How does someone juggle a chronic illness and the demands of being a two-sport college athlete, all while attending class full time? You’re about to find out. Meet Becca: Becca first got sick in 2014 and has been battling multiple health issues ever since, notably POTS. But this past year, after a long time of not playing because of her illnesses, she stepped onto the basketball court as a college walk-on!I had to know how she did it, and Becca and I go into some great detail as she outlines how she went from a sedentary life to running up and down the court. Spoiler alert: it did not happen overnight.Becca also has some battle-tested advice on how to navigate chronic illnesses while in high school. If you have a young Spoonie in your life, this interview is for them.So take a timeout and huddle up, because Becca has the playbook for how she went from the hospital to the hardwood on this week's The Chronic Illness Playbook.P.S. Go Lady Wolfpack!To hear more from Becca:Instagram: www.instagram.com/becca.joy.mTo hear more from Joe and The Chronic Illness Playbook podcast...Podcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/chronicillnessplaybookWebsite: www.chronicillnessplaybook.comSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/CIPB)

This is for those days that seem hopeless, the moments that feel insurmountable, the challenges that never stop. This is a story of not just surviving, but thriving. And this is Brandon Mouw. At 3-years-old Brandon was diagnosed as a Juvenile Type 1 Diabetic. Later in life, he grew to be a brittle diabetic, underwent 9 surgeries, lost a kidney, told that death was imminent, and raised over $250,000 to pay out-of-pocket for a life-saving pancreas-only transplant. And after all that, he’s here on this podcast to tell us how he overcame the odds. If you’re looking for hope, keep listening. If you want to learn how to be a better advocate for yourself, this is your guy. And if you want to be inspired, look no further as Brandon tells us all that and so much more on this week’s The Chronic Illness Playbook.To hear more from Brandon Mouw: Instagram: www.instagram.com/brandonmouwofficial/Website: https://brandonmouw.com/To hear more from Joe and The Chronic Illness Playbook podcast...Podcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/chronicillnessplaybook Website: www.chronicillnessplaybook.comSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/CIPB)

Is it too much of a tease to say I'm going to have to have Rachel back on for a Part 2? Meet Rachel Vala, a 25-year veteran of chronic illness, many of which were spent undiagnosed. We tried to fit everything she learned during her long tenure of being undiagnosed and the wealth of knowledge she's amassed since her diagnosis into one podcast, but there are only so many hours in the day! You won't want to miss her harrowing journey of searching for a diagnosis; at the time she first got sick, her syndrome didn't even have a proper name. Which makes it kinda hard to diagnose and treat, right?Come be inspired by her resilience as she uncovers her diet, exercise, and compression wear regimens and take note of her wonderful tips about finding the right support group for you.All that, and oh so much more on this week's The Chronic Illness Playbook!Follow Rachel on Instagram: www.instagram.com/rachelvalaHer store where I bought my "Fauci" shirt (it's my new favorite): https://tadgarish.com/Links Referenced in the PodcastCenter For Chronic Illness: https://instagram.com/centerforchronicillnesshttps://www.thecenterforchronicillness.org/Support Group Central: www.supportgroupscentral.com Words As Medicine on Instagram: @wordsasmedicine https://www.instagram.com/wordsasmedicine https://www.wordsasmedicine.com/Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/CIPB)

Have you ever met someone who, in order to receive a life-saving treatment, had to appeal to one of the highest elected officials in the United States? I have, and her story is inspiring, but all too indicative of the state of healthcare around the world. This week, we welcome Chronic Jen to the program, as she shares this harrowing tale of advocacy, as well as her journey with Primary Immunodeficiency and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome.You won't want to miss when she lets us know the #1 must-have item she brings with her to every ER visit and doctor's appointment. It's something I hadn't even thought to do before talking with her, and will change how I approach meeting new physicians forever.So listen along as we talk about Jen's holistic approach to her chronic illnesses, debate which of the Seven Dwarfs has PI, and explore the intricacies of her Monday night infusion routine.All that, and so much more, on this week’s The Chronic Illness Playbook!For more information on plasma donations, please visit https://www.donatingplasma.org/ To hear more from Chronic Jen...@ChronicJen on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chronicjen/ Chronic Jen's Blog: https://chronicjen.com/ To hear more from Joe and The Chronic Illness Playbook podcast...Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chronicillnessplaybook  Joe’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chronicillnessresources Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/CIPB)

On the first episode of The Chronic Illness Playbook, Chronically Jenni shares her top products for both Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and POTS, dishes out sage advice for navigating the world of mobility aids, and delves into the helpful tools that make up her chronic illness survival kits. Jenni also shares a heartfelt recommendation of a popular Instagram account that truly inspires her, as well as blows Joe’s mind with a thoughtful response to his question, “What fictional character do you think has your chronic illness?”This episode is jam-packed with helpful advice for the chronic illness community at large, with specific focus at times for those spoonies with EDS and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia syndrome.Links Jenni and Joe reference throughout the episode:-Neo-Walk stylish mobility aids: https://www.neo-walk.com/-For her #1 EDS product recommendation, Google “Ergonomic Knife” to find a whole host of “L-shaped” knivesTo hear more from Chronically Jenni...Website: chronicallyjenni.comInstagram: www.instagram.com/ChronicallyJenniTo hear more from Joe and The Chronic Illness Playbook podcast...Podcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/chronicillnessplaybookJoe’s Instagram: www.instagram.com/chronicillnessresourcesThis episode is sponsored by: Common Sense - Please Wear a Mask!Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/CIPB)

Welcome to the Chronic Illness Playbook! Follow along as we build a playbook of battle-tested, go-to Spoonie practices, advice, and habits developed by fellow chronic illness warriors just like you! Join us as we talk to Spoonies from every walk of life and discover what connects us, what works for us, and what secret tips and remedies we might not know we’re hiding. Whether you're a newly-minted Spoonie, or you’ve been battling for quite some time, there's going to be something for everyone in this podcast populated with advice you can implement right this minute. Make sure to subscribe so you don't miss a minute of this journey as we start to build the Chronic Illness Playbook!Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/CIPB)