Arthritis Life14 Aug 2025

From Frustration to Inspiration: Melissa’s Journey of Self-Advocacy, Diagnostic Purgatory and Life with Scleroderma

Cheryl and Melissa discuss her experiences in the healthcare system, driven by frustration to become a self-advocate. This led Melissa to write the book Invisible: a Nurse Turned Patient's Resource to Living Well with Autoimmune Disease, aiming to provide validation and resources for others facing similar struggles.

Cheryl and Melissa also touch on the challenges of advocating for oneself, misconceptions in the medical field, the impact of invisible illnesses, and the importance of finding purpose and joy while living with chronic conditions.

Episode at a glance:

Melissa’s Journey: Cheryl and Melissa discuss Melissa’s long diagnosis journey.
Navigating the Healthcare System: Melissa shares what it was like to navigate the healthcare system as a nurse turned patient.
Self-Advocacy: Cheryl and Melissa discuss the importance of self advocacy.
Melissa’s Book: Melissa shares her journey of writing her new book, Invisible: a Nurse Turned Patient's Resource to Living Well with Autoimmune Disease.

Medical disclaimer:

All content found on Arthritis Life public channels was created for generalized informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Episode Sponsors

Rheum to THRIVE, an online course and support program Cheryl created to help people with rheumatic disease go from overwhelmed, confused and alone to confident, supported and connected. See all the details and join the program or waitlist now!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Det här avsnittet är hämtat från ett öppet RSS-flöde och publiceras inte av Podme. Det kan innehålla reklam.

Avsnitt(221)

Real Life with Juvenile Arthritis: Three Kids Tell Their Stories

Along the way, they talk about the comfort of pets, the importance of finding friends who truly understand, why kids with invisible illnesses deserve to be believed, and the hope they've found through...

13 Aug 34min

Rheumer Has It: Romantic Relationships & Arthritis

Drawing from their own lived experiences, they discuss everything from when to disclose a diagnosis while dating to navigating rejection, communicating with partners, managing physical intimacy, and r...

30 Juli 36min

Can You Live A Normal Life with Rheumatoid Arthritis? (2026 Reflection + Encore Episode)

In this updated introduction, I share how my response to this question has changed, the importance of exploring internalized ableism, and why I think a better question is: Can I build a joyful, meanin...

16 Juli 54min

Rheumer Has It: Busting Medication Myths with Dr. Hazelwood: Encore Episode

Dr. Hazelwood emphasizes the importance of balancing risks and benefits and provides insights into how modern treatments can significantly improve quality of life. The episode emphasizes the safety an...

2 Juli 24min

Becoming Immune Confident with Sjogren’s & MCAS, with Dr. Kara Wada

In this empowering conversation, Cheryl and Dr. Kara Wada explore what it means to take charge of your health with conditions like Sjögren’s syndrome and mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS). Dr Kara...

18 Juni 1h 7min

Exploring the Intersection of Cancer and Rheumatoid Arthritis, with Dr. Singh

They also explore exciting new therapies like CAR T-cell treatment, along with practical advice on self-advocacy, building the right healthcare team, and what it truly means to thrive while living wit...

4 Juni 44min

Rheumer Has It: Role of the Multidisciplinary Team in Rheumatic Disease: OT, PT, Counseling and More!

They explain how occupational therapists, physical therapists, mental health professionals, pharmacists, and others can help you manage fatigue, pain, anxiety, daily routines, and life after diagnosis...

21 Maj 29min

Pregnancy, Postpartum & Parenting with Rheumatoid Arthritis, with Mariah Leach

Cheryl and Mariah discuss everything from medication decisions during pregnancy to adapting family life, traveling with chronic illness, managing expectations, and finding “micro moments” of joy along...

7 Maj 43min