My Spoonie Sisters

What happens after the diagnosis, when the pamphlets end and real life begins? We open up about the messy middle: the anger at being dismissed, the relief of finally being believed, and the slow turn toward joy that doesn’t deny pain. Our conversation traces the path from confusion to clarity, showing how better information, kinder self-talk, and small, repeatable habits rebuild a life that feels...

A single word can change a life. When Andi’s nonstop yeses ended in cardiac arrest, she rebuilt her world around a different answer—one that protected her health, restored her energy, and revealed who was truly in her corner. We open up about the art of saying no as a complete sentence, why urgency is often self-created, and how to educate loved ones about the real recovery costs of “just a quick...

The light fades, routines slow, and the quiet gets loud. We name the winter blues without sugarcoating them, then share what actually helps: sunlight rituals, happy lights you’ll remember to use, and small anchors that turn long dark days into something gentler and more human. We compare notes from different climates—rain-soaked Pacific Northwest, high-desert cold, and Midwest grit—to show how env...

Ever wish your bag could calm a flare before it starts? We empty our real spoonie survival kits and show exactly how we plan for pain spikes, long waits, and the kind of detours that come with chronic illness. From compact pain tools to mood-lifting comforts, you’ll hear how we choose items that solve predictable problems—then scale up for travel without hauling a suitcase. We start with the every...

Holiday joy doesn’t have to come with a meltdown. We open up about how to survive loud rooms, heavy schedules, and high expectations while living with chronic illness or limited energy. From early meal prep to quiet “time-out” routines, we share the small moves that make the season easier, calmer, and genuinely more fun. We get practical about pacing: pies baked the day before, casseroles assemble...

A snack can save your night—or sink tomorrow. We spin our community’s wheel of topics and dive into the art of balanced snacking for spoonies: how to crush cravings, steady energy, and keep flares at bay without giving up the foods you love. From salty crunch to chocolate fixes, we share the swaps and habits that actually stick. We start with protein-first thinking and why it matters for brain fog...

When Kathy Chester lost her eyesight in one eye on Mother's Day over twenty years ago, she had no idea this would be the beginning of her journey with multiple sclerosis. As a former gym owner and lifelong athlete, her first instinct was to "run it out"—pushing her body harder in hopes of defeating the disease through sheer determination. Today, that fighting spirit has evolved into...

When life deals you a complicated hand of chronic illnesses, what do you do with it? For Erica Falco, the answer was clear – transform it into a mission of connection and hope for others walking similar paths. At just 30 years old, this former elementary school teacher navigates a complex medical reality that includes stage 4 endometriosis (found throughout her body, even in her lungs), gastropare...

What happens when the medical establishment tells you your debilitating symptoms are "all in your head"? Dr. Diana Driscoll shares her journey from successful optometrist to disabled POTS patient and groundbreaking researcher. After a virus triggered debilitating autonomic dysfunction, she and her children faced severe health issues, prompting her to seek answers when traditional medicin...

Steve Lovelace didn't plan to share his recent health crisis on the Spoonie Sisters podcast, but sometimes the most powerful conversations happen unexpectedly. When Steve woke at 3:30 AM with unmistakable heart attack symptoms, he made a decision he now warns others against – driving himself to the emergency room. Despite his high pain tolerance developed through decades of chronic pain, the...

Ever Googled your symptoms only to fall down a rabbit hole of doom and gloom? You're not alone. When Asmaa was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2022, she desperately searched for someone who could tell her life wasn't over—someone who looked like her, talked like her, had a career, was getting married, but was 10 years ahead in their journey who could say, "Don't worry, you...

Have you ever left your rheumatologist's office feeling like they were speaking an entirely different language? You're not alone. Medical terminology can be overwhelming, especially when you're newly diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and trying to make sense of your new reality. This episode brings together a remarkable panel of experts who offer something truly unique – they&apos...

Nutrition might be the most overlooked aspect of surgical recovery, yet it fundamentally shapes how quickly and completely our bodies heal. In this deeply practical conversation, the Spoonie Sisters welcome holistic nutritionist Jacqueline Lovett to explore the powerful connection between what we eat and how we recover. We dive into why protein becomes critically important when your body is rebuil...

What happens when a medical professional becomes the patient? Melissa Marquis—a nurse with over 25 years of experience in emergency preparedness—shares her remarkable journey from healthcare provider to autoimmune patient after being diagnosed with limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis following a frustrating 10-year search for answers. Drawing from both her clinical expertise and lived experience,...

What does chronic illness really look like when no one's watching? When the "I'm fine" mask slips away? The Spoonie Sisters gather for an unfiltered, emotional conversation about the reality behind the façade. This episode dives deep into what happens when medication stops working, when anger takes over, and when your body betrays you despite doing "everything right."...

Have you ever been told that celery juice could cure your autoimmune disease? Or perhaps someone suggested that your joints aren't actually inflamed—they're just dehydrated? Welcome to the world of unsolicited health advice that every person with a chronic illness knows all too well. In this candid and often hilarious conversation, four women (Alison, Jen, Jewel, Linnea) with various chr...

What happens when chronic pain intersects with mental health? Our panel of chronic illness warriors tackles this question head-on, revealing the emotional landscape behind physical suffering and the mindset shifts that transformed their journeys. Meet Steve, living with rare and painful arachnoiditis, who found renewed purpose as an advocate after his body began failing him. Listen to Stasia'...

Chronic illness transforms not just our bodies, but our entire emotional landscape. What happens when persistent physical pain collides with mental health? How do we find joy when our bodies seem determined to hold us back? "Mind Over Misery" brings together a diverse panel of chronic illness warriors who open up about the rarely discussed emotional sides of their health journeys. From p...

Have you ever considered that your chronic illness might have given you superpowers? Not the kind that let you leap tall buildings, but the real-life abilities that make you uniquely resilient, intuitive, and resourceful. In this heartfelt conversation, we explore the unexpected strengths that emerge when living with conditions like rheumatoid arthritis. Our guest shares how being diagnosed comple...

What if you could transform your autoimmune health through nutrition and lifestyle changes? That's precisely what Tanya Freirich, The Lupus Dietitian, has done for herself and thousands of clients over her 15-year career. This illuminating conversation takes you deep into the intersection of nutrition and autoimmune disease management with someone who uniquely understands both sides. Tanya br...

Have you ever been casually told about a serious medical diagnosis you didn't even know you had? That jarring experience is just one of the many challenges we explore in this heartfelt conversation about navigating life after receiving a chronic illness diagnosis. We kick off by catching up on our summer experiences and current health challenges – from mysterious hip pain and shoulder inflamm...

For those living with rheumatic diseases, finding your voice can be as powerful as finding the right treatment. In this candid roundtable conversation, six extraordinary patient advocates—Chelsea, Stasha, Nya, Tanya, Jen, and Cheryl—pull back the curtain on their journeys from diagnosis to becoming Rheum Champions with the Rheumatology Research Foundation. Each champion brings a unique perspective...

Imagine the moment: sitting in a doctor's office, hearing those words for the first time – "You have a chronic illness." What follows isn't just medical treatment, but an emotional journey through fear, confusion, and eventually, finding your way forward. We've been in that exact seat, and in this heartfelt season opener, my Spoonie Sisters and I share the raw, unfiltered...

The tiny creatures lurking in your backyard could change your life forever. Shira Haid knows this reality all too well, having battled severe tick-borne illnesses that left her unable to walk or speak. Today, she's turning that painful experience into purpose through her educational platform, Lemon or Lime. What began as a website has blossomed into a YouTube channel and growing social media...

Chronic illness steals more than your health—it can rob you of your identity and everything you once loved. For Shira Haid, a classically trained musician and clinical massage therapist, the onset of multiple tick-borne illnesses, including Lyme disease, marked the beginning of a devastating transformation. What began as extreme fatigue in 2014 quickly spiraled into debilitating pain, cognitive dy...