The Chronic Ills

Surviving the Holiday Season

Angelica and Alina are back discussing surviving the Holiday Season when you have a chronic illness. They discuss:

• navigating awkward conversations
• dealing with the weather (Aussie summers are hot!!)
• how holiday time is not always the most wonderful time of the year. 

Stay tuned until about 19mins in when Angelica tells Alina some life changing information that literally shook her to her core!

 

 

New Aorta, Who Dis? Angelica’s Surgery

TW: Discussions of ICU, surgery and medical trauma.

In this episode we go into detail about Angelica's most recent major aortic surgery. We unpack what's involved in the surgery, ICU stays and her recovery as well as the ongoing mental, emotional and physical impact of experiencing and recovering from major surgery.

We’re back!

After a long break we're back for a second season talking about all things chronic illness in your twenties! We talk about what we've been up to for the past year and a bit, Covid, some personal and health updates from us, all with little bit of Saw and Darren Criss thrown in. Enjoy!

10. Navigating Friendships When You‘re Chronically Ill

In this episode we explore what it's like navigating and maintaining friendships when you have a chronic illness. We look at how chronic illness has impacted our friendships and the effects of the pandemic on how we maintain friendships as chronically ill people. We also talk about low spoon activities and the importance of continuing accessibility within your friendships when lockdown is over. Enjoy xoxo

9. The Cost of being Chronically Ill

This weeks episode we explore the often unseen impact being chronically ill has on your finances. Not only to your money but to your time and your ability to make money in the future. We also discuss experiences navigating and getting the Disability Support Pension (DSP) an income support payment in Australia and provide some tips to help you if you're thinking about applying. Enjoy xoxo

8. How is Chronic Illness and Disability Portrayed in Media?

This week  we take a look at how chronic illness and disability is portrayed in media and pop culture. We discuss the paralympics, popular 'disability films' of the 80s and 90s, and some of the all too common stereotypes and tropes that depict chronic illness/disability in film and television. Enjoy xo

7. Body Image with Chronic Illness

This episode we talk all about how our chronic illnesses have impacted our own body image. We discuss how we have come to terms with often dramatic changes in our bodies and how we have coped with scars, weight loss and our changing relationship with clothing. 

P.S. Apologies for some of the audio issues on this episode! We are still tweaking the remote recording process. Enjoy anyway! xoxo

6. Pills, Pills, Pills: Medication and Alt. Therapies

In this episode we discuss medications and alternative therapies. We delve into the medications that are essential to us, the stigma that often surrounds taking medications and what alternative therapies we have had experience with. We also take a look at the popular 'wellness' idea that "food is medicine" and how that intersects with our experience of being chronically ill. Enjoy! xoxo

5. Let's talk about mental health

Trigger Warning: This episode contains descriptions of medical trauma, PTSD, anxiety, ICU, medical gaslighting and surgery.

In this episode we discuss the impacts that having a chronic illness has had on our mental health. We delve into things like medical trauma, PTSD, anxiety, hypervigilance and catastrophising. We discuss our experiences of medical gaslighting, what it's like to undergo major surgery and be in the ICU. 

Take care all xoxo

4. Sick in a pandemic

In this week’s episode we chat about what it’s like living as a chronically ill person during a global pandemic. We discuss anxiety, working from home, how the pandemic has shed light on accessibility needs, and of course the COVID-19 vaccine. xoxo

 

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