That's So Chronic

02/04/2024

Hello everyone! Just an update to let you know that I no longer use or monitor this page, and am in the process of deactivating it.

If you would like to stay connected, please follow That's So Chronic on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/thatssochronic

Jess x

1,916 Followers, 738 Following, 557 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from THAT'S SO CHRONIC | Jess Brien ()

17/07/2023

For today’s episode I’m chatting to Elizabeth about her diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS), and it’s out now wherever you listen! 🎧 🧡

In this episode, Elizabeth shares…
👀 the diagnosis process that eventuated after a bout of optic neuritis
🧡 how she felt when her symptoms had a name
💊 her management plan including diet and Natalizumab/Tysabri infusions
🎙️ and why she felt inspired to share her story today!

This episode feels extra special, because what you will soon learn throughout the interview is that Elizabeth doesn’t really talk about her diagnosis a lot, but she wanted to share her story with all of you today! 🥹 Honestly, guests choosing me and That’s So Chronic to help share their stories is something that I never take for granted!!

Also, scroll to the end for the cutest headshot EVER 😭

10/07/2023

Grab a cuppa tea ☕ your headphones 🎧 and get comfy 🛋️ because this week Ruby Quinn shares her story of living with a diagnosis of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), endometriosis, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

In this episode Ruby breaks down…
🧐 how she got a diagnosis of ME in amongst lockdowns
💊 her symptoms (and how she manages them)
📚 as well as explaining how she navigated going to university at the same time
❤️ her diagnosis of endometriosis (which - probably comes as no surprise to a lot of listeners - came with a bit of a negative experience of the health care system)
🧠 all things ADHD
🤝 and how this diagnosis fits into her life!

The episode is OUT NOW wherever you get your pods! 🎙️

03/07/2023

It has been TOO LONG since I posted one of these updates, but I’m pleased to say we are BACK! 🎙️

Today’s episode is with Allie Sharples and we are chatting about her journey, from being born with a cleft lip and palate, to her diagnosis of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP).

In this episode, Allie shares…
🤍 the countless surgeries that she went through up until the age of 19
🏥 how even though she swore that she would never step foot in a hospital as a patient ever again, she ended up spending months there after suddenly becoming unwell at the end of 2021
👪How she handled being away from her son (scroll to see Allie reunited with her son and family on Christmas Day! It took two Drs and two nurses to get her there, but she did it!!)
🧐 the diagnosis process of CIDP
💊 how she manages her symptoms
🥰 and how life is looking for her now!

Side note: big apologies for the knocking on the microphone throughout the episode! Allie’s story is so captivating, I’m hoping you will hardly notice 💝

Listen to this episode now, wherever you get your pods! 🎧

28/06/2023

Did you notice a sneaky little That's So Chronic trailer in your podcast apps yesterday morning?! 🎙🤭

That episode was the ONE HUNDRETH episode of the pod! Isn't that just wild?!!

Thanks for listening and supporting! I can't wait to be back in your ears every week... which is officially starting again... NEXT WEEK!

Until then, if you're new around here, have a listen to yesterday's "start here" trailer so you're ready to go! 🎧

Eeeee! 🥳

17/05/2023

The COOLEST research project just popped into my emails and I am so excited BUT they need your help!!! Details below 👇 ✨️

---

Kate Pederson and Dr. Melanie Finney are researchers at DePauw University and are interested in how people might use podcasts as a form of social support especially for people who may have invisible or chronic illnesses.

🎧 The survey will ask questions regarding how and why an individual listens to podcasts.

🥸 The survey responses are anonymous and completely voluntary. You may stop participation at any time.

💙 If you are interested, please respond to the survey by Thursday, June 1, 2023.

💫 Requirements: Participants must be 18, have a chronic or invisible illness, and listen to a chronic illness podcast.

⏰️ Time commitment: Approx 15 mins

💌 If you have any questions, you may contact [email protected] or [email protected].

🥰 Thank you for your consideration!

🔗 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfrkhyR4cRW9DEB8O4Pvbs9kWuQIlCtZ3gs31J6E55tMoquxg/viewform

---

HOW COOL that people are researching this! This is the first of its kind. I can't wait to see the results when it gets published!!!

12/05/2023

I am absolutely gutted that I’m not in AKL or WGTN this year to watch all of my fave comedians do funny things! 🥺 BUT I have searched through the programme to find my top picks for shows that have a bit of a That’s So Chronic vibe ✨

Scroll through or read below for more info! 🤌

Jess Karamjeet: REDUNDANT 
AKL | 16 - 20 May @ Basement

👀 keep your eyes peeled on our stories as Jess is going to take us behind the scenes of comedy and chronic illness life!

Markus Birdman: THE BEARABLE HEAVINESS OF NEARLY NOT BEING
AKL | 9 - 20 May @ The Classic

🧠 Markus has had 2 strokes & he’s here to tell you all about it. Might’ve seen him on Britain’s Got Talent recently! 

Jim Stanton: BANDWAGON
WGTN | 23 - 27 May @ BATS
😂 A show about discovering, coming to terms with, and not bothering to spell check anything before jumping on the ADHD bandwagon!

Hayley Sproull: AILMENTS
AKL | 9 - 13 May @ Q Theatre

🎹 A dead kidney, a weak bladder, a full beard and a uterus shaped like the devil. A new hour of music and comedy! PS Hayley was the first ever guest on That’s So Chronic!
 
Penny Ashton & Justine Smith: SHOWY OVARIES LIVE
AKL | 20 May @ Q Theatre

🎙️ Penny is That’s So Chronic alumni, and is the host of her very own podcast Showy Ovaries. She’s teaming up with Justine (a very funny comedian!) to record an episode live! 

Maria Williams: ADHD… THE MUSICAL?!
WGTN | 16 - 20 May @ BATS & AKL | 23 - 27 May @ Q Theatre

🥳 You all loved her episode where she talked about her diagnosis of ADHD, so you are gonna LOVE her show! She’s also a Billy T Nominee which is, like, a big deal. 

Audrey Porne & Jadwiga Green: JUST KIDDING! UNLESS…?
WGTN | 16 - 20 May @ BATS & AKL | 23 - 27 May @ Basement 

🤩 TSC alum Jadwiga is teaming up with Audrey Porne to board a [redacted budget airline] flight to bring you an hour of brand-new comedy!

Ruby Esther: RUBY ESTHER COMEDY FESTHER
AKL | 9 - 13 May @ Basement & WGTN | 16 - 20 May @ BATS

🔥 She told me there will be “some tasty epileptic content” I'm sold! Pls go for me!

Book your tickets at comedyfestival.co.nz 🎟️✨

02/04/2023

My friend Chelsea (.skinner97) is recruiting participants for her PhD! If you are between 18 - 45 and living with endometriosis, please consider participating in Chelsea's study! Swipe for more details, or check out the comments/alt text for a typed out version of the image! ✨️

I am constantly in awe of Chelsea's mahi! Every time I log into LinkedIn she is helping make the health sector in NZ better for young people, and making waves for those living with endo... all while living with her own things and keeping herself alive! 😍

Click here 👉 https://canterbury.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eJNePcnwWZHyBBI

27/03/2023

There’s a new episode in your fave podcast app and it’s all about Dr Paul Biegler’s latest book, Why Does It Still Hurt? 🎧 And as I sit here in bed drinking a cup of coffee noticing all of the aches and pains, I too am asking why does it still hurt…!? 😅 So, of course, I was immediately intrigued when the opportunity to read this book came along!

Paul is a journalist, academic, and former specialist physician in emergency medicine, and throughout his latest book, he begins to unpack the reasons behind why it might still be hurting. Paul uses his own chronic pain journey, other patients’ stories, and interviews with some of the top pain researchers, scientists and doctors in the world to share his findings.

In this episode, Paul talks about...
📚 his process of creating the book
😮 some examples of the studies
🩺 and why he made the transition from emergency medicine to journalism!

Big thanks to for my gifted advance copy of this book 🥰

23/03/2023

After a brief hiatus from new episodes for the summer holidays here in New Zealand, we are back with new interviews! Today's episode is with and we are chatting about her heart and kidney transplant!

And wow, Shana's story is truly something from the movies (which is a running theme throughout her journey!! 🎬 ) with a number of twists and turns, including a near death experience.

I can't wait for you to listen!! Find it wherever you listen to your pods 🎧

23/03/2023

Sooooo turns out I've been forgetting to share on Facebook everything that's going on with That's So Chronic! Here's a post from the beginning of the month...

No one was more surprised than me this morning when I got the email from saying "your episode has gone live!" I had no idea it was Tuesday 😅😅😅

But anyway... SURPRISE!!! That's So Chronic is BACK baby! 🎙

All new interviews dropping in your fave podcast app's feed every Tuesday 🎧😘



[Image: pink tile with text "surprise. That's So Chronic is back!" The U is an illustration of a stethoscope]

19/12/2022

This is your sign to have a Zoom Christmas party with your friends!! 🎄🥳🤌

It's really annoying to be navigating yet another covid Christmas aye. For me it's the constant thinking about it and making plans and sorting things with my GP and again, the constant thinking (!!!) that's draining and annoying. Luckily my GP is the best and we've got some good plans in place, so I'll still be able to get away with Jonas to hopefully see the sunshine ☀️ and eat some pavlova!

While this zoom party came about because .rebecca, & I all live in different cities, I hope this motivates you to celebrate the end of the year however you can! 🎁👏

[Image description: photo of a macbook with a Santa hat resting on the corner and "ho ho ho" glasses on the keyboard. The screen shows a Zoom call with Vanessa, Jess and Sasha. They are smiling and look Christmas-y!]

28/11/2022

Oooooh I have been patiently waiting for The Good Nurse to come out so I could make this episode, and then Netflix surprised me with a documentary shortly after!!! So I knew I needed to do an episode about both 🎙

I'm talking about The Good Nurse () & Capturing The Killer Nurse all about the infamous American serial killer Charles Cullen.

Charles Cullen is a real piece of 💩 s**t 💩 tbh... he worked as a nurse for 16 years (9 hospitals and 1 nursong home) and is currently serving 18 consecutive life sentences in prison for murdering (a confirmed) 29 patients, however he confessed to 40 to detectives and the real number is assumed to be closer to 400 (!!!!) 😳

BUT!

Who these films - especially The Good Nurse - focus on is not CC, but Amy Loughren () who was pivotal in capturing and putting a stop to his horrific ways.

I talk about all this and more (aka the other bad guy *cough* the-American-healthcare-system *cough*, two wonderful articles, and I've got some really interesting fun facts if I do say so myself 🤌😅)

Episode is OUT NOW wherever you listen 🎧

22/11/2022

Olivia's episode on her diagnosis of ME/CFS and the unexplained symptoms she is currently navigating went live yesterday! I love the die hard That's So Chronic listeners who listen every Tuesday! 🎧 🥳 and if you haven't yet... pop it on your to do list for today!

If you made it all the way to the end of the ep you will have heard that this was the final interview episode for 2022! Sorry... WHAT. How is it the end of the November already?! Don't worry though, there's still another That's So episode next week! 🎙 Can't get rid of me that easy!!!! 😘

And to everyone who's waiting for a reply after filling out the application form... I see you! 😍 I'll be getting back to people over the next week or so, to try and schedule some recording times for the episodes to be released early 2023!

22/11/2022

There’s a new interview episode in your fave podcast apps, and I think a lot of people will be able to resonate with Olivia’s story in today's episode!

About a year ago Olivia’s symptoms started, and since then she (and her medical team) have been on the journey to try and find answers. She has been diagnosed with ME/CFS (myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome) but refers to that as a blanket diagnosis that doesn’t quite explain the full picture.

In this episode Olivia discusses…
❤️ her symptoms
🧐 how her medical team arrived at the diagnosis of ME/CFS
🤷‍♀️ how she feels when she gets told she isn’t “bad enough” to warrant further testing
📚 the ways she manages university study
🥳 including the importance of lecture recordings (shoutout !)
🛒and we learn about her love for grocery shopping (coffee aisle anyone?!)

Search “That’s So Chronic” wherever you listen to podcasts to find today’s episode! 😘

14/11/2022

🎙 Today’s episode is with Monica Foster, and we are chatting about her diagnosis of cushing’s disease, or hypercortisolism as it is also referred to! 💙

In this episode Monica shares…
🧐 The journey to finding a diagnosis
🧠 The surgery to remove two tumours on her pituitary gland
💰 An expensive medication (14k a month!!)
🥰 Her decision to go through with the bilateral adrenalectomy
👏 The support a community page has offered
🤔 And whether cushing’s is actually as rare as people think?

The episode is out now on your favourite podcast app! 🎧

09/11/2022

Tbh, I'm still petitioning for a little Dr Laurie to carry with me in my pocket for all appointments moving forward 🙋‍♀️ (if you've listened, you'll know what I'm talking about and if you haven't listened... what are you waiting for?!)

This week's episode of That's So Chronic is all about Natalie's journey living with a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and pericarditis ❤ and, we are joined by her mom Dr Laurie. Dr Laurie gives us an amazing insight into being a physician and supporting her daughter through the ups of downs of the health care system (and shares stories from homecoming and when an annoying teacher made Natalie get a sport credit! And she calls me and Natalie "cute" !!!! That's what moms are for, right! 😘😅)

Pop it on your to listen list today! 🎧

[Image: Natalie and her mom Dr Laurie standing together with an arm around each other]

07/11/2022

You are in for a real treat today my friends, because I am chatting to two guests on today’s episode! 🎙🎙 I was able to catch up with Natalie Meyers recently to talk about her diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and pericarditis, and seeing as her mom Dr Laurie has been there for every step of Natalie’s journey, we thought why not include her on the episode! 🥰

In this episode, Natalie and Dr Laurie share…
✨️ The ins and outs of Natalie’s diagnosis of RA while she was a freshman in high school
❤️ And the eventual diagnosis of lupus and pericarditis
😅 What it’s like being the sibling growing up that always pukes on car rides
🙋‍♀️ Why it’s important to advocate for yourself (or your child!)
🤭 And of course, Dr Laurie tells us some stories from Natalie’s childhood!

The episode is OUT NOW wherever you get your pods! 🥳

🎧 PS we had a couple of technical difficulties getting the video call to work, so thanks in advance for ignoring some of the sound issues! Thaaaaanks! 🎧