Calling In Sick

Just Media
  • 4.9 (44)
  • Medicine
  • Updated Weekly

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 including Polyarteritis Nodosa (PAN) Vasculitis, Mixed Connective Tissue Disease (MCTD) / Lupus, Endometriosis, and Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). She also provides practical “how-to” guides, explores hot topics, and welcomes other warriors, medical professionals, advocates and creators on the show to shed light on the latest healing modalities, promising treatments, and myth bust popular misconceptions and trendy health hacks. Tune in for some laughs, tears, and growth… but stay for the camaraderie and community. You can engage with Alex and the community through social media @callinginsickpod. We promise, you don’t need a doctor’s note for this one!

  1. 1d ago

    Chronic Illness in Media & Entertainment with Author, Sheila Masterson (The Poison Daughter)

    This week on Calling in Sick, I'm sitting down with Sheila Masterson — #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Poison Daughter, a fantasy-romance novel that has taken the chronic illness and romantasy communities completely by storm. And this is the conversation nobody has had with her yet.  This week, we're diving into: 😤 Subverting the "sick girl" trope — why Sheila built Harlow as angry, spicy, violent, and unapologetically flawed — and why chronically ill people deserve to see themselves as hot, disabled, and complex in fiction 🔥 Feminine rage & romantasy — how The Poison Daughter captures collective frustration around expectations placed on women to absorb toxic behavior, mask their pain, and smooth over discomfort  🧠 The reality of masking — why Sheila chose first-person present tense to capture the claustrophobic mental load of a pain flare, and how she dictated scenes via voice notes during active migraine attacks to get the language exactly right  💔 Reader response — the overwhelming reaction from the chronic illness and complex trauma communities who finally felt seen in fiction 🎬 The TV adaptation — Sheila's role as executive producer on the upcoming Hulu series, and her commitment to protecting the show's authentic chronic illness representation  And come back on Wednesday to hear about how Sheila has navigated balancing a creative career with chronic illness. xx, Alex  💬 Comment: Has a book, show, or character ever made you feel truly seen in your chronic illness experience — and which one? TIMESTAMPS: Intro: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick! Chronic Illness Representation in Media (The Poison Daughter): 00:00:38 Subverting the "Sick Girl" Trope in Media 00:02:44 Feminine Rage, Accountability & Romantasy 00:08:49 Pain Flares, Masking & Writing in First-Person  00:15:06 Reader Reactions & The Complex Trauma Connection  00:23:28 Self-Identity, Personal Growth & Living with Chronic Illness 00:34:52 Safe Spaces for Anger & the Romantasy Dynamic  00:41:58 Navigating Chronic Illness in Relationships & Intimacy 00:51:31 Media Impact & Executive Producing the TV Series Conclusion: 01:01:06 One Brain Cell Show: Ride or Die, Furious (Hulu) & Chad Powers (Hulu) 01:07:38 Where to Find Sheila's Books & Newsletter 01:08:48 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 Connect with our guest, Sheila Masterson: • Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sheilareadsandwrites/?hl=en • Newsletter & Bonus Chapter - https://sheilamasterson.com/ • Buy The Poison Daughter - https://link.amazon/B02AN6S1O ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/ #ChronicIllness #ChronicMigraine #SheilaMasterson #ThePoisonDaughter #Romantasy #BookTok #ChronicIllnessRepresentation #FeminineRage #SickGirlInFiction #InvisibleIllness #SpoonieLife #ChronicPain #FantasyRomance #BookTokChronicIllness #Masking #ChronicIllnessCommunity #TVAdaptation #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Chronic Illness in Media & Entertainment with Author, Sheila Masterson (The Poison Daughter)

  2. 6d ago

    Revisit: Motherhood with Chronic Illness (ft. Cortney Gensemer)

    This week on Calling in Sick, we are RE-RELEASING a fan favorite!!! I was joined by Cortney Gensemer, PhD - scientist, chronic illness patient and mom - to talk about the questions so many of us with chronic illness are quietly worried about. Motherhood. And obviously, as someone who is pregnant, I had a LOT of questions for Cort!! So this week, we're diving into: 🤰 What pregnancy actually looked like with hEDS, POTS & MCAS 🏥 Why MFM appointments are every chronic illness woman’s favorite appointment ever 👶 The genetic question everyone is afraid to ask: will my child have my chronic illness? 💼 How Cortney found a sustainable balance for work, health and motherhood 🩺 How chronic illness actually prepares you to be an incredible mother And we also answer YOUR questions! Including: 🤍 How to manage burnout as a parent with CFS 🤍 What a genetic mutation in COL5A1 or COL5A2 actually means for cEDS 🤍 How to ask for help when your body just can't keep up xx,  Alex 💬 Comment: What's the one question about chronic illness and motherhood you've been afraid to ask? TIMESTAMPS Intro: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick! Motherhood and Chronic Illness: 00:02:29 Courtney's motherhood & postpartum journey 00:08:00 Why chronic illness patients love their Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM) specialists  00:14:15 What sharing our pregnancies publicly was like 00:17:15 The concerns about passing down chronic illness conditions 00:23:42 How pregnancy has shifted our mindsets towards life with chronic illness 00:25:29 Chronic illness parenting hacks 00:31:12 What navigating a medical crisis for your child is like, while YOU are managing YOUR chronic illness 00:39:20 How Cortney has juggled her career, motherhood and chronic illness Audience Q&A: 00:43:25 Chronic Illness Burnout Tips  00:48:22 Pain medication and juggling the long-term risks 00:50:33 MFM and Preconception Planning 00:56:06 Genetics and EDS Conclusion: 01:00:11 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: Cortney Gensemer! • Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cortdoesscience/ • Substack - https://cortneygensemer.substack.com/ • Website - cortneygensemer.com 🔗 If you have a complex chronic illness, check out Chronicle Connect and patient participation opportunities at chroniclebio.com  ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/ #ChronicIllnessResearch #hEDS #EhlersDanlosSyndrome #POTS #MCAS #MastCellActivation #ChronicIllness #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness #AutoimmuneDisease #PatientAdvocacy #CortDoesScience #ChronicleBio #ChronicIllnessCommunity #MedicalGaslighting #PatientScientist #Omics #ChronicPain #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Revisit: Motherhood with Chronic Illness (ft. Cortney Gensemer)

  3. Sep 7

    Revisit: The 411 on Chronic Illness Research (ft. Cortney Gensemer, PhD)

    This week on Calling in Sick, we are RE-RELEASING a fan favorite!!! I got to sit down with someone who lives this chronic illness life from both sides of the equation… Cortney Gensemer, PhD is a scientist at ChronicleBio, a patient with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, MCAS, POTS, and adrenal insufficiency, and the creator behind @CortDoesScience. We dive into: 🔬 What it's actually like to study your own disease 🩺 The challenges of specialized care and diagnosis for the chronic illness population 🧬 How "omics" research is what’s connecting the dots across chronic illnesses to move beyond labels and actually find answers 💊 Our hot takes on if: diagnostic labels 100% helpful, wellness culture is actually toxic, patients are more informed than their providers, and so much more xx,  Alex 💬 Comment: What's one thing you wish your doctor actually understood about your condition? TIMESTAMPS Intro: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick! 00:04:48 Alex’s Picks of the Week (Pain patches & Pregnancy pillow picks) My chat with Cortney Gensemer: 00:02:50 Cortney's journey: From athlete to patient to scientist 00:09:36 What researching her own disease did for her identity and diagnosis journey 00:23:25 What being a patient and scientist is like 00:26:23 Starting @CortDoesScience" on social media 00:30:34 Developing patient-science training and lab accessibility 00:37:07 Transitioning to biotech at ChronicleBio Chronic Illness Hot Takes: 00:47:04 Are diagnostic labels meaningless? 00:49:51 Should patients read primary literature? 00:54:41 Is it the doctor's fault if they don't understand your condition? 00:56:47 Is social media harmful or helpful for our community? 01:01:51 How should we be evaluating the wellness industry? Conclusion: 01:14:04 One Brain Cell Show: Love is Blind, Working Moms, I'm Sorry 01:18:20 Where to connect with Cortney Gensemer 01:20:01 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: Cortney Gensemer! • Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cortdoesscience/ • Substack - https://cortneygensemer.substack.com/ • Website - cortneygensemer.com 🔗 If you have a complex chronic illness, check out Chronicle Connect and patient participation opportunities at chroniclebio.com  ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/ Alex’s Picks of the Week: Things that have been helping my chronic illness — and now my first trimester too!! ✨Salonpas Lidocaine Pain Patches — https://amzn.to/3P6rAON ✨Momcozy Pregnancy Pillow — https://amzn.to/4nEIlgZ #ChronicIllnessResearch #hEDS #EhlersDanlosSyndrome #POTS #MCAS #MastCellActivation #ChronicIllness #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness #AutoimmuneDisease #PatientAdvocacy #CortDoesScience #ChronicleBio #ChronicIllnessCommunity #MedicalGaslighting #PatientScientist #Omics #ChronicPain #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Revisit: The 411 on Chronic Illness Research (ft. Cortney Gensemer, PhD)

  4. Sep 2

    Autoimmune Myths DEBUNKED: ANA Tests, Pregnancy & Biologics (ft. Dr. Alexis Barbut)

    This Wednesday on Calling in Sick, Dr. Alexis Barbut is back and we are debunking the most common autoimmune myths circulating online right now. Some of these are coming from wellness culture, some from well-meaning friends and family, and some are genuinely dangerous enough that a rheumatologist felt the need to set the record straight!! We're debunking: 🚩 "Autoimmune disease is just inflammation" 🚩 "A positive ANA means you have lupus" 🚩 "Autoimmune disease and autonomic dysfunction are the same thing" 🚩 "Biologics are too dangerous — try a natural route instead"  🚩 "If you have autoimmune disease you're immunocompromised" 🚩 "You can't get pregnant with autoimmune disease" 🚩 "Your children will definitely inherit your autoimmune disease" If you’ve seen these things online… tune in to hear the truth!!! 🤍 xx, Alex 💬 Comment: Which of these myths have YOU been told?? And who told it to you… a doctor, a friend, or the internet?! TIMESTAMPS: Intro: 00:00:00 Welcome back to this week’s convos with our guest, Dr. Alexis Barbut Debunking Autoimmunity Misconceptions: 00:00:59 Is autoimmune disease just inflammation, and not that serious? 00:02:42 Does a positive ANA mean you have lupus, even if you feel okay? 00:05:06 Are autoimmunity and autonomic dysfunction the same thing? 00:08:59 Should you be scared to go on a biologic for autoimmune treatment? 00:16:25 Are you still immunocompromised if you have an autoimmune diagnosis but are doing well, and take no medication? 00:19:59 Should you avoid pregnancy while on ALL autoimmune disease medication? 00:20:33 Does having an autoimmune disease mean you must do IVF? 00:23:33 Do you need to worry about pregnancy planning if you are in remission? 00:24:48 Will your children definitely inherit your autoimmune disease? Conclusion: 00:30:07 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. Alexis Barbut: • Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dralexis_md/ • TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@dralexis_md • Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579331585029&mibextid=wwXIfr&rdid=PtEzsgsks2uCgtjR&share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2F1YGSvh42E6%2F%3Fmibextid%3DwwXIfr%26utm_source%3Dig%26utm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_content%3Dlink_in_bio# ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/ #AutoimmuneMythBusting #Rheumatology #AutoimmuneDisease #LupusMyths #ANATest #Biologics #WellnessCulture #ChronicIllness #POTS #AutoimmunePregnancy #ReproductiveRheumatology #MedicalMyths #DrAlexisBarbut #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness #ChronicIllnessFacts #WomensHealth #AutoimmuneAwareness #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Autoimmune Myths DEBUNKED: ANA Tests, Pregnancy & Biologics (ft. Dr. Alexis Barbut)

  5. Aug 31

    Preparing for a Rheumatology Appointment (ft. Dr. Alexis Barbut)

    This week on Calling in Sick, I'm sitting down with Dr. Alexis Barbut — double board-certified in internal medicine AND rheumatology, with a clinical focus on reproductive rheumatology. If you’ve been curious if your symptoms could be autoimmune-y, currently have an autoimmune disease and question why the diagnosis keeps changing, or are autoimmune and curious about pregnant… this episode is the one you needed a year ago. We're diving into: 🔬 What rheumatology actually covers: it is so much more than joints. Lupus, scleroderma, Sjögren's, autoimmune muscle disease, vasculitis — and why symptoms overlap so much that diagnosis is often more art than science 🧬 Why women are so disproportionately affected by autoimmune disease: the two X chromosomes, estrogen, and genetic + environmental triggers equation that nobody fully understands yet 🩺 How you actually get diagnosed: why lab results can be completely normal during a severe flare, why treatment often targets symptoms rather than strict textbook labels, and what to bring to your first rheumatology appointment 💊 The treatment landscape: from first-line DMARDs to biologics to cytotoxic chemotherapies; what each tier means and when it's used 🤰 Reproductive rheumatology: everything you need to know about family planning, pregnancy and postpartum with an autoimmune disease I walked away with a deeper understanding of the disease umbrella I’ve been battling for 25+ years, and I know you will too! 🤍 xx, Alex 💬 Comment: What’s one diagnosis within rheumatology that you’ like Calling in Sick to do a deep dive on?! TIMESTAMPS: Intro: 00:00:13 Meet our guest, Dr. Alexis Barbut The 411 on all things Rheumatology: 00:04:37 What even is rheumatology? 00:06:43 Common symptoms that bring patients to a rheumatologist 00:14:09 Why autoimmune conditions are difficult to diagnose 00:20:40 What can trigger or cause an autoimmune disease? 00:26:45 Why autoimmune diseases are more prevalent in women Treatment and Advancements: 00:29:01 Current diagnostic criteria and testing 00:36:56 Navigating tiers of autoimmune medications Reproductive Rheumatology: 00:43:00 What is reproductive rheumatology? 00:53:41 How pregnancy impacts autoimmune diseases + postpartum care and managing the “4th trimester” 01:04:05 Pre-menopause, menopause, and Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Conclusion: 01:08:42  One Brain Cell Picks (books): Yesteryear and Calamity Club 01:11:22 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? Connect with our guest, Dr. Alexis Barbut: • Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dralexis_md/ • TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@dralexis_md • Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579331585029&mibextid=wwXIfr&rdid=PtEzsgsks2uCgtjR&share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2F1YGSvh42E6%2F%3Fmibextid%3DwwXIfr%26utm_source%3Dig%26utm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_content%3Dlink_in_bio# ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/ #Rheumatology #ReproductiveRheumatology #AutoimmuneDisease #Lupus #Vasculitis #ChronicIllness #AutoimmunePregnancy #DMARDs #Biologics #WomensHealth #ChronicIllnessPregnancy #FourthTrimester #PreconceptionCounseling #Sjogrens #Scleroderma #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness #DrAlexisBarbut #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Preparing for a Rheumatology Appointment (ft. Dr. Alexis Barbut)

  6. Aug 26

    It’s "Just Anxiety": Reacting to Medical Gaslighting With Kevin Crosson

    This week on Calling in Sick, Kevin Crosson is back and we’re getting into a NEW SEGMENT… "This Cannot Be Real” where we talk through some of the most unhinged things people (like doctors or family and friends) say to us, the chronic illness community. And trust me… we’re not holding back ;) We're reacting to: "It's probably just anxiety — have you tried an SSSD?" "Just give it time — your body will heal on its own." "We just don't have enough research yet to help you." "But you look fine." "Everyone I know who got the vaccine is totally fine." "At least you survived / at least you don't have cancer." "If you were really injured you'd be completely anti-medicine.”  This one is for everyone who has ever been handed a dismissal instead of an answer or support. 🤍 xx, Alex 💬 Comment: Which of these has someone actually said to YOU — drop it below 👇 TIMESTAMPS: Intro: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick! 00:00:23 Introducing Kevin Crosson and "This Cannot Be Real" Dismissive Remarks in Medicine & Community: 00:01:20 Medical gaslighting and "anxiety" labels 00:04:45 Magical thinking vs. time to heal 00:06:15 The struggle with a lack of research 00:08:08 Navigating the "but you look fine" phrase 00:10:25 Survivorship bias around vaccines and medications 00:14:11 Invalidating comparisons of suffering 00:16:55 Balancing medical injuries with necessary medications Systemic Issues & Treatments: 00:19:02 Government transparency and unreported side effects 00:21:35 Insurance obstacles and theories on MCAS 00:26:31 Successes and setbacks with IVIG therapy Conclusion: 00:31:30 Thank you & Don't forget to subscribe on YouTube, Apple, and Spotify ---------------------------------------------------------------- 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, Kevin Crosson: • Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/crossonspeaks?igsi=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr • TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@kevin.crosson • Website - https://crossonspeaks.com/ ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/ #MedicalGaslighting #VaccineInjury #ChronicIllness #ThisCannotBeReal #MCAS #IVIG #PatientAdvocacy #InvisibleIllness #SpoonieLife #RareDisease #ChronicIllnessCommunity #LongCOVID #VaccineInjured #ChronicPain #KevinCrosson #MedicalDismissal #AutoimmuneDisease #ChronicIllnessAwareness #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    It’s "Just Anxiety": Reacting to Medical Gaslighting With Kevin Crosson

  7. Aug 24

    When Politics Enters the Exam Room (ft. Kevin Crosson)

    This week on Calling in Sick, I'm sitting down with Kevin Crosson — advocate, speaker, and one of the most documented cases of vaccine-induced cardiac and immune injury in the country. And this conversation is not what you think it is. This is an episode about what happens when a rare but real medical event becomes so politically charged that the patients suffering from it can't get diagnosed, treated, or believed. We're diving into: ⚡ The three cardiac events that changed everything 🏥 75 doctors across Mayo Clinic, Cedars-Sinai, Stanford & UCLA… until he was helped 🔬 What finally got him diagnosed 🔗 What happens when a patient's condition becomes politically inconvenient to acknowledge 🧠 How losing his health in his 20s caused a serious identity shift This episode is for everyone who has ever been dismissed, gaslit, or made to feel like their suffering was inconvenient. 🤍 xx, Alex 💬 Comment: Have you ever had a doctor shut down the moment you started talking? TIMESTAMPS: Intro: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick! 00:00:35 Introducing Kevin Crosson When Medicine Gets Political: 00:01:51 The beginning of Kevin’s chronic illness story 00:12:34 Medical gaslighting and "anxiety" labels 00:18:13 The political charge around medication injuries 00:22:01 Why so many patients slip through the cracks in western medicine 00:28:54 Patient self-advocacy & tips for managing appointments Reaching a Diagnosis: 00:38:47 Kevin’s final diagnosis 00:44:51 The difficulty of making personal health choices 00:50:04 Navigating the left vs. right-wing political lens that impacts chronic illness 01:03:43 How Kevin’s chronic illness story shifted his identity and dreams Conclusion: 01:08:54 One Brain Cell Show: Criminal Minds & The Tuner 01:12:55 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, Kevin Crosson: • Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/crossonspeaks?igsi=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr • TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@kevin.crosson • Website - https://crossonspeaks.com/ ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/ #VaccineInjury #MedicalGaslighting #ChronicIllness #MCAS #POTS #RareDisease #LongCOVID #PatientAdvocacy #KevinCrosson #InvisibleIllness #spikeproteins #AutoimmuneDisease #IVIG #InsuranceDenial #ChronicIllnessCommunity #MedicalDismissal #RareDiseaseCommunity #ChronicPain #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    When Politics Enters the Exam Room (ft. Kevin Crosson)

  8. Aug 19

    Can you use GLP-1s to treat chronic illness?? (ft. Dr. Zach Spiritos)

    This week on Calling in Sick, Dr. Zach Spiritos is back for to chat about one of the most exciting developments in chronic illness treatment that almost nobody is talking about. Microdosing GLP-1s,  not for weight loss, but inflammation and disease management. Specifically, we're diving into: 🧬 How GLP-1s actually work in the gut — the natural peptide that regulates GI homeostasis, repairs tight junctions in the intestinal wall, reduces systemic immune activation, and supports a diverse microbiome 🤯 The "flipped clinic" phenomenon — patients prescribed GLP-1s for diabetes are seeing secondary improvements in Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, asthma, eczema, and MCAS that nobody predicted 🧠 The MCAS symptoms breakthrough — Dr. Zach's clinical experience micro-dosing GLP-1s in an MCAS patient with profound post-meal bloating, and what happened to her brain fog, neuroinflammation, and food sensitivities ⚠️ Who should NOT use GLP-1s — eating disorder history, baseline nausea, severe constipation, and the cautions every patient needs to hear before asking their provider 📋 The 3-week runway protocol — how Dr. Zach phases treatment, monitors small wins, checks for adverse reactions, and determines if patients can eventually titrate off antihistamines or cromolyn 🔗 The trifecta connection — how GLP-1s don't directly reverse hEDS or POTS but can dramatically turn down the volume on mast-cell-driven inflammation, joint pain, and POTS flares Plus the honest conversation about where the research actually is, the systemic bias against women's health in clinical trials, and why cautious optimism is the right posture for this community right now. 🤍 xx, Alex 💬 Comment: Have you ever tried a GLP-1 for anything other than weight loss — and what happened? TIMESTAMP: Intro: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick! 00:00:22 Introduction of Guest Dr. Zack Spirtos Use of GLP-1s Beyond Weight Loss: 00:05:58 What is a GLP-1? 00:07:51 Pre-clinical and Observational Data 00:11:00 Exploring GLP-1s as a Treatment Modality for IBS and MCAS 00:12:28 The "Flipped Clinic" effect of GLP-1s How to use GLP-1s for Chronic Illness Management: 00:14:09 Responsibly Micro-Dosing Chronic Illness Patients 00:17:13 Assessing Good Candidates and Cautions for Eating Disorders 00:20:07 Titrating Medications and Phased Treatment The Future of Chronic Illness Research: 00:24:21 Squeaky Wheels and Shifting Paradigms in Medical Funding 00:28:00 Accessibility and the Role of Compounding Pharmacies 00:30:26 Academics vs. Independent Providers in Western Medicine 00:31:55 Turning Down the Volume on POTS, MCAS, and hEDS Conclusion: 00:35:58 Thank You for Listening to the 100th Week of Calling in Sick!! ---------------------------------------------------------------- Stay connected and follow us on socials for more! • Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/callinginsickpod/ • TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@callinginsickpod • Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558234607568 • Substack - https://substack.com/@callinginsickpod? Connect with our Guest, Dr. Spiritos! • Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/drzacspiritos/?hl=en • TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.zac.spiritos • EverBetter Medicine - https://everbettermedicine.health/ ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/ #GLP1 #GLP1ForChronicIllness #MCAS #MastCellActivationSyndrome #ChronicIllness #Ozempic #Semaglutide #BrainFog #GutHealth #ChronicIllnessTreatment #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness #DrZachSpiritos #EverBetterMedicine #Dysautonomia #POTS #hEDS #Trifecta #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Can you use GLP-1s to treat chronic illness?? (ft. Dr. Zach Spiritos)
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4.9
out of 5
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About

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 including Polyarteritis Nodosa (PAN) Vasculitis, Mixed Connective Tissue Disease (MCTD) / Lupus, Endometriosis, and Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). She also provides practical “how-to” guides, explores hot topics, and welcomes other warriors, medical professionals, advocates and creators on the show to shed light on the latest healing modalities, promising treatments, and myth bust popular misconceptions and trendy health hacks. Tune in for some laughs, tears, and growth… but stay for the camaraderie and community. You can engage with Alex and the community through social media @callinginsickpod. We promise, you don’t need a doctor’s note for this one!

Information

  • Creator
    Just Media
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    135
  • Rating
    Explicit

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