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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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!
Jake Haendel on Locked-In Syndrome, Pain, and What It Means to Be Alive
Calling In Sick
1 hour 28 minutes
3 months ago
Jake Haendel on Locked-In Syndrome, Pain, and What It Means to Be Alive
This week on Calling in Sick, I’m joined by @miraclman31 -- podcaster, speaker, and survivor of one of the rarest neurological conditions on earth: Locked-In Syndrome from Acute Toxic Progressive Leukoencephalopathy (ATPL). Jake’s story is raw, gripping, and—somehow—hilarious
.We’re digging into:
🧠 What the mind does when you’re fully aware but can’t move
💥 The absurdity of pain, and the power of humor in surviving it
☁️ What near-death teaches you about presence, faith, and the fragility of life
🪫 Why full recovery might be the wrong goal—and what really matters in healing
Whether you’ve lived through something unbelievable or you just feel unseen in your pain, this episode is your reminder: the human spirit is feral in the best way. And you? You’re more resilient than you think.
xx,
Alex
Comment: What’s a moment where you felt completely alone in your pain — and what got you through it?
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling In Sick!
00:03:10 Introduction to Jake Haendel & Locked-In Syndrome
00:29:45 Jake’s self talk while he was locked-in for 10 months
00:46:15 A tiny movement in Jake’s wrist that lead to recovery
00:50:25 Jake’s mental health & struggle with addiction
00:59:15 Near death experiences & religion
01:12:10 One Brain Cell Show: The Wire, documentaries & standup
01:18:08 Thank you for listening!
Connect with Jake & Discover his App!
• Jake on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/miraclman31/?hl=en
• AHOI, a platform to discover accessible places & navigate the world with ease -- https://ahoimate.com/
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Stay connected and follow social:
• 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?
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Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/
Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/
Alex’s Pain Bandaids: https://shopmy.us/collections/746944
#CallingInSickPodcast #JakeHaendel #LockedInSyndrome #ChronicIllnessWarrior #PainManagement #SurvivorStory #MedicalTrauma #InvisibleIllness #DarkHumorHeals #FeralResilience #SpoonieCommunity #RareDiseaseAwareness #ChronicPainLife #MentalHealthAndIllness #DisabilityAdvocate #YoureNotAlone #ResilienceStory #HealingJourney #SurvivingTheUnthinkable #LifeAfterIllness #PodcastClip #WellnessPodcast #StorytimePodcast #RawAndReal #EmotionalAF #HealthStory #UnbelievableSurvivor #PainAndHumor #HumanSpirit #ChronicIllnessPodcast #AlexWildeson #podcast #medicalgaslighting #chronicillness #callinginsick #anxietymisdiagnosis #selfadvocacy #healthjourney #doctorstories #spoonielife #autoimmunedisease #dismissedagain #womenshealth #patientadvocacy #selfadvocacymatters #justanxious #tiktokmedicine #medicalbias #healthmisinformation #callinginsickpodcast
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Calling In Sick
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!
