Podcast
Calling In Sick
Hosted by Just Media · EN
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!
30episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Endometriosis Guide: How to get Diagnosed, Treatment Options & Co-morbidities, with Dr. Jolene Brighten
Yesterday01:19:18Tap to summarizeThis week on Calling in Sick, I'm sitting down with THE Dr. Jolene Brighten, board-certified naturopathic endocrinologist, bestselling author of Beyond the Pill, Is This Normal and soon-to-be-released ADHD and Women, and someone who personally lives with endometriosis, adenomyosis, ADHD, and autism. And she is connecting every dot that conventional medicine keeps ignoring. We're diving into: 🩸 What endometriosis actually IS 🧠 The diagnosis conversation 🔬 What excision surgery vs. ablation actually means 💔 The comorbidity nobody is talking about (ADHD, autism, PMDD, POTS and autoimmunity) 🌿 What a real endo management plan looks like Plus a session of fact or fiction you DON’T want to miss!!! xx, Alex 💬 Comment: How long did it take you to get your endo diagnosis… and what finally got you there? TIMESTAMP: Intro: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick! 00:01:48 Alex’s Picks of the Week (Tower 28 SOS spray, OSEA mineral sunscreen) Deep Dive into Endometriosis with Dr. Jolene Brighten: 00:04:17 Dr. Jolene Brighten's personal health journey and background 00:11:12 What is endometriosis? 00:13:37 Misinformation in medical education and the role of Pharma 00:16:47 Surgical options: Excision vs. Ablation 00:23:04 The importance of imaging and proper diagnostics 00:30:32 Global experts and the cost of specialized care 00:35:03 Commonly missed symptoms and systemic effects 00:40:05 Steps to finding the right provider and advocating for yourself 00:47:43 Emerging research and treatments (HIFU, GLP-1s) 00:52:19 Fact or Fiction: Common myths in women's health Conclusion: 01:05:42 One Brain Cell Show: OUR TOP Reading Recommendations 01:12:18 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? ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/ Alex’s Picks of the Week: Apparently… pregnant woman sunburn MUCH faster than usual… so here are my top 2 pregnancy safe, non-toxic sun safety picks!!! ✨Tower28 SOS Spray (for when you burn) — https://go.shopmy.us/p-61563905 ✨OSEA Mineral Sunscreen — https://go.shopmy.us/p-61563949 #Endometriosis #EndoAwareness #EndoWarrior #ChronicIllness #ADHD #ADHDWomen #AutoimmuneDisease #POTS #PMDD #DrJoleneBrighten #BeyondThePill #PelvicPain #EndoSurgery #ExcisionSurgery #ChronicPain #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness #WomensHealth #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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The Communication Framework That Saved Us During My First Trimester | Ask Alex
6d ago00:14:35Tap to summarizeThis week on Calling in Sick's Ask Alex, I'm getting into something I've wanted to talk about for a while!! The communication strategies that have actually made a difference during my first trimester. Best part? Chronic illness taught us most of them. We all know Cooper is Saint Coop for a reason. But this week I'm breaking down exactly WHY he's so good at this, and the framework we've built together that I think every chronic illness couple — pregnant or not — needs to hear. We're diving into: 🤍 The 4 S's of partner support: solidarity, solutions, sympathy and shit-talking (yes, really) 🧠 Decision fatigue: why anticipating needs without being asked is the ultimate act of love 😂 Meet Victoria: how we handle mood swings without taking them personally 📚 How we research together 💪 What I do on MY end xx, Alex 💬 Comment: What's the hardest communication topic you've had to navigate with your partner during chronic illness or pregnancy? TIMESTAMP: Intro: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick! How Chronic Illness Prepared Me and My Partner for Pregnancy: 00:01:55 The single question to ask your partner: "What kind of support do you need?" 00:03:09 Anticipating needs: executing without being asked 00:05:09 How we manage hormonal mood swings without taking them personally 00:06:33 Collaborative research: how we figured out my due date together 00:07:27 Bidirectional accountability: supporting the primary caregiver Conclusion: 00:08:21 We want to hear your hardest communication points!!! ---------------------------------------------------------------- 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: We get into nausea this week, here’s my top 2 picks for managing it!! ✨Sea Bands — https://sea-band.com?sca_ref=11335860.28aQZwoPI5g Use code ALEX10 for 10% off at checkout!! ✨Preggie Pops — https://amzn.to/3PFqZUk #ChronicIllnessPregnancy #FirstTrimester #AutoimmunePregnancy #PregnancyWithChronicIllness #ChronicIllness #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness #AutoimmuneDisease #PregnancyNausea #MorningStickness #DuvetDay #HighRiskPregnancy #ChronicIllnessMom #FirstTrimesterSymptoms #PregnancyTips #SpooniePregnancy #TTCCommunity #MotherhoodJourney #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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How My Chronic Illness ACTUALLY Prepared Me for Pregnancy
1w ago00:42:06Tap to summarizeThis week on Calling in Sick, I'm getting honest about something I was maybe a little overconfident about going in. I thought 25+ years of managing a complicated, unpredictable chronic illness had given me ALL the tools I'd need for managing my first trimester of this pregnancy. Turns out… I was kinda wrong. We're diving into: 🧠 How chronic illness ACTUALLY prepared me 😴 Where pregnancy has TOTALLY humbled me 🤢 My honest nausea remedy ratings 🤱 The pregnancy things NOBODY warned me about ✨ The update on my autoimmune symptoms right now!!! If you're pregnant with chronic illness, thinking about it, or just want the unfiltered honest version of first trimester… this one's for you. xx, Alex 💬 Comment: What's your NUMBER ONE nausea tool?! TIMESTAMP: Intro: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick! 4:14 Alex’s Picks of the Week (Sea Bands, Preggie Pops) How Chronic Illness Prepared Me for Pregnancy: 00:06:27 Is pregnancy nausea and fatigue the SAME as chronic illness?! 00:10:43 My NUMBER ONE fatigue tip 00:13:46 How I’m ACTUALLY managing nausea 00:20:20 How I’ve been eating during my first trimester, and why it’s been surprising to me 00:23:51 How I’ve been handling all the ADVICE that comes with pregnancy, and chronic illness 00:26:33 The MOST surprising pregnancy symptom NOBODY prepared me for Conclusion: 00:32:29 One Brain Cell Show: Off-Campus series (Amazon Prime) 00:35:06 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? ---------------------------------------------------------------- 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 get into nausea this week, here’s my top 2 picks for managing it!! ✨Sea Bands — https://sea-band.com?sca_ref=11335860.28aQZwoPI5g Use code ALEX10 for 10% off at checkout!! ✨Preggie Pops — https://amzn.to/3PFqZUk #ChronicIllnessPregnancy #FirstTrimester #AutoimmunePregnancy #PregnancyWithChronicIllness #ChronicIllness #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness #AutoimmuneDisease #PregnancyNausea #MorningStickness #DuvetDay #HighRiskPregnancy #ChronicIllnessMom #FirstTrimesterSymptoms #PregnancyTips #SpooniePregnancy #TTCCommunity #MotherhoodJourney #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Ticks Are On the Rise: Everything you NEED to Know About Lyme Disease RIGHT NOW! (ft. Ali Moresco)
2w ago00:29:59Tap to summarizeThis week on Calling in Sick x Ask Alex, Ali Moresco and I are getting into everything happening in the Lyme disease world RIGHT NOW. It's Lyme Awareness Month, ticks are predicted to be worse than ever this year, and there is actually some hopeful news coming out of Washington for the first time in a long time. We're diving into: 🏛️ HHS takes on Lyme: what the new government roundtable, updated standards of care, and brand new tick-borne illness website actually mean for patients 💉 The Lyme vaccine in development: where it stands and what it signals about how seriously this disease is finally being taken 🔬 LymeX: the $25 million public-private partnership working to develop accurate standard lab testing (because the current one misses up to 78% of cases) 🧬 The pathobiome nobody talks about: how Lyme commonly shows up alongside POTS, MCAS, EDS, mold toxicity, and immune deficiencies, and what that means for treatment 💆 Integrating Western medicine with healing modalities that also work: lymphatic drainage, TCM, infrared saunas, red light therapy, and why dismissing these is failing patients Plus the hot take on medical providers online who are invalidating patient experiences… and why that attitude is doing serious damage to trust in this community. xx, Alex 💬 Comment: Did you know May is Lyme Awareness Month? Have you or someone you love been affected by Lyme disease? TIMESTAMPS: Everything Lyme & Ticks with Alli Moresco: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick! 00:02:21 HHS roundtable discussion and involvement of top researchers and doctors 00:03:33 Updated standards of care and new HHS Lyme website4 00:04:14 Lyme vaccine in development5 00:04:39 LymeX: A public-private partnership for improved lab testing6 00:05:44 New website resources and updated disease statistics7 00:06:43 Comorbidities of Lyme (POTS, MCAS, EDS, and mold toxicity)8 00:08:43 Theories on chronic illness susceptibility and weakened immune systems9 00:11:24 Integrating Western medicine with traditional and functional practices10 00:14:20 Frustrations with medical provider attitudes on social media11 00:18:56 Favorite healing modalities: manual lymphatic drainage and traditional Chinese medicine 00:22:59 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, Ali Moresco! • Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/alitmoresco/ • Project Lyme - https://projectlyme.org/from-the-desk-of-ali-moresco/ • Moresco PR - https://www.amorescopr.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: This week we’re talking about Lyme disease, so here are my TOP PICKS for tick prevention and control!!! ✨Wonderside Flea & Tick Spray — https://amzn.to/43dIUoh ✨The Tick Mitt — https://amzn.to/4uOGgRF #LymeDisease #LymeAwareness #LymeAwarenessMonth #TickBornIllness #ChronicLyme #LymeWarrior #ChronicIllness #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness #MedicalGaslighting #LymeTesting #AliMoresco #ProjectLyme #TickSeason #LymePrevention #ChronicPain #PatientAdvocacy #InfectiousDisease #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Got Bit By a Tick? Here's Exactly What To Do: The 411 on Lyme Disease (ft. Ali Moresco)
2w ago01:02:23Tap to summarizeThis week on Calling in Sick, I'm sitting down with Ali Moresco, Lyme disease advocate, founder & CEO of Moresco PR, and Executive Board Chair of Project Lyme, to talk about the tick-borne illness epidemic that is growing faster than most people realize. 31 million people will get bit by a tick this year. In some counties, 1 in 2 ticks carry Lyme. And most people still have no idea what to do when it happens. We're diving into: 🦟 The 411 on Lyme disease: what it actually looks like, why the bullseye rash is a myth, and what to do in the first 72 hours after a tick bite 🩺 Why standard Lyme testing misses up to 78% of cases, and what accurate testing actually looks like 💔 Why Lyme is one of the most politically charged and dismissed illnesses in medicine 🔥 Why Lyme disease is so polarizing Plus on Wednesday’s episode, we're getting into what's happening in the Lyme world RIGHT NOW: new research, the vaccine in development, and HHS’ taking on Lyme. If you've ever been bit by a tick, love someone with Lyme, or just want to actually understand what's happening with this illness… this episode is for you. xx, Alex 💬 Comment: Have you ever been bit by a tick? Did you know what to do? TIMESTAMPS Intro: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick! 00:01:57 Alex’s Picks of the Week (Wonderside Flea and Tick Spray, Tick Mitt) Everything Lyme & Ticks with Ali Moresco: 00:03:34 Intro to Ali Moresco, her background and her story with Lyme Disease 00:15:20 The basics of Lyme disease and transmission 00:20:59 Other tick-borne illnesses (Alpha-gal, Babesiosis, Bartonella) 00:25:07 Why Lyme has prevalence right now & the current statistics 00:27:14 Prevention: Where ticks hide and how to do a tick check 00:31:49 Post-bite protocol: Proper removal, testing, and treatment 00:38:13 Misinformation, politics, and the "Lyme Wars" 00:50:01 Future outlook and reasons for hope Conclusion: 00:52:36 One Brain Cell Show: Bravo (Real Housewives) 00:55:23 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, Ali Moresco! • Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/alitmoresco/ • Project Lyme - https://projectlyme.org/from-the-desk-of-ali-moresco/ • Moresco PR - https://www.amorescopr.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: This week we’re talking about Lyme disease, so here are my TOP PICKS for tick prevention and control!!! ✨Wonderside Flea & Tick Spray — https://amzn.to/43dIUoh ✨The Tick Mitt — https://amzn.to/4uOGgRF #LymeDisease #LymeAwareness #LymeAwarenessMonth #TickBornIllness #ChronicLyme #LymeWarrior #ChronicIllness #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness #MedicalGaslighting #LymeTesting #AliMoresco #ProjectLyme #TickSeason #LymePrevention #ChronicPain #PatientAdvocacy #InfectiousDisease #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Motherhood with Chronic Illness | Q&A with Cortney Gensemer
3w ago01:07:11Tap to summarizeIn this Calling in Sick x Ask Alex, I’m 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 newly 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’s Ask Alex! 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/ 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
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How Research is Changing the Future for Chronic Illness Patients (ft. Cortney Gensemer)
3w ago01:27:00Tap to summarizeThis week on Calling in Sick, I'm sitting 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, and she is not holding back. This week we're diving 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 (Abercrombie, Rag & Bone, MOTHER Denim) 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
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WE’RE PREGNANT!! + how my chronic illness is doing
4w ago00:47:37Tap to summarizeGET YOUR TISSUES READY!!!! Because this week, on Calling in Sick, I’m sharing the biggest news yet… after 7 years of praying, delayed timelines, a miscarriage and so many set backs. We. Are. FINALLY. PREGNANT!!!!!! And today I'm getting into ALL of it: 🌍 How we found out in Amsterdam ❤️ What telling our families was like 🤰 How I’m feeling at 6 weeks 🤯 What my autoimmune symptoms have been like 🍼 Why we decided to share this news early For anyone in their own motherhood journey right now, whether you’re deep in TTC or just curious about what motherhood could like like for you… I see you, I love you, and I hope this episode gives you a little hope. 🤍 xx, Alex, Coop and Baby W 💬 Comment: Do you think we’re having a BOY or a GIRL?!?! TIMESTAMP: Intro: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick! 00:01:00 Alex’s Picks of the Week (Kroma 24K Chicken Bone Broth, Wow Butter) We’re Pregnant!: 00:02:44 How we found out (and why we were SHOCKED!!) 00:09:23 How we told our families 00:21:31 Why we shared the news so early 00:23:37 How my autoimmune diseases are doing, and thoughts on a chronic illness pregnancy 00:26:36 My thoughts on being pregnant with a chronic illness 00:30:57 What sex ed didn't teach us about pregnancy…. 00:34:10 Current symptoms and cravings Conclusion: 00:38:46 One Brain Cell Show: Running Point (Netflix) 00:40:37 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? ---------------------------------------------------------------- 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’m in my first trimester, which means I’m fighting pregnancy nausea. But!!! I think I’ve found a hack. PROTEIN! Here’s my on-the-go anti-nausea snacks I keep on my person, all the time: ✨Kroma Bone Broth — go.shopmy.us/p-56202425 ALEXANDRA20 for 20% off ✨WOW!Butter — https://amzn.to/4elhC6k #ChronicIllnessPregnancy #PregnancyAnnouncement #AutoimmunePregnancy #ChronicIllness #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness #AutoimmuneDisease #PregnancyWithChronicIllness #ChronicPain #TTC #TTCCommunity #ChronicIllnessMom #Spoonie #MotherhoodJourney #Progesterone #HighRiskPregnancy #MFM #PregnancySymptoms #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Revisit: Starting a Family with Chronic Illness
Apr 2901:00:19Tap to summarizeIf you've been following me on socials, you already know this, and if you don’t, then sit down for this new…. Saint Cooper and I are PREGNANT!! 🎉 We spent last week celebrating this surprise, and I took the week of from podcasting. So this week I'm re-releasing my two favorite episodes about my chronic illness and motherhood journey… and honestly, Alex in those episodes had absolutely NO idea what was coming for her this year. 😭 Next week, Saint Coops and I are dropping a full episode giving you the download on this pregnancy journey: how it happened (the old school way, yes really!!!), what finding out was like, how I'm feeling so far, our boy // girl predictions, and everything in between. We'll also be doing an Ask Alex episode answering ALL of your questions about this new chapter: send yours here: https://forms.gle/YYPREsLgYuEPhx4Y9 So much love!! 🤍 Saint Coop, Alex & our little lovie Revisit: This week on Calling in Sick, Saint Coop and I are sitting down for one of the most vulnerable conversations we’ve had yet. We’re talking about the reality of trying to have a baby while living with chronic illness: the planning, the fear, the logistics, the IVF part, and the emotional nuance that doesn’t always make it to Instagram. In this episode, we dive into: • Why we chose IVF instead of trying to conceive naturally • How we are processing this chapter differently (while not being mad at each other) • The caregiving dynamic and how a baby could shift it • Our fears around health, tapering medications, and timing We also revisit our embryo update and give more context to how we’re thinking about implantation, preparation, and what this season of life really looks like behind the scenes. So if you’ve ever wondered about becoming a parent while juggling chronic illness… put your headphones on and turn up the volume. 🎧 Don’t forget: our weekly Ask Alex episode drops Wednesday at 9 AM CST, where we answer your submitted questions (including IVF costs, tapering meds, and filming during flares). xx, Alex 💬 Comment: What’s the biggest fear or question you have about parenthood and chronic illness? TIMESTAMP: Intro: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick! 00:01:37 Life Updates & Yapping 00:09:14 Alex’s (& Coop’s) Picks of the Week (Hatch, Lola, AG1 and Uni) Chronic Illness & Trying to Become Parents: 00:16:22 Why we are doing IVF & what our experience has been like so far 00:23:24 Why we will only name ONE embryo & how we picked July as the implantation date 00:26:24 How being a caregiver & husband has given Cooper a different emotional experiencing around trying-to-conceive (TTC) 00:33:01 What sharing my chronic illness fertility journey online has been like 00:37:55 The fears and worries we are carrying around having a baby with a chronic illness 00:43:18 Why we’ve decided it’s time to go to Couples Therapy!! 00:44:44 How Cooper and I are diving up the logistics of planing for parenthood & the one thing that made us have a FIGHT 00:54:02 What’s next for our TTC journey Conclusion: 00:57:05 One Brain Cell Show: The Burbs (Peacock) 00:59:20 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? ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/ Alex’s Picks of the Week: Since we’re talking about all things baby this week… these are two things we already own that I *think* will come in handy with baby!!! ✨Hatch (alarm clock) — https://go.shopmy.us/p-32414449 — ALEXWILD gives you 55% off at checkout! ✨Lola (blanket) — https://go.shopmy.us/p-37229531 — ALEXWILD gives you 55% off at checkout! And Saint Cooper was SO excited to throw in his most recent favorite products too... ✨AG1 (greens mix) — https://go.shopmy.us/p-40888857 — pro tip, mix with Pineapple and coconut water!! ✨ Uni (lotion) — https://go.shopmy.us/p-43912973 — ALEXANDRA15 for 15% off at checkout! #TryingToConceive #IVFJourney #ChronicIllnessPregnancy #AutoimmuneDisease #HighRiskPregnancy #EmbryoTransfer #FertilityJourney #MotherhoodWithChronicIllness #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness #ChronicPain #IVFSupport #CaregivingSpouse #MedicalGaslighting #HealthJourney #ChronicIllnessCommunity #DisabilityAwareness #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Revisit: My Motherhood Journey with Chronic Illness: IVF, Surgery Setbacks & Hope After Loss
Apr 2700:40:30Tap to summarizeIf you've been following me on socials, you already know this, and if you don’t, then sit down for this new…. Saint Cooper and I are PREGNANT!! 🎉 We spent last week celebrating this surprise, and I took the week of from podcasting. So this week I'm re-releasing my two favorite episodes about my chronic illness and motherhood journey… and honestly, Alex in those episodes had absolutely NO idea what was coming for her this year. 😭 Next week, Saint Coops and I are dropping a full episode giving you the download on this pregnancy journey: how it happened (the old school way, yes really!!!), what finding out was like, how I'm feeling so far, our boy // girl predictions, and everything in between. We'll also be doing an Ask Alex episode answering ALL of your questions about this new chapter: send yours here: https://forms.gle/YYPREsLgYuEPhx4Y9 So much love!! 🤍 Saint Coop, Alex & our little lovie Revisit: 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 ups and downs of my motherhood timeline — IVF, surgery complications, and pregnancy loss reshaping my path 🤱 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! ---------------------------------------------------------------- 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: 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!!!! ---------------------------------------------------------------- #ChronicIllness #MotherhoodJourney #PregnancyAfterLoss #IVFJourney #FertilityStruggles #PregnancyComplications #SurgeryRecovery #AutoimmuneDisease #ChronicIllnessMama #HighRiskPregnancy #PregnancyHope #ChronicPain #InvisibleIllness #SpoonieLife #MiscarriageAwareness #MotherhoodAndChronicIllness #HealthJourney #MentalHealth #TryingToConceive #SpoonieSupport #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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