Christians With Chronic Illnesses

Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS): Deep Dive with L. A. Sprague

PCOS isn’t gone, but the name is changing for a reason. We’re talking about PMOS, polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, and why this new label finally points to what so many people have felt for years: the problem is bigger than ovarian cysts. If you’ve ever tried to explain your symptoms and got blank stares, this deep dive is meant to give you language that makes sense. We walk through what “polyendocrine,” “metabolic,” and “ovarian” actually mean in everyday life, including how hormone dysregulation can ripple into energy, mood, weight changes, skin and hair changes, and fertility concerns. We keep it practical with a clear explanation of insulin resistance, why it can leave you fatigued and foggy, and why PMOS is often tied to cardiometabolic risk. We also talk about what’s commonly used for diagnosis: needing two of three key signs, plus tools like hormone blood tests and ultrasound. Because PMOS can feel heavy, we also name the mental health side honestly, including anxiety, depression, and the emotional toll of feeling dismissed. And we end with hope, community resources, and a faith-centered reminder from the story of the bleeding woman: you are not disgusting, you are not rejected, and you are not alone. If this helped you, share it with a friend, subscribe so you don’t miss the next deep dive, and leave a review so more chronic illness warriors can find us. Sources: * https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pcos/symptoms-causes/syc-20353439 [https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pcos/symptoms-causes/syc-20353439] * https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22002-androgens [https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22002-androgens] * https://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/polyendocrine [https://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/polyendocrine] * https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/endocrine-glands-and-their-hormones [https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/endocrine-glands-and-their-hormones] * https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/21893-metabolism [https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/21893-metabolism] * https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/22999-ovaries [https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/22999-ovaries] * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syndrome [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syndrome] * https://www.nyp.org/healthmatters/pcos-is-now-polyendocrine-metabolic-ovarian-syndrome-pmos-why-the-change * https://www.patreon.com/c/CWCIpodcast * https://www.buzzsprout.com/2552643/support [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2552643/support] Purchase here: https://a.co/d/6dM3f89 Music for The Supernatural Case of an Accidental Time Traveler Ad: https://uppbeat.io/t/prigida/sketch-book License code: FFWQZDUHONOHPA8O Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2552643/support] *  Share your story: CWCIPodcast@gmail.com * Contribute towards the production of Christians With Chronic Illnesses: * https://www.patreon.com/c/CWCIpodcast * Follow us: *  Facebook: Christians With Chronic Illnesses * TikTok, IG, X, Threads, Twitch, & YouTube: @CWCIPodcast *  Discord Support Group https://discord.gg/ZaWMkbGSty [https://discord.gg/ZaWMkbGSty?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExWm9hc2ZkSGNUdWFmS0kweAEeb73hej37RqQI2MzURTLiYrPI7HADaOZe_VuxnIagMBq-vilZ6N3r_kf7Aow_aem_rYIbI4HuaLFW_uUY5lH2hA]  * Visit our website * https://christianswithchronicillnesses.buzzsprout.com/2552643/about

Depression, Epilepsy, and Praise with Becca Sugg

She broke her nose from a seizure a week before a major show and still performed. That single detail captures the tension we explore with Becca Sugg: the call to create, lead, and serve while living with chronic illness that can interrupt your life without warning. Becca is a Christian rock musician, lead vocalist of Reclaim the Day, studio owner, mentor to young artists, and she brings a rare mix of grit and tenderness to the realities of faith, health, and work. We trace her journey from the Christian music scene into full-time music, including running Reclaim the Day Studios and teaching at Rock Stars of Tomorrow. From there, we get specific about epilepsy and seizures, including focal seizures that feel like a “reset,” plus the auras, fatigue, and lifestyle triggers that can build toward bigger episodes. Becca shares what helps her manage epilepsy while touring and performing, how she navigates stage lighting, and why hydration, sleep, stress management, and nutrition are not “nice extras” but part of staying alive and stable. Then we move into the parts many people avoid saying out loud: depression and anxiety that can distort reality, create spirals, and strain a marriage. Becca talks about irritability, suicidal thoughts, and what changed when she accepted help, including fluoxetine (generic Prozac) as a medication that felt more neutral for her. We also talk about practicing gratitude, praising God in the storm, and learning to see ourselves through God’s eyes rather than through diagnoses like rheumatoid arthritis or labels like “medically frail.” If you’re looking for Christian encouragement for chronic illness, epilepsy support, and honest mental health conversations, you'll find it here. Subscribe for more stories like this, share with a friend who feels alone in their health journey, and leave a review so more listeners can find Christians with Chronic Illnesses. * https://www.patreon.com/c/CWCIpodcast * https://www.buzzsprout.com/2552643/support [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2552643/support] Purchase here: https://a.co/d/6dM3f89 Music for The Supernatural Case of an Accidental Time Traveler Ad: https://uppbeat.io/t/prigida/sketch-book License code: FFWQZDUHONOHPA8O Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2552643/support] *  Share your story: CWCIPodcast@gmail.com * Contribute towards the production of Christians With Chronic Illnesses: * https://www.patreon.com/c/CWCIpodcast * Follow us: *  Facebook: Christians With Chronic Illnesses * TikTok, IG, X, Threads, Twitch, & YouTube: @CWCIPodcast *  Discord Support Group https://discord.gg/ZaWMkbGSty [https://discord.gg/ZaWMkbGSty?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExWm9hc2ZkSGNUdWFmS0kweAEeb73hej37RqQI2MzURTLiYrPI7HADaOZe_VuxnIagMBq-vilZ6N3r_kf7Aow_aem_rYIbI4HuaLFW_uUY5lH2hA]  * Visit our website * https://christianswithchronicillnesses.buzzsprout.com/2552643/about

Reading Your Messages with L. A. Sprague

You can love Jesus and still be worn down to the bone. Today we're doing something simple but surprisingly powerful: reading your messages and responding in real time, with the deep breaths, low energy, and imperfect moments that come with life as a Christian with chronic illness. If you’ve ever wished someone would ask “How are you doing?” and actually mean it, this one is for you. We talk about depression and chronic illness without sugarcoating it, including what it’s like to be the person who “seems joyful” while privately fighting major depressive disorder. We share why toxic positivity is not the goal and why faith doesn’t require you to pretend you’re okay. Grief, honesty, and real mental health support belong in Christian spaces, and we want this podcast to be one of them. We also respond to listeners who feel validated for the first time while navigating flares, doctors, and spiritual doubt, plus a parent facing POTS and the daily grind of parenting with chronic illness. We touch on community resources for faith and chronic illness, including Broken and Mended, other podcasts, and how you can connect with us through Discord and our Facebook group. If your faith feels fragile, you’re still welcome here. If this brought you comfort, please subscribe, share it with a friend who needs it, and leave a review so more chronically ill believers can find us. What part of your story do you wish someone would finally understand? * https://www.patreon.com/c/CWCIpodcast * https://www.buzzsprout.com/2552643/support [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2552643/support] Purchase here: https://a.co/d/6dM3f89 Music for The Supernatural Case of an Accidental Time Traveler Ad: https://uppbeat.io/t/prigida/sketch-book License code: FFWQZDUHONOHPA8O Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2552643/support] *  Share your story: CWCIPodcast@gmail.com * Contribute towards the production of Christians With Chronic Illnesses: * https://www.patreon.com/c/CWCIpodcast * Follow us: *  Facebook: Christians With Chronic Illnesses * TikTok, IG, X, Threads, Twitch, & YouTube: @CWCIPodcast *  Discord Support Group https://discord.gg/ZaWMkbGSty [https://discord.gg/ZaWMkbGSty?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExWm9hc2ZkSGNUdWFmS0kweAEeb73hej37RqQI2MzURTLiYrPI7HADaOZe_VuxnIagMBq-vilZ6N3r_kf7Aow_aem_rYIbI4HuaLFW_uUY5lH2hA]  * Visit our website * https://christianswithchronicillnesses.buzzsprout.com/2552643/about

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Psoriasis, and Hope with "Jordan"

A “bad stomach bug” nearly took Jordan’s life and it became the moment she stopped trying to muscle through and started reaching for God again. Jordan joins us as a homesteader, artist, and future certified herbalist to share what it’s like living with IBS, PCOS, psoriasis, and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, and how chronic illness can expose both the cracks in our support systems and the places where real hope can take root. We get practical about gut health, chronic inflammation, and why IBS can impact everything from energy to nutrient absorption. Jordan explains the changes that helped her most, including removing trigger foods, cutting processed foods, minimizing sugar, avoiding gluten, and using a gut bacteria test to identify overgrowths and missing strains. She also walks through PCOS symptoms like insulin resistance and stubborn weight gain, plus the long fight to find a doctor who actually listens. Her experience with direct primary care, targeted labs, gradual strength training, supplements, and a few key medications shows how much management can improve when care is personal and thorough. The faith side is just as real. Jordan shares the Scriptures that hold her steady, including Revelation 21:4 and the story of Elijah being cared for with rest, food, and water. We also talk about unhelpful Christian responses to sickness, why “pray harder” can wound, and what’s better: listening, praying with someone, and refusing to condemn what they can’t control. If you need encouragement, better language for your pain, or a healthier way to support chronically ill believers, press play. Subscribe, share this with a friend who’s tired of carrying it alone, and leave a review so more people can find Christians with Chronic Illnesses. * https://www.patreon.com/c/CWCIpodcast * https://www.buzzsprout.com/2552643/support [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2552643/support] Purchase here: https://a.co/d/6dM3f89 Music for The Supernatural Case of an Accidental Time Traveler Ad: https://uppbeat.io/t/prigida/sketch-book License code: FFWQZDUHONOHPA8O Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2552643/support] *  Share your story: CWCIPodcast@gmail.com * Contribute towards the production of Christians With Chronic Illnesses: * https://www.patreon.com/c/CWCIpodcast * Follow us: *  Facebook: Christians With Chronic Illnesses * TikTok, IG, X, Threads, Twitch, & YouTube: @CWCIPodcast *  Discord Support Group https://discord.gg/ZaWMkbGSty [https://discord.gg/ZaWMkbGSty?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExWm9hc2ZkSGNUdWFmS0kweAEeb73hej37RqQI2MzURTLiYrPI7HADaOZe_VuxnIagMBq-vilZ6N3r_kf7Aow_aem_rYIbI4HuaLFW_uUY5lH2hA]  * Visit our website * https://christianswithchronicillnesses.buzzsprout.com/2552643/about

Navigating Relationships with Chronic Illness with L. A. Sprague

Chronic illness doesn’t only change your body. It changes the way plans get made, the way texts get read, and the way silence can start to feel personal. We’ve both seen how quickly a flare-up can turn into guilt, defensiveness, or that awful question underneath it all: “Do you still want me in your life if I can’t show up like I used to?” We talk through the relationship skills that make friendships, dating, marriage, and family dynamics more sustainable when chronic illness is part of the story. I share practical communication tools like asking permission before a heavy conversation, saying “I can” and “I can’t” without overpromising, and using “I feel” statements to address conflict without attacking. We also slow down for a quick box breathing reset, because sometimes your nervous system needs support before your words can land well. From there, we dig into trust, patience, and boundaries. If you’re the healthy friend or caregiver, trusting an invisible illness like POTS can be hard when you can’t see the symptoms. If you’re the chronically ill friend, it can be just as hard to trust that someone’s need for space isn’t abandonment. We also get honest about when repeated disrespect, ableism, or constant one-sidedness means it’s time to reevaluate the relationship and set boundaries you will actually keep. Finally, we end on intentionality: small, thoughtful actions that communicate love when life is limited. If you’ve been wondering how to keep relationships strong with chronic illness in the mix, hit play, then subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the support they need. * https://www.patreon.com/c/CWCIpodcast * https://www.buzzsprout.com/2552643/support [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2552643/support] Purchase here: https://a.co/d/6dM3f89 Music for The Supernatural Case of an Accidental Time Traveler Ad: https://uppbeat.io/t/prigida/sketch-book License code: FFWQZDUHONOHPA8O Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2552643/support] *  Share your story: CWCIPodcast@gmail.com * Contribute towards the production of Christians With Chronic Illnesses: * https://www.patreon.com/c/CWCIpodcast * Follow us: *  Facebook: Christians With Chronic Illnesses * TikTok, IG, X, Threads, Twitch, & YouTube: @CWCIPodcast *  Discord Support Group https://discord.gg/ZaWMkbGSty [https://discord.gg/ZaWMkbGSty?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExWm9hc2ZkSGNUdWFmS0kweAEeb73hej37RqQI2MzURTLiYrPI7HADaOZe_VuxnIagMBq-vilZ6N3r_kf7Aow_aem_rYIbI4HuaLFW_uUY5lH2hA]  * Visit our website * https://christianswithchronicillnesses.buzzsprout.com/2552643/about