Calling In Sick

This week on Calling in Sick, I’m joined by content creator Jenna Gestetner (@jennaxhealth) to talk about what wellness actually looks like when your body is chronically sick and absolutely unpredictable. Jenna shares her journey living with MCAS, POTS, dysautonomia, and autoimmune conditions, from having random symptoms since childhood to finally getting answers after years of being labeled “sensitive.” And together, we talk about… ⭐ How to build wellness habits when consistency feels impossible 🛏️ Why rest is part of discipline, not the opposite of it 🧠 How to stop thinking wellness is about outcomes ⚖️ The difference between healthy accountability and toxic wellness pressure 🔥 Our rapid-fire yes/no takes on popular wellness trends  Chronic illness can completely change your relationship with discipline, rest, productivity, and the pressure to “do wellness right.” So if you’ve ever felt like traditional wellness advice wasn’t built for a body like yours, this episode is a reminder that healing doesn’t have to look like it does on Instagram. xx, Alex 💬 Comment: What’s one wellness habit that has actually helped you on your WORST days?! TIMESTAMP: Intro: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick! 00:02:31 Alex’s Picks of the Week (Elastique, LARQ) My interview with Jenna Gestetner 00:04:47 Jenna’s background & growing up sick 00:14:14 Jenna’s MCAS diagnosis story 00:28:37 Why it’s important to be open to various healing modalities 00:33:25 Why listening to YOUR body is so important in building a wellness routine 00:39:00 Why discipline has to have a DIFFERENT definition if you’re chronically ill 00:45:19 How to trick your brain into thinking rest is a medical treatment 00:47:24 What brain retraining is and how it helps chronic illness (Primal Trust) 00:56:34 Finding your WHY changes your perspective on life with chronic illness 01:02:33 Rapid Fire Yes/No on Wellness Trends 01:19:57 The ONE wellness trend you should start TODAY! Conclusion: 01:21:36 One Brain Cell Show: Love Island UK (Peacock) 01:24:31 Thank you for listening, LOVE YOU!!! ---------------------------------------------------------------- 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? Follow our guest, Jenna Gestetner! • Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jennaxhealth/ • TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@jennaxhealth • YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@jennaxhealth ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/ Alex’s Picks of the Week: We’re talking about all things wellness and building habits that work for YOU and your lifestyle, here are two of my favorite wellness picks! ✨Elastique — https://tidd.ly/3KsvVcM — ALEX15 gets you 15% off at checkout… and be sure to sign up for the club for additional saving opportunities!!! ✨LARQ — https://go.shopmy.us/p-47583763 #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

In this Calling in Sick x Ask Alex, I am answering all your mental-health related questions about navigating life and illness. I cover: ❤️‍🩹 How to keep going when heartbreak and chronic illness hit at the same time 🧠 How to interrupt negative thought spirals when your brain turns against you 💊 Managing depression and anxiety with chronic illness (with and without medication) 🍎 Lifestyle habits that can impact mental health more than we realize 🛏️ What to do on high pain days when movement and motivation feel impossible 💬 How to stop feeling like a burden to the people you love If you’re living with chronic illness and struggling with depression, anxiety, burnout, or just trying to keep your head above water… this episode is a reminder that you are not alone in the mental or physical side of this journey! As always, Substack subscribers get bonus Q&A content and deeper dives, link below! xx, Alex 💬 Comment: What’s something that helps you get through difficult mental health days? ---------------------------------------------------------------- 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: We’re talking mental health this week, and these two picks have helped me deal with panic attacks, stress, and anxiety!! ✨Vagus Nerve Pen — https://amzn.to/4rh1BAY ✨Safe Stress Oil — https://go.shopmy.us/p-46327179 #MentalHealth #DepressionRecovery #Comedy #StandUpComedy #MentalHealthAwareness #ChronicIllness #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness #MentalHealthPodcast #HealingJourney #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson #garygulman #thegreatdepresh #depression #anxiety #panicattacks #MentalHealth #mentalhealthjourney #grouptherapy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Calling in Sick, I got to sit down with comedian and author Gary Gulman to talk about depression, creativity, recovery, and the surprising things that actually help people get through dark seasons of life. In this episode, we dive into: ⭐ What depression actually feels like 🎭 What performing stand-up was like during depressive episodes 🏥 The truth about psychiatric hospitalization and why it shouldn’t be stigmatized 🧠 Why success and achievement don’t lead to happiness 😂 Why comedy and community can be surprisingly powerful medicine Gary also shares some of the practices that helped him recover, from small daily habits to redefining what success actually means. If you’ve ever struggled with depression, anxiety, burnout, or simply felt alone in your mental health journey, this conversation is a reminder that healing is possible and you are absolutely NOT alone. xx, Alex 💬 Comment: What’s something that has helped you through a difficult mental health season? TIMESTAMP: Intro: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick + Kurt Vonnegut on creativity and art 00:01:44 Alex’s Picks of the Week (Vagus Nerve Tool + Saje Essential Oil) Interview with Gary Gulman: 00:03:55 Recovery from severe depression and anxiety 00:07:21 How human connection is like an antidepressant 00:10:02 Gary’s path from accounting to stand-up comedy 00:15:36 Gary’s first experience asking for help 00:21:39 The reality of psychiatric hospitals and overcoming fear 00:32:41 Reflecting on recovery and learning to set boundaries 00:48:49 Gary’s “100 Things That Helped” list Conclusion: 00:55:50 One Brain Cell Show: Beyond the Lighted Stage (YouTube) & The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling (Everywhere) 01:00:14 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! • Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/garygulman/ • Website (see him on tour NOW!) - https://garygulman.com/ Watch his Stand-Up Special (The Great Depresh): https://amzn.to/40kF8rX Watch his HBO Special (Group Therapy): https://amzn.to/4aVE18e Buy his book:  https://amzn.to/46JyNtQ ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/ Alex’s Picks of the Week: We’re talking mental health this week, and these two picks have helped me deal with panic attacks, stress, and anxiety!! ✨Vagus Nerve Pen — https://amzn.to/4rh1BAY ✨Safe Stress Oil — https://go.shopmy.us/p-46327179 #MentalHealth #DepressionRecovery #Comedy #StandUpComedy #MentalHealthAwareness #ChronicIllness #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness #MentalHealthPodcast #HealingJourney #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson #garygulman #thegreatdepresh #depression #anxiety #panicattacks #MentalHealth #mentalhealthjourney #grouptherapy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Calling in Sick x Ask Alex, Dr. Preston Roche is BACK!!! This time, we’re decoding the language patients and providers use that leave us scratching our heads, or feeling misunderstood.  We cover things like: 🩺 What doctors really mean when they say a patient is “non-compliant” 📋 Why leaving the hospital “AMA” (against medical advice) isn’t always what it sounds like 🧠 The complicated moment when symptoms get labeled “just anxiety” 🔎 The tension around “I Googled it…” in medical conversations If you’ve ever walked out of an appointment feeling confused, dismissed, or like you and your doctor were speaking two completely different languages… this one is for you. xx,  Alex 💬 Comment: What’s a phrase a doctor has said that left you totally confused? Watch Preston’s first time Calling in Sick here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPFvDkhNSN8&t=16s Watch Preston’s second time Calling in Sick here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNIPpoEReeE ---------------------------------------------------------------- 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. Preston Rosche • Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/itspresro/ • TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@.presro?lang=en • YouTube/Podcasts - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzbYn6_Fd7AMsYskrgjAo4wb-UHwJ5Dpy ---------------------------------------------------------------- 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 this week is all about “getting real”… I figured I’d share the REALEST places to buy your non-toxic products (toilet paper, makeup, dish soap, skincare, supplements and more)… ✨Grove Co. — https://go.shopmy.us/p-43983273 — use code ALEXANDRA for 25% off at checkout! ✨Detox Market — https://go.shopmy.us/p-27630200 — use code ALEXANDRA15 for 15% off at checkout! #ChronicIllness #MedicalGaslighting #PatientAdvocacy #DoctorMistakes #MedicalErrors #HealthcareTransparency #ChronicPain #InvisibleIllness #AutoimmuneDisease #SpoonieLife #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson #prestonrosche #presro #medicalmalpractice #medicalgaslighting #medmal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

By popular demand, Dr. Preston Roche is Calling in Sick again. Last time we unpacked the psychiatry of pain… but this time, we went somewhere even more uncomfortable: What really happens when healthcare gets it wrong. We talk openly about medical mistakes, disclosure, ego in medicine, and the quiet tension between patients and providers when something feels “off.” In this episode, we dive into: 🫣 What doctors are actually trained to do when they make a mistake 🧀 The “Swiss cheese model” and how errors slip through multiple safety layers ⚖️ Whether admitting fault increases lawsuits (the research may surprise you) 🧍‍♀️ Why patients sometimes lie, downplay symptoms, or “perform” illness 💸 How insurance pressures both providers and patients into strategic storytelling 🤝 How to rebuild trust after something goes wrong Healthcare is human, and humans make mistakes. This episode pulls back the curtain so you can navigate your own care with more clarity, new language and perspective so you can feel more secure getting the care you need in today’s medical system. xx, Alex 💬 Comment: Have you ever caught a medical mistake (or felt like something was off)? What happened? Watch Preston’s first time Calling in Sick here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPFvDkhNSN8&t=16s TIMESTAMP: Intro: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick! 00:02:12 Alex’s Picks of the Week (Grove Co. & Detox Market) When Medical Mistakes Happen: 00:04:45 How medical errors are classified 00:13:10 Are doctors trained to admit errors? 00:22:45 What medical errors patients are actually told, and what they aren’t 00:32:30 Can providers rebuilding trust after making a medical mistake? 00:41:00 Why patients and providers sometimes lie to each other 00:49:03 How to protect yourself and create strong patient–provider relationships Conclusion: 00:37:05 One Brain Cell Show: Night of Seven Kingdoms (HBO) & Solar Opposites (Netflix) 00:54:35 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. Preston Roche • Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/itspresro/ • TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@.presro?lang=en • YouTube/Podcasts - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzbYn6_Fd7AMsYskrgjAo4wb-UHwJ5Dpy ---------------------------------------------------------------- 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 this week is all about “getting real”… I figured I’d share the REALEST places to buy your non-toxic products (toilet paper, makeup, dish soap, skincare, supplements and more)… ✨Grove Co. — https://go.shopmy.us/p-43983273 — use code ALEXANDRA for 25% off at checkout! ✨Detox Market — https://go.shopmy.us/p-27630200 — use code ALEXANDRA15 for 15% off at checkout! #ChronicIllness #MedicalGaslighting #PatientAdvocacy #DoctorMistakes #MedicalErrors #HealthcareTransparency #ChronicPain #InvisibleIllness #AutoimmuneDisease #SpoonieLife #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson #prestonroche #presro #medicalmalpractice #medicalgaslighting #medmal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Calling in Sick x Ask Alex, Coop and I are answering your real-life questions about navigating starting a family, while managing my chronic illnesses. We cover: 💸 How we are paying for IVF while managing chronic illness medical bills 💊 The reality of tapering off medications safely before pregnancy 🧬 Navigating TTC with autoimmune disease ❤️‍🩹 What it actually feels like emotionally to try for a baby with a complex health history If you’re navigating IVF, TTC, pregnancy planning, or just trying to hold hope while living in an unpredictable body… this one is for you. As always, Substack subscribers get bonus Q&A content and deeper dives, link below! xx, Alex 💬 Comment: What’s your biggest travel non-negotiable when you’re flaring? ---------------------------------------------------------------- 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 we’re talking about all things baby this week… these are two things we already own that I *think* will come in handy with baby!!! ✨Hatch (alarm clock) — https://go.shopmy.us/p-32414449 — ALEXWILD gives you 55% off at checkout! ✨Lola (blanket) — https://go.shopmy.us/p-37229531 — ALEXWILD gives you 55% off at checkout! And Saint Cooper was SO excited to throw in his picks too… ✨AG1 (greens mix) — https://go.shopmy.us/p-40888857 — pro tip, mix with Pineapple and coconut water!! ✨ Uni (lotion) — https://go.shopmy.us/p-43912973 — ALEXANDRA15 for 15% off at checkout! #TryingToConceive #IVFJourney #ChronicIllnessPregnancy #AutoimmuneDisease #HighRiskPregnancy #EmbryoTransfer #FertilityJourney #MotherhoodWithChronicIllness #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness #ChronicPain #IVFSupport #CaregivingSpouse #MedicalGaslighting #HealthJourney #ChronicIllnessCommunity #DisabilityAwareness #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Calling in Sick, Coop and I are sitting down for one of the most vulnerable conversations we’ve had yet. We’re talking about the reality of trying to have a baby while living with chronic illness: the planning, the fear, the logistics, the IVF part, and the emotional nuance that doesn’t always make it to Instagram. In this episode, we dive into: • Why we chose IVF instead of trying to conceive naturally • How we are processing this chapter differently (while not being mad at each other) • The caregiving dynamic and how a baby could shift it • Our fears around health, tapering medications, and timing We also revisit our embryo update and give more context to how we’re thinking about implantation, preparation, and what this season of life really looks like behind the scenes. So if you’ve ever wondered about becoming a parent while juggling chronic illness… put your headphones on and turn up the volume.  🎧 And don’t forget!!! Our weekly Ask Alex episode drops Wednesday at 9 AM CST, where we answer your submitted questions (including IVF costs, tapering meds, and filming during flares). xx, Alex 💬 Comment: What’s the biggest fear or question you have about parenthood and chronic illness? TIMESTAMP: Intro: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick! 00:01:37 Life Updates & Yapping 00:09:14 Alex’s (& Coop’s) Picks of the Week (Hatch, Lola, AG1 and Uni) Chronic Illness & Trying to Become Parents: 00:16:22 Why we are doing IVF & what our experience has been like so far 00:23:24 Why we will only name ONE embryo & how we picked July as the implantation date 00:26:24 How being a caregiver & husband has given Cooper a different emotional experiencing around trying-to-conceive (TTC) 00:33:01 What sharing my chronic illness fertility journey online has been like  00:37:55 The fears and worries we are carrying around having a baby with a chronic illness  00:43:18 Why we’ve decided it’s time to go to Couples Therapy!! 00:44:44 How Cooper and I are diving up the logistics of planing for parenthood & the one thing that made us have a FIGHT 00:54:02 What’s next for our TTC journey Conclusion: 00:57:05 One Brain Cell Show: The Burbs (Peacock) 00:59:20 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? ---------------------------------------------------------------- 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 we’re talking about all things baby this week… these are two things we already own that I *think* will come in handy with baby!!! ✨Hatch (alarm clock) — https://go.shopmy.us/p-32414449 — ALEXWILD gives you 55% off at checkout! ✨Lola (blanket) — https://go.shopmy.us/p-37229531 — ALEXWILD gives you 55% off at checkout! And Saint Cooper was SO excited, so here are some of his most recent faves!!! ✨AG1 (greens mix) — https://go.shopmy.us/p-40888857 — pro tip, mix with Pineapple and coconut water!! ✨ Uni (lotion) — https://go.shopmy.us/p-43912973 — ALEXANDRA15 for 15% off at checkout! #TryingToConceive #IVFJourney #ChronicIllnessPregnancy #AutoimmuneDisease #HighRiskPregnancy #EmbryoTransfer #FertilityJourney #MotherhoodWithChronicIllness #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness #ChronicPain #IVFSupport #CaregivingSpouse #MedicalGaslighting #HealthJourney #ChronicIllnessCommunity #DisabilityAwareness #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Calling in Sick x Ask Alex, I’m answering your real-life questions about navigating international travel with chronic illness… after just getting back from a very impromptu trip to London myself! We cover: ✈️ The best food I had while abroad 🥜 How to travel safely with food allergies (grocery store hacks, translation cards, and what I always pack) 🧦 If I think compression stockings actually worth it? 🛫 How often I walk on long-haul flights + what I wear when I know I won’t So if you’ve ever wondered, “do I have to be ‘better’ to travel?” Make sure you tune in to this week’s episode!! This week, our Substack subscribers also get a bonus Q&A and an allergy friendly print-out you’ll want to pack with you ALWAYS!! xx, Alex 💬 Comment: What’s your biggest travel non-negotiable when you’re flaring? ---------------------------------------------------------------- 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/ Product Shout-Outs!!! This week I shared some of my must-haves for traveling, especially for long-haul flights. Shop them below! ✨Elastique (compression-wear) — https://tidd.ly/3KsvVcM — Use code “ALEX15” for 15% off at checkout (and be sure to use your HSA // FSA) ✨Comrad (medical grade compression socks) — https://go.shopmy.us/p-41669795 — Use code “ALEXANDRA20” for 20% off at checkout I also mention some of the wellness tools I relied on before traveling… shop them here! ✨HigherDose (PEMF Mat) — https://go.shopmy.us/p-42483902 -- Use "ALEXANDRA" for 15% off at checkout (and be sure to use your HSA // FSA) ✨HigherDose (Infrared Sauna Bag) — https://go.shopmy.us/p-33644795 -- Use "ALEXANDRA" for 15% off at checkout (and be sure to use your HSA // FSA) ✨The 5 Supplements I ALWAYS travel with — https://shopmy.us/shop/collections/3899228 ✨Sleep Crown (the ULTIMATE pillow) — https://go.shopmy.us/p-43127906 ✨Sweet Bee (magnesium butter) — https://go.shopmy.us/p-43127842 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Calling in Sick, we’re debriefing my very impromptu trip to London… which happened one week after I was hospitalized. Yes. That hospitalization. The one with the worst IVIG hangover I’ve had in a long time. And somehow… we still made it to London. So in this episode, I’m sharing exactly how we made that possible, and what I learned along the way. In this week’s episode, you’ll hear all about: ✈️ Why I said yes to international travel during a flare (how it connects to my “year of yes” and baby prep!!) ❤️‍🩹 How I prepared my body to go from the hospital to Heathrow airport 🇬🇧 My favorite, hardest, and funniest moments in London 🤪 The #1 mistake I made while traveling with a chronic illness 🧠 What I realized when we got home (it’s a good one) 💛 My Top 5 tips for traveling internationally with chronic illness And bonus!!! I’m answering all your travel questions in this week’s Ask Alex episode, including: food in London, my top allergy recommendations for eating while traveling, if I think compression-wear actually makes a difference for traveling, and how I approach long-haul flights. If you want those answers, be sure to tune in on Wednesday, Feb 18 at 9 AM CST. And of course, our Substack subscribers get an exclusive bonus Q&A this week!! If you’re like me and have ever felt like travel is reserved for when you’re “better”… this episode might gently challenge that belief. Because what I realized from this trip shifted how I see travel, and honestly, how I see doing more things. xx, Alex 💬 Comment: What’s your biggest worry about traveling with a chronic illness? TIMESTAMPS Intro: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick! 00:02:01 Alex’s Picks of the Week (Sleep Crown & Sweet Bee) Traveling with a Chronic Illness Flare-Up: 00:04:46 How I went from a hospitalization to London (IVIG hangover, the lifestyle & wellness bandaids I used,  00:07:03 Why I’m saying “YES!” to way more things this year, and how I applied that to this international trip 00:07:48 How I broke my mindset of “traveling is only for when I’m ‘healthy’” 00:09:40 How we prepared for this trip differently & my question for y’all 00:11:01 What we actually did in London, my favorite parts & the biggest chronic illness hack for travel!!! 00:14:25 The BIGGEST mistake I made during our trip & the FUNNIEST story from our trip 00:17:58 My TOP 5 TIPS for traveling (how to handle jet lag, change your itinerary like THIS, do it all or duvet it up?, making sight-seeing accessible, 80/20 rule for traveling) 00:23:01 Why is the US approving “natural food dyes” actually problematic?! Conclusion: 00:24:20 One Brain Cell Show: Wild London (BBC… Apple TV?!) 00:27:22 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: This week I share about how I had the HARDEST time trying to sleep while traveling... and probably would have gotten 0 shut eye if it weren't for these 2 products!! ✨Sleep Crown (the only pillow you'll ever need) — https://go.shopmy.us/p-43127906 ✨Sweet Bee (magnesium butter) — https://go.shopmy.us/p-43127842 I also mention some of the wellness tools I relied on before traveling… shop them here! ✨HigherDose (PEMF Mat) — https://go.shopmy.us/p-42483902 ✨HigherDose (Infrared Sauna Bag) — https://go.shopmy.us/p-33644795 -- Use code "ALEXANDRA" for 15% off at checkout for both products!! ✨The 5 Supplements I traveled With — https://shopmy.us/shop/collections/3899228 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s finally happening... Calling in Sick is officially launching a SECOND episode every week!!!!!! Y’all’s response to the first Ask Alex episode was so overwhelmingly positive that we had to open it up to everyone. We listened, and we’re officially launching a weekly Q&A episode 🥹 And if you want even more (because who doesn’t?) head over to our Substack, where subscribers get access to additional, exclusive Q&A answers and behind-the-scenes footage you won’t find anywhere else. If you want to submit a question, keep an eye out for our weekly posts on YouTube and socials, then click the link to our Google Q&A form. Now… without further ado… ✨ Welcome to the very first Ask Alex episode! ✨ A brand new Calling in Sick series where we answer your real-life questions about navigating chronic illness — live, rapid-fire, and off the cuff. Each week, we’ll be answering questions you submit... no edits, no polish, just honest conversation. And for this first episode,  @CarolineCray  joins me to tackle your most pressing questions, like: • How to advocate for yourself when specialists are dismissive or confused • Why “duvet days” are productive — and how to rest without feeling lazy • Staying hopeful without bypassing how hard this actually is • Dating and intimacy with MCAS, food allergies, and real safety boundaries • Navigating work, fatigue, accommodations, and knowing when you’ve pushed too far • How to explain chronic illness to new people (without over-explaining) • Nutrition realities with restrictive diets, protein intake, and energy limitations We hope you love this new series as much as we love making it 🤍 xx, Alex ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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: Caroline Cray • Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/carolinecray2/?hl=en • TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@carolinecray2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Powered by: Just Media House — https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/ #MCAS #MastCellActivationSyndrome #ChronicIllness #FoodFear #SevereAllergies #InvisibleIllness #SpoonieLife #Dysautonomia #ChronicIllnessCommunity #ChronicIllnessPodcast #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson #CarolineCray #HealthJourney #MedicalGaslighting #DisabilityAwareness Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Calling in Sick, I’m joined by Caroline Cray, a content creator and healthcare recruiter living with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), dysautonomia, and multiple severe allergies, to talk about what life looks like when food isn’t safe. In this episode, we cover: What MCAS is (in plain English) and how it affects daily life Nutrition with MCAS, bioindividuality, and why “one-size-fits-all” diets can be dangerous How nervous system regulation can support chronic illness If GLP-1 medications have a place in chronic illness treatment We also answer your Ask Alex questions... which will be released in our new Ask Alex weekly episode, this Wednesday at 9 am CST!!! Tune in to hear our thoughts from successful self-advocacy, dating with MCAS, navigating work with chronic illness, explaining chronic illness to new people, and coping with anxiety on high-symptom days! We laughed our way through this episode… so come sit and hangout with us for a bit!  xx, Alex 💬 Comment: What’s one thing people misunderstand most about eating, food fear, or nutrition with chronic illness? TIMESTAMPS Intro: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick! 00:03:11 Alex’s Picks of the Week (Modern Picnic & Kroma Bone Broth) Caroline's Life with MCAS: 00:04:01 Intro to Caroline Cray (growing up with food allergies) 00:11:17 Navigating college with food allergies & MCAS (and our first BIG reactions) 00:19:10 How Caroline’s food allergies morphed into MCAS 00:29:24 MCAS 101 & Caroline’s diagnosis story (MCAS & Small Fiber Neuropathy) 00:38:55 How life threatening events change our perspective on chronic illness  00:40:18 What happened when we started sharing our journeys online   00:43:24 Navigating nutrition with intense food restrictions 00:47:37 Fighting food fear, anxiety and “the bubble” with nervous system work and the “woo-woo” stuff 00:57:51 How finding community improved our happiness and quality of life 01:03:10 Is there a place for GLP-1s in chronic illness management? 01:08:24 What success with MCAS and chronic illness looks like for Caroline Conclusion: 01:13:15 One Brain Cell Show: Wednesday (Heated Rivalry!!!!! and what we are reading (Off-Campus Series & ACOTAR) 01:17:28 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? Connect with our Guest: Caroline Cray • Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/carolinecray2/?hl=en • TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@carolinecray2 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.comalexandrawildeson/ Alex’s Picks of the Week: This week we talk all things food, so these are my two biggest snacking picks!!! ✨Modern Picnic (insulated purse) — https://modernpicnic.com/discount/awildeson —> Use code “AWILDESON” for 15% off at checkout! ✨Kroma (bone broth on the go) — https://go.shopmy.us/p-37230756 —> Use code “ALEXANDRA20” for 20% off at checkout! #MCAS #MastCellActivationSyndrome #ChronicIllness #FoodFear #SevereAllergies #InvisibleIllness #SpoonieLife #Dysautonomia #ChronicIllnessCommunity #ChronicIllnessPodcast #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson #CarolineCray #HealthJourney #MedicalGaslighting #DisabilityAwareness  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Calling in Sick, I’m sharing a very real life update. I talk through my chronic illness thoughts on: getting Botox (including my TMJ) with a chronic illness starting to prep for IVF and embryo implantation: emotionally, logistically, and medically IVIG insurance nonsense, navigating hospitalizations, and why advocating for yourself matters (even when you’re exhausted) traveling internationally while not in remission, and how I’m planning differently I also answer your Ask Alex questions: from medicine questions, fears around passing on chronic illnesses, and avoiding future-tripping about motherhood… which you can find exclusively on our Substack!! Link below! This episode isn’t about doing everything perfectly, but about doing life honestly, adapting as we go, and letting things be both exciting and hard at the same time. If you’re living with chronic illness and trying to build a full life anyway, this one’s for you. xx, Alex 💬 Comment: What’s something that you WANT to do, but are SCARED to do, because of chronic illness? TIMESTAMP: Intro: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick! 00:04:27 Alex’s Picks of the Week (Arrae & Comrad) Alex Update: 00:06:15 My rundown on botox and chronic illness 00:11:27 Our family update (doctors appointments & how we are handling this era differently) 00:15:50 Changing insurances and continuation of care (ahem IVIG) and a solo hospitalization 00:21:00 IVIG going SO WRONG (and what to do to feel better!!) 00:25:54 Two bright spots from my hospitalization (the podcast and med students & changing my hospital trauma response) 00:31:20 Will AI make insurance better or worse?!? 00:32:51 Traveling abroad in a flare up (what I’m bringing and planning to do to make this trip a success!) Conclusion: 00:34:43 One Brain Cell Show: SNL (Hulu) 00:37:29 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: International travel while flaring? These are my top 2 MUST HAVES to make my flight a little bit easier… ✨Arrae Supplements (constipation) — go.shopmy.us/p-40962893 ✨Comrad Compression Socks — go.shopmy.us/p-28908081 — ALEXANDRA20 for 20% off #ChronicIllness #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness #AutoimmuneDisease #ChronicPain #IVIG #IVFJourney #LifeWithChronicIllness #MedicalGaslighting #HealthJourney #DisabilityAwareness #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Calling in Sick, I’m joined by Dr. Sula Windgassen, a health psychologist, researcher, author of It’s All in Your Body, and fellow chronic illness patient. Dr. Windgassen brings a rare and deeply validating perspective to chronic illness care, one that explains why symptoms often worsen when we feel dismissed, blamed, or unsafe, and how psychology can biologically influence pain and illness without implying that it’s “all in your head.” Together, we explore: What actually happens in the body when you’re dismissed or not believed How external comments turn into self-gaslighting What actually helps restore a sense of safety This is a grounding, science-backed, and deeply de-shaming conversation for anyone who’s been told, explicitly or subtly, that their illness is psychological, exaggerated, or something they should be able to “think their way out of.” You are not broken. Your symptoms make sense. And safety is not a reward… it’s a biological need. xx, Alex 💬 Comment: What’s one thing you wish people understood about how words affect chronic illness? ✨ Substack EXCLUSIVES! ✨ This week, only our Substack subscribers will get exclusive access to this week’s Q&A. We give our two cents on: Ways to calm the mind/body down and use this connection for healing Is it possible to rule out if there is or is NOT mental components of chronic illness? In this framework... Is it my fault I'm sick? How do we know if mental health is the root cause of physical symptoms? How do you deal with medical PTSD? ✨Subscribe to our Substack for our answers! https://substack.com/@callinginsickpod ✨ TIMESTAMP: Intro: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick! 00:04:48 Alex’s Picks of the Week (Divi, Jupiter) Mind-Body-Flare Up: 00:07:36 Intro to Dr. Sula Wingassen (how getting sick pushed her into studying and developing the psycho-biology framework) 00:21:55 The impact of hopelessness on chronic illness 00:28:20 Why the mind-body connection isn’t always effective (and how to effectively use it) 00:31:30 How internalized self-blame keeps the body stuck in threat-mode 00:37:12 Why searching for the silver bullet derails healing in the long-term 00:40:00 The 5 key measures of safety that prove how social experiences can put our bodies in survival response 00:48:00 It’s all in our body… how trauma and cortisol can be the last straw (little T and big T, trauma) 00:50:23 Why we hate to hear “have you tried…” and how to NOT let it activate the body’s stress response  01:03:15 How chronic illness changes how we view “a good day” 01:11:08 Dr. Sula’s top tips to find a sense of safety in the body  Conclusion: 01:26:32 One Brain Cell Show: Wednesday (Music: Bellemt; TV: The Office) 01:30:32 Thank you for listening! ---------------------------------------------------------------- Connect with our Guest, Dr. Sula Wingassen: • Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/the_health_psychologist_/?hl=en • Her website - https://www.healthpsychologist.co.uk/ 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 me getting ready to learn how to do all the girly things before (hopefully) becoming a girl mom… we’re talking hair health!! ✨DIVI (hair growth serum, dry shampoo, air dry cream)  — https://go.shopmy.us/p-38925489 ALEXANDRA15 for 15% off at checkout ✨Jupiter Detox Shampoo — https://go.shopmy.us/p-38925648 ALEXANDRA20 for 20% off at checkout Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Calling in Sick, I’m joined by Dr. Tracy Shevell — a physician, high-risk OBGYN, women’s health advocate, and chronic illness patient. Dr. Shevell brings a rare dual perspective: what it’s like to move through the medical system as both the provider and the patient. In this episode, we explore: ✨ How to navigate Western medicine with a chronic illness and why becoming your own “health quarterback” matters ✨How to explore non-Western healing modalities without losing your money, your nervous system, or your sense of self ✨ Why medical social media and doom-scrolling symptoms can make us feel worse ✨ The difference between intuition and anxiety, and how to use that nuance to advocate for yourself more effectively Tune into this episode for a grounding, myth-busting conversation about taking care of yourself when Western medicine alone isn’t cutting it, without spiraling, self-blaming, or burning out. xx, Alex 💬 Comment: How do you utilize social media to navigate your healing journey? ✨ Substack EXCLUSIVES! ✨ This week, only our Substack subscribers will get exclusive access to this week’s Q&A. We give our two cents on navigating pregnancy and postpartum care with complex chronic illness, how providers can better support high-risk patients before, during, and after pregnancy, and how we navigated careers with high expectations while living with chronic illness. ✨Subscribe to our Substack here: https://substack.com/@callinginsickpod TIMESTAMP: Intro: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick! 00:03:22 My life and health update 00:04:04 Alex’s Picks of the Week (Tilt, Comrad & CBDLiving… discount codes below!) Dr. Tracy Shevell, the doctor: 00:06:03 Dr. Tracy Shevell: becoming a provider and patient 00:15:30 On becoming our own health quarterbacks 00:17:30 How we pursued alternative non-western healing modalities 00:21:50 Why western medicine pays more attention to women’s health and chronic illnesses suddenly 00:26:00 Dr. Shevell’s top 4 tips for navigating the western medical world with a chronic illness Dr. Tracy Shevell, the patient: 00:34:15 What being a patient and provider is really like 00:41:24 Navigating the wild world of medical social media & the pressure to try everything that could help us feel better 00:51:02 The difference between being an expert on our own bodies, and a medical expert 00:54:11 The difference between a gut feeling and anxiety, and how to use this nuance to your advantage 00:57:50 How to rebuild trust after medical gaslighting and medical trauma Conclusion: 01:06:45 One Brain Cell Show: Gossip Girl (Netflix) 01:11:41 Thank you for listening! ---------------------------------------------------------------- Connect with our Guest, Dr. Tracy Shevell: • Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/tracyshevellmd/ • Her website - https://www.tracyshevellmd.com/ 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: The other week on social media, I posted my top 5 products that I keep reordering, chronic illness edition, obviously. And y’all loved it!! The top 3 most requested links were… ✨Tilt Lip Treatment — https://go.shopmy.us/p-38126280 - CODE: AWILD15 for 15% off ✨Comrad Compression Socks — https://go.shopmy.us/p-38067114 - CODE: ALEXANDRA20 for 20% off ✨CBDLiving Pain Stick — https://go.shopmy.us/p-32444450 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Calling in Sick, I’m joined by actor, content creator, and disability rights advocate Tara Rule for an honest, existential conversation about what happens when you come face-to-face with your own mortality… and decide to stop waiting for permission to live. Tara and I talk about how chronic illness forces so many of us to grow up early, reckon with uncertainty, and hit emotional rock bottom. And that from those experiences and downward spirals, you can come to realize that we have nothing to lose by finally chasing the lives and creative careers we want. From content creation to acting, we explore why so many chronically ill people end up in creative spaces, and how “rock bottom” often becomes a strange kind of launch point. We also unpack the full spectrum of chronic illness content… from crash-out creators to toxic positivity… and why all of it matters. Because the chronic illness journey isn’t linear, and neither is healing, ambition, or success. This episode is about holding gratitude for simply being here today and allowing yourself to want more. xx, Alex 💬 Comment: What’s something you’re no longer waiting for permission to want? Substack EXCLUSIVES! This week, only our Substack subscribers will hear our two cents on what we would have changed in our early diagnosis days, when we knew it was time to quit our 9-5 jobs, and how I’m preparing to make motherhood more sustainable and accessible with chronic illness. Subscribe to our Substack here: https://substack.com/@callinginsickpod TIMESTAMP: Intro: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick! 00:01:01 Alex Catch Up 00:04:17 Episode Sneak Peak Housekeeping, and Substack Info 00:06:17 Alex’s Picks (Sacheu Lip Liner & Thrive Causemetics) Tara Rule is Calling in Sick: 00:08:27 Intro to Tara 00:15:45 Tara’s career shifts (mortuary school, content creating, acting) 00:17:27 How a near death experience changed EVERYTHING  00:32:09 Why it’s important to have different voices that paint the full picture of chronic illness 00:37:45 How Tara handles masking (or not masking) chronic illness for her career 00:42:40 Why is there SUCH a pipeline for chronic illness fighters to the creative space 00: 45:35 The fear of flaring versus the fear of disappointing others 00:47:16 How powerful our brains are 00:50:07 Navigating redefining success with a chronic illness Conclusion: 00:58:13 One Brain Cell Show (Stranger Things (Netflix), Telepathy Tapes (Spotify); Haunted Hotel (Netflix) and Heated Rivalry (Prime)) 01:03:16 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 go to passive wellness picks, in food form!! ✨Sacheu Lip Liner — https://go.shopmy.us/p-38126238 —> ALEXANDRA15 for 15% off ✨Thrive Causemetic’s Plumping Lip gloss — https://go.shopmy.us/p-38126276 Connect with Tara Rule • Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/tara_rule_/?hl=en\ • TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@tara_rule #ChronicIllness #InvisibleIllness #SpoonieLife #DisabilityAwareness #ChronicPain #RedefiningSuccess #LifeAfterDiagnosis #WorkingWithChronicIllness #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson #SickGirlSoftLiving #SoftLiving #tararule #neardeathexperience #rockbottom #lifepivots Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy New Year my lovies!!! In honor of the new year, I’m officially launching a new podcast segment… Ask Alex!  Every week (yes, even during guest episodes!), we’ll post the upcoming podcast topic (and guest) to our Substack and ask our subscribers to submit questions. I’ll answer a handful of these on the podcast each week, and the rest of the Q&A will live exclusively on Substack. For this first Ask Alex episode, I’m tackling some of  most requested questions… like what are my actual routines like, how I make medication decisions, what to do about medical finances and debt, and how to communicate boundaries and symptoms to those that *just don’t get it*. Substack EXCLUSIVES! This week, only our Substack subscribers will hear my two cents on micro-dosing and how to know when it might be time to consider long-term disability. I’ve been so excited to bring this segment to life. It’s my little way of saying thank you… for your support, your vulnerability, your questions, and for trusting me with your stories this past year. This community means everything to me, and I can’t wait to keep building this space together in 2026. xx, Alex 💬 Comment: So have you subscribed to our Substack now!? Subscribe to our Substack here: ⁠https://substack.com/@callinginsickpod?⁠ TIMESTAMPS: Intro: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick! 00:02:58 My REALLY BIG life update!!!! 00:07:52 Alex’s Picks (AG1 and Ella’s Flats)  Ask Alex Q&A: 00:09:09 Tips on being the best caregiver 00:11:52 Are we doing an IRL meet up?! 00:12:38 GLP-1s and peptides for inflammation  00:13:21 How to stay on track with routines when you’re homebound 00:15:12 My low spoon, under 10-minute skincare, makeup and haircare routine 00:16:40 The things I grieved the most after my diagnosis 00:19:17 Finances & communicating budgets to our loved ones 00:21:18 Explaining boundaries and symptoms to those that do NOT understand 00:23:06 When to use disability aids (parking placard, cane, walker, etc.) 00:24:14 New Years guilt & feeling stuck in the same place as last year 00:26:30 How I *actually* motivate myself to physically get out of bed in the morning 00:28:24 How I decide to take (or not take) medications 00:29:41 My top tips for advocating at the ER (especially when we have trauma!!) Conclusion: 00:31:27 One Brain Cell Show 00:33:18 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 • 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 go to passive wellness picks, in food form!! ✨AG1 — https://go.shopmy.us/p-37437789 ✨Ella’s Flats — https://go.shopmy.us/p-37437898 —> ALEXANDRAWILDESON15 for 15% off #ChronicIllness #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness #AutoimmuneDisease #ChronicPain #HealthJourney #DisabilityAwareness #flareup #ChronicIllnessSupport #WorkingWithChronicIllness #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson #SoftLiving #NewYearDifferentRules #AskAlex #QuestionandAnswer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Calling in Sick, we’re talking about the terrifying and liberating shift from hiding your illness to letting the world see it. I’m joined by the incredible Sara Levitt, a Crohn’s warrior, Ostomy advocate, model, and creator who lived privately with her Ostomy for 15 years… before deciding that invisibility wasn’t serving her anymore. Today, she takes up space… in fashion shows, brand campaigns, magazines, and online, challenging stigma by simply existing visibly, confidently, and honestly. We dive into: ✨ What going public with your illness REALLY feels like ✨ Imposter syndrome & identity shifts when sickness becomes visible ✨ The critics, misconceptions, and assumptions we all endure ✨ Why storytelling is activism, even when it’s hard If you’ve ever worried about being “too sick” or “not sick enough” to be believed… this episode will encourage you to shop up however you want, however you are. xx, Alex Comment: What’s one part of your illness that feels hardest to make visible? TIMESTAMP: Intro: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick! 00:02:13 Alex’s Picks of the Week (Mayfair & Tilt) Get to know Sara Levitt: 00:03:03 Intro to Sara Levitt (Crohn’s warrior, Ostomy advocate, model, and creator ) 00:12:43 Why we went into content creation and chronic illness advocacy work 00:23:40 What it’s like to work with brands that work to amplify voices with chronic illness 00:26:26 Finding confidence while working as a model with chronic illness 00:33:33 Navigating the pressure of advocacy work within the chronic illness community 00:44:24 Finding confidence, a sense of self-worth, positivity and hope despite chronic illness Conclusion: 00:51:30 One Brain Cell Show: Gossip Girl!!! 00:57:06 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: This week, I’m picking brands that help make the invisible, visible by celebrating disability, chronic illness and mental health, instead of showcasing. ✨Mayfair — https://go.shopmy.us/p-31914468 Use code ALEXANDRA15 for 15% off! ✨Tilt — https://go.shopmy.us/p-30221469 Use code ALEXANDRA20 for 20% off! ---------------------------------------------------------------- Connect with our Guest, Sara Levitt: • Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/saralevs/?hl=en • TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@saralevitt?lang=en #ChronicIllness #InvisibleIllness #SpoonieLife #OstomyLife #CrohnsDisease #IBDWarrior #DynamicDisability #MedicalGaslighting #BodyNeutrality #DisabilityAdvocate #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson #ChronicPain #SpoonieSupport #HealthJourney #SelfAdvocacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Calling in Sick, I’m joined by @Samantha Duran, a chronic illness and pain advocate, accessible fashion designer and content creator who is radically honest about life with chronic illness. We talk about the parts of chronic pain that rarely make it into doctor’s offices or public conversations: the shame around needing relief, the reality of public judgment, and the exhausting internal battle of deciding how much pain is “enough” pain to deserve care. Together, we unpack the misconceptions that keep people suffering in silence. We’re diving into: ✨ Samantha’s journey with chronic illness and how it shaped who she is ✨ Why dynamic disabilities are so misunderstood ✨ The stigma around pain management and seeking relief ✨ The internal guilt, fear, and self-doubt that comes with chronic pain ✨ What compassionate, patient-centered pain care should look like If you’ve ever minimized your pain, questioned whether you’re “sick enough,” or felt ashamed for wanting relief, this conversation is for you. xx, Alex 💬 Comment: What’s the hardest part of living with chronic pain that people don’t see? TIMESTAMP: Intro: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick! 00:03:15 Alex’s Picks of the Week (Hair Growth Go-Tos: DIVI, K18, Jupiter, Hairstory) Our discussion on chronic pain & dynamic disabilities: 00:06:10 Get to know Samantha Duran 00:14:45 The reality of living with a dynamic disability 00:27:20 What living with chronic pain is REALLY like 00:48:00 Why there is a stigma around seeking relief from chronic pain 00:55:15 Why the current medical system’s understanding of chronic pain makes getting relief harder than it needs to be 01:06:47 What gives us hope that chronic pain management will improve over time Conclusion: 01:08:55 One Brain Cell Segment 01:14:17 Thank you for listening! ---------------------------------------------------------------- Follow our Guest, Samantha Duran! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adisabledicon/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@adisabledicon?lang=en Shop her Store: https://thanksicon.com/ Listen to her chronic pain playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6OgAKjwfWMATonF4pNnBHP?si=IRavatdDTzmC0hPmZERoRw 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: Samantha said it best… you can be sick, and hot!! Here are my favorite products for reclaiming your hair from chronic illness (no more thinning or frail hair!!) ✨DIVI — https://go.shopmy.us/p-36240548 Alexandra15 for 15% off at checkout!  ✨Jupiter — https://go.shopmy.us/p-36240630 Alexandra20 for 20% off at checkout!  ✨HairStory — https://go.shopmy.us/p-36240725 ✨K18 —https://go.shopmy.us/p-36240750 #ChronicPain #PainManagement #InvisibleIllness #SpoonieLife #MedicalGaslighting #DisabilityAdvocate #ChronicIllness #HealthJourney #MentalHealth #PainStigma #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson #spooniesupport #samanthaduran #accessibility #dynamicdisability #ambulatorydisability  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Calling in Sick I’m pulling back the curtain on the last two months of medical testing — why I said yes to a clinical study, what the actual tests were like, and how I’m handling the weird emotional whiplash of “we did all that… and we still don’t have a perfect answer.” I’m tired, I’m flaring, I had my first day of IVIG… and somehow we’re still laughing (because if we don’t laugh, we scream in a medical trailer getting injected with nuclear medicine 🙃). We’re diving into: ✨ Why I joined a clinical study (and what it’s actually used for) ✨ The 5-test diagnostic gauntlet: prednisone taper, bloodwork, scopes, pill cam, MRAs/MRIs + a PET scan ✨ Insurance + scheduling lore from HELL ✨ Colonoscopy prep amnesia (it’s like childbirth… you forget on purpose) ✨ My polarizing take: Google Maps > Apple Maps (fight me) ✨ The pill cam panic + urgent care x2 in one week ✨ The mindset shift I didn’t see coming: career momentum, motherhood timeline, and accepting what I’m not ready for yet xx, Alex 💬 COMMENT: What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever had to do for medical testing? TIMESTAMPS: Intro: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick! 00:06:18 Alex’s Picks of the Week: Gap Body pajamas + bear slippers (kids section hack) Meat & Potatoes: The Diagnostic Gauntlet 00:09:08 Setting the stage: why I did the study 00:09:34 Clinical study 101 (and why it matters for future patients) 00:11:44 The deeper reason: the childhood diagnosis question mark 00:14:21 Prednisone taper (DO NOT DO THIS AT HOME) 00:19:27 Colonoscopy/endoscopy scheduling chaos + prep misery 00:22:26 Bloodwork off meds (and why I wanted the comparison) 00:25:14 Pill cam explained 00:30:47 MRAs/MRIs explained 00:34:56 Rituxan win: the mid-infusion Benadryl trick 00:36:02 IVIG recall 00:36:43 PET scans explained 00:39:19 Biggest takeaways: prep worse than tests + results didn’t show much 00:42:38 What’s next: oral prednisone vs IV, CAR-T trial, methotrexate or… Conclusion: 00:46:00 Why I feel “weirdly okay” right now (and what chronic illness teaches you) 00:49:24 Soft30 with Elastique 00:50:06 One Brain Cell Show: Age of Disclosure 00:52:34 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: We’re talking “surviving medical chaos” essentials this week… aka comfort items and small joys. ✨Gap Body pajamas (port-friendly button down) — https://go.shopmy.us/p-35563702 ✨Gap bear slippers — https://go.shopmy.us/p-35563870 ✨Our MERCH is available still…. Get it while it lasts!!!! — https://calling-in-sick.myshopify.com/ —— Use code “ZOFRAN” for a special discount!! ---------------------------------------------------------------- 🥄 RSVP: Cooking with Cooper LIVE on YouTube on 12/19 —https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cooking-with-coop-tickets-1976990439624?aff=oddtdtcreator ---------------------------------------------------------------- #callinginsickpodcast #callinginsick #chronicillness #autoimmune #spoonielife #spooniesupport #invisibleillness #healthjourney #ivig #rituxan #prednisone #vasculitis #lupuslife #endometriosis #chronicpain #fatigue #medicalgaslighting #spoonietribe #flareup #petscan #pillcam #colonoscopy #mri #mra #clinicalstudy #chronicillnesshumor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Calling in Sick we’re talking about one of the most controversial skills you’ll ever learn with chronic illness… working smarter instead of harder. After 25+ years being the patient, I’ve learned something I WISH someone told me as a kid… healthy-person rules were never designed for us. So I’m walking you through the “rules” I break on purpose, why my body finally didn’t crash after a holiday (knocking on wood), and the smarter systems I’ve built that protect my energy, time, and sanity. We’re diving into: ✨ Automating anything that drains your energy ✨ Outsourcing high-spoon, low-reward tasks ✨ Scheduling around spoons (not expectations) ✨ Proactive wellness + mobility aids BEFORE you look sick ✨ Habit stacking (my Soft30 girlies knowwww) We’ll talk if it’s OK taking mid-day naps during the workweek, cancelling last-minute, using a wheelchair-at-the-airport and what mindset shift that changed everything for me this year. If you’ve ever been called lazy, dramatic, or “too much” for doing what your body actually needs… then this episode is going to be like a chat with THAT friend who encourages you to break every rule healthy people consider “normal.” xx, Alex 💬 COMMENT: What societal rule do YOU break because of chronic illness? TIMESTAMPS: Intro: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick! 00:01:20 Introducing... Soft30 Challenge with Elastique 00:04:20 Alex’s Picks of the Week (Elastique, Comrad, MERCH!!!) Work Smarter, Not Harder: 00:06:47 Why working smarter not harder may disappoint healthy people 00:10:37 Tip 1: Automate anything that drains you 00:12:39 Tip 2: Outsource selectively 00:15:22 Tip 3: Own your own schedule 00:18:12 Tip 4: Be proactive with your spoons 00:22:33 Tip 5: Habit stacking & My top 5 wellness tools // products Conclusion: 00:27:48 One Brain Cell Show: Man on the Inside (Netflix) 00:29:42 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: We’re talking smarter systems and strategies this week… which obviously means I had to pick things in-line with that aka compression wear ✨Elastique — https://tidd.ly/4oyZWpa —— ALEXW30 for 30% ✨Comrad Socks — go.shopmy.us/p-28820619 —— ALEXWILDESON for 20% ✨Our MERCH is available still…. Get it while it lasts!!!! — https://calling-in-sick.myshopify.com/ —— Use code “ZOFRAN” for a special discount!! #callinginsickpodcast #callinginsick #chronicillness #autoimmune #spoonielife #spooniesupport #invisibleillness #worksmartnothard #disabilitylife #chronicpain #fatigue #chronicillnesspodcast #healthjourney #chronicillnesshumor #autoimmunedisease #lupuslife #vasculitis #mixedconnectivetissuedisease #spoonietips #spoonietools #wellnesstips #ivig #rituxan #duvetday #chronicillnesssupport #pacingskills #spoonietribe #energybudget #restday #mobilityaids #compressionwear #habitstacking #soft30 #burnoutprevention #medicalgaslighting #restisproductive #spoons #flarestory #restculture #energyconservation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices