# 92: Bipolar or Thyroid? The Misdiagnosis Costing Women Their Health With Sara Russell

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/thyroid-pharmacist-healing-conversations-with-dr-izabella-wentz-7249643/92-bipolar-or-thyroid-the-misdiagnosis-costing-women-their-health-with-sara-russell
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/thyroid-pharmacist-healing-conversations-with-dr-izabella-wentz-7249643/92-bipolar-or-thyroid-the-misdiagnosis-costing-women-their-health-with-sara-russell.md
Podcast: [Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations with Dr. Izabella Wentz](https://stenobird.com/podcast/thyroid-pharmacist-healing-conversations-with-dr-izabella-wentz-7249643)
Published: 2026-03-23T10:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://traffic.megaphone.fm/LDCBT2288899924.mp3
Audio file: https://traffic.megaphone.fm/LDCBT2288899924.mp3
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Duration seconds: 4971

## Resource

In this episode of Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations, Dr. Izabella Wentz speaks with Sara Russell, PhD, FNTP, a functional nutritional therapy practitioner specializing in women’s mental health and perinatal lab interpretation. Together, they explore the often-missed connections between bipolar symptoms, thyroid dysfunction and autoimmunity, gluten-related disorders (including serum-negative celiac), medication side effects, and postpartum mental health risks. They also discuss why many patients aren’t properly monitored when prescribed medications like lithium, how blood sugar instability can amplify anxiety and immune activation, and what key labs can help uncover root causes – especially during preconception, pregnancy, and postpartum, when “normal” reference ranges can shift dramatically. What you’ll learn in this episode: Why bipolar symptoms can sometimes point to an underlying thyroid issue. Sara explains how hypo- and hyperthyroidism can mimic depression, mania, anxiety, and even psychosis – and why skipping a full thyroid panel (including antibodies) can lead to years of misdiagnosis or mistreatment. The overlooked triad: thyroid autoimmunity, gluten-related disorders, and psychiatric symptoms. We discuss how celiac disease (including serum-negative celiac) can fly under the radar, how gluten exposure has been linked to neuropsychiatric symptoms in some cases, and why “negative antibodies” don’t always mean “not celiac.” How the “gluten-free junk food” trap can backfire – especially for mood and antibodies. Dr. Wentz shares her own experience of feeling better off gluten… yet more anxious when her blood sugar swings got worse. We’ll unpack why blood sugar balance can be a game-changer for calm, stable energy, and better immune resilience. Why lithium re…

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## Transcript

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