In today’s episode on advocating for ourselves and all things appointments, Erica kicks us off with chatting about the time in between—in between having tests done and getting a diagnosis.

Susie jumps in with one of her favourite topics… therapy! She’s found benefits in different types of therapy, but touches on her experience with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and how one step in the exercise particularly helps when feeling anxious about health issues.

Susie also gives some tips from her book, ‘Help the Doctor Help You’ to get the best from medical appointments. For example, before leaving your appointment ask, the next steps: “What do I do if things get worse? What if they don’t get better?”

She also might get a little soap-boxy about finding empathy for our doctors and how that goes a long way to relationship building, which in turn, results in better care. And a little housekeeping… Erica may have been having some trouble with her face holes. That’ll happen, folks.

And due to internet troubles, our sound got a little laggy, but shouldn’t cause you too much trouble.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Email: iseeyouthepodcast@gmail.com

Watch us on YouTube: @iseeyouthepodcast

FB/IG:@iseeyouthepodcast

Substack: I See You – The Podcast

ERICA:

Website: www.theartoftakingupspace.com

IG: @ericazacharias

SUSIE:

Website: www.susieschwartz.com

IG: @authorsusieschwartz

Substack: The Quest for Less Health Stress, Secrets of a Thriller Writer

Book: Help the Doctor Help You: 41 secrets and tips for self-advocacy to get the BEST from your appointments. (Available on Amazon, Waterstones.com, Ingram Spark)

Both Erica and Susie are part-time wheelchair users, and needing mobility aids can come with (unnecessary) shame and embarrassment. (Thanks to outward and inward perceptions of disability). On today’s episode, we unpack the messy emotions that come with this transition.

Susie tells a story of ‘outing’ herself at a local village event, using her wheelchair for the first time in that setting.

We then discuss the benefits to using mobility aids and why it is worth it to push past any shame and use them.

We also discuss how it gets easier, and the emotional punch of being visibly disabled dissipates with time and experience.

What we really want you to know is this: If that transition period is hard, confusing, tricky, just know that that is normal. And it does get easier.

Follow: @chronicallyjenni in IG for education and support

CNIB: https://www.cnib.ca/en/support-us/advocate/advocacy-campaigns/advocating-safer-more-accessible-journeys

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Email: iseeyouthepodcast@gmail.com

Watch us on YouTube: @iseeyouthepodcast

FB/IG:@iseeyouthepodcast

Substack: I See You – The Podcast

ERICA:

Website: www.theartoftakingupspace.com

IG: @ericazacharias

SUSIE:

Website: www.susieschwartz.com

IG: @authorsusieschwartz

Substack: The Quest for Less Health Stress, Secrets of a Thriller Writer

Travelling with disabilities thanks to invisible and chronic illness is not for the faint of heart!

Today the ladies discuss the hidden costs (financial and emotional) of travel.

We talk about the judgement that is either real or perceived as we move through airports and planes with our mobility aids and our physical challenges. And speaking of mobility aids, the real threat of our aids (wheelchairs, etc.) being tossed around and broken, or lost altogether during the travel process adds massive stress to our travels. Not only does it take an emotional toll, but what is one to do with a broken (or lost) aid once their destination is reached? The physical challenges and cost to our health that arise from that are huge.

Susie shares another poop story. (Of course she does.) The need for pre-loaded enemas make packing a nightmare, never mind using them!
But it’s not all about us.

When it comes to chronic illness and disability, your story matters.
When people with lived experience are invited to the table, they improve society standards and symptoms, and can make the process of change so easy.
For those who have the capacity to advocate for safer, more accessible journeys for Canadians, head to these two places:

CNIB: https://www.cnib.ca/en/support-us/advocate/advocacy-campaigns/advocating-safer-more-accessible-journeys

Canada’s Minister of Transportation: Steven MacKinnon

https://www.ourcommons.ca/members/en/steven-mackinnon(88468)#contact

And to read Erica’s article that was mentioned, head over here:

https://www.theartoftakingupspace.com/post/reflections

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Email: iseeyouthepodcast@gmail.com

Watch us on YouTube: @iseeyouthepodcast

FB/IG:@iseeyouthepodcast

Substack: I See You – The Podcast

ERICA:

Website: www.theartoftakingupspace.com

IG: @ericazacharias

SUSIE:

Website: www.susieschwartz.com

IG: @authorsusieschwartz

Substack: The Quest for Less Health Stress, Secrets of a Thriller Writer

Book: Help the Doctor Help You: 41 secrets and tips for self-advocacy to get the BEST from your appointments. (Available on Amazon, Waterstones.com, Ingram Spark)