"What's Her Problem?" Podcast

It May Be Risky But It Feeds Your Soul Issue #20 of "What's Her Problem?": It is challenging to balance the risks and rewards of stepping outside of your healthcare routine. Links/References: https://www.4hcm.org/center-of-excellence https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/p/how-are-you-feeling?r=heamx https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/about https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/p/reflections-on-th...

Chronic Illness is a Team Sport Issue #19 of "What's Her Problem?": My care team is critical to my health journey, and when a team member changes, I am forced to adjust. This week’s questions: How do you approach building your healthcare team? What tips do you have for managing times of transition in that team? Links/References: https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/quality/how-to-foster-excellenc...

Go, Go Gadgets! Issue #18 of "What's Her Problem?": Chronic illness and disability require a lot of gadgets! FULL TEXT WITH LINKS: It’s Black Friday weekend, which culminates in Cyber Monday. With the holiday season upon us, there is no better time of year to get the best deals on health gadgets for yourself or your loved ones. Today, I am sharing a list of my favorite gadgets; the ones that have...

How Are You Feeling? Issue #17 of "What's Her Problem?": The simplest question is the hardest for people managing chronic illness to answer. When I analyze why adding the word “feeling” onto a generic “How are you?” changes the weightiness of the question, the first thing that comes to mind is the lyrics to the song “Life Support” from the musical Rent . This week’s questions: Do you engage in men...

The Time Delta Lost My Walker (Part 2) Issue #16 of “What’s Her Problem?”: Disabled passengers shouldn’t have to go to great lengths in self-advocacy in order receive proper treatment from airlines. Last week, I shared Part 1 of “The Time Delta Lost My Walker.” If you haven’t listened to it yet, go do that, and then come back to read the conclusion of this tale of woe and frustration. This week’s...

The Time Delta Lost My Walker (Part 1) Issue #15 of "What's Her Problem?": The Airline Passengers with Disabilities Bill of Rights This week’s questions: Were you familiar with the Airline Passengers with Disabilities Bill of Rights? Or the Air Carrier Access Act? Has an airline ever lost your mobility device? Links/References: https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/p/whats-her-problem?r=heamx https...

Weird Science Issue #14 of “What’s Her Problem?”: Patients endure some bizarre tests in the pursuit of a diagnosis. The story of one of my weirdest medical tests, a CT scan with myelogram. This week’s questions: What is the weirdest or most uncomfortable medical test you have undergone to find a diagnosis? How do you decide what you’re willing to endure from a medical test in order to find answers...

Reflections on the 2025 HCMA Annual Patient Meeting Issue #13 of "What's Her Problem?": Being a student of your disease or disability makes the journey a smoother one. Never stop learning. Last Saturday, I attended the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association’s (HCMA) Annual Patient Meeting for the first time. #BigHeartBigLife Each issue of “What’s Her Problem?” includes questions for further discu...

Breaking Up Is Hard To Do Issue #12 of “What’s Her Problem?”: Breaking up with a doctor is as hard as ending any other relationship, but it’s important for patients to find the care they deserve. This week’s questions: What’s your standout doctor (or dentist) break-up story? What methods do you use to find a new doctor? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers...

Surgiversary Issue #11 of “What’s Her Problem?”: Should I be celebrating medical milestones more? This is a big week of surgiversaries (surgical anniversaries) for me. I wrote about my hesitancy to celebrate. This week’s questions: Do you celebrate medical milestones like surgiversaries? If so, how? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bon...

Ladies in Pink Gowns Issue #10 of “What’s Her Problem?”: Annual mammograms are a nerve-wracking but important screening tool for women. In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October) I scheduled my first mammogram as soon as I turned 40. As a lifelong rule follower, of course I was going to follow the guidance of groups like the CDC and American Cancer Society, who generally agree upon 40 as...

Being Rash Issue #9 of “What’s Her Problem?”: Holter monitors and why medical professionals shouldn’t be so rash in their judgment of 'problem patients.' Each issue of "What's Her Problem?" includes questions for further discussion. You can Leave a Comment publicly below, or become a Paid Subscriber on Substack to join the conversation in the private community Chat. This week’s questions: Do you e...

Interview Series-Sarah Hom, Accessibility Expert and Disability Justice Advocate Issue #8 of "What's Her Problem?": Challenges in accessibility for theatre patrons and employees Welcome to the very first installment of the “What’s Her Problem?” Interview Series! I had the great pleasure of speaking to Sarah Hom, the Director of Culture and Engagement, Audience Strategies at Roundabout Theatre Comp...

"The Pitt" and Doctor-Centered Media Issue #7 of "What's Her Problem?": TV medical dramas tend to focus on the doctors, not the patients. Video: Actor Noah Wyle sits on a couch and talks about his Emmy-nominated show The Pitt on The Kelly Clarkson Show . Kelly Clarkson sits in an armchair, facing him. Note: I do not own the rights to any media from “The Kelly Clarkson Show,” nor any other NBC prop...

Failing Up Issue #6 of “What’s Her Problem?”: Step therapy purports to save patients and insurers money, but it frequently puts patients at risk. Each issue of "What's Her Problem?" includes questions for further discussion. You can Leave a Comment publicly below, or become a Paid Subscriber on Substack to join the conversation in the private community Chat. This week’s question: Have you particip...

Holding My Heartbeat in My Hands Issue #5 of “What’s Her Problem?”: Living a life in which your health is dependent on technology is both miraculous and terrifying. How I felt after my first implanted cardiac device was removed after 8 years, and I was able to keep it. Each issue of "What's Her Problem?" includes questions for further discussion. You can Leave a Comment publicly below, or become a...

The Doctor Will See You Now(ish) Issue #4 Of “What’s Her Problem?”: Health care wait times show respect for neither the patients nor the doctors. This week’s question: What suggestions do you have for bringing back the R-E-S-P-E-C-T (sing it with me!) to healthcare? What is the longest you’ve sat in a waiting room to see a doctor? When is it worth it? How do you decide? This is a public episode. I...

Let's Discuss Issue #3 of "What's Her Problem?": Peer support groups benefit both participants and group leaders. Why peer support groups for chronic illness are so helpful, through the lens of my experience moderating an online discussion group for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. This week’s question: Have you attended a peer support group for an illness or disability? What benefits did you get from...

Good News Issue #2 of "What's Her Problem?": Those of us with chronic illness are so used to receiving bad news from doctors that we don’t stop to celebrate the small wins when we do receive good news. How I'm learning to handle good news from doctors, instead of always waiting for the other shoe to drop. This week’s question: Do you celebrate your small wins with your health? If so, how do you ce...

What's Her Problem? Issue #1: People make assumptions about what chronic illness and disability "should" look like. My unfortunate encounter with a TSA agent and the origin story for calling my Substack "What's Her Problem?" Today’s question: How do you handle situations where the validity of your illness or disability is questioned? Visit whatsherproblem.substack.com to subscribe. This is a publi...

A brief introduction to "What's Her Problem?," a weekly Substack newsletter tackling Issues at the Heart of Chronic Illness and Disability. From writer, patient advocate, and disabled chronic illness warrior Debra Rafson. The voiceover/audio recording of every post will appear in this RSS feed, so subscribe now to stay up to date. whatsherproblem.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd lik...