"What's Her Problem?" Podcast

Debra Rafson

“What’s Her Problem?” Podcast is the audio version of writer and patient advocate Debra Rafson's weekly Substack newsletter tackling Issues at the Heart of Chronic Illness and Disability through personal essays, interviews, opinion pieces, and more! whatsherproblem.substack.com

  1. 22h ago

    How I Learned to Drive Again

    “I’m an excellent driver.” -Dustin Hoffman as Raymond Babbitt in the 1988 Oscar-winning Best Picture “Rain Man” I love driving. I always have. Even when I was a kid, I was always trying to find toys I could drive or driving rides at amusement parks. Of course, I had a Little Tikes Cozy Coupe…you know, the red plastic car that you drive with your feet, with the yellow roof, the big set of eyes on the front, and a steering wheel. Even my Barbie doll’s bright red Ferrari was a prized possession. In Disney World, while my peers were clamoring to ride Space Mountain, I wanted to drive the gas-powered cars at the Tomorrowland Speedway or, once I was old enough, the water sprite boats you could rent at the Polynesian Resort. And go-karts? Yes, please! But I used to take driving for granted. Once I got my license, there were only two stretches of time when I didn’t drive: the summer of 2000, which I spent studying abroad in Spain and traveling around Europe on planes and trains; and the first 9 weeks after I had open-heart surgery, while my sternum healed. All that changed in June 2019, when I lost my ability to walk and, with it, my ability to drive. My coordination was taken from me by what I would later discover was an Autoimmune Sensory Neuropathy. It forced a driving hiatus that lasted nearly 3 years and left me yearning for a missing piece of my independence.... This week’s questions: What does driving mean to you? Have you ever had to pass a driving assessment test as an adult? Related Posts: https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/p/breaking-up-is-hard-to-do?r=heamx This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit whatsherproblem.substack.com/subscribe

    13 min

  2. Jun 5

    A Letter to My Late Physical Therapist

    Two years ago this week, my physical therapist, a crucial part of my medical care team, was killed, at age 43, in a tragic accident. I wrote this letter to her the week after her passing, as a way to process my emotions. I’ve edited it lightly, and I added a post-script, but it remains largely unchanged otherwise. Consider yourself forewarned: you may want to have some tissues on hand as you read or listen to this one. June 15, 2024 Dear Caryn, For the first time in almost four years, I went to my physical therapy appointment on Thursday with a sense of utter dread. Not because of the exercises I would need to engage in or the therapist I had been assigned to work with, but because I knew you wouldn’t be there. That day or ever again.... This week’s question: How have you grieved a non-sensical loss? Related Posts: https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/p/chronic-illness-is-a-team-sport?r=heamx This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit whatsherproblem.substack.com/subscribe

    17 min

  3. May 29

    Guest Post: Karen Walter, LMHC

    May is Mental Health Awareness Month! Mental health and chronic illness go hand-in-hand, and as May comes to a close, I wanted to acknowledge that it’s Mental Health Awareness Month. I invited a guest writer to share her thoughts on this topic with you, and I’m pleased to introduce Licensed Mental Health Counselor Karen Walter. Karen holds a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from Salem State University and is committed to fostering growth through compassionate and collaborative care. With nearly a decade of experience supporting children and families across community, school, summer camp, and outpatient settings, she has developed a deep appreciation for the unique strengths and challenges each individual and family brings. Her time as a clinician in an elementary school especially shaped her holistic approach to creating a safe and supportive space where clients can feel truly seen and heard. The challenge of learning to live with chronic illness is one of the many specialties that Karen treats in children and adults. She works at Launch Psychological Associates in Massachusetts, a woman-owned, close-knit group of clinicians who are passionate about helping their clients live fully. Telehealth appointments are available. I want to thank Karen for openly sharing the story of her own chronic illness and how it informs her work as a therapist. So much of what she wrote resonated with me, and I know it will for many of you as well. Here is Karen Walter’s story... This week’s questions: How do you balance your mental health and physical health, especially if you deal with chronic illness? Which therapeutic techniques have been most beneficial for you? Related Posts: https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/p/guest-post-dawn-levitt-two-time-heart?r=heamx https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/p/lets-discuss?r=heamx   This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit whatsherproblem.substack.com/subscribe

    12 min

  4. May 15

    Interview Series: Jennifer Crystal, Author, Educator, and Writing Coach

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit whatsherproblem.substack.com 0:00-12:11      Introduction and the importance of patients being listened to and believed 12:11-20:17    Jennifer reads a passage from One Tick Stopped the Clock 21:30-24:09    How to find a Lyme Literate Medical Doctor (LLMD) 24:11-33:39    Family dynamics and chronic illness 33:40-40:31    Friendship and writing to heal 40:32-46:04    How illness impacts identity 46:05-48:30    Wrap-up Jennifer’s Website: www.jennifercrystal.com Jennifer’s New Substack, Writing Your Life:  https://jennifercrystalwriter.substack.com/ Follow Jennifer on Substack: https://substack.com/@jennifercrystalwritingyourlife Purchase One Tick Stopped the Clock here: https://amzn.to/4w3Z68L About Jennifer’s Other Published Works: https://www.jennifercrystal.com/publishedworks Global Lyme Alliance Patient Support Provider Search Directory:   https://www.globallymealliance.org/lymedoc Health Story Collaborative, Writing for Expression and Connection Meetups: https://www.healthstorycollaborative.org/writing-info International Lyme and Associated Disease Society Provider Search: https://www.ilads.org/patient-care/provider-search/ Jennifer’s upcoming Writing to Heal classes at Grub Street Creative Writing Center: · The next Writing to Heal Workshop runs for six weeks starting Thursday, June 11th from 6:00-9:00PM ET. The class is currently full, but feel free to add your name to the waitlist, as spots do sometimes open up. · Looking to learn about the Writing to Heal Immersive Program? Join Jen for a remote Open House on Thursday, May 21st at 6:30PM ET. · Ready to apply for the 2026-27 program? Applications are now open! They are due by June 30th.   Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    12 min

  5. May 8

    I am a Champion! A WomenHeart Champion!

    “It’s really a testament to who you are as a person, who you are as a community member, and who you are as somebody who wants to help others. I mean, that is truly, I would say, the hallmark of what it is to be a WomenHeart Champion, and now you are all part of this sisterhood, so congratulations to you.” -Celina Gorre, CEO of WomenHeart, thanking the graduates of the 2026 Virtual Science & Leadership Symposium for sharing our stories Throughout most of the month of April, I participated in the WomenHeart Science & Leadership Symposium. Now, as a proud graduate of their 2026 Virtual Class and a newly-minted WomenHeart Champion, I want to take you behind the scenes of my experience. Here are some of the highlights of what I’ve learned so far about being a Champion for other women living with or at risk of heart disease, as well as how I can make an impact for you and your community..... This week’s questions: How can I help you raise awareness about heart disease in women in your community or workplace? What support can WomenHeart provide for you? Let me know! Related Posts: https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/p/how-it-feels-for-someone-else-to?r=heamx Links/References: https://womenheart.org/ WomenHeart Support Network Map join the SisterMatch program become a WomenHeart Champion This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit whatsherproblem.substack.com/subscribe

    13 min

  6. May 1

    The Gold Standard in Lyme Disease Testing

    The Gold Standard in Lyme Disease Testing Issue #38 of “What’s Her Problem?”: When finances drive our medical decision-making, patients may miss out on receiving the best possible care. May is Lyme Awareness Month! There’s good news and there’s bad news. I usually give people the bad news first, but with you, I’m going to start with the good news, which is that 90% of this test has come back negative. The bad news is that you did test positive for long-term Lyme. My Functional Medicine physician spoke those words to me in October 2022 during a telehealth appointment. Recognizing the pivotal nature of what she said, I documented the precise way she said it.... This week’s questions: Have you ever said no to a test that might have been diagnostically helpful due to the cost? Or been given a test that is known to be less accurate than another option? Related Posts: https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/p/interview-series-dr-wendie-trubow?r=heamx https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/p/what-if-there-had-been-another-treatment?r=heamx https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/p/my-heart-disease-has-copycats?r=heamx Links/References: https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/hcp/diagnosis-testing/index.html https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/hcp/diagnosis-testing/index.html https://www.lymedisease.org/lyme-biobank-study/ https://www.lymedisease.org/mylymedata-clinician-lyme-survey-report/ https://igenex.com/the-igenex-advantage/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit whatsherproblem.substack.com/subscribe

    12 min

  7. Apr 24

    Back in "The Pitt"

    Spoiler Alert! This post contains spoilers for HBO Max’s “The Pitt,” Seasons 1 and 2. Feel free to bookmark this and save it for later if you were planning to watch and don’t want any spoilers. Last year, I wrote about Season 1 of “The Pitt,” which has since gone on to dominate awards shows like the Emmys, Golden Globes, and even the AARP Awards. Season 2, whose finale premiered last Thursday on HBO Max, continues in that tradition of excellence. The way the writers carry every thread and storyline from episode 1 through the to the season finale is an impressive feat. They have chosen to tackle challenges in the U.S. health care system ranging from ICE to palliative care, violence against healthcare workers to sexual assault, and supportive decision-making to alcoholism (and so much more). I want to highlight 4 of this season’s topics that stood out to me (AI in Healthcare, Physician Burnout, Health Care Finances, and Cardiac Resuscitation of Women), as well as some miscellany..... This week’s questions: Have you watched Season 2 of “The Pitt”? What issues or storylines stood out to you? Related Posts: https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/p/the-pitt-and-doctor-centered-media?r=heamx https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/p/penicillin-anaphylaxis-and-the-allergist?r=heamx https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/p/penicillin-anaphylaxis-and-the-allergist-257?r=heamx Links/References: https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/digital-health/more-80-physicians-use-ai-professionally-ama-survey#:~:text=The%20physicians%20surveyed%20were%20generally,interpret%20radiology%20or%20pathology%20results. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37972797/#&gid=article-figures&pid=figure-1-uid-0 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit whatsherproblem.substack.com/subscribe

    17 min

  8. Apr 17

    My Heart Disease Has Copycats

    My Heart Disease Has Copycats Issue #36 of “What’s Her Problem?”: When several heart conditions look the same, how does the patient get the right diagnosis? My ears perked up last fall at the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association’s Annual Patient Meeting. Many doctors have told me there’s no known connection between two of my primary medical diagnoses: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) and autoimmune sensory neuropathy. That I am probably just unlucky to have both. But one of the presenters mentioned a correlation between neuropathy and a heart disease called Cardiac Amyloidosis.... This week’s questions: Do you, or someone you know, have a disease that was difficult to diagnose because it closely resembled another disease or condition? What was your process of getting to the right diagnosis? Related Posts: https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/p/reflections-on-the-2025-hcma-annual?r=heamx https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/p/weird-science?r=heamx Links/References: https://www.4hcm.org/amyloidosis https://www.4hcm.org/amyloidosis https://mcpress.mayoclinic.org/attr-cm/managing-the-heart-and-nerves-together-tips-for-living-with-attr-cm-and-neuropathy/ https://www.4hcm.org/danon https://www.4hcm.org/rasopathies https://www.4hcm.org/fabry https://www.4hcm.org/pompe https://www.4hcm.org/friedreich-s-ataxia https://www.4hcm.org/prkag2 https://www.4hcm.org/how-is-hcm-diagnosed https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/cardiac-pyp-scan https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/p/reflections-on-the-2025-hcma-annual?r=heamx https://www.4hcm.org/bighearts https://www.4hcm.org/center-of-excellence This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit whatsherproblem.substack.com/subscribe

    15 min
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About

“What’s Her Problem?” Podcast is the audio version of writer and patient advocate Debra Rafson's weekly Substack newsletter tackling Issues at the Heart of Chronic Illness and Disability through personal essays, interviews, opinion pieces, and more! whatsherproblem.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Debra Rafson
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    44
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Debra Rafson, The Open-Hearted Advocate LLC
  • Show Website
    "What's Her Problem?" Podcast