Calling In Sick

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,

💬 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!

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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

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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:

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,

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!

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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

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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:

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,

💬 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!!!

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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

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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.

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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 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! 

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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!!!!

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#ChronicIllness #MotherhoodJourney #PregnancyAfterLoss #IVFJourney #FertilityStruggles #PregnancyComplications #SurgeryRecovery #AutoimmuneDisease #ChronicIllnessMama #HighRiskPregnancy #PregnancyHope #ChronicPain #InvisibleIllness #SpoonieLife #MiscarriageAwareness #MotherhoodAndChronicIllness #HealthJourney #MentalHealth #TryingToConceive #SpoonieSupport #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson

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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.

Alex

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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:

⚠️ 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

If you’ve ever been on Prednisone, I promise you’ll feel seen, validated, and maybe even laugh a little.

xx,

💬 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!

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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

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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,

💬 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!

00:02:57 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!!!

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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

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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:

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,

💬 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!

00:03:25 How I found my trauma therapist & my tips for you!

00:08:04 Lesson 2: Fear things getting good?! Here’s my number one tip!!!

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!!!

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Alex’s Picks of the Week:

✨Tilt Beauty — https://go.shopmy.us/p-21846268

#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

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This week on Calling in Sick, I’m joined by  ⁨@miraclman31⁩  -- podcaster, speaker, and survivor of one of the rarest neurological conditions on earth: Locked-In Syndrome from Acute Toxic Progressive Leukoencephalopathy (ATPL). Jake’s story is raw, gripping, and—somehow—hilarious

.We’re digging into:

🧠 What the mind does when you’re fully aware but can’t move

💥 The absurdity of pain, and the power of humor in surviving it

☁️ What near-death teaches you about presence, faith, and the fragility of life

🪫 Why full recovery might be the wrong goal—and what really matters in healing

Whether you’ve lived through something unbelievable or you just feel unseen in your pain, this episode is your reminder: the human spirit is feral in the best way. And you? You’re more resilient than you think.

xx,

Alex

Comment: What’s a moment where you felt completely alone in your pain — and what got you through it?

TIMESTAMPS: 

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

00:03:10 Introduction to Jake Haendel & Locked-In Syndrome

00:29:45 Jake’s self talk while he was locked-in for 10 months

00:46:15 A tiny movement in Jake’s wrist that lead to recovery 

00:50:25 Jake’s mental health & struggle with addiction 

00:59:15 Near death experiences & religion 

01:12:10 One Brain Cell Show: The Wire, documentaries & standup 

01:18:08 Thank you for listening!

Connect with Jake & Discover his App!

• Jake on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/miraclman31/?hl=en

• AHOI, a platform to discover accessible places & navigate the world with ease -- https://ahoimate.com/

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Alex’s Pain Bandaids: https://shopmy.us/collections/746944

#CallingInSickPodcast #JakeHaendel #LockedInSyndrome #ChronicIllnessWarrior #PainManagement #SurvivorStory #MedicalTrauma #InvisibleIllness #DarkHumorHeals #FeralResilience #SpoonieCommunity #RareDiseaseAwareness #ChronicPainLife #MentalHealthAndIllness #DisabilityAdvocate #YoureNotAlone #ResilienceStory #HealingJourney #SurvivingTheUnthinkable #LifeAfterIllness #PodcastClip #WellnessPodcast #StorytimePodcast #RawAndReal #EmotionalAF #HealthStory #UnbelievableSurvivor #PainAndHumor #HumanSpirit #ChronicIllnessPodcast #AlexWildeson #podcast #medicalgaslighting #chronicillness #callinginsick #anxietymisdiagnosis #selfadvocacy #healthjourney #doctorstories #spoonielife #autoimmunedisease #dismissedagain #womenshealth #patientadvocacy #selfadvocacymatters #justanxious #tiktokmedicine #medicalbias #healthmisinformation #callinginsickpodcast

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