Welcome to the April 2019 edition of the Monthly Round Up blog from Uninvisible Pod. This month was definitely eye-opening and we learned a TON about various invisible illnesses and ways this special community supports its members. We weren’t quite sure what to expect when we set out on this journey, but once again, we find ourselves feeling incredibly fortunate to have spoken with great people and been given this unique opportunity to help share their stories.
Who did we talk to in April? We talked with Sarah Belclaire on cardiomyopathy and drug-induced lupus, Calliope Tsoukalas on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and nutrition, Dominique Viel on invisible illness and teens in the medical system, and Sascha Alexander came back to tell us about her diagnosis; surprise! It was Lyme disease!! We don’t want to give too much away, so have a listen yourself 🙂
Want to share your story on Uninvisible Pod? Get in touch with us! Simply having a conversation can have an enormous impact for yourself and others who may be sharing similar experiences. We’re here to help. Thanks for listening!
Episodes Featured:
Episode 16: Drug-Induced Lupus and Cardiomyopathy with Sarah Belclaire
Sarah Belclaire is an art librarian, fine art photographer, writer, and researcher based in Boston who lived with drug-induced lupus for two years. She had a reaction to medication she was prescribed for a GI issue (and one that was later diagnosed as only a food sensitivity – and cured with diet change). While her lupus has since passed, she lives daily with the long-term side effects of its presence: in the form of dilated cardiomyopathy. Sarah beautifully illustrates the light and shadow of invisible illness – and inspires us all to remember that the only way out is through.
Episode 17: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) with Calliope Tsoukalas
Lauren brings back a familiar guest: Calliope Tsoukalas, a nutrition and wellness coach based in Los Angeles, CA (check out the first time she was on our show here). Calliope is on the show again not only to go more in-depth about her practice, but also to share her experiences living with one of the most nebulous of invisible illness diagnoses: irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Episode 18: Teens in the Medical System with Dominique Viel
Dominique Viel is the founder of InvisiYouth Charity, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that helps teens and young adults around the world with varied chronic conditions and disabilities discover empowering lifestyle programs to live full lives while battling illness. Her focus is on teens – the “older” pediatric patients often overlooked and misunderstood by the medical establishment.
Episode 19: Update! With Sascha Alexander
Welcome back, Sascha Alexander! Remember that time she thought she had toxic mold, in addition to interstitial cystitis, candida, and Hashimoto’s disease? Well, guess what? Turns out it’s Lyme disease! Lauren sits down with Sascha to find out how she was ultimately diagnosed, and how she’s increasing her detox protocol to rid her body of one of the most insidious of invisible diseases: the tick-borne illness, Lyme disease.
