Chronically Able

E12: The trauma of fighting to be believed

What happens when your body is screaming for help… but nobody believes you? In this deeply raw episode of Chronically Able, Rylee opens up about growing up feeling dismissed, being told her symptoms were “all in her head,” and navigating the emotional trauma of medical gaslighting while living with invisible illness. After COVID worsened her condition, everyday life became a battle from losing independence to constantly having to prove her pain in a world that often misunderstands chronic illness. This conversation explores survival, grief, resilience, and the exhausting reality of being “able” while silently paying the price afterward. If you’ve ever felt unseen, unheard, or exhausted from fighting to be believed… this episode is for you 🤍

E:11 Gaslit for Years, 60+ Surgeries, Raising Two Chronically Ill Kids

In this episode of Chronically Able, Elisa sits down with Tori—a mom living with multiple complex chronic illnesses who has undergone over 60 surgeries while also raising two children with disabilities and chronic illnesses of their own. From being dismissed by doctors for years, labeled “lazy,” and constantly gaslit about her symptoms… to finally receiving life-changing diagnoses including Cystic Fibrosis, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Tori shares what it’s really like living in a body that people refused to understand. But this conversation goes beyond diagnoses. Together, Elisa and Tori discuss: * medical gaslightin * parenting medically complex children * fighting schools and healthcare systems for accommodations * chronic pain and disability * accessibility and travel fears * relationships while chronically ill * and the difference between toxic positivity and “realistic hope" This episode is raw, emotional, validating, and deeply important for anyone navigating chronic illness, disability, caregiving, or the fight to be believed. 🧡 Because hope doesn’t have to look perfect to still exist.

E:10 The World Doesn’t Slow Down for Chronic Illness

This week’s episode of Chronically Able is a little different. Sometimes when you live with chronic illness, your body changes the plan. Deadlines, expectations, and schedules don’t always align with the realities of autoimmune disease, fatigue, or flare-ups. In this short episode, I talk honestly about what it means to live in a world that keeps moving while your body asks you to slow down. I also want to thank everyone who has submitted the Chronically Able guest form. Your stories matter deeply to this community. If you haven’t heard from me yet, please know I see you and truly appreciate your patience as I work through each submission. Rare doesn’t mean invisible. And adapting doesn’t mean giving up.

E:9 Rare, But Not Invisible | Living with Myasthenia Gravis, Lupus & Sjögren’s

It’s Rare Disease Awareness Month, and most people don’t even know it. In this deeply personal episode of Chronically Able, Elisa records from a flare, laying in the dark, and shares what living with multiple rare autoimmune diseases actually looks like. She goes beyond just naming her diagnoses and explains what they do: •What Myasthenia Gravis is and how it affects muscle communication •How Systemic Lupus Erythematosus creates systemic inflammation and unpredictable flares •Why Sjögren’s Syndrome is more than “dry eyes” and how it impacts dental health and finances With clear percentages and real-life examples, Elisa sheds light on how rare these conditions truly are, and what it means to live in a statistically small, often misunderstood space. This episode also covers: • What autoimmune flares feel like • Why rare disease diagnosis can take years • How to advocate for testing and referrals • The invisible financial burden of chronic illness • Why visibility and education start with us If you’re living with a rare disease, still searching for answers, or supporting someone who is — this conversation is for you. Rare doesn’t mean dramatic. Rare doesn’t mean invisible. And if you want to share your rare disease story on Chronically Able, the guest interest form is linked in the show notes. You are not alone. You are seen. You are Chronically Able.

E:8 Disablity Doesn’t Have a Look.

What does “disabled” look like? In this episode of Chronically Able, Elisa unpacks the reality of living with invisible illness and why disability doesn’t have a single aesthetic, uniform, or visible marker. From parking lot judgment to medical dismissal, we explore what it means to look “fine” while managing chronic illness internally. Elisa shares personal reflections on autoimmune fluctuation, credibility in doctor’s offices, and the emotional weight of constantly being evaluated in public spaces. This episode covers: * Why invisible illness is still disability * The history of disability exclusion and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) * How medical bias impacts women and Black women * The impact of fluctuation in autoimmune and chronic conditions * Know-your-rights guidance for workplace and school accommodations * Advocacy tools for medical appointments * Why media representation of disability needs to expand Disability does not require adaptive equipment to be legitimate. It does not require visible suffering to be real. Whether you live with chronic illness, autoimmune disease, or invisible disability or you’re learning how to better support someone who does — this episode invites you to rethink what disability looks like. You don’t owe anyone visible proof of your pain. You are Chronically Able. ⸻ 🎧 Want to join the conversation? If you live with invisible illness or you’re a caregiver, parent, partner, family member, or medical professional fill out the guest interest form: beacons.ai/chronicallyable Let’s expand what disability visibility looks like. Together.✨🫶🏼