Calling In Sick

By Just MediaMedicine Health & Fitness

Calling In Sick episodes

December 29, 2025 Making Invisible Illness Visible: Sara Levitt Walks the Runway with an Ostomy Bag
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!
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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?
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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!
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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
1 hr 5 min
December 22, 2025 Chronic Pain Isn’t a Moral Failure: Samantha Duran on Pain, Stigma & Survival
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!
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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?
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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
1 hr 22 min
December 15, 2025 A Look Into Two Months of Medical Testing
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!
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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?

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Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/
Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/

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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!!
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🥄 RSVP: Cooking with Cooper LIVE on YouTube on 12/19
—https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cooking-with-coop-tickets-1976990439624?aff=oddtdtcreator

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#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
1 hr
December 08, 2025 How to Work Smarter (Not Harder) With Chronic Illness
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!
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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?
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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
36 min
December 01, 2025 The Chronic Illness Problem No One Warned Us About: Not Being Believed
This week on Calling in Sick, we’re getting into one of the most universal chronic illness experiences that NOBODY warns you about. What happens when you internalize the words “I don’t believe you,” and how that becomes the voice in your head.
After 25+ years of being the patient, I’m unpacking how dismissal, doubt, and “are you sure?” became my default setting and how trauma therapy (for something else entirely) made me realize how DEEP this runs.
We’re diving into:
⭐ The childhood moments that taught me to question my own symptoms — the arthritic kid in the 90s, the teacher who didn’t believe me, and the way it rewired my brain
⚡️ The universal experience that bonds every chronic illness patient — why people don’t “get it” unless they live it, touch it, or you explain it in their language
🧠 How this internalized disbelief shows up everywhere else — work, relationships, self-doubt, medical OCD, and becoming addicted to proving yourself
✨ The realization in trauma therapy that changed everything — and why this “I don’t believe you” voice isn’t actually yours
If you’ve ever caught yourself wondering, “Are my symptoms real?” “Do people think I’m exaggerating?” “Is this all in my head?” …this episode is for you.
xx,Alex
Comment: Do you default to thinking people do believe you, or don’t believe you?
Timestamps:
00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick!
00:00:25 The childhood moments that taught me to question my own symptoms
00:04:07 Alex’s Picks of the Week (Elastique, Warmies, Calling in Sick merch)
00:10:02 The realization in trauma therapy that changed everything
00:15:52 People “don’t get” chronic illness until they live it, touch it, or you explain it in a language they understand
00:20:17 How internalized disbelief shows up everywhere else (work, relationships, self-doubt, medical OCD, etc.)
00:29:01 The “I don’t believe you” voice in your head isn’t actually yours
00:30:38 One Brain Cell Show: Secret Lives of Mormon Wives
00:32:28 Thank you for listening!
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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?
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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 we’re talking COMFORT because when you have a big “aha” in therapy, your body needs all the softness
✨Elastique wearable wellness for on the go lymphatic-friendly comfort compression
— https://go.shopmy.us/p-29784091
✨Warmies microwaveable, weighted and an immediate nervous system hug packed into slippers
— https://amzn.to/4pl7UmU

✨Shop Our Merch ✨
— https://calling-in-sick.myshopify.com/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
39 min
November 24, 2025 Your Hormones Could Be the Missing Link in Your Chronic Illness (with Dr. Tassone)
This week on Calling in Sick, we’re diving into one of the most begged-for topics in women’s health… hormones. We talk about what they actually do, how they impact chronic illness, and why SO many of us are misdiagnosed or dismissed for years.
I’m joined by Dr. Shawn Tassone, America’s Holistic Gynecologist, a double board-certified OB/GYN + Integrative Medicine MD with a PhD in Mind-Body Medicine. He’s known for blending science and spirituality, calling out misinformation online, and giving women the tools to finally understand their bodies.
We’re breaking down:
🧩 Hormones 101 — what they really control (hint: it’s way beyond PMS)
🔥 Hormones & Chronic Illness — autoimmune overlap, stress load, flare patterns
🩺 What you can do — red flags, labs that matter, treatments and integrative care
🚨 Hormone Mythbusting — cortisol panic, “balancing your hormones,” internet BS
If hormones feel like a mystery box, this episode will make everything finally click.
xx,
Alex
💬 Comment: What’s ONE hormone symptom you wish doctors took seriously?
TIMESTAMPS
Intro:
00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick!
00:02:39 Alex’s Picks of the Week (MERCH!!, Giveaway, Corkcicle, Hatch)
Interview with Dr. Tassone
00:05:34 Intro to Hormones
00:10:50 Intro to Dr. Tassone (who he is, what he does and how he became the Hormone Guru)
00:18:33 Why there is SO much misinformation online about health
00:21:58 Calling in Sick Merch Drop Details
00:25:48 Women's Health & Narrative Medicine
Women's Hormones
00:30:17 Why women's hormone health has been overlooked for SO long
00:32:57 The black box warning on women's hormone treatment
00:40:15 When should you look into your hormone health (testing & treatment)
00:44:52 The wrench that insurance throws into this mix (Alex's most recent crashout & impact to procedures)
00:49:50 Current hormone treatments on the market
00:53:57 Rapid Fire Myth Busting and why hormones impact chronic illness
Conclusion:
00:58:48 One Brain Cell Segment
01:01:01 Where to find Dr. Tassone & Thank You!!
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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?
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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 are my favorite finds to start my morning softly… and without spills!
✨Corckcicle, Sierra Leakproof Cruiser — go.shopmy.us/p-30936310
— CODE: ShopMy20 for 20% off at checkout
✨Hatch, Restore 3 — go.shopmy.us/p-32313847
— $30 off until 12/2, or until it sells out!!
MERCH IS LIVE! https://calling-in-sick.myshopify.com/
#HormoneHealth #ChronicIllness #AutoimmuneDisease #MindBodyConnection #WomenHealth #DrShawnTassone #HormoneBalanceBible #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness #IntegrativeMedicine #Endometriosis #PCOS #Inflammation #MedicalGaslighting #HolisticGynecology #Cortisol #HRT #functionalmedicine

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
1 hr 11 min
November 17, 2025 I Tested My Own Chronic Illness Rules… Here’s What Happened
This month nearly took me out — it literally felt like a physical and mental rollercoaster. I was up…and then down (like almost in the hospital down)…and then up…and then decided it was also a good time to test some boundaries, which brought only more ups and downs. With my monthlong whiplash coming to an end, I wanted to do some reflection to figure out what worked, what didn’t, and what I need to prioritize moving forward.
So, this week's episode of Calling in Sick, is that reflection. Please keep your hands, arms, legs, and feet inside this chronic illness rollercoaster at all times because it’s a doozy!!
I’m sharing:
💔The rules I broke (+ what happened when I broke them!!)
📝The rules I held firm!!
🙌 My unexpected learnings from testing ALL the boundaries (at once)
If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Am I allowed to push? Am I allowed to live big even when I feel small?” — this episode is your permission slip…to at least do some testing.
xx,
Alex

💬 Comment: What’s your take on couple’s math? If your partner is doing all the cooking/cleaning while you're on low spoons… is it rude to sit out, or is that just survival mode etiquette? Comment your thoughts below!!

TIMESTAMP:
Intro:
00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick
00:20:00 Life catch-up
00:02:38 Alex’s Picks of the Week (Crown Pillow, Kroma Bone Broth)
00:05:32 MERCH dropping Monday 11/24!!
Pushing the Limits:
00:08:43 The mental health impact of testing your boundaries and rules
00:13:04 Boundary #1 - Food
00:15:28 Boundary #2 - Sleep
00:17:17 Boundary #3 - Socializing
00:19:42 The rules I followed this weekend
00:25:08 The rules I broke this weekend!
00:28:40 My take on whether the rollercoaster was worth it
Conclusion:
00:37:05 One Brain Cell Show: Frankenstein
00:38:22 Thank you for Calling in Sick with me!
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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?
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Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/
Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/

Alex’s Picks of the Week:
I’ve really been leaning into all the coziness this month, these 2 are some of my favorites!
✨Crown Pillow - https://go.shopmy.us/p-31199942
✨Kroma Bone Broth - https://go.shopmy.us/p-31199981

#ChronicIllnessPodcast #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness #AutoimmuneWarrior #FlareUp #ChronicPainCommunity #ChronicIllnessHumor #PodcastForSpoonies #SpoonieSupport #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson #ChronicWarrior #MentalHealthMatters #ChronicIllnessAwareness #LifeWithChronicIllness #ChronicHealing #SpoonieStruggles #ChronicIllnessPodcastEpisode #SpoonTheory #FatigueFighter #ChronicIllnessJourney #AutoimmuneLife #WellnessJourney #BoundariesMatter #HealthJourney #ChronicIllnessAcceptance #ChronicIllnessTips #DisabilityCommunity #ChronicIllnessSupport #SpoonieTools

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
41 min
November 10, 2025 What My Latest Health Flare Taught Me About Anxiety
I had a toddler-level crash out this week… like, full-on crying mid–Hot Girl Walk. In this episode, I try to make sense of where it came from. Hint: my brain was definitely trying to protect me. Between the prednisone taper, nonstop testing, and the mental gymnastics of waiting for answers, I didn’t realize how much my anxiety had been brewing under the surface.
So today, I’m getting real about what’s actually behind it — and what this latest meltdown taught me.
I open up about:
😭 How the literal anticipation of bad news made me crash out
🧠 The sneaky tricks our brains play on us (and why we need to not borrow tomorrow’s trouble)
🩺 Why negative test results can feel like heartbreak
💔 How hard it can be when those you love fail to support you in the way you need
🤯 How I gaslit myself into questioning if I can even be a mom
Anxiety really is one SOB, isn’t it?!
xx,
Alex

💬 Comment: How do YOU want people to show up for you when you’re struggling — with shit talking, solutions, solidarity, or silliness?

TIMESTAMP:
Intro:
00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick!
00:03:10 Alex’s Picks of the Week (Elastique, Lola Blanket)
Why I crashed the F out:
00:04:40 Confession time (ie: I crashed out)
00:08:12 Why I think I got so anxious
00:10:35 How my brain started to play tricks on me
00:14:52 My medical update
00:20:26 What I know for sure: my current protocol isn’t working
00:2250 My reframe since my crash out
00:25:00 The 4 different ways that people need support
00:27:47 The 3 reasons that people may not show up for you when you need them most
Conclusion:
00:34:11 One Brain Cell Show: Dancing with the Stars
00:35:27 My approach for the next 2 months
00:36:18 Thanks for Calling in Sick with me this week!!
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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:
During the rollercoaster of this week, I’ve been leaning into anything that makes life easier, and these 2 have been absolute lifesavers
✨Elastique - https://go.shopmy.us/p-23182655
✨Lola Blankets - https://go.shopmy.us/p-29496707
ALEXWILD for 55% off at checkout

#CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson #ChronicIllness #ChronicIllnessAwareness #SpoonieLife #SpoonieSupport #ChronicPain #InvisibleIllness #AutoimmuneDisease #ChronicFatigue #MentalHealthMatters #HealingJourney #HealthAnxiety #PrednisoneProblems #VasculitisWarrior #ChronicIllnessCommunity #SpooniePodcast #IllnessJourney #MedicalMystery #MindBodyConnection #SelfCompassion #ChronicWarrior #BrainHealth #TraumaHealing #HealthUpdate #PatientPerspective #Duality #AutoimmuneLife #HealthPodcast #SpoonieStories #EmotionalHealing #ChronicIllnessAdvocate

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43 min
November 05, 2025 I Need Boundaries With Myself?! Chronic Illness, Overdoing It, and Knowing When to Sit Down
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!
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Stay connected and follow social:
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/callinginsickpod/
• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@callinginsickpod
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558234607568
• Substack - https://substack.com/@callinginsickpod?
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Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/
Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/

Alex’s 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
36 min
November 05, 2025 How Pain and Psychiatry Interplay, with Dr. Preston Roche
This week on Calling in Sick, I’m joined by Dr. Preston Roche—a psychiatry resident, former Air Force Academy track athlete, and viral medical content creator known as ⁠ ⁨@itspresro⁩ ⁠. Preston brings a blend of clinical insight and personal vulnerability and I share my experience with acute and chronic pain (including how I think about and manage CRPS). Together, we dive into the messy, misunderstood world of chronic pain, mental health, and medical bias.
In this episode, we talk:
🧠 How today’s doctors learn about pain (chronic and acute), and how that compares to real life
📉 Why chronic pain can be dismissed in ER or hospital settings
🥼 Why patients struggle with seeking pain relief
💛 How to advocate for yourself and your pain (and why certain phrases may be working AGAINST you!) 
💊 What pain relief options can we have in our toolbox?
⚠️ The deep overlap between depression and pain (and why being in the hospital spikes this connection
👀 The Truth Behind the Chronic Pain and Illness Olympics

Whether you’ve been dismissed by a doctor, told your symptoms are “in your head,” or just want to understand your body better—this one’s for you. You are not making it up. You are not alone. And you deserve care that actually cares.

Thanks for Calling in Sick with us
💛xx, Alex

💬 Comment: How has chronic illness impacted your mental health?

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling In Sick!
00:02:00 Alex’s Picks of The Week
00:02:51 Interview with Preston Roche
00:07:55 How Pain is Taught to Today’s Doctors - from the class room to the hospital
00:11:30 Why is My Pain Questioned in the Hospital?
00:18:50 Have I Suffered Enough to Receive Pain Relief?
00:23:14 The Relationship between Doctors and Chronic Illness Patients
00:26:32 Why “I know my body best” and “I have a high pain tolerance” may get you dismissed by medical professionals
00:41:06 Hospitalization and In-Patient Pain and Mental Health Management
00:48:47 The different types of psychological pain
00:56:13 Why “it’s just anxiety” is a problem for people with chronic illnesses
01:00:01 Is it our fault to feel depressed, anxiety or pain?01:09:11 The Truth Behind the Sick and Pain Olympics
01:16:00 The One Brain Cell Segment
01:21:51 LOVE YOU GUYS!
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Stay connected and follow social:
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/callinginsickpod/
• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@callinginsickpod
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558234607568
• Substack - https://substack.com/@callinginsickpod?
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Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/
Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/

Alex’s Picks of the Week:
✨Feet Warmies — https://getwarmertimes.com/collections/warmers/products/toe-warmers
✨Saje — https://go.shopmy.us/p-18164585

Resources on Understanding Pain and Pain Management:
• https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2661581
• https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2673971

#podcast #podcastclips #ChronicIllness #AutoimmuneDisease #ChronicPain #ChronicFatigue #SpoonieLife #HealthJourney #CallingInSick #SpoonieSupport #ChronicIllnessAwareness #MedicalJourney #DisabilityAwareness #SurvivalMode #IdentityShift #medicalgaslighting #womenshealth #neurology #selfadvocacy #medicalbias #prestonroche #psychiatry #chronicpainandmentalhealth

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1 hr 28 min

About Calling In Sick

From the publisher's feed

Welcome to the Calling in Sick, hosted by Alex Wildeson and produced by Just Media. On this podcast, Alex shares her unfiltered personal journey battling several autoimmune and chronic conditions…