I girlbossed too close to the sun 😵‍💫 (forcing a flare for diagnostics + having a little too much fun!!) — so I’m calling in sick for real this week and giving my body the rest it needs. While I take a breather (and a heating pad nap), I’m revisiting one of my all-time favorite episodes. This conversation with Dr. Zachary Spiritos, a neuro-gastro-immunologist and advocate for women’s health, changed the way I think about medicine, bias, and being believed. We talk about why so many women’s symptoms are dismissed, how to actually advocate for yourself in appointments, and what invisible illness really means. If you’ve ever been told “it’s all in your head” — this episode is your reminder that it’s not. What we cover: 🧠 Why women’s pain is often minimized or misdiagnosed ⚠️ How medical gaslighting shows up — and how to handle it 🥼 What real advocacy looks like in the doctor’s office 💩 The gut-health connection to chronic conditions 💬 Why “trust your body” isn’t just a phrase — it’s a survival skill Whether you’re fighting to be taken seriously, learning to listen to your body, or just craving validation that you’re not alone — this one still hits. Thanks for Calling in Sick with us 💛 xx, Alex Comment: What’s one thing you wish more doctors understood about women’s health? TIMESTAMPS:  Intro 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling In Sick!  00:02:15 Alex’s Picks Of the Week (IB Guard, Magnesium)  My Interview with Dr. Spiritos 00:03:45 Meet Dr. Zachary Spiritos & understanding neuro-gastro-immunology  00:24:48 Where the disparity in women’s health comes from 00:29:00 The reality of medical gaslighting and how to respond  00:44:33 How to advocate for yourself in appointments, and have success! Final Thoughts 00:47:34 What’s next for Dr. Zachary Spiritos  00:55:00 Dr. Zachary’s final recommendations 00:57:25 Thank you for listening!!!  ---------------------------------------------------------------- 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?⁠ ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House -- ⁠https://www.justmediahouse.com/⁠ Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — ⁠https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/⁠ ---------------------------------------------------------------- Episode Sponsor: LifeBoost Coffee! • First Time Customer (58% off): ⁠https://lifeboostcoffee.com/pages/healthy-coffee-ot2e-19-cp?ref=ALEXANDRAWILDESON⁠ • Subscribe and Save (Up to 48% off): ⁠https://lifeboostcoffee.com/pages/subscribe-save?ref=ALEXANDRAWILDESON⁠ Use code ALEXANDRA10 for 10% off!! ---------------------------------------------------------------- Alex’s Picks of the Week: This week's picks are for all my friends whose tummy hurts!! ✨IB Guard — ⁠ https://amzn.to/47nlDSC ✨Pure Encapsulation (Magnesium Supplementation) — ⁠ https://amzn.to/47nlHlk ---------------------------------------------------------------- #podcast #podcastclips #chronicillness #autoimmunedisease #ChronicPain #ChronicFatigue #spoonielife #HealthJourney #CallingInSick #SpoonieSupport #ChronicIllnessAwareness #MedicalJourney#DisabilityAwareness #SurvivalMode #IdentityShift #medicalgaslighting #womenshealth #zachspiritos#neurology #gastroenterology #immunology #selfadvocacy #medicalbias Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After 25 years, I’m still constantly wondering if my childhood diagnosis is even right, which has a LOT of implications. Like am I taking the right meds, am I seeing the right doctors, why am I not feeling better. So when my doctors offered a *potential* way to get a more definitive answer, I was quick to say HELL YES…even though that meant literally making myself flare up. In this episode of Calling in Sick, I get real about what it’s like to go off your meds to try get that final, definitive answer. This week I talk about: What prompted the discussion of forcing a flare up & why I said OK What a RAPID prednisone taper is really like How my diagnostic tests are going, so far The toll this has taken on my mental health The TL;DR? After spending most of my life living in the grey without a clear diagnosis, I’m letting logic take a backseat to hope. If you’ve ever felt like a detective in your own body, chasing every clue and doing whatever it takes to uncover the truth, I think you’ll like this episode. As always, sending my love. xx, Alex Comment: Would you ever go off your meds to get a clearer diagnosis, or is that totally off limits? Drop your thoughts in the comments!!! I am dying to know if I’m the only one who would give a hell yes to this madness… TIMESTAMP: Intro: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick!! 00:01:10 What today’s episode is really about 01:49 You’re invited to a Calling in Sick Vision Board Night!! - October 30 at 6pm CST 00:03:05 Alex’s Picks (Our Place Cookware Set, Zevo Fruit Fly Trap) I Forced the Flare: 00:05:18 What made me force a flare up 00:09:52 This is why I share the intimate stuff 00:10:05 Is it wrong to force a flare up?? 00:12:21 The real reason I said yes 00:13:32 What going off prednisone actually feels like 00:16:33 My colonoscopy experience + colonoscopy pro tips!! 00:23:30 All of this may be for…nothing Conclusion: 00:26:11 One Brain Cell Show: Is it Cake? (Netflix) 00:27:18 Where to follow along for test updates 00:27:25 Thanks for 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? ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/ Alex’s Picks of the Week: This week’s picks are coming straight from my house to yours - 2 of my current favorite nontoxic house items!! ✨Our Place Cookware Set - https://go.shopmy.us/p-28091714 ✨ Zevo Flying Insect Trap - https://go.shopmy.us/p-27239252 #CallingInSickPodcast #SpoonieSupport #ChronicIllness #InvisibleIllness #AutoimmuneLife #ChronicPainCommunity #HealthJourney #FlareUp #LupusWarrior #MixedConnectiveTissueDisease #PrednisoneTaper #SpoonieHumor  #PatientAdvocate #SpoonieLife #ChronicFatigue #BrainFog #SpoonTheory #ChronicIllnessAwareness #ChronicLife #HealthPodcast #ChronicIllnessPodcast #DisabilityAwareness #AlexWildeson #ChronicIllnessSupport #WellnessPodcast #SpoonieStories  #MedicalMystery #HealthAnxiety #IBDWarrior #AutoimmuneAwareness #PatientExperience  #LivingWithIllness #SpoonieStruggles #DiagnosisJourney Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Calling in Sick, I sit down with Oli Mittermaier, Co-Founder of CIT clinics, to unpack how ketamine therapy is reshaping treatment for mental health and chronic pain. When we hear ketamine therapy, most of us have an immediate reaction: you might feel like it’s taboo and all you can think about is “drugs are BAD,” perhaps you’ve tried Ketamine therapy and it had a life changing impact on your health, or maybe you are genuinely curious what it is and how it can be used in a clinical setting and if you are a good candidate for it. No matter where you are coming from, if you listen with a bit of an open-mind, this episode is for you!   This week we dive into: My experience with Ketamine therapy The science behind how ketamine promotes neuroplasticity and healing What ketamine therapy is ACTUALLY like How to explore this therapeuritc for your own healing Tune in for a mind-expanding discussion! xx, Alex 💬 Comment: What’s one therapy, practice, or experience that actually surprised you in your healing journey? TIMESTAMP: Intro: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick! 00:00:07 What prompted me to try Ketamine therapy + my experience 00:07:21 Preconceived notions of Ketamine 00:10:19 Alex’s Picks (Relief Pack, CBD Living Roll-on) An Introduction to Ketamine Therapy: 00:12:10 Meet Ali Mittermaier - Oli’s story with Ketamine therapy 00:20:22 Mental health is more than just symptoms and a diagnosis 00:35:28 Oli’s 10 Non-Negotiatibles of Well-Being 00:41:26 Not every Ketamine therapy experience is equal 00:49:33 What Ketamine actually does to the brain + how it makes you feel 00:01:08 The future of Ketamine 01:10:46 How to know if you’re a good candidate  01:17:17 How to get involved even if you aren’t ready to try Ketamine therapy or do it somewhere different Conclusion: 01:17:17 Oli’s One Brain Cell Show & my One Brain Cell Show (Kurzgesagt) 00:38:22 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? ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/ Alex’s Picks of the Week My favorite 2 items that are always available for me ✨Relief Pack — https://www.releafpack.com/product-page/rock-on — 6ANN gives you a 25% discount at checkout! ✨CBD Living Roll-On — https://cbdliving.com/products/cbd-roll-on-freeze-1500-mg — I use the 1,500 mg CBD Roll-On Freeze #KetamineTherapy #PsychedelicMedicine #MentalHealthAwareness #ChronicPainRelief #Neuroplasticity #TraumaHealing #MindBodyConnection #CITClinics #HealingJourney #YouAreNotYourDiagnosis #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson #SpoonieSupport #AnxietyHelp #DepressionRecovery #SelfCompassion #MindfulnessPractice #BrainHealth #PsychedelicHealing #AlternativeTherapies #HolisticHealth #IntegrativeMedicine #HealingFromWithin #ResilienceBuilding #KetamineForPTSD #ChronicPainCommunity #MentalHealthPodcast #TraumaInformedCare #NeuroscienceOfHealing #StressRelief #WellnessPodcast #InnerPeace #ReframingHealing #HealingTrauma #AgencyOverAnxiety #MentalHealthInnovation #KetamineJourney #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week’s episode of Calling in Sick, I’m opening up about how being “a pleasure to have in class” growing up has morphed into a deep need to be a PERFECT patient!!! I share how I try get my therapist to laugh during appointments like I’m some stand-up comedian and why I love to hear “your so tough” like I’m a Navy Seal. The reality is that the clash of this constant need to people please mixed with my chronic illnesses has led me to….lie to my doctors. I come clean on the extents I’ve gone through to be perfect, how it’s backfired, and answer the subsequent, polarizing question: is it ever OK to lie to your doctor? Plus, I drop my TOP 3 TIPS for breaking free from “perfect patient” mode. If you’ve ever downplayed symptoms, performed for a laugh mid-appointment, or craved your provider’s approval… you’re not alone, and we can quit this very sick game together. So here’s to us, becoming not so perfect! xx, Alex 💬 Comment: Have you ever downplayed symptoms or lied to your doctor to seem like the ‘perfect patient’? Drop your confession below  TIMESTAMP: Intro: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick! 00:24:00 Clinical Study Update & The Surprise I pulled off this week!!! The Perfect Patient Trap & How to Escape it: 00:05:06 Qualities of a people-pleasing, perfect patient 00:06:03 Why I NEED to be the perfection patient 00:08:14 My recovery from people-pleasing 00:14:30 A story of how I lied to my doctor 00:16:55 3 tips to challenge your desire to be the perfect patient 00:19:20 Your permission to be imperfect Conclusion: 00:20:20 Alex’s Picks of the Week (Los Angeles Apparel, Soludos) 00:22:51 One Brain Cell Pick…for spooky season! (Haunted Hotel - Netflix) 00:25:18 Thanks for Calling in Sick with me! ---------------------------------------------------------------- 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/ Alex’s Picks of the Week: In honor of reminiscing this week for Saint Cooper’s birthday, here are my nostalgic picks for you!! ✨Los Angeles Apparel - https://go.shopmy.us/p-25899517 ✨Soludos - go.shopmy.us/p-27019178 #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson #PerfectPatient #ChronicIllness #SpoonieSupport #SpoonieCommunity #ChronicLife #AutoimmuneDisease #InvisibleIllness #PeoplePleasing #PatientAdvocacy #MedicalGaslighting #HealthcareTips #DoctorVisits  #PatientEmpowerment #LyingToYourDoctor #MentalHealthMatters #ChronicPain #PatientStories #DoctorOfficeConfessions #RadicalAcceptance #AccountabilityMatters #TraumaHealing #TherapyHumor #PrednisoneLife #FlareUps #ChronicFatigue #IBD #InvisibleDisabilities #SpoonieSisters #HealthEquity #SelfAdvocacy #HonestPatient #PeoplePleaserRecovery  #HealthBoundaries Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is “gut health” just another buzzy wellness trend, OR is it a real component of chronic illness that we may be able to change?? In this episode of Calling in Sick, I sit down with Dr. Stephanie Culler, microbiome PhD, cancer researcher, and co-founder/CEO of Persephone Biosciences, to cut through the hype and bring you the real Gut Microbiome 101. In this episode, we cover: 🌱 What the microbiome actually is (and how it develops from birth to adulthood) 💊 Why antibiotics aren’t always the enemy and how to recover after using them 🤓 The truth about “leaky gut,” gut dysbiosis, and what the gut–brain connection is 🦠 How microbiome diversity affects immunity, mood, inflammation, and even response to medications 💕 Which supplements are worth your money, and the 4 low-lift habits that actually improve gut health If you’ve ever wondered what’s going on with your, why gut talk is so buzzy, or if you can do something to help improve your gut… this is the episode you can’t miss. xx, Alex ** You can read more about Dr. Culler's groundbreaking, largest of it's kind, infant microbiome study, "My Baby Biome" here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-025-08274-7 💬 Comment: Fermented foods, fiber, or supplements: what’s your go-to for gut support? Share your routine in the comments! TIMESTAMP: Intro: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick! 00:03:45 Alex’s Picks of the Week (Persephone Biosciences Symbiotic, Hilma Fiber Supplement) 00:04:53 Introducing Dr. Stephanie Culler Gut Health 101: 00:07:21 What is the microbiome + why does it really matter? 00:12:28 Gut impact of antibiotics and how to make good bacteria thrive 00:20:46 Leaky Gut explained 00:28:33 Can you even improve an unhealthy microbiome? 00:42:46 4 lifestyle changes you can implement now to improve your gut Conclusion: 00:49:12 My takeaways from my own gut testing 00:51:31 Overview of a clinical study (where does funding come from and does it sway research?!) 00:57:40 Thank you to Dr. Stephanie Culler! 00:57:58 Episode wrap-up and how to stay in touch with 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? ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/ Alex’s Picks of the Week: These 2 supplements help me make sure that I am taking care of my gut health! ✨Persephone Biosciences Symbiotic: https://go.shopmy.us/p-26313246 ✨Hilma Fiber Supplement:  https://rebrand.ly/6tq0q7k —— Use code “ALEXANDRA20” for 20% off at checkout!! #GutHealth #GutMicrobiome #Microbiome101 #GutHealthMythBusting #ChronicIllnessCommunity #ChronicIllnessSupport #AutoimmuneHealth #RootCauseHealing #GutHealing #LeakyGutMyth #DigestiveHealth #GutBrainConnection #ImmuneHealth #HormoneHealth #HolisticHealing #GutReset #HealthyHabits #WellnessJourney #MindBodyConnection #MicrobiomeResearch #HealthAndWellness #SelfCareTips #MicrobiomeFacts #GutHealthTips #InflammationRelief #ChronicIllnessLife #AutoimmuneWarrior #HealthyGutHealthyLife #DigestiveWellness #SpoonieSupport #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Calling in Sick, Cooper joins me to chat all things prednisone… because prednisone isn’t just hard on the person taking it, it’s a full-on rollercoaster for the people around them too!! After more than a decade of riding out meltdowns, bickers, and plenty of learning curves, we are pulling back the curtain on what it’s really like to survive prednisone together. Coop shares his POV on what prednisone is really like... from my not-so-cute mood swings, overstimulation meltdowns, and guilt spirals to our top 4 tips that have kept our relationship steady throughout it all. Tune in to hear: ⭐ Cooper’s number one rule for when I’m on prednisone (hint hint… anticipation is key!!) 💊 How we came up with “Victoria” and why personifying prednisone has changed everything ✨ Why being vulnerable and having open communication is critical ⚠️ My biggest lesson about being prednisone and taking accountability If you or someone you love is on prednisone, this episode is your field guide to supporting them, without losing your sanity (or your relationship). Save it, share it, and breathe easier knowing you’re not alone in this. xx, Alex & Coops 💬 Comment: What’s the funniest fight you’ve got into while on prednisone?! TIMESTAMPS: Intro: 00:00:11 Welcome back to Calling in Sick and welcome to Saint Cooper! 00:1:35 Story time… this week’s Prednisone rage 00:04:15 Life catch up A Loved One’s Guide to Prednisone: 00:5:14 Why I say yes to Prednisone 00:10:22 Our experience on Prednisone  00:13:11: Tip 1 - Give Prednisone a name 00:19:10 Tip 2 - Practice regulation…amidst the roid rage 00:27:13 Tip 3 - Communicate openly 00:29:32 Tip 4 - Anticipate, anticipate, anticipate! 00:33:05 Recapping Cooper’s Tips Conclusion: 00:34:44 Alex’s Picks of the Week (The Absorption Company, Ion Layer) 00:39:00 One Brain Cell Movie… KPop Demon Hunters (duh!!!!!) 00:41:15 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? ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/ Alex’s Picks of the Week: Since prednisone makes sleeping, eating and hydrating tricky, I’m sharing my newest supplement obsessions!! These picks have found the *best* routes for absorption, so you’ll get the biggest bang for your buck. Enjoy!!! ✨The Absorption Company — https://go.shopmy.us/p-25813864 —> Their sleep supplement is *amazing* and actually works!! Scientific patent that allows us to absorb 5x the amount of the product (higher bioavailability is GREAT!) ✨Ion Layer — https://ionlayer.com/AWILDESON —> Get all the benefits of an IV vitamin infusion, at home… without any pokes and a quarter of the price!! —> EXCLUSIVE 3 DAY SALE (9/22-9/24)… get $150 off Ion Layer Patches (NAD+, B1, Vitamin C and Glutathione) with code AWILDESON150 #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson  #Prednisone #PrednisoneSideEffects #SteroidTreatment #SteroidSideEffects #PrednisoneMoodSwings #PrednisoneProblems #ChronicIllnessCommunity #ChronicIllnessLife #ChronicIllnessSupport #InvisibleIllness #CaregiverLife #CaregiverSupport #PartnerSupport #LoveThroughIllness  #ChronicLife #ChronicIllnessWarrior #AutoimmuneLife #SpoonieLife #MentalHealthAwareness #MoodSwings #AnxietySupport #CopingWithChronicIllness #SurvivalGuide #SelfCareTips #MindBodyConnection #PrednisoneTaper #SupportSystem #LifeOnPrednisone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Calling in Sick, I’m showing up mad. After almost two years of flaring, I’m starting to wonder if this maybe isn’t just a flare anymore… maybe it’s my new normal. And with that comes the worry that my current medical protocol is failing. THAT is a brutal, frustrating, gut-punch of a realization. Although I am usually a pretty positive gal, I know that anger has its place in any chronic illness journey. Anger is valid, it’s messy, and it can even be productive. So this week I’m sharing the reality of my flare, the “Sophie’s choice” of next steps my doctors and I are weighing, and why this timeline impact is breaking my heart. We’re diving into: 🔥 What it feels like to be stuck in flare limbo: blip vs. starting over from square one 👩‍⚕️ The impossible decisions between steroids, testing, and “AMA” moments 💔 Why shifting motherhood timelines hurts so much… and why I hope is pushing me forward 🌱 My solulu for sitting with anger, finding joy in small glimmers, and controlling what I can If you’ve ever been mad at your body, mad at the system, or mad at the endless waiting, this episode is your permission slip to say it out loud, feel it fully, and then keep going. xx, Alex Comment: What’s one way you’ve learned to sit with your frustration during flares? Timestamps: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick!  00:07:47 Alex’s Picks of the Week (Boka, Camp Snap Camera) 00:11:25 What a flare up looks like for me 00:15:20 The impossible decisions between steroids, testing, and “AMA” moments 00:25:18 My solution for sitting with anger, finding joy in small glimmers, and controlling what I can 00:27:55 One Brain Cell Show: Love Thy Nader  00:31:10 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/ Alex’s Picks of the Week: How to get pearly white teeth for any camera-ready moment!!! ✨Snap Camera - go.shopmy.us/p-25209103 ($70; shopmy) ✨Boka Toothpaste - https://amzn.to/3K1j7JW ($12; amazon) #ChronicIllness #FlareLife #InvisibleIllness #AutoimmuneDisease #ChronicPain #SpoonieLife #AngerIsValid #MotherhoodJourney #HealthJourney #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson #MedicalGaslighting #SpoonieSupport #MentalHealth #HealingJourney #RadicalAcceptance Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

DESCRIPTION: This week on Calling in Sick, we’re celebrating a big milestone — ONE YEAR of the podcast! I share why I started this show, what I’ve learned, and how this community has changed me in ways I didn’t expect. We’re diving into: ⭐ Why I launched Calling in Sick and how this community has healed parts of me I didn’t know needed it ⚡ What I’ve learned about identity, ambition, and practicing what I preach 💡 The limiting beliefs I’ve broken up with and the new mantras that carry me through 🌹 My roses & thorns from year one and what I’m excited for in year two Whether you’ve been here since day one or just found the pod, this episode is my love letter to you. Thank you for being part of this community, for sharing your stories, and for calling in with me on the good and tough days. Onwards! xx, Alex 💬 Comment: What’s one thing this podcast has helped you feel or realize in the last year? TIMESTAMPS: Intro: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick! 00:00:50 Alex’s Weekly Update (an ER trip & my TV debut with Born Different) 00:05:02 Alex’s Picks of the Week (top 4 favorites of the year) Calling in Sick: Year 1 Review 00:09:19 Why I started Calling in Sick 00:13:48 The biggest lessons I’ve learned through the podcast 00:23:08 What I wish I could tell myself one year ago today 00:26:15 What’s ahead for Calling in Sick in year two Conclusion: 00:27:58 One Brain Cell TV: The Netflix hack you NEED & my favorite shows across 5 different streaming platforms 00:32:59 Thanks so much 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/ Alex’s Picks of the Week: Every week, I share a few of my favorite items that make life a little bit better or happier… from sweat sets to wellness tech to clean beauty picks and supplements. But if I *had* to boil it down to just 4 picks... I’d tell you to try THESE 4 things out! ✨ DIVI hair serum & dry shampoo; https://go.shopmy.us/p-21829164 —> ALEXANDRA15 for 15% off ✨ Tilt lip treatment; https://go.shopmy.us/p-24773396 —> ALEXANDRA15 for 15% off ✨ Perelel Green Powder; https://go.shopmy.us/p-24773343 —> ALEXANDRA for 15% off ✨ HigherDose PEMF Mat; https://go.shopmy.us/p-21829252 —> ALEXANDRA for 15% off  #CallingInSickPodcast #ChronicIllness #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness #AutoimmuneDisease #MedicalGaslighting #HealthJourney #PodcastAnniversary #OneYearIn #CommunityHealing #PatientAdvocacy #SickButThriving #MentalHealth #LifeWithChronicIllness #SpoonieSupport #AlexWildeson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy Labor Day!!! We’re just one week away from the one-year anniversary of Calling in Sick (!!), and to celebrate, I’m re-releasing one of our favorite solo episodes from this past year: How Chronic Illness Changes Our Definition of Ambition and Drive. This conversation was a turning point for me — realizing that losing my “high-functioning, hustle-at-all-costs” self didn’t mean I’d lost my ambition. It just meant ambition needed a new definition. In this episode, I open up about: 💭 What it’s like to lose your “old self” to chronic illness 💊 The quiet shame of feeling dulled by meds and fatigue 🔥 How illness reroutes ambition from speed → survival 🌱 Why softness, slowness, and intention can be THE real success If you’ve ever had to ask yourself, “Who am I without the hustle?” — this episode is for you. You my dear, are not behind. You’re becoming. 💛 Stay tuned next week for our one-year anniversary episode — but for now, I hope this re-release reminds you that ambition doesn’t disappear with illness. It just shifts into something softer, deeper, and just as worthy. xx, Alex 💛 💬 Comment: Do you feel like your ambition or drive has changed since getting sick? How have you redefined success? TIMESTAMPS: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling In Sick 00:00:35 Life Update: Becoming a Procrastinator!! 00:02:58 Alex’s Picks of the Week: Hilma Supplements + DoBites 00:06:11 The Old Version of Me: Urgency, Output, Identity 00:08:25 Grief & the Unbecoming of the Old Alex 00:11:00 Discovering the New Me -- Freedom After Grief 00:17:30 Chronic Illness Management vs. Urgency 00:20:20 One Brain Cell Segment: Love on the Spectrum 00:23:59 THANK YOU!!!! ---------------------------------------------------------------- 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? ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/ Alex’s Picks of the Week: ✨ Hilma Supplements – gentle, clean symptom support https://rebrand.ly/6tq0q7k Use code ALEXANDRA20 for 20% off!! ✨ DoBites – functional, top-8 allergen-free snack bites for energy & focus https://amzn.to/3G6bQGt #podcast #podcastclips #podcast #podcastclips #ChronicIllness #AutoimmuneDisease #SelfWorth #SuccessMindset #ChronicPain #ChronicFatigue #SpoonieLife #HealthJourney #SickGirlLife #CallingInSick #SpoonieSupport #ChronicIllnessAwareness #ChronicWarrior #FlareUpTips #MedicalJourney #DisabilityAwareness #selfworth #selflove #success #hustleculture #ambition #drive #success #urgency Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Calling in Sick, I’m opening up about my journey to motherhood while living with chronic illness — the highs, the heartbreaks, and the hope that keeps me going. From IVF to pregnancy loss to unexpected health setbacks, I’m sharing what it’s really like to dream of becoming a mom when your body doesn’t always cooperate. We’re diving into: 🌱 The ups and downs of my motherhood timeline — IVF, surgery complications, and pregnancy loss reshaping my path 🤱 The worries I carry into motherhood — energy, flare-ups, and balancing chronic illness with raising a baby ✨ The joy and hope that fuel me — why I’m still so excited to become a mom and how I hold space for the future  If you’ve ever felt your health challenges complicate your motherhood journey, this episode is a reminder you’re not alone — and that even when the path shifts, hope and joy can stay at the center. xx, Alex 💬 Comment: For those still on the path to parenthood, what’s one mantra or mindset that helps you keep going? Timestamps:  00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling In Sick! 00:03:35 We’re moving?!  00:05:00 Journey to motherhood with a chronic illness 00:08:43 Alex’s Picks of the Week – Dosey and the Lola Blanket  00:09:56 My story with motherhood and chronic illness 00:12:42 Shifting timeline to motherhood – IVF, pregnancy loss and surgery complications 00:20:02 Why I’m so excited to be a mom  00:25:25 What I’m worried about with motherhood 00:31:08 Holding space for hope in pregnancy/motherhood  00:32:37 One Brain Cell Show – Only Murders in the Building  00:33:36 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/ ---------------------------------------------------------------- Alex’s Picks of the Week: Small treats that make me feel happier :) ✨Dosey Pill Organizer —  https://dosey.com/ALEXANDRA15 ——— Use code “ALEXANDRA15” for 15% off at checkout! ✨Lola Blanket — https://go.shopmy.us/p-23336664 ——— Use code “ALEXWILD50” for 50% off at checkout and a $50 gift card for future use!!!! ---------------------------------------------------------------- #ChronicIllness #MotherhoodJourney #PregnancyAfterLoss #IVFJourney #FertilityStruggles #PregnancyComplications #SurgeryRecovery #AutoimmuneDisease #ChronicIllnessMama #HighRiskPregnancy #PregnancyHope #ChronicPain #InvisibleIllness #SpoonieLife #MiscarriageAwareness #MotherhoodAndChronicIllness #HealthJourney #MentalHealth #TryingToConceive #SpoonieSupport #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Calling in Sick we are diving into one of the least talked about and most important skills to learn in your medical journey... how (and when) to say NO! After 25 years of being the patient, I’m sharing where “not right now” has protected my body, my sanity, and my future. We’re diving into: ⭐ Saying NO to providers who aren’t a fit — red flags, finding your QB, and why “I can’t help you” can be a green flag ⚠️ Saying NO to procedures/tests you don’t need — scheduling on your timeline, avoiding repeats, and pushing back on “flare for testing” asks 💊 Saying NO to meds (or side effects) — black box fears, pregnancy considerations, trial windows, and when lifestyle impact outweighs benefit If you’ve ever felt pressured to say yes because a white coat suggested it, this episode is your permission slip to pause, ask better questions, and choose what’s right for your life. xx, Alex 💬 Comment: What’s one “NO” (or “not right now”) that protected your health? TIMESTAMPS: Intro: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick! 00:04:48 Alex’s Picks of the Week (Abercrombie, Rag & Bone, MOTHER Denim) My Guide to Saying NO: 00:07:40 Intro to saying NO to medicine and doctors (+ a quick disclaimer!!!) 00:12:08 When to say NO to a provider 00:17:20 When to say NO to a procedure/testing 00:24:22 When to say NO to medications Conclusion: 00:37:05 One Brain Cell Show: Wednesday (Netflix) 00:38:22 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? ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson -- https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/ Alex’s Picks of the Week: Jeans that are comfy enough to pass as sweatpants, but dressy enough for *that* kind of doctor’s appointment!! ✨Abercrombie Boyfriend Jeans — https://go.shopmy.us/p-23220181 ✨Mother Sweatpants Jeans — https://go.shopmy.us/p-23220571 ✨Rag&Bone Sweatpants Jeans — https://go.shopmy.us/p-23220274 #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

This week on Calling in Sick, it’s just you and me — and one of the most polarizing meds in chronic illness: Prednisone. Over 70% of us with chronic illness are prescribed it at some point, and whether you call it a miracle drug or a necessary evil… you’ve probably got a story. We’re diving into: ⭐ The good, the bad, and the psychotic breaks of Prednisone ⚠️ Why I think not all doctors should be able to prescribe it 💪 How I’ve learned to love (and talk to) my body through steroid weight gain ⚡ Why you have to “use the energy or lose the energy” in the first 72 hours 🤣 My most embarrassing pred rage story — and the alter ego Coop named 🧠 Tips for safer tapers to avoid brutal withdrawals If you’ve ever been on Prednisone, I promise you’ll feel seen, validated, and maybe even laugh a little. xx, Alex 💬 Comment: What’s your best Prednisone tip for a newbie? TIMESTAMPS: Intro: 00:00:00 Welcome Back to Calling In Sick!  00:02:57 Introduction to the Prednisone Survival Guide 00:05:05 Alex’s Weekly Life & Health Updates 00:08:05 Alex’s Picks of the Week (Paint by Numbers & Face Roller) 00:08:50 Prednisone and Chronic Illness Prednisone Survival Guide: 00:12:18 Tip #1: Create an Alter Ego 00:18:18 Tip #2: Harness the Chaotic Energy 00:23:38 Tip #3: Your Body Will Change 00:29:38 Tip #4: Tapering Prednisone 00:34:44 Tip #5: Finding the Right Doctor Conclusion: 00:36:00 One Brain Cell Show of the Week: Somebody Feed Phil (Netflix) 00:37:30 - 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/ Alex’s Picks of the Week: ✨Paint by Numbers on Etsy — https://go.shopmy.us/p-17737668 ✨Face Ice Roller @ Detox Market — https://go.shopmy.us/p-22478442 —— Use code ALEXWILDDETOX15 for 15% off at checkout! #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

This week on Calling in Sick, I’m joined by Dr. Erin Nance — board-certified orthopedic hand/wrist surgeon, founder of FeelBetr, and author of Little Miss Diagnosed: A Surgeon’s Guide to Breaking Bones and Bending Rules. She’s not just a medical provider — she’s a disruptor who deeply understands the trauma of being dismissed and misdiagnosed in modern medicine. Together, we dig into: ⭐ Why women’s symptoms are often dismissed — and the phrase “you’re just anxious” is still weaponized ⚠️ Why chronic illness diagnosis timelines lag — and how to advocate when you’re not being heard 🤝 How to use online communities, forums and social media safely to get answers and avoid misinformation ⚕️What practical phrases & scripts you can use at your appointment to avoid getting dismissed 🌍 The broader health crisis behind infertility and slow population growth… and why it’s not “women choosing careers” Whether you’ve been gaslit in the exam room, dismissed for your symptoms, or want to know how to build a better care team — this one’s for you. xx, Alex 💬 Comment Prompt: What’s the *most* gaslight-y thing a medical provider has ever said to you? TIMESTAMPS: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling In Sick! 00:02:10 Alex’s Picks of the Week (Mayfair, Weezie) 00:02:57 Introduction to Dr. Erin Nance 00:04:54 The most surprising thing Dr. Nance learned through social media  00:07:55 Dr. Nance’s FeelBetr platform 00:12:18 What practical phrases & scripts you can use at your appointment to avoid getting dismissed 00:14:54 How to use online communities, forums and social media safely to get answers and avoid misinformation 00:17:30 The broader health crisis behind infertility and slow population growth… and why it’s not “women choosing careers” 00:22:40 Hope is the most powerful drug 00:26:45 Why chronic illness diagnosis timelines lag — and how to advocate when you’re not being heard 00:42:34 Why women’s symptoms are often dismissed — and the phrase “you’re just anxious” is still weaponized 00:44:17 One Brain Cell Show: Summer House 00:46:22 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? ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/ Alex’s Picks of the Week: ✨Mayfair — https://go.shopmy.us/p-21890021 ✨Weezie — https://go.shopmy.us/p-18479099 Episode Resources: Dr. Nance’s App, Feelbetr — https://www.feelbetr.health/ Dr. Nance’s Ted Talk (7-Stages of Misdiagnosis) — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dhs9wg1yN_s #callinginsick #chronicillness #medicalgaslighting #misdiagnosis #chronicpain #spoonielife #healthjourney #doctorstories #autoimmunedisease #ptsd #fertilityissues #medicaldismissal #mentalhealth #invisibleillness #selfadvocacy #healingjourney #chronicfatigue #spooniesupport #medicaltrauma #littlemissdiagnosed #erinNance #alexwildeson #healthcarebias #populationshift #patientadvocacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Calling in Sick, I’m pulling back the curtain on something I’ve never really talked about in depth: trauma therapy. Not wellness aesthetic therapy. Not “journal and manifest” therapy. Real, gritty, life-interrupting trauma therapy. In this episode, I’m sharing: 🧠 What trauma therapy actually is — and why I started ⚠️ Why I was afraid when life started to feel… good 💊 How my mindset has changed on medical trauma & how it affects my daily life 🛑 If I think trauma therapy is financially, physically and emotionally worth it From childhood illness to hospital PTSD, I’ve carried more “little t” trauma, or what I thought was “little t” trauma, than I realized… and trauma therapy has helped me stop minimizing it. This isn’t a step-by-step guide or a promise of a fix. It’s just me, sharing what I’ve learned so far. So whether you’re considering therapy, afraid to open that door, or deep in your own healing arc — this episode is for you. Sending my love, as always! xx, Alex 💬 Comment: What’s one thing therapy helped you realize… even if you weren’t ready to hear it? TIMESTAMPS: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling In Sick! 00:00:30 Life catch-up + why I’m finally ready to talk about this00:01:43 What is trauma therapy, why I started it 00:03:25 How I found my trauma therapist & my tips for you! 00:04:43 Lesson 1: My BIGGEST surprise with little T versus big T trauma! 00:08:04 Lesson 2: Fear things getting good?! Here’s my number one tip!!! 00:09:28 Lesson 3: How to NOT spiral in “what if’s”! 00:15:24 Is trauma therapy worth it?? Thoughts on the financial, emotional and physical impact 00:17:44 How my trauma therapy protocol is protecting me from physical flare ups!!! 00:18:35 Alex’s Picks of the Week (LOL I forgot to do them at the top — Tilt Beauty & Perelel) 00:19:50 One Brain Cell TV Show Pick of the Week00:21:24 LOVE YOU GUYS! ---------------------------------------------------------------- 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/ Alex’s Picks of the Week: ✨Tilt Beauty — https://go.shopmy.us/p-21846268 — use “ALEXANDRA15” for 15% off at checkout! ✨Perelel Symbiotic Greens Powder — https://go.shopmy.us/p-21878658— use “ALEXANDRA” for 15% off at checkout! #podcast #podcastclips #chronicillness #autoimmunedisease #chronicpain #chronicfatigue #spoonielife #healthjourney #callinginsick #spooniesupport #chronicillnessawareness #medicaljourney #disabilityawareness #survivalmode #identityshift #traumatherapy #ptsd #medicaltrauma #mentalhealth #spoonie #alexwildeson #traumahealing #invisibleillness #selfadvocacy #mindbodyconnection #medicalgaslighting #cptsd #healingjourney #therapytools Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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/ ---------------------------------------------------------------- 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? ---------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Calling in Sick, I’m joined by the one and only Dr. Karan Rajan (@dr-karan-explores) — NHS surgeon, educator, and one of the most trusted voices cutting through health misinformation on TikTok. This episode is all about the emotional and medical consequences of constant dismissal and gaslighting — especially for women and people with chronic illness. When you’re told “it’s just anxiety” over and over again, it’s no wonder so many patients turn to the internet in search of answers. And unfortunately? The internet doesn’t always get it right. We’re digging into: 💭 Why “you’re just anxious” has become medicine’s favorite (and a dangerous) catch-all 🧠 How being dismissed by doctors leads patients toward TikTok, Instagram, and wellness rabbit holes 🔍 Why some unlicensed “experts” thrive online — and how to navigate health content without shame or pseudoscience 🗣️ Real advice for self-advocacy at medical appointments 💚 The one thing Dr. Karan wishes medicine had more of Whether you’ve walked out of a doctor’s office questioning your reality, or found yourself spiraling through symptoms, supplements, and side effects — this episode is your reminder: You’re not alone. You’re not dramatic. You’re not just anxious. xx, Alex This week, let us know... What’s a moment you knew something was wrong — but no one believed you? TIMESTAMPS:  00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling In Sick!  00:02:40 Alex’s Picks of the Week 00:05:50 Introduction to Dr. Karan Rajan 00:21:15 How being dismissed by doctors leads patients toward TikTok, Instagram, and wellness rabbit holes 00:34:15 Why “you’re just anxious” has become medicine’s favorite (and a dangerous) catch-all 00:44:50 Why some unlicensed “experts” thrive online — and how to navigate health content without shame or pseudoscience 00:54:30 Viral medical misconceptions  01:12:30 One Brain Cell Shows: The Sandman 01:16:00 Thank you for listening!  ---------------------------------------------------------------- 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? ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/ Alex’s Picks of the Week: ✨Lotus Wei — https://www.lotuswei.com/alexandrawildeson ✨Clevr Strawberry Matcha — https://clevrblends.com/AWILDESON — AWILDESON for 15% off all orders!!! ✨YumeRest Duvet — https://go.shopmy.us/p-21120056 #podcast #medicalgaslighting #chronicillness #callinginsick #anxietymisdiagnosis #selfadvocacy #healthjourney #doctorstories #alexwildeson #spoonielife #autoimmunedisease #dismissedagain #womenshealth #patientadvocacy #selfadvocacymatters #justanxious #tiktokmedicine #medicalbias #healthmisinformation #callinginsickpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to Calling in Sick — and buckle up because this week? Saint Cooper is back!!! We're calling these the Chaos Episodes™, because that's exactly what it is: one part love story, one part medical update, and several parts unhinged. This week we’re diving into: 💖 How we have fun as a couple even when chronic illness is center stage 🐊 Animal therapy and my current backyard lizard obsession ☕️ My caffeine addiction & our beige flags for each other 📺 Headed to the big screen!!! 🐶 Our thoughts on pet insurance and if it’s scam or savior? 🧠 Trauma therapy, pain management updates, and prednisone It’s chaotic, it’s cozy, it’s just what you expect from Calling in Sick. So thanks for hanging with us again — don’t forget to DM us your couch recs and tell us where you stand on the pet insurance debate. xx, Alex & Coops 💬 Comment: What’s your take on pet insurance?! ** GIVEAWAY ON SOCIALS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HIDDEN DISABILITY SUNFLOWER PROJECT ** Giveaway includes HDS gear + airline gift card!  ---------------------------------------------------------------- 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? ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/ Alex’s Picks of the Week: ✨Grove Co. — https://go.shopmy.us/p-20737557 — ALEXANDRA25 for 25% off all orders +$75!!! #podcast #podcastclips #ChronicIllness #AutoimmuneDisease #ChronicPain #ChronicFatigue #SpoonieLife #HealthJourney #CallingInSick #SpoonieSupport #ChronicIllnessAwareness #MedicalJourney #DisabilityAwareness #SurvivalMode #IdentityShift #medicalgaslighting #womenshealth #selfadvocacy #medicalbias #vasculitis #mixedconnectivetissuedisease #ibd #irritableboweldisease #trauma #ptsd #mentalhealthmatters #findjoy #glimmers #guiltforjoy #endometriosis #lupus #MS #chronicfatiguesyndrome #eds  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to another week of Calling in Sick! The past two episodes were all about setting boundaries with ourselves so we can choose joy more often. And this week? Let’s just say I’m still paying off my Spoonie Jail invoice… and unfortunately, there’s no early release for good behavior. 😅 When flare days stretch into flare weeks (or months), it starts to feel like you’re living the same day over and over again. I call it the Chronic Illness Groundhog Day effect — and I know I’m not alone. This week, I’m breaking down: 🧠 Why time gets weird when you're sick (yep, there's actual neuroscience behind it) 😵‍💫 The “oops-I-had-fun” crash cycle + how to set better boundaries with yourself 🌟 My go-to brain hack to feel momentum—even from bed (escape the loop!) ✨ A peek into my new “Come With Me” series for chronic-illness-friendly escapes Whether you’re stuck on the couch or just tired of feeling stuck, this convo is your permission slip to reclaim time, joy, and a little sparkle! Thanks for Calling in Sick with me again! xx, Alex 💬 Comment: What’s one micro-novelty you’re trying this week? Join the challenge on social media!!! TIMESTAMPS: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick! 00:06:30 Alex’s Picks of the Week (Typology Paris Self-Tanning Trio, True Botanicals Glow Drops, Olive & June Press-On Nails, Paint by Numbers) 00:10:48 The Groundhog Day Effect 00:16:55 Introducing micro-novelties 00:20:10 How I discovered go-to brain hack to feel momentum 00:25:35 One Brain Cell Show of The Week: Clarkson’s Farm 00:26:45 LOVE YOU GUYS! ---------------------------------------------------------------- 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? ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/ Alex’s Picks of the Week: ✨Typology Paris Self-Tanning Trio — https://go.shopmy.us/p-20574989 ✨True Botanicals Glow Drops — https://go.shopmy.us/p-20403404 ——— Buy at The Detox Market Online and Get 15% off at checkout with code ALEXWILDDETOX15 ✨Olive & June Press-On Nails — https://go.shopmy.us/p-15896419 ✨Paint by Numbers (Paint Anywhere) — https://go.shopmy.us/p-20403274 #podcast #podcastclips #ChronicIllness #AutoimmuneDisease #ChronicPain #ChronicFatigue #SpoonieLife #HealthJourney #CallingInSick #SpoonieSupport #ChronicIllnessAwareness #MedicalJourney #DisabilityAwareness #SurvivalMode #IdentityShift #medicalgaslighting #womenshealth #selfadvocacy #medicalbias #vasculitis #mixedconnectivetissuedisease #ibd #irritableboweldisease #trauma #ptsd #mentalhealthmatters #findjoy #glimmers #guiltforjoy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last week, we talked about giving ourselves permission to have fun — but this week? We’re swinging the pendulum back the other way. Because I made zero adjustments and just had fun… which was great until it wasn’t. Truth is, one of the hardest people to set boundaries with is actually ourselves. In this episode, I talk through what it looks like to chase joy, crash hard, and try to recover without beating yourself up. Spoiler alert: I’m recording this after two straight days of IVIG, so I’m right in the thick of it. Here’s what we get into: 🚷 Why we need to set boundaries with ourselves to make life sustainable 🧳 The “oops I had fun and now I’m in spoon jail” cycle 🌿 Ottine road trips, mineral springs, and my new “Come With Me” content series 🪑 The adjustments I’m making in real time This one’s for the people who are 0 or 100, all or nothing, go-go-go until your joints give out. You’re not lazy. You’re not failing. You’re just human — and that’s more than enough. Thanks for Calling in Sick with me, again 💛 xx, Alex Comment: What’s one boundary you’re learning to set with yourself lately? Need to catch up on last week's episode? Here! TIMESTAMPS: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling In Sick! 00:00:30 Alex Life Updates! 00:03:00 Alex’s Picks of the Week! (discount code & links below) 00:04:28 The asterisk that should come after “Just Have Fun!” 00:06:00 How I allocate spoons (aka my energy!!) 00:11:30 Why I landed myself in sick chick jail this week (sorry for having a good time!!!) 00:15:43 Introducing My New Content Series, Come With Me!! 00:20:10 What Boundaries I’m Putting Up Against Myself 00:23:05 One Brain Cell TV: Your Friends & Neighbors (Apple) 00:28:06 LOVE YOU GUYS! ---------------------------------------------------------------- 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? ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/ Alex’s Picks of the Week: ✨The Detox Market — https://go.shopmy.us/p-19681555 ———- ALEXWILDDETOX15 for 15% off at checkout! ✨Tower 28, SOS Line — https://go.shopmy.us/p-19830687 #podcast #podcastclips #ChronicIllness #AutoimmuneDisease #ChronicPain #ChronicFatigue #SpoonieLife #HealthJourney #CallingInSick #SpoonieSupport #ChronicIllnessAwareness #MedicalJourney #DisabilityAwareness #SurvivalMode #IdentityShift #medicalgaslighting #womenshealth #selfadvocacy #medicalbias   #vasculitis #mixedconnectivetissuedisease #ibd #irritableboweldisease #trauma #ptsd #mentalhealthmatters #findjoy #glimmers #guiltforjoy  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I’m back on the mic this week after a little solo pod pause — and I’m kicking things off with something I’ve been thinking about (and living) a lot lately: joy guilt. You know that old rule: “If you’re too sick to go to school, you’re too sick to have fun?” Yeah, that one. Turns out, it doesn’t translate to life with chronic illness. But we still carry it — and it quietly shapes how we see ourselves, how we mask, and how we justify joy when we’re supposed to be struggling. In this episode, I dig into: 💭 Why we fear being seen laughing or “doing too well” 😰 The guilt spiral when symptoms shift — and the fear of not being believed 🎭 How chronic illness can force us to perform misery to protect our empathy 🔥 The lies we were taught about rest, pain, and productivity 🩵 And the truth: Joy is not a betrayal. It’s part of the healing You don’t need to earn your joy. You don’t have to be falling apart to rest. You are not required to apologize for your life, your sparkle, or your softness. So f*@k it — I’m having fun. And I hope you will too. Thanks for Calling in Sick with me 💛 xx, Alex 💬 Comment : Have you ever felt like you had to downplay your joy just to be taken seriously? TIMESTAMPS: TIMESTAMPS: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling In Sick! (Baby I’m Back for a SOLO!!) 00:02:55 Alex Life Updates! 00:4:08 Alex’s Picks of the Week! (discount code & links below) 00:6:12 Why does having fun feel WRONG when you’re chronically sick?! 00:11:02 How to shed the guilt we feel when we have fun! 00:14:16 Why it’s important to live a full life, in my humble opinion ;) 00:15:42 My number one tip for spending happy spoons!! 00:19:40 One Brain Cell TV: Conan O’Brian Award Ceremony 00:22:22 LOVE YOU GUYS! ---------------------------------------------------------------- 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? ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/ Alex’s Picks of the Week: ✨Ursa Major’s Facial Wipes — https://go.shopmy.us/p-19427967 ✨Oliva Flora’s Entire Face Care Set — https://go.shopmy.us/p-19668471 ———- callinginsick10 for 10% off at checkout! #podcast #podcastclips #ChronicIllness #AutoimmuneDisease #ChronicPain #ChronicFatigue #SpoonieLife #HealthJourney #CallingInSick #SpoonieSupport #ChronicIllnessAwareness #MedicalJourney #DisabilityAwareness #SurvivalMode #IdentityShift #medicalgaslighting #womenshealth #selfadvocacy #medicalbias   #vasculitis #mixedconnectivetissuedisease #ibd #irritableboweldisease #trauma #ptsd #mentalhealthmatters #findjoy #glimmers #guiltforjoy  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices