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Calling In Sick

Just Media

Welcome to the Calling in Sick, hosted by Alex Wildeson and produced by Just Media. On this podcast, Alex shares her unfiltered personal journey battling several autoimmune and chronic conditions including Polyarteritis Nodosa (PAN) Vasculitis, Mixed Connective Tissue Disease (MCTD) / Lupus, Endometriosis, and Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). She also provides practical “how-to” guides, explores hot topics, and welcomes other warriors, medical professionals, advocates and creators on the show to shed light on the latest healing modalities, promising treatments, and myth bust popular misconceptions and trendy health hacks. Tune in for some laughs, tears, and growth… but stay for the camaraderie and community. You can engage with Alex and the community through social media @callinginsickpod. We promise, you don’t need a doctor’s note for this one!

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  • 29 episodes
  • a few times a week
  • Avg 52 min
  • English

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  • Today · 1 hr 14 min

    Chronic Illness in Media & Entertainment with Author, Sheila Masterson (The Poison Daughter)

    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! ---------------------------------------------------------------- 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 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Wednesday · 1 hr 6 min

    Revisit: Motherhood with Chronic Illness (ft. Cortney Gensemer)

    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 - cortneygensemer.com 🔗 If you have a complex chronic illness, check out Chronicle Connect and patient participation opportunities at chroniclebio.com ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/ 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • September 7 · 1 hr 26 min

    Revisit: The 411 on Chronic Illness Research (ft. Cortney Gensemer, PhD)

    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 - cortneygensemer.com 🔗 If you have a complex chronic illness, check out Chronicle Connect and patient participation opportunities at chroniclebio.com ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/ 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 #ChronicIllnessResearch #hEDS #EhlersDanlosSyndrome #POTS #MCAS #MastCellActivation #ChronicIllness #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness #AutoimmuneDisease #PatientAdvocacy #CortDoesScience #ChronicleBio #ChronicIllnessCommunity #MedicalGaslighting #PatientScientist #Omics #ChronicPain #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • September 2 · 36 min

    Autoimmune Myths DEBUNKED: ANA Tests, Pregnancy & Biologics (ft. Dr. Alexis Barbut)

    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! ---------------------------------------------------------------- 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, 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# ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/ #AutoimmuneMythBusting #Rheumatology #AutoimmuneDisease #LupusMyths #ANATest #Biologics #WellnessCulture #ChronicIllness #POTS #AutoimmunePregnancy #ReproductiveRheumatology #MedicalMyths #DrAlexisBarbut #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness #ChronicIllnessFacts #WomensHealth #AutoimmuneAwareness #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • August 31 · 1 hr 17 min

    Preparing for a Rheumatology Appointment (ft. Dr. Alexis Barbut)

    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! ---------------------------------------------------------------- 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, 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# ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/ #Rheumatology #ReproductiveRheumatology #AutoimmuneDisease #Lupus #Vasculitis #ChronicIllness #AutoimmunePregnancy #DMARDs #Biologics #WomensHealth #ChronicIllnessPregnancy #FourthTrimester #PreconceptionCounseling #Sjogrens #Scleroderma #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness #DrAlexisBarbut #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • August 26 · 36 min

    It’s "Just Anxiety": Reacting to Medical Gaslighting With Kevin Crosson

    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 ---------------------------------------------------------------- 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, Kevin Crosson: • Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/crossonspeaks?igsi=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr • TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@kevin.crosson • Website - https://crossonspeaks.com/ ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/ #MedicalGaslighting #VaccineInjury #ChronicIllness #ThisCannotBeReal #MCAS #IVIG #PatientAdvocacy #InvisibleIllness #SpoonieLife #RareDisease #ChronicIllnessCommunity #LongCOVID #VaccineInjured #ChronicPain #KevinCrosson #MedicalDismissal #AutoimmuneDisease #ChronicIllnessAwareness #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • August 24 · 1 hr 18 min

    When Politics Enters the Exam Room (ft. Kevin Crosson)

    This week on Calling in Sick, I'm sitting down with Kevin Crosson — advocate, speaker, and one of the most documented cases of vaccine-induced cardiac and immune injury in the country. And this conversation is not what you think it is. This is an episode about what happens when a rare but real medical event becomes so politically charged that the patients suffering from it can't get diagnosed, treated, or believed. We're diving into: ⚡ The three cardiac events that changed everything 🏥 75 doctors across Mayo Clinic, Cedars-Sinai, Stanford & UCLA… until he was helped 🔬 What finally got him diagnosed 🔗 What happens when a patient's condition becomes politically inconvenient to acknowledge 🧠 How losing his health in his 20s caused a serious identity shift This episode is for everyone who has ever been dismissed, gaslit, or made to feel like their suffering was inconvenient. 🤍 xx, Alex 💬 Comment: Have you ever had a doctor shut down the moment you started talking? TIMESTAMPS: Intro: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick! 00:00:35 Introducing Kevin Crosson When Medicine Gets Political: 00:01:51 The beginning of Kevin’s chronic illness story 00:12:34 Medical gaslighting and "anxiety" labels 00:18:13 The political charge around medication injuries 00:22:01 Why so many patients slip through the cracks in western medicine 00:28:54 Patient self-advocacy & tips for managing appointments Reaching a Diagnosis: 00:38:47 Kevin’s final diagnosis 00:44:51 The difficulty of making personal health choices 00:50:04 Navigating the left vs. right-wing political lens that impacts chronic illness 01:03:43 How Kevin’s chronic illness story shifted his identity and dreams Conclusion: 01:08:54 One Brain Cell Show: Criminal Minds & The Tuner 01:12:55 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, Kevin Crosson: • Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/crossonspeaks?igsi=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr • TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@kevin.crosson • Website - https://crossonspeaks.com/ ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/ #VaccineInjury #MedicalGaslighting #ChronicIllness #MCAS #POTS #RareDisease #LongCOVID #PatientAdvocacy #KevinCrosson #InvisibleIllness #spikeproteins #AutoimmuneDisease #IVIG #InsuranceDenial #ChronicIllnessCommunity #MedicalDismissal #RareDiseaseCommunity #ChronicPain #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • August 19 · 41 min

    Can you use GLP-1s to treat chronic illness?? (ft. Dr. Zach Spiritos)

    This week on Calling in Sick, Dr. Zach Spiritos is back for to chat about one of the most exciting developments in chronic illness treatment that almost nobody is talking about. Microdosing GLP-1s, not for weight loss, but inflammation and disease management. Specifically, we're diving into: 🧬 How GLP-1s actually work in the gut — the natural peptide that regulates GI homeostasis, repairs tight junctions in the intestinal wall, reduces systemic immune activation, and supports a diverse microbiome 🤯 The "flipped clinic" phenomenon — patients prescribed GLP-1s for diabetes are seeing secondary improvements in Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, asthma, eczema, and MCAS that nobody predicted 🧠 The MCAS symptoms breakthrough — Dr. Zach's clinical experience micro-dosing GLP-1s in an MCAS patient with profound post-meal bloating, and what happened to her brain fog, neuroinflammation, and food sensitivities ⚠️ Who should NOT use GLP-1s — eating disorder history, baseline nausea, severe constipation, and the cautions every patient needs to hear before asking their provider 📋 The 3-week runway protocol — how Dr. Zach phases treatment, monitors small wins, checks for adverse reactions, and determines if patients can eventually titrate off antihistamines or cromolyn 🔗 The trifecta connection — how GLP-1s don't directly reverse hEDS or POTS but can dramatically turn down the volume on mast-cell-driven inflammation, joint pain, and POTS flares Plus the honest conversation about where the research actually is, the systemic bias against women's health in clinical trials, and why cautious optimism is the right posture for this community right now. 🤍 xx, Alex 💬 Comment: Have you ever tried a GLP-1 for anything other than weight loss — and what happened? TIMESTAMP: Intro: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick! 00:00:22 Introduction of Guest Dr. Zack Spirtos Use of GLP-1s Beyond Weight Loss: 00:05:58 What is a GLP-1? 00:07:51 Pre-clinical and Observational Data 00:11:00 Exploring GLP-1s as a Treatment Modality for IBS and MCAS 00:12:28 The "Flipped Clinic" effect of GLP-1s How to use GLP-1s for Chronic Illness Management: 00:14:09 Responsibly Micro-Dosing Chronic Illness Patients 00:17:13 Assessing Good Candidates and Cautions for Eating Disorders 00:20:07 Titrating Medications and Phased Treatment The Future of Chronic Illness Research: 00:24:21 Squeaky Wheels and Shifting Paradigms in Medical Funding 00:28:00 Accessibility and the Role of Compounding Pharmacies 00:30:26 Academics vs. Independent Providers in Western Medicine 00:31:55 Turning Down the Volume on POTS, MCAS, and hEDS Conclusion: 00:35:58 Thank You for Listening to the 100th Week of Calling in Sick!! ---------------------------------------------------------------- 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, Dr. Spiritos! • Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/drzacspiritos/?hl=en • TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.zac.spiritos • EverBetter Medicine - https://everbettermedicine.health/ ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/ #GLP1 #GLP1ForChronicIllness #MCAS #MastCellActivationSyndrome #ChronicIllness #Ozempic #Semaglutide #BrainFog #GutHealth #ChronicIllnessTreatment #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness #DrZachSpiritos #EverBetterMedicine #Dysautonomia #POTS #hEDS #Trifecta #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • August 17 · 1 hr 10 min

    The EDS , MCAS & POTS Trifecta Explained with Dr. Spiritos

    This week on Calling in Sick — it’s EPISODE 100!!! And for this milestone, we brought back the MOST REQUESTED guest in the history of this podcast… Dr. Zach Spiritos. He’s a double board-certified neurogastroenterologist at EverBetter Medicine and this week we’re getting into his zone of expertise. Come back on Wednesday for our discussion on GLP-1s as a new treatment option! But today, we’re diving into: 🫀 POTS — what is actually happening in the body when you stand up, why only 15-20% of patients actually faint, the POTS subtypes, and the full treatment toolkit 🦴 hEDS — the TLDR on EDS and the subtypes that exist, the groundbreaking Norris Lab research linking hEDS to the immune system's complement pathway, the "loose yet tight" paradox that explains why hEDS patients have such rigid tense muscles, and new cutting-edge treatments 🦠 MCAS — why mast cell activation syndrome is so much broader than hives and anaphylaxis, the comorbidities of MCAS, medication trauma, and the epithelial barrier theory that explains why modern industrial environments are making this community sicker (and explains the vacation phenomenon!!) 🔗 Why these three travel together — the upstream immune and nervous system drivers that connect all three, why the fragmented medical specialty system keeps failing this population, and what it actually takes to find a quarterback provider who can treat all three simultaneously 🤍 xx, Alex 💬 Comment: Do you have one, two, or all three of the trifecta? If so, how long did it take you to get diagnosed? TIMESTAMP: Intro: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick! 00:00:31 Introduction of Guest Dr. Zack Spiritos The 411 on POTS: 00:02:55 Deep Dive into POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) 00:04:40 Subtypes & Mechanisms of POTS 00:07:43 POTS Diagnostic Testing (Nasaline vs. Tilt Table Test) 00:11:17 Treatment & Lifestyle Changes for POTS Patients The 411 on EDS & hEDS: 00:19:13 Demystifying hEDS (Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome) 00:26:42 Treatment Strategies 00:34:01 Fragmented Healthcare & Finding a "Unicorn" Provider The 411 on MCAS: 00:37:54 Unpacking MCAS (Mast Cell Activation Syndrome) & Barrier Theory 00:43:10 The Connection Between MCAS and Endometriosis 00:46:24 The "Vacation Phenomenon" & Environmental Factors The Trifecta: 00:53:59 Identifying Less Obvious Symptoms (Brain Fog & Severe Bloating) 00:56:36 Medical PTSD & Formulating Compound Medication Conclusion: 00:58:59 One Brain Cell Segment: Shrinking (Apple TV) 01:04:08 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, Dr. Spiritos! • Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/drzacspiritos/?hl=en • TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.zac.spiritos • EverBetter Medicine - https://everbettermedicine.health/ ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/ #MCAS #POTS #EDS #hEDS #Trifecta #MastCellActivationSyndrome #PosturalOrthostaticTachycardiaSyndrome #EhlersDanlosSyndrome #ChronicIllness #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness #DrZachSpiritos #EverBetterMedicine #EpithelialBarrier #ChronicIllnessTrifecta #Dysautonomia #ConnectiveTissue #AutoimmuneDisease #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • August 12 · 36 min

    Is This Bad Advice for Managing Chronic Illness? (ft. Kati Morton)

    This Wednesday on Calling in Sick, Kati Morton, LMFT is back for the a new segment… “Is this Bad Advice?!” We are taking the most common mental health advice given to people with chronic illness and asking one specific question: is this actually good advice… or is it secretly spiking your need for control? Tune in to hear Kati and my honest verdict on: 🚩 The wellness advice that sounds helpful but sends chronic illness patients deeper into control-seeking behavior 🚩 The dismissive phrases that make health anxiety and hypervigilance measurably worse 🚩 The "acceptance" and "letting go" advice that creates more pressure than it relieves 🚩 The positivity and self-care messaging that becomes a control ritual — and breaks you when it doesn't prevent the flare 🚩 The grief advice that is true but dangerously incomplete — and why grief and control cannot coexist Join us for a conversation about why some very well-meaning advice lands so badly in bodies that are already white-knuckling everything. 🤍 xx, Alex 💬 Comment: Which piece of advice on this list has frustrated you the most — and what do you wish people said instead? TIMESTAMPS: 00:00:00 Intro to guest Kati Morton IS THIS BAD ADVICE: 00:00:34 "Just focus on what you can control." 00:02:22 "Anxiety is causing your chronic illness." 00:05:03 "You need to just accept your illness and let go." 00:07:41 "Mindfulness will help you with your chronic pain." 00:12:44 "Having a rigid routine is the best thing for your chronic illness." 00:15:07 "Health anxiety is just hypochondria." 00:16:23 "You need to grieve the life you had before." 00:22:05 "Self-care will help manage your chronic illness." 00:22:32 "Your mindset affects your physical health, so just work on your mindset." 00:22:50 "If therapy isn't working for you, you just have the wrong therapist." CONCLUSION: 00:28:10 Connect with Kati Morton online and read her books 00:30:41 Thank you for listening, subscribing, and calling in sick with us! ---------------------------------------------------------------- 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, Kati Morton! • Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/katimorton/ • TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@katimorton • YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/KatiMorton • Podcast (Ask Kati Anything) - https://www.youtube.com/@askkatianything • Website - https://katimorton.com/ • Buy her latest book here - https://amzn.to/3RYiSDG ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/ #ChronicIllnessMentalHealth #KatiMorton #BadAdvice #ChronicIllness #HealthAnxiety #ToxicPositivity #MentalHealth #TherapyTools #Acceptance #ChronicIllnessAdvice #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness #Perfectionism #PeoplePleasing #ChronicPain #Mindfulness #SelfCare #WellnessCulture #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • August 10 · 1 hr 11 min

    The Cost of Perfectionism, People Pleasing & Craving Control on Chronic Illness (ft. Kati Morton, LMFT)

    This week on Calling in Sick, I'm sitting down with Kati Morton, LMFT — licensed marriage and family therapist, author of Why Do I Keep Doing This, Traumatized, and Are U Ok?, and one of the most trusted voices in accessible mental health online with 1.5 million YouTube subscribers. This Monday, we're diving into: 🧠 The psychology of control — why humans are wired to need it, why chronic illness amplifies that need to a dangerous degree, and what happens in the brain and body when it's taken away 😤 The maladaptive ways control shows up in chronic illness patients — and why most of us don't even recognize them as control behaviors 🛠️ The CBT tools that actually help If you have ever found yourself white-knuckling your routine, your diet, your relationships, or your work schedule while your body does whatever it wants… this episode is going to explain so much. 🤍 xx, Alex 💬 Comment: What is the ONE area of your life where you notice the need for control showing up the most? TIMESTAMPS: 00:00:47 Intro to the Psychology of Control with guest Kati Morton The Need for Control & Chronic Illness: 00:01:20 The illusion of control and body responses 00:05:51 Duality and processing freeze energy vs. toxic positivity Maladaptive Control Coping Scenarios: 00:11:37 Breakdown of people pleasing behaviors 00:14:26 Perfectionism and “earning worth” 00:20:00 Eating disorders, exercise addiction, and lifestyle rigidity 00:25:51 All-or-nothing thinking cycles Relational Control & Caregiver Dynamics: 00:26:50 The social impacts of chronic illness (e.g. canceling plans and how it impacts you AND others) 00:29:48 Why caregivers get burnt out 00:36:06 Catching anxiety before the fight, flight, or freeze state Healing and Coping Tools: 00:38:29 The "Inner Detective" reframe and addressing past trauma 00:49:12 Reprogramming the brain's negativity bias 00:54:27 CBT tool: "Play it Out" (Worst, best, and most likely case) 00:57:32 Somatic releases and moving out of freeze mode Conclusion: 01:00:00 One Brain Cell Show: Ted Lasso, Gilmore Girls, and some good reads 01:04:32 Connect with Kati Morton online 01:05:47 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, Kati Morton! • Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/katimorton/ • TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@katimorton • YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/KatiMorton • Podcast (Ask Kati Anything) - https://www.youtube.com/@askkatianything • Website - https://katimorton.com/ • Buy her latest book here - https://amzn.to/3RYiSDG ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/ #ChronicIllnessAndControl #MentalHealth #ChronicIllness #KatiMorton #PeoplePleasing #Perfectionism #CBT #TherapyTools #ChronicIllnessMentalHealth #InvisibleIllness #SpoonieLife #EatingDisorders #ExerciseAddiction #PassiveAggression #CopingMechanisms #ChronicPain #Anxiety #TherapyTikTok #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • August 5 · 35 min

    Peptides 101: What They Are, Recent FDA Votes & Popular Chronic Illness Peptides ft. Max Swiergol

    This week on Calling in Sick, Max Swiergol is back for a deep dive on one of the most viral and most misunderstood topics in the chronic illness and wellness space right now… PEPTIDES!!! You've seen them all over TikTok. You've probably heard of BPC-157. And you have almost certainly seen someone claim a peptide changed their life. But the clinical research is almost nonexistent… and that gap between popularity and evidence is exactly where this community is most vulnerable. We're diving into: 🧬 What peptides actually ARE — strings of 4 to 50 amino acids that can alter gene expression, regenerate tissue, decrease visceral fat, and increase growth hormone. The science is genuinely fascinating. 📋 The FDA regulatory peptide update — the Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee just voted to recategorize peptides to compoundable status (BPC-157, TB-500, KPV, Matrixtide, Semax, Epitalon, DSIP) 💉 Is BPC-157 the future for chronic illness? — what it is, how it works, why it's so prominent in the chronic illness space, and what the honest assessment of the evidence actually looks like 🔬 The ENDO-205 Clinical Trial Update — what it is, what Phase 1 clinical trial status means, and should you be excited The bottom line from this conversation: peptides are genuinely promising. The research is genuinely lacking. And this community deserves to know the difference. xx, Alex 💬 Comment: Have you ever tried a peptide, and what was your experience? TIMESTAMPS: Intro: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick! The Viral Rise of Peptides 00:00:16 What are peptides and why are they viral? 00:04:44 Navigating the peptide market as a chronic illness patient FDA Regulatory Discussions and Prominent Peptides: 00:08:21 Why the government is talking about recategorizing peptides 00:09:20 The Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee vote outcomes 00:11:14 A deep dive on BPC-157 in the chronic illness space 00:14:08 Dr. Abud Bakri and peptide transparency (ne1.study) 00:17:07 Endo 205 and endometriosis research 00:20:08 AI drug discovery and peptide predictors 00:24:00 New research around testing for Endometriosis Conclusion: 00:28:03 Where to find Max Dose online 00:29:18 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, Max Swiergol! • Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/themaxdose/ • TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@themaxdose • YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@Themaxdoseyt • Sign up for his newsletter - https://tr.ee/TdjGmsOp4V ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/ Relevant Episode Links: • Dr. Abud Bakri - https://www.instagram.com/p/DZDYBIShrjW/ • Peptide Research Transparency - https://ne1.study/ • ENDO-205 - https://seed.nih.gov/portfolio/nih-portfolio-company-showcase/endocyclic-therapeutics #Peptides #BPC157 #Endo205 #FDAPeptides #ChronicIllness #PeptideTherapy #Endometriosis #ChronicIllnessTreatment #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness #GLP1 #PersonalizedMedicine #PatientAdvocacy #ClinicalTrials #WellnessResearch #ChronicPain #AutoimmuneDisease #PeptideResearch #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • August 3 · 1 hr 4 min

    How to research like a doctor, understanding clincal trials and CAR-T optimism (ft. Max Swiergol)

    This week on Calling in Sick, I'm sitting down with Max Swiergol, osteopathic medical student, research enthusiast, and one of the most accessible voices translating cutting-edge science for the chronic illness community online. This episode is one of the most practically useful we have ever done. We're diving into: 📊 How to actually evaluate a medical study — impact factor, the evidence pyramid, and why a study of 10 people is not the same as a study of 10,000 🚩 Selection bias and predatory journals — how content creator physicians and supplement brands cherry-pick small studies while ignoring 99% of conflicting research 💊 The FDA drug approval process — the full timeline from pre-clinical to Phase 3, why only 1 in 20,000 drugs ever makes it to approval, and what that means for chronic illness patients watching clinical trials 🧬 What treatments are actually coming — CAR-T therapy for autoimmune disease, gene editing, ASOs, and the new FDA guidance that could fast-track treatments for ultra-rare conditions If you have ever read a study online and not known what to do with it, or seen a supplement brand quote research and felt something was off, this episode is going to give you all the tools you need. AND! Come back on Wednesday to hear our chat about… PEPTIDES! xx, Alex 💬 Comment: Have you ever brought a research paper to a doctor's appointment? What happened? TIMESTAMPS: Intro: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick! 00:00:11 Meet Max Swiergol How to Read & Understand Medical Research as a Patient: 00:05:44 How to find good research 00:07:30 What medical journals carry credibility (and which don’t!) 00:09:34 Identifying selection bias online 00:13:28 The hierarchy of medical evidence (The Evidence Pyramid) 00:18:30 Conflicts of interest and the peer-review process Personalized Medicine & Treatments & the Clinical Trial Process: 00:25:36 The transition to personalized care for treatment 00:31:02 How CAR-T cell therapy is revolutionizing autoimmune treatment 00:39:40 FDA Approval Process(Pre-clinical testing, Phase 1-3) 00:45:57 Why it takes so long to approve medications Conclusion: 00:54:33 One Brain Cell Show (YouTube travel vlogs) 00:56:52 Where to find Max Dose online 00:58:28 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, Max Swiergol! • Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/themaxdose/ • TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@themaxdose • YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@Themaxdoseyt • Sign up for his newsletter - https://tr.ee/TdjGmsOp4V ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/ One Brain Cell YT Shows: The everlasting fish ponds: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/longyou-caves Relevant Episode Links: • New PPD Treatments - https://reunionneuro.com/2026/01/20/reunion-neuroscience-presents-full-data-from-reconnect-phase-2-clinical-trial-of-re104-for-the-treatment-of-postpartum-depression-ppd-at-acnp-annual-meeting/ • ENDO-205 - https://seed.nih.gov/portfolio/nih-portfolio-company-showcase/endocyclic-therapeutics #MedicalResearch #ChronicIllness #CARTTherapy #GeneEditing #FDAApproval #ChronicIllnessTreatment #PatientAdvocacy #ResearchLiteracy #AutoimmuneDisease #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness #ClinicalTrials #PersonalizedMedicine #ChronicIllnessAwareness #MedicalBias #SupplementIndustry #ChronicPain #HealthResearch #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • July 29 · 46 min

    How to Support Your Nervous System for Chronically Illness (ft. Nitika Chopra)

    This week on Calling in Sick, Nitika Chopra is back to discuss the ONE thing that a lot of people in the chronic illness community have been quietly waiting for someone to say out loud. We're getting into the tools and identity shifts that don't always get talked about in this space, the ones that feel a little vulnerable to share, and the ones that have actually moved the needle. Tune in to hear more about: 🔮 The Vedic astrologer who told Nitika her illness wasn't about illness at all (?!?!) 🧠 The nervous system coach who helped her body remember what a parasympathetic state felt like + the dramatic impact it had on her symptoms 💊 What Nitika's chronic illness actually looks like now that she’s combined body + mind healing modalities ⚡ Viewing chronic illness as intelligent adaptation (you don’t want to miss this part!!!) 🌀 The fight-or-flight piece and why being stuck in survival mode can change your behavior in ways that are easy to misread 🔥 Chronic illness hot takes: Nitika and I get honest about things like positive thinking, wellness brands, alternative medicine, and whether you actually have to be grateful for what your illness has taught you xx, Alex 💬 Comment: Have you ever explored energy healing or nervous system work… and did it help? Share your approach!!!! TIMESTAMPS: Intro: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick! 00:00:06 Intro to Nitkia Chopra The Astrologer and the Nervous System Coach: 00:00:24 Nitika’s diagnosis and the decision to seek an alternative approach 00:03:50 The confrontational astrologer session and "ego death" 00:04:15 Chart readings and unpacking survival mechanisms and pathologies 00:07:06 Transitioning from fight-or-flight through nervous system work 00:10:18 Discussing the MANY routes you can take to support your nervous system Perspectives on Fight-or-Flight and Victimhood: 00:11:42 Addressing undercurrents of victimhood and trauma states 00:13:56 Understanding chronic illness as an intelligent adaptation by the nervous system 00:16:01 Understanding how others can interpret our seasons of deep fight-or-flight 00:17:34 Nitika’s current state of illness and managing active symptoms 00:19:13 Analyzing chronic illness as a blended space of biology and emotion Chronic Illness Hot Takes: 00:27:14 Can positive thinking heal chronic illness? 00:29:55 Should you 100% leave western medicine behind for alternative medicine? 00:32:24 Should you be grateful for what your illness has taught you? 00:34:51 Do wellness brands actually care about chronically ill people? Conclusion: 00:37:03 One Brain Cell picks of the week (Survival of the Thickest on Netflix, Famesick by Lena Dunham) 00:39:00 Where to find Nitica Chopra (@niticachopra) 00:40:36 Thank you for listening (Like, Follow, and Subscribe!) ---------------------------------------------------------------- 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: Nitika Chopra! • Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nitikachopra/?hl=en • Website - https://nitikachopra.com/ • Join ChroniCon - https://chronicon.co/ ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/ #Prednisone #SteroidSideEffects #PrednisoneWeightGain #SteroidRage #PrednisoneSurvivalGuide #ChronicIllness #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness #AutoimmuneDisease #MedicalGaslighting #ChronicPain #HealthJourney #Inflammation #SteroidWithdrawal #PrednisoneTaper #MentalHealth #SteroidAnxiety #SpoonieSupport #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • July 27 · 58 min

    The Chronic Illness Identity Trap (ft. Nitika Chopra)

    This week on Calling in Sick, I'm sitting down with Nitika Chopra, founder of Chronicon, chronic illness advocate, and someone who has been navigating life with a body that doesn't cooperate since she was 10 years old. We discuss everything from our lifelong fights with chronic illness to finding identity outside of the fight. Tune into hear more about: 🧒 Nitika’s diagnosis story (psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis) — what growing up feeling completely separate from everyone around her actually felt like + being bombarded by toxic positivity messaging that made her feel responsible for her own illness ⚡ What triggered her neuromuscular disease — six months of terrifying undiagnosed symptoms including double vision, neuroinflammation, inability to smile or swallow, before finally being diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis 💊 The Prednisone impact - rapid weight gain & the treatment reality that nobody glamorizes 🪞 The chronic illness identity shift — Nitika's realization that she was only allowing herself to build an identity around chronic illness and being sick, and why she refuses to let the community feel like they have to stay sick to still belong 🤍 The duality of chronic illness — and why remission can feel as complicated as a flare This one hit close to home for me personally. We are in the peaks AND the pits of this life. And this conversation is for both. xx, Alex 💬 Comment: Has your chronic illness ever become part of your identity in a way that felt hard to let go of? TIMESTAMPS: Intro: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick! 00:00:10 Intro to Nitika Chopra Nitika’s Diagnostic History: 00:02:04 Nitika’s first chronic illness diagnosis at age 10 00:05:42 Growing up in Ohio & feelings of separateness 00:06:17 Developing psoriatic arthritis 10 years later Young Adulthood & Career Evolution: 00:11:36 Dealing with severe chronic flare-ups in Nitika’s early 20s 00:12:01 The impact of toxic positivity and damaging self-help culture 00:14:03 Physical isolation, medication shifts, and accepting help 00:23:58 What is Myasthenia Gravis & Nitika’s diagnosis story 00:29:44 Weight swings and rapid 40-pound gain from prednisone The Duality of the Chronic Illness Identity: 00:36:24 Nuances of the chronic illness identity and outgrowing aspects of it 00:41:27 The juxtaposition of needing a freedom to heal while also needing the community that get’s the pits of chronic illness 00:45:00 How Alex’s pregnancy remission state has shifted her identity and relation to chronic illness for the time being Conclusion: 00:49:25 One Brain Cell picks of the week (Survival of the Thickest (Netflix), Famesick by Lena Dunham) 00:51:22 Where to find Nitika Chopra (@nitakachopra) 00:52:57 Thank you for listening (Like, Subscribe, and Share!) ---------------------------------------------------------------- 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: Nitika Chopra! • Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nitikachopra/?hl=en • Website - https://nitikachopra.com/ • Join ChroniCon - https://chronicon.co/ ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/ #ChronicIllnessIdentity #NitikChopra #Chronicon #Psoriasis #PsoriaticArthritis #MyastheniaGravis #ChronicIllness #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness #AutoimmuneDisease #ChronicIllnessCommunity #ToxicPositivity #RemissionGuilt #ChronicIllnessAwareness #IdentityShift #BelongingWithoutBeingSick #ChronicPain #MentalHealth #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • July 22 · 33 min

    Pregnancy Q&A: Cyclospora Anxiety, Birth & Feeding Plans, Registry Decisions & more!

    This week on Calling in Sick, I’m answering all your pregnancy Q&A! We're diving into: 🥬 My Cyclospora anxiety — what foods I’m avoiding and why I’m mad at the government (lol) 🩺 How to actually start your pregnancy journey with chronic illness — the preconception appointment you NEED to make now!!! 👶 Second trimester update — autoimmune status, ultrasound anxiety during gap, and how I’m feeling overall 🧬 Why we’re NOT scared about passing on my chronic illness to our kids 💉 My birth plan — My thoughts on my delivery, epidural & pain medication, and if I feel guilt about my decisions 🍼 Feeding plans — How I’m thinking about breastfeeding, freeze-dried donor milk, and formula 🛏️ Sleep planning — How we’re trying to stay ahead of the sleep deprivation (lol!!) 🛒 My top Registry picks — and the things that have already changed !!! xx, Alex 💬 Comment: What's the one pregnancy question you wish someone had answered honestly for you? TIMESTAMPS: Intro: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick! 00:00:54 Coping with pregnancy anxiety, food rules, and parasite fears 00:01:56 Substack updates: group chats and weekly posts Q&A - Pregnancy & Chronic Illness Planning: 00:02:56 Navigating pregnancy planning with chronic illness 00:05:42 Mid-pregnancy check-in 00:11:28 My thoughts on genetic testing and passing on chronic illnesses Q&A - Nursery, Birth Plans & Registries: 00:14:01 What we’ve done to prep his nursery so far 00:16:00 My thoughts on preparing for labor 00:17:44 Ditching the medication guilt during pregnancy 00:19:04 How we are (trying!!) to prepare for postpartum life + sleep deprivation 00:22:13 The HARDEST picks on my registry - Strollers, mattresses, and pumps Conclusion: 00:26:14 Are we going to change our minds… again!? 00:27:28 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? ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/ #PregnancyQA #ChronicIllnessPregnancy #HighRiskPregnancy #LupusPregnancy #AutoimmunePregnancy #BabyRegistry #BirthPlan #SecondTrimester #PregnancyWithChronicIllness #MaternalFetalMedicine #NightNurse #BabyBoy #MomToBe #ChronicIllness #SpoonieLife #PregnancyAnxiety #GeneticTesting #Breastfeeding #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • July 20 · 35 min

    Chronic Illness Q&A: Staying Positive, Infusion Prep, New Endometriosis Trials & More

    This week on Calling in Sick, I’m answering all your chronic illness Q&A! We're diving into: ⚖️ The NUMBER ONE rule I live my life by and navigate chronic illness with 💉 My top tips for preparing for an infusion ⚠️ The Amazon supplement warning you need to hear!! 💼 How I navigate work with chronic illness (corporate America and entrepreneurship) 🔬 The Endometriosis medication trial you NEED to hear about (Endo 205 Peptide) Plus my thoughts on toxic positivity, my thoughts on optimization culture, riding the waves of life's dualities, and why community is the thing that actually keeps me going on the hard days. xx, Alex 💬 Comment: What's your number one chronic illness life hack that has actually moved the needle for you? TIMESTAMPS: Intro: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick! 00:00:29 RSVP for Calling in Sick’s Next Virtual Event (Fourth Wing Book Club) Q&A - Finding Balance & Life Hacks: 00:01:53 Finding positivity while chronically sick 00:03:51 My #1 TIP for managing life and chronic illness 00:05:53 How I prepare for and navigate immunotherapy and chemotherapy infusion days Q&A - Wellness Culture, Supplements & Career: 00:07:53 My HOT TAKE on optimization culture and the wellness industry 00:10:56 The truth about the supplement market 00:13:49 Navigating corporate America with a chronic illness 00:16:47 Managing entrepreneurship on the hard days 00:19:25 How the Calling in Sick podcast got started 00:24:00 Exciting advancements in women's health (Endo 205 peptide) Conclusion: 00:27:12 One Brain Cell Show: Love Island (+ California’s new great streaming law!!) 00:28:13 Substack Updates!!! 00:29:38 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? ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/ #ChronicIllness #LupusPregnancy #AutoimmuneRemission #Endometriosis #EndoResearch #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness #ChronicIllnessLife #Lupus #Vasculitis #8020Rule #SupplementWarning #ChronicIllnessCareer #ChronicIllnessMom #PregnancyWithChronicIllness #PatientAdvocacy #Rituxan #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • July 15 · 45 min

    Living at the Intersection of Chronic Illness and Autism (ft. Patrick Casale)

    This week on Calling in Sick x Ask Alex, Patrick Casale is back — and we're getting into the overlap that almost nobody talks about - living at the intersection of autism and chronic illness. Patrick found out he was autistic in 2021. At almost the exact same time, he started choking on his food, regurgitating, waking up gasping. For nearly a year he was told it was acid reflux. Or GERD. Or — say it with me — anxiety. Have you tried mindfulness? It turned out to be Zenker's diverticulum, a condition affecting a fraction of a percent of the population, most of them over 65. Sound familiar? We're diving into: 🫁 Patrick's diagnostic odyssey — a year of being disbelieved, and the one provider who finally said "you sound like you have this really weird condition" 🧠 Why autism, ADHD, POTS, MCAS, hEDS and chronic fatigue keep showing up together — and why nobody's connecting the dots for you 🚩 The gaslighting-to-self-gaslighting pipeline — how being dismissed enough times teaches you to dismiss yourself 📋 Interoception, people-pleasing & underselling — why you say "a 4" when it's really a 12, and how that delays your care 🎤 Rapid-fire online stereotypes — "ADHD is just a lack of discipline," "you don't look autistic," "everyone's a little bit autistic," "getting accommodations is cheating," "everyone experiences burnout." Patrick gets the mic drop on all of them. 🎭 The masking conversation nobody's having — why "just unmask!" is a privileged take, and when masking is genuinely the right call ♿️ High vs. low functioning — why "high functioning" is not a badge of honor, and how it lands you in burnout Plus: accommodations are your legal right, not a favor. Stop asking. Start telling. xx, Alex 💬 Comment: what's the "ism" you're most tired of hearing? I'll add it to the list. TIMESTAMPS: Intro: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Ask Alex! (Ft. Patrick Casale) 00:00:25 Patrick's chronic illness diagnosis (Zenker's diverticulum) Patrick Casale: 00:04:06 Finding the right provider — and the moment you believe yourself again 00:08:44 The crossover of autism and chronic illness 00:13:20 Tips for navigating care (interoception, people-pleasing + reference docs) 00:16:20 Rapid fire online stereotypes (self-diagnosis, masking, burnout, etc) Conclusion: 00:36:10 Where to find Patrick 00:37:20 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, Patrick Casale, MA: • Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/patrick.casale/?hl=en • TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@patrickcasale • Podcast (All Things Private Practice + Diverging Conversations with Dr. Megan Neff) - https://www.youtube.com/c/allthingsprivatepractice • Substack - https://patrickcasale.substack.com/ • Website - https://www.allthingspractice.com/freebie-vault-2026 • TedX Talk - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyImqW69OY4 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/ #AutisticBurnout #LateDiagnosedAutistic #ActuallyAutistic #Neurodivergent #AuDHD #Masking #Unmasking #InternalizedAbleism #ChronicIllness #Dysautonomia #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness #DisabilityAwareness #NeurodivergentEntrepreneur #PatrickCasale #MentalHealth #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • July 13 · 1 hr 2 min

    Living with Autism: Late Diagnosis, Internalized Ableism, Unmasking (ft. (Patrick Casale, MA)

    This week on Calling in Sick, I'm sitting down with Patrick Casale — licensed clinical mental health counselor, TEDx speaker, host of Diverging Conversations with Dr. Megan Neff, and someone who found out he was autistic at 35. If you're chronically ill, neurodivergent, or living at the intersection of both, this one is going to hit. We get into what happens when the world's box is simply not built for your body or your brain — and what it costs to keep forcing yourself into it anyway. We're diving into: 🧠 Autistic burnout is NOT workplace burnout — you cannot fix it with a four-day weekend or a spa vacation, and Patrick explains exactly why 🎭 The masking bill comes due — scripting small talk, mimicking facial expressions, not knowing what to do with your hands, and the fatigue that follows 🔍 Diagnosed at 35 — the internal ableism, the imposter syndrome, and the "grief-relief paradox" of finally having a name for your whole life ⚡️ "An exposed nerve ending going through life" — the line a friend said to Patrick that reframed everything 👋 The great friend shedding — why people say "you're always sick now," and how you find the ones who move to the shade for you ❤️‍🩹 Reparenting your inner child — the fidget toy, the little girl at a 100 person dinner, and repairing the kid who never got support We also go WAY down an Anthony Bourdain rabbit hole, because of course we did. xx, Alex 💬 Comment: tell me about the person in your life who accommodates you without ever making it a “thing”. TIMESTAMPS: Intro: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick! (Ft. Patrick Casale) Patrick Casale: 00:04:43 What is autistic burnout? (And why a spa weekend won't fix it) 00:07:50 Introduction to Patrick — background, career + the ADHD diagnosis 00:18:34 Pursuing an autism diagnosis at 35 — masking, assessment, disclosure 00:29:00 Coming to terms with autistic identity (the grief-relief paradox) 00:31:55 Internalized ableism 00:35:52 The great friend shedding 00:43:55 Reparenting your inner child Conclusion: 00:47:07 One Brain Cell Show: Apple TV, cooking competitions & comfort rewatches 00:53:03 Where to find Patrick 00:54:15 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, Patrick Casale, MA: • Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/patrick.casale/?hl=en • TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@patrickcasale • Podcast (All Things Private Practice + Diverging Conversations with Dr. Megan Neff) - https://www.youtube.com/c/allthingsprivatepractice • Substack - https://patrickcasale.substack.com/ • Website - https://www.allthingspractice.com/freebie-vault-2026 • TedX Talk - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyImqW69OY4 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/ #AutisticBurnout #LateDiagnosedAutistic #ActuallyAutistic #Neurodivergent #AuDHD #Masking #Unmasking #InternalizedAbleism #ChronicIllness #Dysautonomia #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness #DisabilityAwareness #NeurodivergentEntrepreneur #PatrickCasale #MentalHealth #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • July 8 · 24 min

    How to Manage Chronic Pain Without Breaking the Bank | Q&A with Pain Psychologist, Dr. Rachel Zoffness

    This week on Calling in Sick x Ask Alex, I'm sitting down with Dr. Rachel Zoffness — pain scientist, pain psychologist, Assistant Clinical Professor at UCSF, lecturer at Stanford, and author of Tell Me Where It Hurts. We are getting into the practical side of chronic pain management. Because understanding the science is one thing… but actually having tools you can use today, regardless of your budget or access to care, is another. We're diving into: 🏃 Movement as medicine — where to start when you can barely move, and why even stretching or pedaling your legs while lying down changes your brain chemistry 🧘 Biofeedback — what it is, how it works, and why the American Migraine Foundation says it can be as effective as popular pharmaceutical drugs for migraines 🧠 How your prefrontal cortex magnifies pain — and why distraction and joy are not just "nice to haves" but actual clinical tools 👻 Phantom limb pain — 80% of amputees experience pain in limbs that no longer exist, and what that tells us about where pain actually lives 🔥 Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) — what it is, how it hijacks your physiology, and why the cycle of avoiding movement makes it worse 📚 Accessible resources — Dr. Z's workbooks and protocols for people who cannot access or afford private clinical care xx, Alex 💬 Comment: What activity or moment has ever given YOU unexpected relief from your chronic pain? TIMESTAMPS: Intro: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick! 00:00:04 Guest Intro: Dr. Rachel Zoffnes, pain scientist and clinical psychologist Improving Accessibility in Pain Management: 00:01:48 Dr. Zoffnes’ workbooks and pro bono work for free access to treatments 00:02:35 Movement as Medicine: Starting where the body and brain are ready & the biological benefits 00:03:52 "Fuzz Therapy": The data-backed impact of pets on pain Biofeedback and the Mind-Body Connection: 00:04:41 Introduction to Biofeedback: Using sensors to read biological processes 00:07:02 The science of stress: How fight-or-flight affects skin temperature & what to do about it 00:09:16 Biofeedback effectiveness for migraines compared to pharmaceuticals Understanding Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS): 00:10:12 Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS): Physiological hijacking and symptoms 00:13:52 The cycle of protection: How lack of movement amplifies pain 00:15:20 The Prefrontal Cortex (PFC) as a magnifier of physical sensations… and how using distractions can lower the “pain volume” Conclusion: 00:18:14 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, Dr. Rachel Zoffness, PhD: • Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/therealdoczoff/?hl=en • Resources - https://www.zoffness.com/resources • Website - https://www.zoffness.com/ Buy her book here: https://amzn.to/4aDThGb ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/ #ChronicPain #PainScience #BiopsychosocialModel #PainPsychology #ChronicIllness #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness #DrRachelZoffness #TellMeWhereItHurts #PainManagement #NeuroplasticPain #CentralSensitization #TraumaAndPain #ChronicPainAwareness #PainRecipe #PainDial #PainReprocessing #MentalHealth #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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