind the scenes for years: Endometriosis. In this awakening episode of the Well Summer Series, Katja (and her emotional support dog, Duke), joins Claire Murphy to share her story of sheer resilience. From getting her period at age nine, to bleeding through her race suit during a gold-medal swim, Katja reveals the physical toll of elite sport when your body is fighting against you.They discuss the long wait times many Australian women face for a diagnosis, and Katja opens up about the life-altering decision she made to undergo a hysterectomy at 2. Join us for a story in pain, resilience and the tough choices female athletes have to make when their health is on the line. And if you’re looking for more to listen to - every Mamamia podcast is curating your summer listening right across our network from pop culture to beauty to powerful interviews there’s something for everyone, explore here. We’ll be back to regular programming Thursday15th January. GET IN TOUCH Sign up to the Well Newsletter to receive your weekly dose of trusted health expertise without the medical jargon. Ask a question of our experts or share your story, feedback, or dilemma - you can send it anonymously here, email here or leave us a voice note here. Ask The Doc: Ask us a question in The Waiting Room. Follow us on Instagram and Tiktok. For more information on endometriosis, visit Endometriosis Australia. For more information on periods and a pain and symptom diary, Dr Mariam recommends the Jean Hailes website. Support independent women’s media by becoming a Mamamia subscriber CREDITS Hosts: Claire Murphy and Dr Mariam Guest: Katja Dedekind Senior Producers: Claire Murphy and Sally Best Audio Producer: Scott Stronach Video Producer: Julian Rosario Social Producer: Elly Moore Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.Information discussed in Well. is for education purposes only and is not intended to provide professional medical advice. Listeners should seek their own medical advice, specific to their circumstances, from their treating doctor or health care professional. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Support the show: https://www.mamamia.com.au/mplus/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.