A Letter to My Late Physical Therapist

A Letter to My Late Physical Therapist

Two years ago this week, my physical therapist, a crucial part of my medical care team, was killed, at age 43, in a tragic accident. I wrote this letter to her the week after her passing, as a way to process my emotions. I’ve edited it lightly, and I added a post-script, but it remains largely unchanged otherwise. Consider yourself forewarned: you may want to have some tissues on hand as you read or listen to this one. June 15, 2024 Dear Caryn, For the first time in almost four years, I went to my physical therapy appointment on Thursday with a sense of utter dread. Not because of the exercises I would need to engage in or the therapist I had been assigned to work with, but because I knew you wouldn’t be there. That day or ever again.... This week’s question: How have you grieved a non-sensical loss? Related Posts: https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/p/chronic-illness-is-a-team-sport?r=heamx [https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/p/chronic-illness-is-a-team-sport?r=heamx] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit whatsherproblem.substack.com/subscribe [https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Guest Post: Karen Walter, LMHC

May is Mental Health Awareness Month! Mental health and chronic illness go hand-in-hand, and as May comes to a close, I wanted to acknowledge that it’s Mental Health Awareness Month. I invited a guest writer to share her thoughts on this topic with you, and I’m pleased to introduce Licensed Mental Health Counselor Karen Walter [https://launchpsych.com/therapists/karen-walter-lmhc/]. Karen holds a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from Salem State University and is committed to fostering growth through compassionate and collaborative care. With nearly a decade of experience supporting children and families across community, school, summer camp, and outpatient settings, she has developed a deep appreciation for the unique strengths and challenges each individual and family brings. Her time as a clinician in an elementary school especially shaped her holistic approach to creating a safe and supportive space where clients can feel truly seen and heard. The challenge of learning to live with chronic illness is one of the many specialties that Karen treats in children and adults. She works at Launch Psychological Associates [https://launchpsych.com/about/about-us/] in Massachusetts, a woman-owned, close-knit group of clinicians who are passionate about helping their clients live fully. Telehealth appointments are available. I want to thank Karen for openly sharing the story of her own chronic illness and how it informs her work as a therapist. So much of what she wrote resonated with me, and I know it will for many of you as well. Here is Karen Walter’s story... This week’s questions: How do you balance your mental health and physical health, especially if you deal with chronic illness? Which therapeutic techniques have been most beneficial for you? Related Posts: https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/p/guest-post-dawn-levitt-two-time-heart?r=heamx [https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/p/guest-post-dawn-levitt-two-time-heart?r=heamx] https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/p/lets-discuss?r=heamx [https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/p/lets-discuss?r=heamx]   This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit whatsherproblem.substack.com/subscribe [https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Interview Series: Jennifer Crystal, Author, Educator, and Writing Coach

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit whatsherproblem.substack.com [https://whatsherproblem.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_7] 0:00-12:11      Introduction and the importance of patients being listened to and believed 12:11-20:17    Jennifer reads a passage from One Tick Stopped the Clock 21:30-24:09    How to find a Lyme Literate Medical Doctor (LLMD) 24:11-33:39    Family dynamics and chronic illness 33:40-40:31    Friendship and writing to heal 40:32-46:04    How illness impacts identity 46:05-48:30    Wrap-up Jennifer’s Website: www.jennifercrystal.com [http://www.jennifercrystal.com] Jennifer’s New Substack, Writing Your Life:  https://jennifercrystalwriter.substack.com/ [https://jennifercrystalwriter.substack.com/] Follow Jennifer on Substack: https://substack.com/@jennifercrystalwritingyourlife [https://substack.com/@jennifercrystalwritingyourlife] Purchase One Tick Stopped the Clock here: https://amzn.to/4w3Z68L [https://amzn.to/4w3Z68L] About Jennifer’s Other Published Works: https://www.jennifercrystal.com/publishedworks [https://www.jennifercrystal.com/publishedworks] Global Lyme Alliance Patient Support Provider Search Directory:   https://www.globallymealliance.org/lymedoc [https://www.globallymealliance.org/lymedoc] Health Story Collaborative, Writing for Expression and Connection Meetups: https://www.healthstorycollaborative.org/writing-info [https://www.healthstorycollaborative.org/writing-info] International Lyme and Associated Disease Society Provider Search: https://www.ilads.org/patient-care/provider-search/ [https://www.ilads.org/patient-care/provider-search/] Jennifer’s upcoming Writing to Heal classes at Grub Street Creative Writing Center: · The next Writing to Heal Workshop [https://substack.com/redirect/70201d9c-020c-4bd0-a667-8cf4aa64d61f?j=eyJ1IjoiaGVhbXgifQ.z1w-3NaGt6HzSOWQciwGxJ-4rMAQfBsmGEIdJJYtBXM] runs for six weeks starting Thursday, June 11th from 6:00-9:00PM ET. The class is currently full, but feel free to add your name to the waitlist, as spots do sometimes open up. · Looking to learn about the Writing to Heal Immersive Program? Join Jen for a remote Open House [https://substack.com/redirect/fa22cc88-662d-4e20-837f-2a3cccd0c934?j=eyJ1IjoiaGVhbXgifQ.z1w-3NaGt6HzSOWQciwGxJ-4rMAQfBsmGEIdJJYtBXM] on Thursday, May 21st at 6:30PM ET. · Ready to apply for the 2026-27 program? Applications [https://substack.com/redirect/81319037-8009-4fd2-bd9e-1e83a62960b9?j=eyJ1IjoiaGVhbXgifQ.z1w-3NaGt6HzSOWQciwGxJ-4rMAQfBsmGEIdJJYtBXM] are now open! They are due by June 30th.   Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

I am a Champion! A WomenHeart Champion!

“It’s really a testament to who you are as a person, who you are as a community member, and who you are as somebody who wants to help others. I mean, that is truly, I would say, the hallmark of what it is to be a WomenHeart Champion, and now you are all part of this sisterhood, so congratulations to you.” -Celina Gorre, CEO of WomenHeart, thanking the graduates of the 2026 Virtual Science & Leadership Symposium for sharing our stories Throughout most of the month of April, I participated in the WomenHeart Science & Leadership Symposium. Now, as a proud graduate of their 2026 Virtual Class and a newly-minted WomenHeart Champion, I want to take you behind the scenes of my experience. Here are some of the highlights of what I’ve learned so far about being a Champion for other women living with or at risk of heart disease, as well as how I can make an impact for you and your community..... This week’s questions: How can I help you raise awareness about heart disease in women in your community or workplace? What support can WomenHeart provide for you? Let me know! Related Posts: https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/p/how-it-feels-for-someone-else-to?r=heamx [https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/p/how-it-feels-for-someone-else-to?r=heamx] Links/References: https://womenheart.org/ [https://womenheart.org/] WomenHeart Support Network Map [https://www.womenheart.org/support-network-map/] join the SisterMatch program [https://www.womenheart.org/sistermatch/] become a WomenHeart Champion [https://www.womenheart.org/about-us/become-a-womenheart-champion/] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit whatsherproblem.substack.com/subscribe [https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

The Gold Standard in Lyme Disease Testing

The Gold Standard in Lyme Disease Testing Issue #38 of “What’s Her Problem?”: When finances drive our medical decision-making, patients may miss out on receiving the best possible care. May is Lyme Awareness Month! There’s good news and there’s bad news. I usually give people the bad news first, but with you, I’m going to start with the good news, which is that 90% of this test has come back negative. The bad news is that you did test positive for long-term Lyme. My Functional Medicine physician [https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/p/interview-series-dr-wendie-trubow?r=heamx] spoke those words to me in October 2022 during a telehealth appointment. Recognizing the pivotal nature of what she said, I documented the precise way she said it.... This week’s questions: Have you ever said no to a test that might have been diagnostically helpful due to the cost? Or been given a test that is known to be less accurate than another option? Related Posts: https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/p/interview-series-dr-wendie-trubow?r=heamx [https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/p/interview-series-dr-wendie-trubow?r=heamx] https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/p/what-if-there-had-been-another-treatment?r=heamx [https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/p/what-if-there-had-been-another-treatment?r=heamx] https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/p/my-heart-disease-has-copycats?r=heamx [https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/p/my-heart-disease-has-copycats?r=heamx] Links/References: https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/hcp/diagnosis-testing/index.html [https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/hcp/diagnosis-testing/index.html] https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/hcp/diagnosis-testing/index.html [https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/hcp/diagnosis-testing/index.html] https://www.lymedisease.org/lyme-biobank-study/ [https://www.lymedisease.org/lyme-biobank-study/] https://www.lymedisease.org/mylymedata-clinician-lyme-survey-report/ [https://www.lymedisease.org/mylymedata-clinician-lyme-survey-report/] https://igenex.com/the-igenex-advantage/ [https://igenex.com/the-igenex-advantage/] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit whatsherproblem.substack.com/subscribe [https://whatsherproblem.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]