Navigating My 30s with a Chronic Illness: Botox, IVF and Hospital Trips

This week on Calling in Sick, I’m sharing a very real life update. I talk through my chronic illness thoughts on:

• getting Botox (including my TMJ) with a chronic illness
• starting to prep for IVF and embryo implantation: emotionally, logistically, and medically
• IVIG insurance nonsense, navigating hospitalizations, and why advocating for yourself matters (even when you’re exhausted)
• traveling internationally while not in remission, and how I’m planning differently

I also answer your Ask Alex questions: from medicine questions, fears around passing on chronic illnesses, and avoiding future-tripping about motherhood… which you can find exclusively on our Substack!! Link below!

This episode isn’t about doing everything perfectly, but about doing life honestly, adapting as we go, and letting things be both exciting and hard at the same time. If you’re living with chronic illness and trying to build a full life anyway, this one’s for you.

xx, Alex

💬 Comment: What’s something that you WANT to do, but are SCARED to do, because of chronic illness?

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Intro:

00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick!

00:04:27 Alex’s Picks of the Week (Arrae & Comrad)

Alex Update:

00:06:15 My rundown on botox and chronic illness

00:11:27 Our family update (doctors appointments & how we are handling this era differently)

00:15:50 Changing insurances and continuation of care (ahem IVIG) and a solo hospitalization

00:21:00 IVIG going SO WRONG (and what to do to feel better!!)

00:25:54 Two bright spots from my hospitalization (the podcast and med students & changing my hospital trauma response)

00:31:20 Will AI make insurance better or worse?!?

00:32:51 Traveling abroad in a flare up (what I’m bringing and planning to do to make this trip a success!)

Conclusion:

00:34:43 One Brain Cell Show: SNL (Hulu)

00:37:29 Thank you for listening!

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Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/

Alex’s Picks of the Week:

International travel while flaring? These are my top 2 MUST HAVES to make my flight a little bit easier…

✨Arrae Supplements (constipation) — go.shopmy.us/p-40962893

✨Comrad Compression Socks — go.shopmy.us/p-28908081

— ALEXANDRA20 for 20% off

#ChronicIllness #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness #AutoimmuneDisease #ChronicPain #IVIG #IVFJourney #LifeWithChronicIllness #MedicalGaslighting #HealthJourney #DisabilityAwareness #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson 

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