The Medical Maze

Anja Vesterhus Knustad, also known as this.is.the.illness.m.e on social media, sat down with us to discuss her diagnostic journey with M.E. (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis). In this episode you'll learn what M.E. is, the signs and symptoms to look out for and how to discuss this condition with your doctor. Follow Anja on social media for extra support, guidance and community on this topic.

In this episode, we’re joined by Kendra DePinto, better known as The Accessible Chef or @Kendrawesomeness on social media, who shares her inspiring journey as a chef living with a chronic illness. Kendra opens up about the unique challenges she faces in the kitchen and offers practical tips on how to make cooking accessible and enjoyable, even when managing health obstacles. From simple, time-saving techniques to adaptive strategies for meal prep, Kendra’s insights are perfect for anyone looking to make their cooking routine more manageable without sacrificing flavor or nutrition.

Additionally, Kendra dives into her experience navigating the healthcare system, offering valuable advice on how to advocate for yourself, especially when it comes to preparing for your first doctor’s appointment. Throughout the episode, she emphasizes the importance of self-compassion and community support, and she provides encouragement for those balancing chronic illness with everyday life. Whether you're a fellow spoonie or just someone looking to create more accessible meals, this episode is packed with wisdom and heart.

Hear from our guest Nathaly on how she fought for answers in Bolivia! Nathaly finally got diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis and opens up about her couple year journey and mental health battle while awaiting an accurate diagnoses. She shares tips and tricks on managing daily symptoms, diet and what tests to ask your provider for. 

Kaleigh details her years long battle of finding a diagnosis, going to several medical systems and even dealing with lost medical tests. A fan favorite on Tiktok at @chronic.kaleigh, Kaleigh often chronicles others stories who have been medically mislead. You can also find Kaleigh as an advocate on the MedDefend App! 

We sat down with Maggie, @thehypermobilecpt to learn more about her diagnostic journey with Hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome.  Maggie shares her experience growing up as a dancer and athlete, often times having to push through pain and symptoms she didn’t understand. 

Now Maggie helps advocate for others on her TikTok where she shares her helpful binder for doctor’s appointments and gives tips to the chronic community as a personal trainer. You can reach out and follow her journey at @thehypermobilecpt

In this episode we sat down with our very own marketing associate, Val Soto! You can find her on social media at @OKAYVAL. 

Val details the signs and symptoms she experienced with HS, how she manages symptoms in her day to day life and ways to advocate for yourself with HS. Val follows her passions, like being a DJ, and does not let HS stop her from living life - despite the amount of surgeries she has undergone to treat this condition. 

Give her a follow at @OKAYVAL and if you interact with us at @mymeddefend (Instagram) or @mymeddefend (TikTok) say hi to her - chances are she is the one responding :) 

In this episode we sat down with Jaylun Moore, known as IBSurviving on social media. Jay educates us on the different types of IBS, what symptoms to look out for and remedies they've tried to alleviate symptoms. Jay also talks about staying positive and finding support through different outlets when experiencing chronic conditions. 

If you want to follow Jay's journey or connect with her, follow her at @IBSurviving on TikTok! 

In this episode we sat down with Justin Pham (JP) or as we know him, @platinumkidney, on social media, to discuss his battle with kidney failure. JP shares his diagnostic journey, treatment plan and advice on navigating this disease and staying positive. Learn what symptom's to be aware of, how health insurance plays a role & what it's like being on a transplant list. JP (@platinumkidney) is a source of positivity, educational resources and encouragement! 

We sat down with Justine Martin to discuss the lengths they've gone through fighting for an accurate diagnosis within the Canadian healthcare system. Justine has been active on social media under the username @hottie.autie.autie sharing advocacy tips and tricks, research on different chronic conditions and advice to her followers/community. In this episode, we learn about the primary care shortage in Canada and how that is impacting diagnostic timelines for those who need it most. 

If you are in Canada, also check out Justine's incredible bakery, Guilty Pleasure Bakeshop + Catering (@gpbakeshop on social media). 

For our last episode of our introductory mini series we sat down with our COO, Jeremy Mitchell. Jeremy is a leader and advocate in the clinical research space, trying to diversify healthcare. He came onboard to MedDefend as he has seen too many times the healthcare system fail people close to him, because of bias in the system.