Calling In Sick

This week on Calling in Sick, I'm sitting down with Bre Giglio — former PICU nurse, founder of Bashify, wife, mom of two, and fellow chronic pain girlie. We're getting into what chronic illness does to your plans, and how becoming the master of pivoting is the only solution, especially when your body keeps changing the rules.

We're diving into:

🏥 From PICU nurse to chronic pain patient — from self-gaslighting to her body giving out, forcing her to leave her dream career

🌪️ The perfect storm — the recipe that sent Bre’s health into a spiral

⏩ Pivoting too fast — why processing change is important and lessons learned from focusing on fixing instead of healing

🕰️ Feeling "behind" in life — how prior generations shape our preconceived “timelines” for life + how chronic illness moves us further away from those timelines

🤰 Pregnancy, postpartum and navigating marriage with chronic pain & the care giver dynamic

🧘 The wellness stack — the tools Bre uses to manage her health

And come back Wednesday for the chronic pain hot takes!

xx, Alex

💬 Comment: Where in your chronic illness journey did you pivot too fast — and what do you wish you'd given yourself time to process?

TIMESTAMPS:

Intro:

00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick!

Bre’s Health Journey:

00:01:10 What it's actually like being a nurse at Seattle Children's

00:02:26 When her body gave out

00:04:44 Pivoting from nursing to her next venture, before processing anything

00:14:41 Emotional stress as a flare trigger & the friends who couldn't show up

Marriage, Pregnancy & Motherhood With Chronic Pain:

00:16:40 Meeting her husband, marrying at 21 & still feeling "behind" in life

00:20:48 Pregnancy with chronic pain

00:25:55 Birth, feeding struggles & a hard postpartum

00:31:07 Tips for communication in marriage while managing chronic health issues

Scaling Back Work & Building a Life Around Your Body:

00:41:36 What entrepreneurship teaches you about yourself

00:43:33 What nobody tells you about entrepreneurship with chronic illness

00:50:11 Bre’s weekly wellness stack

00:54:04 How to pour BACK into your partner // caregiver’s cup

Conclusion:

00:56:11 One Brain Cell Show: Girls (HBO Max) & The Great British Bake Off (Netflix)

00:57:46 Thank you for listening — come back Wednesday!

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Stay connected and follow us on socials for more!

• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/callinginsickpod/

• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@callinginsickpod

• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558234607568

Connect with our guest, Bre Giglio:

• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bre.giglio/

• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@bre.giglio

• Bre’s Company, Bashify - https://www.instagram.com/bashify.co/

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Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/

#ChronicPain #ChronicIllness #BreGiglio #Bashify #PICUNurse #NurseTurnedEntrepreneur #ChronicPainMom #ChronicIllnessMom #Hypermobility #hEDS #PMDD #PregnancyWithChronicIllness #ChronicIllnessMarriage #InvisibleIllness #SpoonieLife #ChronicIllnessEntrepreneur #ChronicIllnessCommunity #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson

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This week on Calling in Sick, Anna Harris, NP is back and we are getting into something I have never broken down on this show before: why do certain medical videos go completely viral? And what does that actually say about the world we are living in?

We're diving into:

🤠 The Cowboy Boots video — 12 million views on a man handed an ER bill before he even left the hospital. Why did it blow up — and what does that tell us about the fear Americans live with around medical care?

💸 The new born medical billing reality

📋 How to audit your medical bill line by line

🏥 The ICU fall video — what medical staffing ratios can cause harm

🤖 The nursing payment model — making nurses bid against each other for the lowest wage

🚫 Is universal healthcare the REAL solution?!

And more… like Anna's most controversial take, the underbelly of socialized medicine, and why AI fighting AI to approve your treatment is genuinely Sci-Fi level terrifying!!

xx, Alex

💬 Comment: Have you paid a medical bill before care because you thought you HAD to?!

TIMESTAMPS:

Intro:

00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick!

Why Medical Videos Go Viral:

00:00:51 Why do certain medical videos go viral — and what does that say about our healthcare system?

00:08:21 How to audit your medical bill line by line — common errors and AI as a tool

00:10:33 The ICU fall video — staffing ratios and why fewer people are going into medicine

00:18:08 The nursing payment model — making nurses bid against each other for the lowest wage

Our Hottest Healthcare Takes:

00:20:24 Anna's most controversial take — the solution that isn't universal healthcare

00:23:44 Is AI is being used to deny your medical care?

00:27:00 Why patients and providers having a voice online gives hope for real change

Conclusion:

00:31:10 Thank you for listening!

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Stay connected and follow us on socials for more!

• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/callinginsickpod/

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Connect with our guest, Anna Harris:

• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/anna.harris.rn

• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@anna.harris.rn

• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/people/annaharrisrn/61589286002165/

• Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@Anna.Harris.RN4

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Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/

#HealthcareSystem #MedicalBilling #AnnaHarris #ICUNurse #PatientAdvocacy #InsuranceDenial #UniversalHealthcare #NurseLife #CowboyBootsVideo #AIinMedicine #MedicalDebt #PregnancyBilling #ChronicIllness #HealthcareReform #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson

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This week on Calling in Sick, I'm sitting down with Anna Harris, RN — former ICU nurse, patient advocate, and the woman behind THAT 12 million view video. Her tagline says it all: healthcare isn't confusing on accident. And this episode explains why, and how to navigate it.

We're diving into:

🏥 Why patients need an advocate — what changes when someone is in that room with you and why navigating this system alone is setting you up to fail

🩺 Providers vs. the system — what’s really making getting critical care difficult?

💰 What “The System” actually IS — ICD codes, billing incentives, group KPIs, and why a for-profit model is making decisions about your care that have nothing to do with your care

💊 The IVIG story — what happens when an insurance company denies a medication that's keeping you alive, and what your provider can and can't do about it

📋 Anna's appointment playbook — the pre-appointment prep that actually helps you get what you need out of the little time you have

🤖 AI in medicine — the wonderful and the genuinely terrifying ways AI is being used in hospitals and insurance companies right now

🔒 Your health data — who already has it, what they're doing with it, and the question nobody is asking loudly enough

xx,
Alex

💬 Comment: What is the one thing about navigating the healthcare system that you wish someone had told you earlier?

TIMESTAMPS:

Intro:

00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick!

00:03:22 Get to know our guest, Anna Harris

What's Actually Broken about the US Healthcare System:

00:05:29 What patients don't know they don't know — and why that costs them

00:09:04 Providers vs. the system — who is actually failing patients?

00:14:11 What the healthcare system actually IS — billing codes, KPIs and for-profit incentives

What It Costs Patients & How to Fight Back:

00:19:13 3 changes that would fix the current healthcare system

00:22:51 Fighting insurance denials while already in crisis and balanced billing

00:28:14 The medical appointment playbook — before care, during care, and after

00:32:54 Predatory online health coaching — how to spot the vultures

00:42:19 Risk tolerance and treatment decisions — and how to talk to your family about them

00:49:46 How to actually use AI before a medical appointment

00:55:13 How hospitals and insurance companies are using AI — the good and the terrifying

Conclusion:

01:01:38 One Brain Cell Show: Friends (Netflix) & Dancing with the Stars (Disney+, Hulu)

01:04:45 Where to find Anna Harris online

01:05:06 Thank you for listening — come back Wednesday!

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Stay connected and follow us on socials for more!

• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/callinginsickpod/

• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@callinginsickpod

• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558234607568

Connect with our guest, Anna Harris:

• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/anna.harris.rn

• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@anna.harris.rn

• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/people/annaharrisrn/61589286002165/

• Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@Anna.Harris.RN4

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Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/

#HealthcareSystem #PatientAdvocacy #MedicalBilling #AnnaHarris #ICUNurse #ChronicIllness #MedicalGaslighting #HealthInsurance #PatientRights #AIinMedicine #HealthData #AppointmentPrep #ChronicIllnessCommunity #InvisibleIllness #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson

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This week on Calling in Sick, Shayla Talei McCain is back and we are breaking the fourth wall on what it actually costs to share your chronic illness life online — the emotional and physical costs and benefits. And in light of everything going on recently, we get down to one important question… would we start posting our health journey online again?

We're diving into:

🎥 Hitting post on the first feeding tube video — the moment before, the spiral of what ifs, and what actually happened when the world responded

🎭 The pressure to "put a bow" on chronic illness content — why creators feel pushed to thrive publicly even on their worst days, and why that's a form of dishonesty

🏅 The sick Olympics — the credibility tax of not looking sick enough, the community policing that comes with smiling in a video, and why comparison is the thief of joy in this space

🧍 Parasocial relationships — why they're uniquely valuable in the chronic illness community, when that can become toxic, and what it feels like when someone who doesn't know you feels entitled to weigh in on your medical decisions

💻 The physical toll of creating — what it costs to film content on a bad pain day, why you can't just stop the machine, and the permission to take breaks without announcing them

💬 The moments that make it FULLY worth it — the DMs, the comments, the stranger who says "I'm going to use my mobility aid tomorrow because I saw you use yours"

🔄 Would she do it again? — her honest answer

xx, Alex

💬 Comment: Would you share YOUR health journey online?

TIMESTAMPS:

Intro:

00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick!

The Cost of Sharing Your Chronic Illness Life Online:

00:02:06 Hitting post on her first feeding tube video

00:05:06 Finding humor in chronic illness content (the $1,000 dinner series)

00:06:58 The unspoken pressure to perform chronic illness in a certain way

The Sick Olympics, Parasocial Relationships & The Real Cost:

00:13:38 The chronic illness credibility tax and having to keep proving your chronic illness

00:16:32 The Oreo analogy — why one person's win shouldn't feel like another's loss

00:24:06 Parasocial relationships — healthy, unhealthy and where the line is

00:29:53 The underbelly of being a chronic illness content creator

00:31:08 Why chronic illness content costs more to make than any other kind

Would You Do It Again?:

00:36:35 What is the actual goal of sharing your story online?

00:39:13 Would we do it all over again?

00:41:10 For anyone thinking about becoming a chronic illness creator — listen to this!!!

Conclusion:

00:42:46 Where to find Shayla McCain online

00:43:38 Thank you!!!

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Stay connected and follow us on socials for more!

• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/callinginsickpod/

• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@callinginsickpod

• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558234607568

Connect with our guest, Shayla McCain:

• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/shaylatalei

• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@shaylatalei

• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@Shaylatalei

• Website - https://www.ShaylaTalei.com

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Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/

#ChronicIllnessCreator #ContentCreation #ShaylaTalei #ChronicIllness #SickOlympics #Sickfluencer #ParasocialRelationship #ChronicIllnessCommunity #InvisibleIllness #CommunityPolicing #ChronicPain #SpoonieLife #ContentCreatorLife #MentalHealthOnline #ChronicIllnessAwareness #FeedingTube #Gastroparesis #CRPS #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson

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This week on Calling in Sick, I'm sitting down with chronic illness content creator, Shayla Talei McCain. She was diagnosed with CRPS at 17, and a decade later her body pivoted again — into gastroparesis, a diagnosis that took eight months and 100 lbs of weight loss to finally get answers on.

We're diving into:

🔥 CRPS at 17 — what Complex Regional Pain Syndrome actually is, why it's so misunderstood even by providers, and what it looks like when you have no choice but to grow accustomed to the pain

📉 The gastroparesis chapter — eight months of unexplained weight loss, being told it was her ADHD medication, the medical gaslighting while visibly malnourished, MCAS and what finally got her answers

👶 Pregnancy and chronic illness — the medical clearance process, the remission-like state that surprised her, and what it means to be preparing for the worst while hoping for the best

🧒 Motherhood — what it looks like to parent when you can't always show up the way you planned, how she explains her illness to her kids, and the profound lessons her daughters have taught her about living life inside chronic illness parameters

📱 Building a platform — when sharing became healing, why chronic illness content hits differently than any other kind, and what it means to lose the choice to hide your illness when it becomes visible

✍️ Throwing away the script — what chronic illness is "supposed" to look like according to the world, why that framing is wrong, and how to build something of your own inside the parameters you've been given

Come back Wednesday — we are breaking the fourth wall on content creation and asking the one question we've both wondered about: would we do it all again?

xx,

Alex

💬 Comment: What's one part of chronic illness you WISH was showed online more?

TIMESTAMPS:

Intro:

00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick!

00:00:48 Get to know our guest, Shayla McCain

The Diagnosis Journey — CRPS, Gastroparesis & Finding Answers: 00:02:27 Life before symptoms 00:04:01 What CRPS is — the diagnosis, management tools, mirror therapy 00:11:09 Identity, guilt & the before and after of diagnosis 00:14:21 The acceptance curve — grief, chronic illness & what acceptance actually looks like 00:17:44 The gastroparesis chapter — weight loss, medical gaslighting & finally getting answers 00:21:08 When your illness becomes impossible to hide

Life, Love & Motherhood With Chronic Illness: 00:24:46 Deciding to have children with chronic illness 00:31:01 Losing the choice to hide your illness when it becomes visible 00:32:14 Being a chronically ill mom & explaining the unexplainable to kids 00:39:42 Lessons from motherhood on this side of all of it

Redefining Life With Chronic Illness: 00:43:08 Throwing away the chronic illness script — making it your own 00:47:18 The Telegraph article & what chronic illness is "supposed" to look like

Conclusion: 00:48:32 One Brain Cell Show: We Were Liars (Prime Video) & Below Deck Mediterranean (Bravo) 00:50:44 Where to find Shayla McCain online 00:51:03 Come back Wednesday — breaking the fourth wall on content creation!

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Stay connected and follow us on socials for more!

• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/callinginsickpod/

• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@callinginsickpod

• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558234607568

Connect with our guest, Shayla McCain:

• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/shaylatalei

• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@shaylatalei

• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@Shaylatalei

• Website - https://www.ShaylaTalei.com

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Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/

#CRPS #Gastroparesis #ComplexRegionalPainSyndrome #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #ShaylaTalei #ChronicIllnessMom #InvisibleIllness #SpoonieLife #MedicalGaslighting #ChronicIllnessContent #Motherhood #ChronicIllnessMotherhood #ContentCreator #ChronicIllnessCommunity #TPN #PivotingWithChronicIllness #ChronicIllnessAcceptance #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson

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Ellie Klein is back for this week’s Calling in Sick Wednesday episode — and we are myth-busting the most common and most maddening things the internet says about scoliosis and hypermobility. Some of these she has been told by providers. Some she has read online. And some she has been gaslit into doubting herself about for years.

We're busting:

🚩 "Scoliosis doesn't cause pain"

🚩 "Wear this hard brace all day every day and don't worry about your muscles atrophying"

🚩 "Sleeping in a hard scoliosis brace will be no problem"

🚩 "Hypermobility is only being flexible — there's nothing else that comes with it"

🚩 "Hypermobility cannot cause fatigue"

Plus the conversation about what it actually feels like when someone doesn't believe you… do you over-prove or do you gaslight yourself into thinking maybe you're not in pain? And when does it stop mattering?

xx, Alex

💬 Comment: When you get caught in a sleepless night… do you flow with it and distract yourself, or do you clock watch and stress out?!?!

TIMESTAMPS

Intro:

00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick!

Scoliosis & Hypermobility Fact or Fiction:

00:00:32 Myth 1: Scoliosis Doesn't Cause Pain & self gaslighting about pain

00:06:00 Myth 2: Wear a Hard Brace All Day & Don't Worry About Muscles Atrophying

00:09:21 Myth 3: Sleeping in a Hard Scoliosis Brace Will Be No Problem

00:13:28 Myth 4: Hypermobility Is Only Being Flexible — Nothing Else Comes With It

00:17:05 Myth 5: Hypermobility Cannot Cause Fatigue

00:20:37 The double-edged sword of pushing through when you're chronically sick

Conclusion:

00:22:01 Thank you & where to find Ellie Klein & Jelliebend

00:23:45 Thank you for listening!

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Stay connected and follow us on socials for more!

• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/callinginsickpod/

• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@callinginsickpod

• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558234607568

Connect with our guest, Ellie Klein:

• Instagram, Personal - https://www.instagram.com/ellie.unicorn.klein/?hl=en

• Instagram, Jelliebend - https://www.instagram.com/jelliebend/?hl=en

• Website - https://jelliebend.com/

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Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/

#Scoliosis #Hypermobility #ScoliosisMythBusting #HypermobilityMyths #Jelliebend #EllieKlein #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #ScoliosisAwareness #HypermobilityAwareness #ChronicFatigue #ScoliosisBrace #InvisibleIllness #SpoonieLife #MedicalGaslighting #MythBusters #AutoimmuneDisease #ChronicIllnessCommunity #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson

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This week on Calling in Sick, I'm sitting down with Ellie Klein — founder of Jelliebend, former competitive ballet dancer, contortionist, and someone who has been navigating scoliosis and hypermobility since childhood. And let me tell you… this conversation took us places I didn’t even anticipate (like just being a female in the US right now…)

We're diving into:

🩰 Growing up as a ballerina with scoliosis and hypermobility — the brace, the ballet intensive, the teachers who used her body as the "bad example" in class, and what it does to a young girl to be publicly identified as wrong in a space where your body is everything

🤸 Life after ballet — the pivots she took from school to contortionism to becoming a founder all while juggling her health

💡 Building Jelliebend — the moment her body craved support but couldn't tolerate traditional braces, how her ADHD sensory needs shaped every design decision, and the completely bootstrapped journey of making the samples herself

💸 The fundraising reality — pitching a women's health product to mostly male investors who thought she was making shapewear, going $20K into credit card debt because she believed in what she was building, and what it actually takes to crack into VC without connections

🌸 The women's health funding gap — why products outside the "bikini zone" struggle to get investment and what that means for founders like Ellie

💪 The delusional optimism it takes to build something — and why she wouldn't change a single thing

xx, Alex

💬 Comment: Have you ever been made to feel like your body was the problem — and what did you do with that?

TIMESTAMPS

Intro:

00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick!

Ellie’s Story with Scoliosis, Hypermobility & Jelliebend:

00:00:38 Who is Ellie and what the heck is Jelliebend?!

00:07:53 What building a product for yourself that turns into a company is like

00:12:47 Growing up as a ballerina with scoliosis

00:24:19 The 411 on scoliosis treatments and surgery

00:29:57 Being used as the "bad example" in class due to a disability… and processing it alone

Life after ballet:

00:44:14 Contortionism, her coaches & what that world gave her

00:52:09 Building Jelliebend — bootstrapping, samples & early days

00:53:22 Fundraising reality — pitching to investors who don’t understand chronic illness & doubling down

01:04:34 The VC fundraising playbook problem — selling to women when the VC world is mostly men

01:06:37 What success actually looks like when you're self-funded

Ellie’s next frontier (diagnosing the mystery illness):

01:07:44 Suspected POTS, the diagnostic journey & what's next

01:11:04 The female experience of invisible illness & finding the right providers

01:12:43 Women's health, bikini medicine & getting louder together

Conclusion:

01:13:04 One Brain Cell Show (SPOOKY SZN!!): Monster & American Horror Story (Hulu)

01:16:15 Where to find Ellie & Jelliebend

01:16:31 Thank you for listening… + Come back Wednesday for Fact or Fiction!

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Stay connected and follow us on socials for more!

• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/callinginsickpod/

• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@callinginsickpod

• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558234607568

Connect with our guest, Ellie Klein:

• Instagram, Personal - https://www.instagram.com/ellie.unicorn.klein/?hl=en

• Instagram, Jelliebend - https://www.instagram.com/jelliebend/?hl=en

• Website - https://jelliebend.com/

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Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/

#Scoliosis #Hypermobility #Jelliebend #EllieKlein #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #ScoliosisAwareness #HypermobilityAwareness #WomensHealth #ChronicIllnessEntrepreneur #InvisibleIllness #SpoonieLife #Ballet #Contortionism #WomenInBusiness #VCFunding #WomensHealthFunding #BikiniMedicine #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson

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This week on Calling in Sick, Cheryl Crow is back and we are getting into the most practical, OT-approved, chronic illness tested life hacks I have ever covered on this podcast. You’re going to want to save these tips!!!

We're diving into:

🌅 How to Have Gentler Mornings — the bedside toolbox every chronic illness patient needs, why "motion is lotion" for inflammatory arthritis, the roll-on topical hack that saves your hands, and the compression wear nuance nobody talks about

😴 Sleep strategies that actually work — the bedroom environment audit, sleep accessories worth investing in (Nod Pod, Sleep Crown), how to break the insomnia cycle by detaching from sleep pressure, and the separate beds conversation

⚡ Energy conservation done right — why strength training counterintuitively builds long-term energy reserves for inflammatory arthritis patients, circadian rhythm scheduling, the high spoon vs. low spoon to-do list system, the 80% rule, and how to request workplace accommodations without burning bridges

These are the tools Cheryl uses with her own patients and the ones I wish someone had handed me 25 years ago.

🤍 xx, Alex

💬 Comment: What is your number one morning hack that makes chronic illness life more manageable?

TIMESTAMPS

Intro:

00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick!

Gentler Mornings & Pain Relief:

00:00:28 Bedside Tool Box & Pain Management Accommodations

00:02:05 Joint Lubrication & "Motion is Lotion"

00:03:38 CBD, Menthol & Roll-on Topicals

00:04:35 Compression Wear: Benefits & When to Avoid It Sleep

Strategies & Mindset:

00:07:16 Optimizing Your Sleep Environment Audit

00:08:41 Relaxation Routines & Sleep Accessories (Nod Pod, Sleep Crown)

00:10:08 Shifting Sleep Mindsets & Managing Insomnia

00:12:18 Sleeping in Separate Beds for Better Rest

Energy Management & Conservation:

00:15:30 Exercise & Strength Training for Chronic Fatigue

00:18:01 Circadian Rhythm Scheduling & Pacing

00:19:56 High Spoon vs. Low Spoon To-Do Lists

00:21:55 The 80% Rule & Requesting Workplace Accommodations

Conclusion:

00:24:25 Connecting with Cheryl Crow & Arthritis Life

00:25:33 Thank you for listening!

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Stay connected and follow us on socials for more!

• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/callinginsickpod/

• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@callinginsickpod

• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558234607568

• Substack - https://substack.com/@callinginsickpod

Connect with our guest, Cheryl Crow:

• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/arthritis_life_cheryl/

• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@arthritislife

• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/arthritislife

• Website - https://arthritis.theenthusiasticlife.com/about-cheryl/

Episode Resources

• Kate Bowler, “No Cure for Being Human” - https://link.amazon/B07znkSfA

• Kate Bowler, “Everything Happens for a Reason, and Other Lies I’ve Loved” - https://link.amazon/B0246dY3H

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Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/

#ChronicIllnessHacks #OccupationalTherapy #ArthritisLife #CherylCrow #RheumatoidArthritis #ChronicFatigue #SpoonTheory #EnergyConservation #ChronicPain #SleepHacks #ChronicIllness #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness #MorningRoutine #AutoimmuneDisease #PacingChronicIllness #HighSpoonLowSpoon #ChronicIllnessTips #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson

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This week on Calling in Sick, I'm sitting down with Cheryl Crow — occupational therapist, founder of Arthritis Life, host of the Arthritis Life podcast, creator of the Rheum to THRIVE course, and someone who has been navigating rheumatoid arthritis for 23+ years. We’re talking all about how we’ve navigated processing life with chronic illness — from the control piece, the acceptance piece and the struggles between. So if you’ve ever struggled with processing chronic illness, you’ll love this episode.

We're diving into:

💊 What it actually looks like to cycle through flare-ups and treatment

🧠 Why high achievers can be particularly “bad” at chronic illness — the "A+ student" trap of believing you can find the perfect system to solve your body

🩺 What occupational therapy actually is — "a psychologist having a baby with a physical therapist" — and why this community desperately needs to know about it

🚌 Our favorite lessons from chronic illness therapy — from the passengers on the bus metaphor, to the ACT framework and the reframes that have truly changed things for us

🙅 Our thoughts on how ableism is innately baked into wellness culture

☕ Our top 3 tips for finding joy while living a life with chronic illness — micro-joys, duvet days, and seeing rest for more than a reward

xx, Alex

💬 Comment: What is your relationship with the word "acceptance" when it comes to your chronic illness?

TIMESTAMPS

Intro:

00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick!

NAVIGATING CHRONIC ILLNESS WITH CHERYL CROW:

00:00:36 Cheryl Crow’s Diagnosis Journey & Early Symptoms

00:09:36 Treatment Cycles & Secondary Loss of Response

MENTAL HEALTH & CHRONIC ILLNESS:

00:11:58 Mental Health, Anxiety, & Catastrophizing

00:15:36 Overachiever Mindsets & disease Management

00:23:25 Occupational Therapy vs. Physical Therapy

00:29:30 Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

00:34:16 Positive Activity Scheduling & Micro-Joys

NAVIGATING “FEELING BETTER” WITH A CHRONIC ILLNESS:

00:37:05 Facing Ableism & Cultural Assumptions

00:48:40 Finding Transformation & Agency

00:56:03 Rest, Sleep Divas, & Duvet Days

Conclusion:

00:59:53 One Brain Cell Show: Dancing with the Stars (Disney+)

01:01:43 Thank you for listening!

----------------------------------------------------------------

Stay connected and follow us on socials for more!

• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/callinginsickpod/

• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@callinginsickpod

• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558234607568

• Substack - https://substack.com/@callinginsickpod

Connect with our guest, Cheryl Crow:

• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/arthritis_life_cheryl/

• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@arthritislife

• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/arthritislife

• Website - https://arthritis.theenthusiasticlife.com/about-cheryl/

Episode Resources

• Kate Bowler, “No Cure for Being Human” - https://link.amazon/B07znkSfA

• Kate Bowler, “Everything Happens for a Reason, and Other Lies I’ve Loved” - https://link.amazon/B0246dY3H

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Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/

#RheumatoidArthritis #OccupationalTherapy #ChronicIllness #ACTTherapy #AcceptanceAndCommitmentTherapy #ArthritisLife #CherylCrow #ChronicPain #MedicalGaslighting #BoomAndBust #ChronicIllnessAcceptance #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness #Ableism #MicroJoys #DuvetDay #RheumToThrive #AutoimmuneDisease #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson

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This Wednesday on Calling in Sick, Amanda Berk is back for and we are getting into the systemic conversation underneath everything we talked about on Monday. Why the healthcare system keeps failing women. Where it started. And what is actually being done about it.

We're diving into:

🏛️ The historical roots of the gender health gap — why female bodies were treated as "small men with psychological issues" for decades and what that actually cost us

👙 "Bikini Medicine" — the term coined in the 1980s for the narrow funding of women's health

🧪 The research disparities that are still costing women their health

💰 Who is actually funding women's health research right now

💡 Our favorite female-led women’s health tech companies changing the game

👥 The Witness Effect — the documented phenomenon where providers offer measurably better care when a second person is present, and why this is one of the most powerful tools in patient advocacy

Asking for help in the healthcare system is not a failure. It is a strategy. 🤍

xx, Alex

💬 Comment: What’s YOUR favorite women’s health tech company?! Give them a shoutout in the comments this week!!!

TIMESTAMP:

Intro:

00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick!

Women's Health & Systemic Failures:

00:00:12 Historical Roots of the Gender Health Gap + The Origin of "Bikini Medicine"

00:06:40 Clinical Trial Disparities & Economic Impact

Funding & Innovation:

00:10:00 Public vs. Private Sector Funding

00:13:30 Involving Men in the Conversations around Women’s Health

00:18:24 Private Companies Driving Female-Centric Innovation

Patient Advocacy & Policy:

00:24:23 The Witness Effect in Medical Appointments

00:28:38 Social Justice & Systemic Stigma in Healthcare

Future Outlook:

00:31:16 What Gives Hope for the Future of Women's Health

00:36:48 Careers in Healthcare Outside of Becoming a Doctor

00:37:07 Where to Connect with Amanda Berk & LIORA Health

Conclusion:

00:38:31 Thank you for listening!

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• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/callinginsickpod/

• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@callinginsickpod

• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558234607568

• Substack - https://substack.com/@callinginsickpod

Connect with our guest, Amanda Berk:

• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/amanda_berk/

• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@amanda_berk

• LIORA Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/liorahealthadvocates/

• LIORA Website - https://liorahealth.io/

• Substack - https://liorahealth.substack.com/

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Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/

#WomensHealth #GenderHealthGap #BikiniMedicine #PatientAdvocacy #ChronicIllness #LioraHealth #MedicalGaslighting #WomensHealthResearch #ClinicalTrials #WitnessEffect #AutoimmuneDisease #POTS #InvisibleIllness #SpoonieLife #WomensHealthTech #HealthcareReform #ChronicIllnessCommunity #PatientEmpowerment #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson

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This week on Calling in Sick, I'm sitting down with my dear friend Amanda Berk — co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of LIORA Health, dual Master's candidate in Social Work and Public Health at UT Austin, and someone navigating life with chronic migraines, a neurological tick disorder, and Hashimoto's disease. And this conversation is one I think every single person in this community needs to hear.

We're diving into:

🤝 What patient advocacy actually is

🏥 Why navigating medicine alone is failing us

😭 Why so many patients leave appointments feeling dismissed

👥 Peer advocacy and the LIORA Health model

📋 Four tips you NEED for your next appointment:

Asking for help in the healthcare system is not a failure. It is a strategy. 🤍

xx, Alex

💬 Comment: Have you ever experienced the "car cry" after a doctor's appointment — and what happened?

TIMESTAMP:

Intro:

00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick!

Patient Advocacy Overview:

00:01:12 Defining Patient Advocacy & The Shift Away from "Solo Healthcare"

00:05:54 Systemic Challenges in Modern Medicine

Working with Advocates:

00:09:58 Finding Third-Party Advocates

00:12:54 Peer Advocacy & LIORA Health's Matching Platform

00:16:58 Intake & Proactive Appointment Preparation

Practical Appointment Tips:

00:19:58 Tip #1: Asking to Record Audio

00:22:31 Tip #2: Time-Bound Symptom Tracking

00:25:41 Tip #3: Setting Goals & Top 5 Priority Questions

00:27:18 Tip #4: Clarifying Next Steps Before Leaving

LIORA Health & Women's Health Data:

00:28:43 Embracing Lived Experience & Partnership

00:32:46 Sending Notes to Providers in Advance

00:36:12 The Story Behind LIORA Health

00:40:58 Building a Patient Dataset to Close Research Gaps

00:44:05 Reflections on Navigating the Advocate Role

Conclusion:

00:49:40 One Brain Cell Show: Earle Meets World (Netflix) & The Secret Life of Mormon Wives (Hulu)

00:53:36 Thank you for listening!

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• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/callinginsickpod/

• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@callinginsickpod

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• Substack - https://substack.com/@callinginsickpod

Connect with our guest, Amanda Berk:

• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/amanda_berk/

• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@amanda_berk

• LIORA Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/liorahealthadvocates/

• LIORA Website - https://liorahealth.io/

• Substack - https://liorahealth.substack.com/

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Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/

#PatientAdvocacy #ChronicIllness #LioraHealth #WomensHealth #MedicalGaslighting #ChronicMigraine #Hashimotos #AutoimmuneDisease #DoctorAppointmentTips #SymptomTracking #ChronicIllnessCommunity #InvisibleIllness #SpoonieLife #HealthcareSystem #PatientEmpowerment #ChronicPain #WomensHealthcare #AppointmentPrep #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson

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This week on Calling in Sick, Dr. Linda Bluestein is mythbusting the biggest hypermobility and hEDS misconceptions circulating online right now!! Some of these are coming from well-meaning patients. Some are coming from providers who should know better. And some are genuinely dangerous enough that a hypermobility specialist felt the need to set the record straight.

We're busting:

🚩 "Hypermobility and hEDS don't cause real pain"

🚩 "Hypermobility just means being flexible

🚩 "hEDS is being massively overdiagnosed on social media"

🚩 "A normal genetic test rules out hEDS"

🚩 "Symptomatic hypermobility always progresses and gets worse"

🚩 "The Beighton score is the definitive diagnostic tool"

🚩 "Direct-to-consumer genetic tests give you real answers"

And more!!!

xx, Alex

💬 Comment: Which of these myths have YOU been told?!

TIMESTAMPS:

Intro:

00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick!

Hypermobility & hEDS Internet Myths:

00:00:22 Myth 1: Hypermobility & hEDS Do Not Cause Pain

00:01:40 Myth 2: Hypermobility Just Means Flexibility, Not a Real Medical Condition

00:03:22 Myth 3: hEDS Is Massively Overdiagnosed on Social Media

00:04:42 Unconscious Daily Accommodations & Pain Self-Management

00:07:55 Myth 4: A Normal Genetic Test Rules Out hEDS

00:08:46 Re-Evaluating hEDS Criteria & Immune System Hypotheses

00:12:12 Myth 5: Symptomatic Hypermobility Always Progresses & Gets Worse

00:15:08 Myth 6: If You Pass the Beighton Score, You're Good

00:17:50 Myth 7: Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Tests Provide Clear Answers

Conclusion: 00:21:12 Where to Connect with Dr. Linda Bluestein

00:24:11 Thank you for listening!

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• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/callinginsickpod/

• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@callinginsickpod

• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558234607568

Connect with our guest, Dr. Linda Bluestein:

• Instagram, Personal - https://www.instagram.com/hypermobilitymd/

• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/hypermobilityMD

• Website - https://www.hypermobilitymd.com/

• Podcast - https://www.youtube.com/@BendyBodiesPodcast

• Instagram, Podcast - • Instagram, Personal - https://www.instagram.com/hypermobilitymd/

----------------------------------------------------------------

Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/

Powered by: Just Media House — https://www.justmediahouse.com/

#Hypermobility #hEDS #EhlersDanlosSyndrome #HypermobilityMyths #BendyBodies #DrLindaBluestein #MythBusters #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #JointHypermobility #BeightonScore #GeneticTesting #MedicalGaslighting #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness #ConnectiveTissueDisorder #HypermobilitySpectrumDisorder #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson

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This week on Calling in Sick, I'm sitting down with THE Dr. Linda Bluestein (!!!). She’s a board-certified physician, hypermobility specialist, host of the Bendy Bodies podcast, and someone who didn't get her own hEDS diagnosis until her 50s.

We're diving into:

🦴 What hypermobility actually is — and the four types most people have never heard of (peripheral, localized, generalized, and historical)

🩺 Dr. Bluestein's personal journey — from teenage ballerina with chronic injuries to anesthesiologist to hypermobility specialist, and the Tarlov cyst surgery that finally connected all the dots

⏱️ The 17-year literature lag — why it takes nearly two decades for published research to reach clinical practice, and the cost to patients NOW

🧠 Central sensitization — why pain begets pain in hypermobile bodies, and how the nervous system gets rewired over time

🛠️ The MENS-PMMS framework — Dr. Bluestein's approach to managing hypermobility (try these TODAY!!)

💊 Dr. Bluestein’s TOP 3 high-impact tools (!!!) — LDN, vitamin D optimization, and magnesium

🔮 The new EDS criteria — what's changing, what it means for the community, and Dr. Bluestein's role in the International Consortium on EDS

xx, Alex

💬 Comment: What is something YOU are constantly doing to make yourself more comfortable throughout the day that you don’t even think about?!

TIMESTAMPS:

Intro:

00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick!

Hypermobility, Pain & Dr. Bluestein’s Diagnosis Story:

00:01:34 Defining Joint Hypermobility & Muscle Guarding

00:04:45 Types of Hypermobility: Peripheral, Localized, Generalized & Historical

00:07:05 Dr. Bluestein's Story: Ballet, Early Illness, and Diagnosis

Why Patients Struggle Getting a Diagnosis:

00:17:08 Connecting Connective Tissue Disorders to Systemic Symptoms 00:19:30 Why Hypermobility Is Misdiagnosed

00:28:15 Why patients see normal labs and normal imaging but have symptoms + the Role of Systemic Interconnectedness

00:29:46 The Spectrum of Hypermobility: From Dancers to Bedbound Patients

00:33:00 The Psychological Toll of Medical Gaslighting

How to Manage Hypermobility:

00:35:36 Proactive Management: The MEN'S PMMS Framework

00:37:03 Building Momentum with the 10% Rule

00:39:53 Reapproaching Movement & Avoiding Kinesiophobia

00:42:06 Overcoming Pain Catastrophization & Reclaiming Power

00:44:18 Reclaiming Agency Through Micro-Joys

00:48:05 High-Impact Interventions: Low-Dose Naltrexone (LDN)

00:50:10 Optimizing Vitamin D & Magnesium Levels

00:53:28 Central Sensitization, Neuroinflammation & Unique Pain Wiring

The 411 on the New EDS Criteria:

01:03:43 Insights on the New EDS Criteria & Community Advocacy

Conclusion:

01:09:48 One Brain Cell Show: Slow Horses (Apple TV+) & Clarkson's Farm (Prime Video)

01:14:27 Thank you for listening!

----------------------------------------------------------------

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• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/callinginsickpod/

• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@callinginsickpod

• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558234607568

Connect with our guest, Dr. Linda Bluestein:

• Instagram, Personal - https://www.instagram.com/hypermobilitymd/

• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/hypermobilityMD

• Website - https://www.hypermobilitymd.com/

• Podcast - https://www.youtube.com/@BendyBodiesPodcast

• Instagram, Podcast - • Instagram, Personal - https://www.instagram.com/hypermobilitymd/

----------------------------------------------------------------

Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/

Powered by: Just Media House — https://www.justmediahouse.com/

#Hypermobility #hEDS #EhlersDanlosSyndrome #JointHypermobility #BendyBodies #DrLindaBluestein #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #POTS #MCAS #CentralSensitization #LowDoseNaltrexone #MedicalGaslighting #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness #ConnectiveTissueDisorder #TarlovCyst #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson

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This week on Calling in Sick, #1 NYT-Best Selling author, Sheila Masterson (The Poison Daughter), is back to talk about the ONE thing I think every chronically ill person who has ever tried to build a career, meet a deadline, or show up for their work on a bad pain day desperately needs to hear.

Tune in to hear about:

🤕 What a bad migraine day actually looks like for Sheila — the reality of standard narcotics not working, the GI piece, and what Sheila describes as "endurance training for pain"

🏢 Corporate America vs. entrepreneurship with chronic illness — why traditional workplaces are rarely built for disabled employees, and what the trade-offs of self-employment actually look like

📚 Ableism in entertainment — why traditional publishing timelines are inherently ableist, what "crash publishing" costs a chronically ill author, and how Sheila vetted agents and publishers by asking directly how they advocate for disabled clients

🗓️ The project manager approach to chronic illness — how Sheila builds buffer time into every deadline, runs three part-time assistants for seamless cross-coverage, and plans brain-heavy tasks around her hormonal cycle

🥄 Spoon theory in practice — what low-spoon vs. high-spoon tasks actually look like in a writing career, and how to protect your best energy for what matters most

✍️ Unlocking creativity during a flare — dictating voice notes, editing instead of drafting, using audiobooks to get into a receptive headspace without overstimulation

🎬 Adapting TV sets for chronic illness — the quiet rooms, audio relay services, and dynamic scheduling she is building into the Hulu adaptation of The Poison Daughter.

xx, Alex

💬 Comment: What is your number one accommodation or hack that has made building a career with chronic illness more sustainable?

TIMESTAMPS:

Intro:

00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick!

Navigating Chronic Illness & Careers:

00:01:00 What a Bad Migraine Day Looks Like & how Sheila manages them

00:07:40 Corporate America vs. Chronic Illness

00:11:05 Managing Teams & Delegating Tasks with a chronic illness

00:18:00 Stress, Healthcare & Self-Advocacy

00:30:00 Low Spoon vs. High Spoon Tasks

00:32:45 Unlocking Creativity During Bad Flare Days

00:36:40 Adapting TV Sets for Chronic Illness

00:40:40 Disability Representation in the Entertainment World

Conclusion:

00:45:00 Thank you for listening!

----------------------------------------------------------------

Stay connected and follow us on socials for more!

• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/callinginsickpod/

• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@callinginsickpod

• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558234607568

Connect with our guest, Sheila Masterson:

• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sheilareadsandwrites/?hl=en

• Newsletter & Bonus Chapter - https://sheilamasterson.com/

• Buy The Poison Daughter - https://link.amazon/B02AN6S1O

----------------------------------------------------------------

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Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/

#ChronicIllness #ChronicMigraine #SheilaMasterson #ThePoisonDaughter #ChronicIllnessEntrepreneur #SpoonieLife #SpoonTheory #ChronicIllnessCareer #InvisibleIllness #ChronicPain #AbleismInPublishing #DisabilityRepresentation #ChronicIllnessBusiness #WorkingWithChronicIllness #EnergyBudgeting #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson

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This week on Calling in Sick, I'm sitting down with Sheila Masterson — #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Poison Daughter, a fantasy-romance novel that has taken the chronic illness and romantasy communities completely by storm. And this is the conversation nobody has had with her yet.

This week, we're diving into:

😤 Subverting the "sick girl" trope — why Sheila built Harlow as angry, spicy, violent, and unapologetically flawed — and why chronically ill people deserve to see themselves as hot, disabled, and complex in fiction

🔥 Feminine rage & romantasy — how The Poison Daughter captures collective frustration around expectations placed on women to absorb toxic behavior, mask their pain, and smooth over discomfort

🧠 The reality of masking — why Sheila chose first-person present tense to capture the claustrophobic mental load of a pain flare, and how she dictated scenes via voice notes during active migraine attacks to get the language exactly right

💔 Reader response — the overwhelming reaction from the chronic illness and complex trauma communities who finally felt seen in fiction

🎬 The TV adaptation — Sheila's role as executive producer on the upcoming Hulu series, and her commitment to protecting the show's authentic chronic illness representation

And come back on Wednesday to hear about how Sheila has navigated balancing a creative career with chronic illness.

xx, Alex

💬 Comment: Has a book, show, or character ever made you feel truly seen in your chronic illness experience — and which one?

TIMESTAMPS:

Intro:

00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick!

Chronic Illness Representation in Media (The Poison Daughter):

00:00:38 Subverting the "Sick Girl" Trope in Media

00:02:44 Feminine Rage, Accountability & Romantasy

00:08:49 Pain Flares, Masking & Writing in First-Person

00:15:06 Reader Reactions & The Complex Trauma Connection

00:23:28 Self-Identity, Personal Growth & Living with Chronic Illness

00:34:52 Safe Spaces for Anger & the Romantasy Dynamic

00:41:58 Navigating Chronic Illness in Relationships & Intimacy

00:51:31 Media Impact & Executive Producing the TV Series

Conclusion:

01:01:06 One Brain Cell Show: Ride or Die, Furious (Hulu) & Chad Powers (Hulu)

01:07:38 Where to Find Sheila's Books & Newsletter

01:08:48 Thank you for listening!

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• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/callinginsickpod/

• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@callinginsickpod

• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558234607568

Connect with our guest, Sheila Masterson:

• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sheilareadsandwrites/?hl=en

• Newsletter & Bonus Chapter - https://sheilamasterson.com/

• Buy The Poison Daughter - https://link.amazon/B02AN6S1O

----------------------------------------------------------------

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Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/

#ChronicIllness #ChronicMigraine #SheilaMasterson #ThePoisonDaughter #Romantasy #BookTok #ChronicIllnessRepresentation #FeminineRage #SickGirlInFiction #InvisibleIllness #SpoonieLife #ChronicPain #FantasyRomance #BookTokChronicIllness #Masking #ChronicIllnessCommunity #TVAdaptation #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson

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This week on Calling in Sick, we are RE-RELEASING a fan favorite!!! I was joined by Cortney Gensemer, PhD - scientist, chronic illness patient and mom - to talk about the questions so many of us with chronic illness are quietly worried about. Motherhood. And obviously, as someone who is pregnant, I had a LOT of questions for Cort!!

So this week, we're diving into:

🤰 What pregnancy actually looked like with hEDS, POTS & MCAS

🏥 Why MFM appointments are every chronic illness woman’s favorite appointment ever

👶 The genetic question everyone is afraid to ask: will my child have my chronic illness?

💼 How Cortney found a sustainable balance for work, health and motherhood

🩺 How chronic illness actually prepares you to be an incredible mother

And we also answer YOUR questions! Including:

🤍 How to manage burnout as a parent with CFS

🤍 What a genetic mutation in COL5A1 or COL5A2 actually means for cEDS

🤍 How to ask for help when your body just can't keep up

xx,

Alex

💬 Comment: What's the one question about chronic illness and motherhood you've been afraid to ask?

TIMESTAMPS

Intro:

00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick!

Motherhood and Chronic Illness:

00:02:29 Courtney's motherhood & postpartum journey

00:08:00 Why chronic illness patients love their Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM) specialists

00:14:15 What sharing our pregnancies publicly was like

00:17:15 The concerns about passing down chronic illness conditions

00:23:42 How pregnancy has shifted our mindsets towards life with chronic illness

00:25:29 Chronic illness parenting hacks

00:31:12 What navigating a medical crisis for your child is like, while YOU are managing YOUR chronic illness

00:39:20 How Cortney has juggled her career, motherhood and chronic illness

Audience Q&A:

00:43:25 Chronic Illness Burnout Tips

00:48:22 Pain medication and juggling the long-term risks

00:50:33 MFM and Preconception Planning

00:56:06 Genetics and EDS

Conclusion:

01:00:11 Thank you for listening!

----------------------------------------------------------------

Stay connected and follow us on socials for more!

• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/callinginsickpod/

• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@callinginsickpod

• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558234607568

• Substack - https://substack.com/@callinginsickpod

Connect with our guest: Cortney Gensemer!

• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cortdoesscience/

• Substack - https://cortneygensemer.substack.com/

• Website - http://cortneygensemer.com

🔗 If you have a complex chronic illness, check out Chronicle Connect and patient participation opportunities at http://chroniclebio.com

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Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/

#ChronicIllnessResearch #hEDS #EhlersDanlosSyndrome #POTS #MCAS #MastCellActivation #ChronicIllness #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness #AutoimmuneDisease #PatientAdvocacy #CortDoesScience #ChronicleBio #ChronicIllnessCommunity #MedicalGaslighting #PatientScientist #Omics #ChronicPain #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson

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This week on Calling in Sick, we are RE-RELEASING a fan favorite!!! I got to sit down with someone who lives this chronic illness life from both sides of the equation… Cortney Gensemer, PhD is a scientist at ChronicleBio, a patient with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, MCAS, POTS, and adrenal insufficiency, and the creator behind @CortDoesScience.

We dive into:

🔬 What it's actually like to study your own disease

🩺 The challenges of specialized care and diagnosis for the chronic illness population

🧬 How "omics" research is what’s connecting the dots across chronic illnesses to move beyond labels and actually find answers

💊 Our hot takes on if: diagnostic labels 100% helpful, wellness culture is actually toxic, patients are more informed than their providers, and so much more

xx,

Alex

💬 Comment: What's one thing you wish your doctor actually understood about your condition?

TIMESTAMPS

Intro:

00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick!

00:04:48 Alex’s Picks of the Week (Pain patches & Pregnancy pillow picks)

My chat with Cortney Gensemer:

00:02:50 Cortney's journey: From athlete to patient to scientist

00:09:36 What researching her own disease did for her identity and diagnosis journey

00:23:25 What being a patient and scientist is like

00:26:23 Starting @CortDoesScience" on social media

00:30:34 Developing patient-science training and lab accessibility

00:37:07 Transitioning to biotech at ChronicleBio

Chronic Illness Hot Takes:

00:47:04 Are diagnostic labels meaningless?

00:49:51 Should patients read primary literature?

00:54:41 Is it the doctor's fault if they don't understand your condition?

00:56:47 Is social media harmful or helpful for our community?

01:01:51 How should we be evaluating the wellness industry?

Conclusion:

01:14:04 One Brain Cell Show: Love is Blind, Working Moms, I'm Sorry

01:18:20 Where to connect with Cortney Gensemer

01:20:01 Thank you for listening!

----------------------------------------------------------------

Stay connected and follow us on socials for more!

• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/callinginsickpod/

• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@callinginsickpod

• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558234607568

• Substack - https://substack.com/@callinginsickpod

Connect with our guest: Cortney Gensemer!

• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cortdoesscience/

• Substack - https://cortneygensemer.substack.com/

• Website - http://cortneygensemer.com

🔗 If you have a complex chronic illness, check out Chronicle Connect and patient participation opportunities at http://chroniclebio.com

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Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/

Alex’s Picks of the Week:

Things that have been helping my chronic illness — and now my first trimester too!!

✨Salonpas Lidocaine Pain Patches — https://amzn.to/3P6rAON

✨Momcozy Pregnancy Pillow — https://amzn.to/4nEIlgZ

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This Wednesday on Calling in Sick, Dr. Alexis Barbut is back and we are debunking the most common autoimmune myths circulating online right now. Some of these are coming from wellness culture, some from well-meaning friends and family, and some are genuinely dangerous enough that a rheumatologist felt the need to set the record straight!!

We're debunking: 🚩 "Autoimmune disease is just inflammation" 🚩 "A positive ANA means you have lupus" 🚩 "Autoimmune disease and autonomic dysfunction are the same thing" 🚩 "Biologics are too dangerous — try a natural route instead"

🚩 "If you have autoimmune disease you're immunocompromised" 🚩 "You can't get pregnant with autoimmune disease" 🚩 "Your children will definitely inherit your autoimmune disease"

If you’ve seen these things online… tune in to hear the truth!!! 🤍

xx, Alex

💬 Comment: Which of these myths have YOU been told?? And who told it to you… a doctor, a friend, or the internet?!

TIMESTAMPS:

Intro:

00:00:00 Welcome back to this week’s convos with our guest, Dr. Alexis Barbut

Debunking Autoimmunity Misconceptions:

00:00:59 Is autoimmune disease just inflammation, and not that serious?

00:02:42 Does a positive ANA mean you have lupus, even if you feel okay?

00:05:06 Are autoimmunity and autonomic dysfunction the same thing?

00:08:59 Should you be scared to go on a biologic for autoimmune treatment?

00:16:25 Are you still immunocompromised if you have an autoimmune diagnosis but are doing well, and take no medication?

00:19:59 Should you avoid pregnancy while on ALL autoimmune disease medication?

00:20:33 Does having an autoimmune disease mean you must do IVF?

00:23:33 Do you need to worry about pregnancy planning if you are in remission?

00:24:48 Will your children definitely inherit your autoimmune disease?

Conclusion:

00:30:07 Thank you for listening!

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#AutoimmuneMythBusting #Rheumatology #AutoimmuneDisease #LupusMyths #ANATest #Biologics #WellnessCulture #ChronicIllness #POTS #AutoimmunePregnancy #ReproductiveRheumatology #MedicalMyths #DrAlexisBarbut #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness #ChronicIllnessFacts #WomensHealth #AutoimmuneAwareness #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson

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This week on Calling in Sick, I'm sitting down with Dr. Alexis Barbut — double board-certified in internal medicine AND rheumatology, with a clinical focus on reproductive rheumatology.

If you’ve been curious if your symptoms could be autoimmune-y, currently have an autoimmune disease and question why the diagnosis keeps changing, or are autoimmune and curious about pregnant… this episode is the one you needed a year ago.

We're diving into: 🔬 What rheumatology actually covers: it is so much more than joints. Lupus, scleroderma, Sjögren's, autoimmune muscle disease, vasculitis — and why symptoms overlap so much that diagnosis is often more art than science
🧬 Why women are so disproportionately affected by autoimmune disease: the two X chromosomes, estrogen, and genetic + environmental triggers equation that nobody fully understands yet
🩺 How you actually get diagnosed: why lab results can be completely normal during a severe flare, why treatment often targets symptoms rather than strict textbook labels, and what to bring to your first rheumatology appointment
💊 The treatment landscape: from first-line DMARDs to biologics to cytotoxic chemotherapies; what each tier means and when it's used
🤰 Reproductive rheumatology: everything you need to know about family planning, pregnancy and postpartum with an autoimmune disease

I walked away with a deeper understanding of the disease umbrella I’ve been battling for 25+ years, and I know you will too! 🤍

xx, Alex

💬 Comment: What’s one diagnosis within rheumatology that you’ like Calling in Sick to do a deep dive on?!

TIMESTAMPS:

Intro:

00:00:13 Meet our guest, Dr. Alexis Barbut

The 411 on all things Rheumatology:

00:04:37 What even is rheumatology?

00:06:43 Common symptoms that bring patients to a rheumatologist

00:14:09 Why autoimmune conditions are difficult to diagnose

00:20:40 What can trigger or cause an autoimmune disease?

00:26:45 Why autoimmune diseases are more prevalent in women

Treatment and Advancements:

00:29:01 Current diagnostic criteria and testing

00:36:56 Navigating tiers of autoimmune medications

Reproductive Rheumatology:

00:43:00 What is reproductive rheumatology?

00:53:41 How pregnancy impacts autoimmune diseases + postpartum care and managing the “4th trimester”

01:04:05 Pre-menopause, menopause, and Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

Conclusion:

01:08:42 One Brain Cell Picks (books): Yesteryear and Calamity Club

01:11:22 Thank you for listening!

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Connect with our guest, Dr. Alexis Barbut:

• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dralexis_md/

• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@dralexis_md

• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579331585029&mibextid=wwXIfr&rdid=PtEzsgsks2uCgtjR&share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2F1YGSvh42E6%2F%3Fmibextid%3DwwXIfr%26utm_source%3Dig%26utm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_content%3Dlink_in_bio#

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#Rheumatology #ReproductiveRheumatology #AutoimmuneDisease #Lupus #Vasculitis #ChronicIllness #AutoimmunePregnancy #DMARDs #Biologics #WomensHealth #ChronicIllnessPregnancy #FourthTrimester #PreconceptionCounseling #Sjogrens #Scleroderma #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness #DrAlexisBarbut #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson

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This week on Calling in Sick, Kevin Crosson is back and we’re getting into a NEW SEGMENT… "This Cannot Be Real” where we talk through some of the most unhinged things people (like doctors or family and friends) say to us, the chronic illness community. And trust me… we’re not holding back ;)

We're reacting to: "It's probably just anxiety — have you tried an SSSD?" "Just give it time — your body will heal on its own." "We just don't have enough research yet to help you." "But you look fine." "Everyone I know who got the vaccine is totally fine."

"At least you survived / at least you don't have cancer." "If you were really injured you'd be completely anti-medicine.”

This one is for everyone who has ever been handed a dismissal instead of an answer or support. 🤍

xx, Alex

💬 Comment: Which of these has someone actually said to YOU — drop it below 👇

TIMESTAMPS:

Intro:

00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick!

00:00:23 Introducing Kevin Crosson and "This Cannot Be Real"

Dismissive Remarks in Medicine & Community:

00:01:20 Medical gaslighting and "anxiety" labels

00:04:45 Magical thinking vs. time to heal

00:06:15 The struggle with a lack of research

00:08:08 Navigating the "but you look fine" phrase

00:10:25 Survivorship bias around vaccines and medications

00:14:11 Invalidating comparisons of suffering

00:16:55 Balancing medical injuries with necessary medications

Systemic Issues & Treatments:

00:19:02 Government transparency and unreported side effects

00:21:35 Insurance obstacles and theories on MCAS

00:26:31 Successes and setbacks with IVIG therapy

Conclusion:

00:31:30 Thank you & Don't forget to subscribe on YouTube, Apple, and Spotify

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Connect with our guest, Kevin Crosson:

• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/crossonspeaks?igsi=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D

• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@kevin.crosson

• Website - https://crossonspeaks.com/

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