Health Stories

Dr. Eugene Kim will never forget the words of a woman with stage IV cancer that he met during medical school, “Remember my face,” the patient said, “when you have a tough day in the hospital because you have changed my life.” In the final podcast of the 2018-2019 season, Drs. Eugene and Mackenzi Kim tell us about being newly minted medical doctors and how tomorrow, they will begin the next phase of their clinical training as residents. “Having those moments of connection with patients where you know you made an impact on them, and they made an impact on you…” is what Mackenzi recalls as one of the reasons she went into medicine. Mackenzi adds, “I love science and I love people…the perfect marriage of the two”. In this podcast, Eugene and Mackenzi share with us why the chose their particular specialties, tips for other clinicians working with residents, and some of the reasons we should all ask for a resident during our next medical visit. One of the reasons: it’s a two-for-one deal!

This week’s podcast guest knows a thing or two about delivery. Having delivered three children using three different methods—including a breech baby and ECV (version) procedure—Jackie shares her experiences regarding labor and delivery. From a private birthing suite with a midwife to a team of 10 obstetricians and nurses in a teaching hospital, Jackie provides listeners with tips for recovery after a C-section, reasons to consider a VBAC, questions to ask at your next OB/GYN visit (e.g., use of pitocin), conversations about your birthing partner’s role during the delivery, and how to have a dialogue with your clinical team in preparation for your upcoming birth.

Sixteen-year-old Tess vividly remembers the day she was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. “I’m scared…I think I’m terminally ill…my life is entirely different.” As a teenager, she longs for independence and wants to manage her illness on her own; she orders her own supplies and picks up prescriptions on her own. “All of that preparation is making me feel better about the transition from high school to college”. Five years after her diagnosis, Tess provides tips and insights for other kids living with Type 1 Diabetes and offers advice for concerned parents, “If you want your Type 1 Diabetic [child] to succeed, you should help them succeed on their own…and trust goes a long way.”

“So you’re more than just drug pushers?” asks the podcast host in this week’s episode about the unsung heroes of medicine. Drs. Katrina and Elie Jabbour—the podcast’s first clinical couple—reveal to listeners the relatively unknown world of pharmacy and how little we know about the profession beyond the prescriptions we get filled at the local pharmacy. As Elie states, “We are the invisible healthcare provider behind the scene” and adds, “What you may not know is that pharmacists are reviewing every medication order that comes across in the hospital…” and helping to keep drug costs down. The Jabbour duo strongly recommend asking more questions of your pharmacist and reconsider checking the “No” box to decline counseling with a pharmacist the next time you pick up your prescription. The primary questions you should be asking about your medications: 1) “How should I take this (medication)?”, 2) “What side effects should I expect?”, 3) “What do I do if I miss a dose?”, 4) “How do I take it (e.g., with food)?”, and 5) “When should I call my doctor?” And Katrina reminds us, “There’s a lot of behind-the-scenes work…be patient [when getting your prescription filled], there are multiple steps that go into it.”

Billy, a local activists, recounts his experiences as a member of the LGBTQ community since the 1970s. As Billy describes, “There were many doctors that wouldn’t even see you…if they knew you were gay or thought you had HIV.” Billy refers to the 1980s as the “Lost Years” where he buried several of his ‘brothers’ from AIDS and reflects on the current state of healthcare: “56% of LGB people and 70% of transgender and gender non-conforming people reported experiencing discrimination by health care providers” (www.hrc.org). Throughout the podcast, Billy shares some of the surprising encounters he’s had with clinicians and urges all of us to take action to change healthcare legislation and improve the quality of care for everyone.

Physician, business owner, and patient, Dr. Lorraine Dickey takes listeners on a journey about the moment her life was turned upside down. Lorraine explains the many difficulties that resulted from her traumatic brain injury that took her out of medicine. During the next 2.5 years, Lorraine had to redefine her identity. And when she did return to medicine, “it was terrifying, absolutely terrifying…I didn’t want to be defined by my head injury”. Lorraine is no longer the same physician she was prior to the accident. “It is a true privilege to stand with people at times of their greatest crisis and greatest joys. I don’t think I appreciated that enough before I fell off that mountain…” She adds, “I learned…(that) feeling cared for is what I wanted to start providing my patients and families.”

There are more the 29 million nurses in the world and approximately 4 million in the United States...and it’s not enough. The American Nurse Association projects that over the next 4 years there will be more available positions in nursing than in any other profession. Mark Petrole, RN is an outpatient nurse at a clinic that services mainly low income and underinsured patients. In describing the multiple roles he plays, Mark says “I’m like a case manager, a nurse, their own personal pharmacist” as well as a provider of emotional and logistical support. Mark feels that nursing is a calling; a wide and varied profession with specialties for caregivers of all backgrounds. May 6-12 is National Nurses Week and Mark urges us to ‘thank a nurse’ and be appreciative of the many services they provide even when it means skipping lunch or holding their bladder for an extra few hours.

In the U.S., 20.4% of adults (50 million) live with chronic pain (https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/67/wr/mm6736a2.htm). The recommendation? Add chiropractic medicine to your usual medical care for treating back pain (https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2680417). As Dr. Paul Braadt explains, patients with chronic pain often travel up the hierarchical healthcare ladder through a referral pattern—seeing multiple specialists for pain management. If your treatment journey is not producing the results you want, Dr. Braadt recommends “a different kind of spine specialist…a mechanical [one]…since most spine pain is mechanical in nature.” For the skeptics of chiropractic care he states, “…studies indicate chiropractic is one of the safest modalities in healthcare…” and “if people are not 50% improved within 6 weeks, we know we’re on the wrong track.” With chiropractic medicine, we are moving from the current “business of medicine” model back to the “art of medicine”.

“Anybody who’s sexually active should be thinking about HIV….it’s not going away”. In this moving and candid interview, Steve shares his 14-year journey living with HIV. He recalls the phone call informing him he was HIV positive and the supportive response he received from his partner. Steve explains how the face of HIV and AIDS has changed since the 1980s, “HIV doesn’t look the same way that it did back then. You don’t see bodies walking down the street that look emaciated like I was…you generally don’t see that; it’s hidden…we have great medications that work really well to maintain that semblance of what passes for ‘normal’ health.” For individuals who are newly diagnosed, Steve provides words of support, “know that you are not alone!” and strongly recommends getting tested, “getting a diagnosis sooner rather than later…[can] eliminate passing on the virus to someone else.”

For years Joanna was mis-diagnosed with anxiety and depression and placed on anti-depressant medications that didn’t work for her. After a mental crisis, however, she saw a psychiatrist who diagnosed her with Bipolar II Disorder. “The terror of the diagnosis turned into a gift,” Joanna recounts. She educates listeners about some of the characteristics of Bipolar II such as 1) “mixed features” of hypomania—heightened emotional or energetic state—and depression which present simultaneously, and 2) rapid cycling which is four or more episodes in a year. “It’s easy to ‘pass’ with Bipolar II and the world not know you’re suffering,” she adds. Joanna touches on the difficulties people may face receiving a correct diagnosis due to stigma, gendered bias, and similar symptoms with other mental disorders. For those living with mental illness, Joanna offers numerous suggestions for navigating through the healthcare system and the importance of finding support and trusting your gut.

In this podcast, Matt Neifert, owner of Agape Blends, shares the medicinal benefits of hemp CBD. Cannabidiol (CBD), found in hemp, is a chemical compound that effects our body’s cannabinoid receptors “…found in the parts of the brain that handle cognition, memory, psychomotor skills, feelings of rewards, and pain perception…CBD cannabidiol interacts with the receptors to reduce feelings of pain or anxiety” (https://cbdoilreview.org/cbd-cannabidiol/cannabinoids/). Matt explains the difference between hemp CBD and medicinal marijuana and how people have found relief from hemp CBD when other pharmaceutical medications did not work. Matt offers advice for how to talk with your clinician when taking hemp CBD and provides crucial tips for asking about third-party testing regarding the quality and purity of a product.

In this week’s podcast, Health Stories’ host Nicole Defenbaugh shares her personal journey with ulcerative colitis (UC) and provides listeners with the reason for starting the podcast. Jerry Petrole, the IT wizard behind the podcast, takes his turn as the host for this unedited interview.

After 13 surgeries, all for different conditions (e.g., brain surgery, C-sections, appendectomy, car accident), Emily has learned a thing or two about pre- and post-surgery preparation, asking questions, types of anesthesia, and caregiver support. With her 3rd upcoming C-section, Emily shares the steps and un/expected moments she experienced and reminds listeners that “Patients are not standard. Different people respond differently to different drugs” in discussing her adverse reaction to anesthesia. Surgical procedures and recovery processes have also changed over time in healthcare, as Emily recalls the speedy and fairly easy recovery from a recent sinus surgery compared to sinus surgery from a decade ago. In providing insights, Emily suggests asking the surgeon any and all questions, calling the surgeon’s office with additional questions, finding patient narratives to understand others’ experiences, and mental preparation techniques such as meditation. The podcast ends with advice for your caregiver so they can be effective in their caregiving role.

Having had multiple roles in healthcare (i.e., employee, patient representative, researcher, teaching associate, standardized patient) and as a current Stage IV cancer survivor, Ariane provides listeners with a myriad of experiences about how she has learned to navigate the liminal spaces in the U.S. healthcare system. With a hopeful attitude, Ariana suggests not to affix fault and blame when faced with a diagnosis. She suggests bringing someone with you to appointments, finishing necessary paperwork, completing a living will and assigning a surrogate, meditation and/or prayer, and finding others to connect with. The most pragmatic advice Ariane has for listeners, “don’t accept what the system gives you….ask for what you want and don’t give up until you get it!”

Ten years after being diagnosed with gestational diabetes, Melanie faced another diagnosis, Type 2 diabetes, and recounts the symptoms: thirst, frequent urination, dry skin, forgetfulness, occasional blurred vision and slow-healing wounds. As she states, “…those things are such a normal part of aging, we don’t think to connect those to diabetes until you get a diagnosis”. Melanie also addresses a common stereotype of diabetes, obesity, and shares the story of a physician who assumed Melanie (who weighs 135 lbs.) weighed 400 lbs. based on her blood sugar levels and hypertension diagnosis. Regarding diet, Melanie informs us that “healthy” foods such as granola, dried fruit, and refined sugars: bread, pasta, and rice are, in fact, not good for controlling diabetes. With a genetic predisposition to having diabetes, Melanie chose to manage her condition through diet, exercise, and lowering her stress levels, addressing her diabetes holistically. Over the year she learned what works for one person doesn’t work for others—you need to figure out what works for you.

On Valentine’s Day in 2007, Kim was told that not only did she have cancer but that she may never sing again. Over the course of two years, Kim had multiple surgeries and radioactive iodine to eradicate what numerous health care professionals referred to as “the good cancer”. Afflicting mostly young (

In this visceral podcast about body image, social critique, and self-acceptance, Courtney Fuller takes the listener on a journey across her body’s map to the center where she experienced love, loss, illness, birth, and identity re-birth. Courtney details the personal impact that years of social media had on the negative construction of her own self-image. After giving birth and describing the change to her body, Courtney states, “…there’s the great part of having these new little ones in your life and there’s the other part of losing a part of your self and changing your identity…”. After a class prompt when students were asked, “Is there any part of your body that you really identify with?”, Courtney was moved to create a poem and image (see insert) she entitled, The Center of the Map. The statement Courtney asks us to consider, “Really think about your body’s story…rather than trying to copy and paste yourself…Each body tells its own story”. Suggestions include being aware of what you say to others (e.g., not complementing someone who has lost weight) including comments on social media, and practicing mindfulness. The Center of the Map Smooth, pale skin marked heavily by freckles and moles, my mother calls them “beauty marks.” Well, I must be beautiful because you can play connect the dots for miles across the landscape of my body. A particular one, right next to my belly button, sits as a plot point on the map of my life. It stands out in bold font, like the capital city— the dot that marks the spot where my journey begins. As a child, belly baby soft, ballet pink, belly cradled in warmth, my insides supple and open, my body pushing the boundaries as all children do. I heed my mother’s advice to “pull in my belly.” I practice making the shapes of hills and valleys, concave and convex shapes in the mirror, shapes controlling how my insides tuck neatly into my ribcage or burst out into space. As others feed me compliments on my sleek torso, I fill it with diet pills—supplementing an emptiness that extends to points beyond my middle. but I am lean, embracing this journey to thin, and I hold it all in tight. I even add another landmark

“It is a humbling experience going through cancer…[and] it’s a lonely business being a cancer patient.” In this podcast on surviving stage 4 cancer, Jay Baglia shares what it was like to receive a life-altering diagnosis and how he lived through chemotherapy, created a blog site detailing his experiences, and developed a deep appreciation for his friends, family, and clinical team. For those of us who know someone who is sick or living with cancer, Jay recommends finding a way to reach out. Phrases such as “I’m thinking of you” and “I’m sorry this is happening to you” provided him comfort. For listeners looking for resources, Jay suggests the book, How to Be a Friend to a Friend Who’s Sick and Cancer in Two Voices. Facebook @healthstoriespodcast nicoledefenbaugh.com/blog

Julie-Ann knows what it is like to live with a perpetual condition. Diagnosed at 18 months with cerebral palsy (CP), Julie-Ann shares her heartfelt stories as a patient in the healthcare system and the surprising encounters she’s had with strangers about her CP. As a mother to a child with a perpetual condition (epilepsy), Julie-Ann confronts the implicit biases of others while being aware of how her past experiences with CP have shaped her current attitude as a parent. Julie-Ann offers the following advice to clinicians, “…the patient is probably more of an expert on that particular disability than you [clinician] are if it is not your expertise”. And, she reminds all of us to be aware of our assumptions when talking to someone with a disability. Julie-Ann stresses the importance of “…engaging children about the need to understand difference and accept that bodies are different and move through the world differently…“ Facebook @healthstoriespodcast Twitter @storieshealth nicoledefenbaugh.com/blog

When Dr. Marleah Dean Kruzel learned she carries the BRCA (breast cancer) gene and has an 84% chance of developing breast cancer at some point in her life, it was difficult news to hear but not a complete shock. After watching her mother live with breast cancer, Marleah decided to have genetic testing. With a positive BRCA diagnosis, Marleah chose to increase her surveillance—one of four options for a positive genetic test result. She lives by her mother’s mantra, “You make the best decisions you can with the information you have at that time” and advises listeners to not be afraid of the uncertainty; you have to embrace it. “Knowledge is power”. We are on Facebook @HealthStoriesPodast, on Twitter @StoriesHealth as well as our blog: nicoledefenbaugh.com/blog.

Dr. Jennifer Morey Hawkins begins the podcast with the unforgettable words told to her by the emergency room doctor, “You’re having a miscarriage…go home and take care of yourself”. Jennifer shares her heartbreaking story of having an ectopic pregnancy (1:50 pregnancies are ectopic) and the stories of other women she interviewed in her research. For listeners, Jennifer suggests developing a relationship with your OB-GYN, asking questions about unexplained symptoms such as pain, addressing grief, and confiding in a friend or co-worker. For practitioners, Jennifer encourages empathy and an acute awareness of how bad news is delivered, especially the news of a miscarriage.

“I realized for years and years she had hid this from me….I had no idea.” Barbara Lewis,Managing Editor of DocCom, shares the heartwarming story of her mother’s journey withdementia and how to address ambiguous loss. “Think of it as a new relationship….a new day, a new conversation”, says Barbara, providing recommendations for how children and loved ones might reframe their relationship. Throughout the podcast Barbara provides numerous tips: involving nursing facility staff, bringing in meaningful items, and setting up a remote laptop to communicate with their loved one. To help others, Barbara reads a fictitious letter she wrote from a mother to her daughter “…in the hopes people might re-assess how they act toward their parent…and that there would be no regrets.”

The holidays are a time for family gatherings and celebration, but it is also a time when addiction is on the rise from additional pressure and stress. According to DrugAbuse.com, December is the deadliest months for alcohol-induced deaths and it can be a difficult time for recovering addicts as well. In this podcast, Dr. Maggie, a primary care physician, shares the story of a patient recovering from addiction who unexpectedly dies from an overdose. She offers suggestions to listeners facing addiction (and loved ones supporting them) and advice to clinicians for addressing addiction bias and creating a supportive environment. “This [addiction] journey has plenty of ups and downs…it’s complicated…and we [physicians] will be there for them”. Dr. Maggie advocates for early addiction training for clinicians to help address this growing national crisis.

As a nine-year-old with perfect school attendance, Jennifer learned the many challenges having an incurable autoimmune disease, Crohn’s disease, and living in a rural area. After years of being angry at her body, Jennifer shares how she learned to feel grounded, advocate for herself, develop relationships and have a holistic and positive way to engage the world. For the listener who struggles with a chronic illness and searches for acceptance, Jennifer advises, “…inquire into yourself and if you feel holistically healthy in all aspects of your life.” For the clinical encounter, Jennifer encourages working with your physician and realize, “…there’s a limit to what we can do ourselves to keep ourselves healthy and a limit to what our doctors can do…[and] acknowledge this is messy and it can be frightening…and it’s okay…it’s okay to ask for help.”

“You need to lose weight. You need to lose weight. You need to lose weight”. For Dr. Jennifer (Jenn) C. Dunn, her weight has been the primary focus of her clinical appointments, so much so that when she went to see a physician for a cold, she was told to lose weight. In this podcast, Jenn reminds us of weight bias and its impact on individuals who are diagnosed with obesity. “The way that people treat me has a bigger impact on me than I feel that my actual weight does.” Jenn offers suggestions for clinicians in training when communicating with patients and advice for how to speak up and advocate for yourself when facing obesity stigma.

Realistically Ever After: The Third Story of Cancer Survivorship Thirty years after being diagnosed with cancer, Dr. Laura Ellingson joins the podcast to share her survivorship story. “It’s complicated…I’m not going to tell you the victorious narrative. I’m going to tell you what really happened,” she informs listeners. Laura comments on the two common endings to cancer stories, triumph or tragedy; there is rarely an alternative ending. For those who survive cancer, however, there is frequently a third story where the triumphant win over cancer is only the beginning. After seventeen surgeries and four life-threatening staph infections, Laura made the decision to have a leg amputation in 2008 and adds, “I thought, ‘now we’re finally done, the pain is done, the suffering is done, all the surgeries are done’…it is absolutely not done!” As a health communication scholar, Laura suggests we continue to offer hope for surviving cancer and permission to stop cancer treatment along with informed consent that it is likely to have life-long consequences; “to deny the reality…is not ethical.” She mentions the importance of a survivorship care plan and the need to be realistic about life after cancer. Resources: NCI Office of Survivorship: https://www.cancer.gov/publications/patient-education/facing-forward Livestrong: https://www.livestrong.org/we-can-help/healthy-living-after-treatment/late-effects-of-cancer-treatment Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cancer/in-depth/cancer-survivor/art-20045524

Dr. Shauna MacDonald recounts her childhood health experiences growing up in Canada including her premature birth and five-week stay in the hospital (neonatal intensive care unit), her parents never had to pay a cent. In contrast, the average cost of an infant in a U.S. NICU is $3,000/day. Shauna shares some of her more recent encounters in the U.S. healthcare system and adds, “There was no question about how much it will cost [in Canada]….but here [U.S.], I think long and hard before I go to the hospital”. Shauna shares a brief history of the Canadian healthcare system, along with some of its inequities, and reminds us, “No system is perfect”. With medical bills being the leading cause of bankruptcy in the U.S., Shauna reminds us that with universal healthcare, “no one will be denied care because they cannot pay”.

What is it like to treat patients in the U.S. after living in a country with free healthcare? Dr. Marlene Gonzalez takes listeners on an unforgettable and inspiring journey from her teenage years as a political refugee to her current role as a physician caring for patients from around the globe. At the age of 13, Marlene emigrated with her family from Cuba to San Francisco, speaking only Spanish. Less than a decade later, she not only learned English but she also earned a degree in Biomedical Sciences, a medical degree, and recently completed her residency in Family Medicine. Dr. Gonzalez compares the pros and cons of Cuban and U.S. healthcare systems and how her personal experiences as a refugee have impacted her patient-centered care. Dr. Gonzalez provides tips for other Spanish-speaking patients, in Spanish, and reminds all of us why international physicians are vital to our U.S. healthcare system.

“I wanted to take the amount of leave that I am federally entitled to under law” states Dr. Jennifer Anderson who addresses her struggles with taking FMLA for maternity leave. She also discusses the often-untold experiences mothers face after childbirth (e.g., breastfeeding, postpartum depression, 4th trimester for mothers) and how we—as a society—focus primarily on the baby and not the mother’s health. For example, a mother’s checkup is 6 weeks post-delivery versus a baby’s checkup a few days after delivery. Somber statistics reveal that the U.S. has one of the highest maternal death rates in the world, and, even more surprisingly, 60% of maternal deaths are preventable (CDC 2018 report). What advice does Dr. Anderson offer podcast listeners? Obtain and read the health-related HR policies for your organization, talk to your physician early regarding their philosophy and practices regarding maternal health, and be an active citizen regarding local, state and federal health policies.

Eric Zizelmann, Funeral Director, shares some of the shocking and surprising stories of what he has encountered over the past +20 years in the business. He shares how family disputes over funeral arrangements have resulted in legal battles and the need to identify a Power of Attorney (pre-death), Right of Disposition (immediately after death), and an Executor of an Estate (hint: they’re all different roles). Eric clarifies a number of misconceptions about funeral arrangements and offers extensive assistance for how to prepare (e.g., update your documents, save money for your funeral!). One of the most important documents everyone should complete is the Right of Disposition form—giving you the right to control what happens to your body/remains without interference or consent from others. And of course, the need to communicate with your family and loved ones about your wishes. Death is not an easy topic to discuss, but if you want your wishes met, tell those you know.

When Heather starts to bleed uncontrollably, it's the first time she wonders if she is going to live. After being diagnosed with a fibroid tumor, a series of events leads to her hospitalization where she ends up gaining 40lbs in 4 days after an emergency surgery. Yet despite questioning the decision to release her from the hospital in the severely swollen state, Heather is released only to return the next day to discover the cause of her symptoms and the common, yet significant surgical procedure that changed her life, and led to a second emergency surgery. Heather walks listeners through the reasons for and questions to ask regarding a hysterectomy and the surprising connection with C-sections. The podcast concludes with insightful tips such as the benefits of physical therapy, advocating for yourself and “talk[ing] openly about female body parts and medical procedures…without whispering.”

For years, Archana Bharadwaj, struggled with migraines. As a patient, she experienced a variety of approaches her physicians took regarding her treatment, from medical paternalism—action limiting a patient’s autonomy—to shared decision making (SDM). Although Archana realizes that some patients prefer being told “what to do”, Archana was the type of person who wanted to be involved in decisions regarding her health care. In this podcast she provides suggestions for how we might engage in SDM with clinicians and how to enter into a one-sided, paternalistic conversation. Archana provides insight as both a patient and medical student for how to develop this important skill.

When Dr. Kristin Reihman was bit by a tick and developed a characteristic bullseye rash, she knew she had Lyme disease. When it happened again seven years later, however, her reaction to the incident was quite different because during that time she had learned about the complexities of the bacteria, how it’s transmitted, the in/effectiveness of tests, and new treatment guidelines. After years of treating patients with Lyme disease and other complex illnesses, Dr. Reihman provides her personal and professional insights for how she addresses an illness that remains difficult to diagnose and treat. In this podcast she provides suggestions for how to have conversations about Lyme disease with your clinician and where to go for resources, a Lyme doctor, and treatment guidelines…hint, it’s all in one place! Click here and use the code LAUNCH5 to buy Kristen's book and get $5 off! https://www.kristinreihmanmd.com/life-after-lyme/

Claire shares with listeners how the patient-centered care she received impacted her health and healing. What started as an ovarian cyst quickly turned into an emergency situation due to a perforated bowel from the procedure. When Claire ends up in the emergency room, a doctor is able to diagnose the cause simply by watching Claire’s nonverbals. With a graduate degree in Communication Studies, Claire identifies how the communication styles and behaviors of her clinicians encouraged or discouraged her recovery and shares advise for how to be a more active participate in and advocate for your own care (e.g., tracking your own vitals).

In her mid 20s, Katie was unfamiliar with the pain that was happening to her. Conversations about sexual health are uncommon outside of a sexual education class and remains an uncomfortable topic to broach for physicians and patients alike. For Katie, the discomfort and uncertainty of her pain was initially difficult and embarrassing to explain to her doctors. After three years without a conclusive explanation, Katie was asked by a gynecologist to point to the location of the pain - identifying the location led to the diagnosis. In the podcast Katie talks about the importance of talking to others about culturally taboo topics (e.g. sex, reproductive organs), asking a physician for the reason behind a clinical test (or blood draw), and remembering that a conversation with a physician about sex may be uncomfortable, but it may be worth the initial embarrassment for the sake of your health.

When her husband, Jordi, is diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, Hope assumes the role of his caregiver. When Jordi and Hope meet with the oncologist, he exclaims, ”Why didn’t you come see me five years ago?!” Hope struggles trying to communicate with the oncologist while encouraging Jodi to be more involved in his own care. As she states, “….[he] was relying on me to not just find the doctors or find the information but also relay that information to him and try to explain to him what was happening to his health…” During this time, Hope commits her professional time to teaching effective communication and observation skills to medical students as the Director of the Fine Art of Health Care program at the University of Miami (https://www.lowe.miami.edu/visit/tour/default-folder/index.html). The interview concludes with a reflection of her six years as a caregiver and the advice she offers others trying to communicate with a dismissive clinician and a partner who struggles to find his voice in the US healthcare system. We would love to hear your feedback! Please drop us a line at nicoledefenbaugh.com/blog or on our facebook page @healthstoriespodcast

In Part II of the special edition podcast, Dr. Jonathan Burke reveals new and, for many people, unknown information about how the health insurance system works. He answers a series of questions by the podcast host, so listeners can be more prepared for and effectively respond to health insurance issues. Dr. Burke offers insights and tips regarding claims (e.g., appealing a bill), prescriptions (e.g., lower medication costs), hospital/in-patient care (e.g., asking more questions), and out-patient care (e.g., questions to ask your PCP when s/he orders a test). To ask a question or leave a comment for a future podcast on health insurance, go to nicoledefenbaugh.com/blog or Facebook. Apologies to our listeners for the audio feedback throughout the podcast. If you have suggestions for reducing audio feedback, or you would like to donate equipment, please send a private message on our Facebook page (“healthstoriespodcast”).

Over the past five years, Dr. Beth has learned the importance of asking patients, “…what is your preferred name and what are your pronouns?” It is a crucial question she didn’t know to ask earlier in her medical career, having received insufficient training in LGBTQ health. After months of caring for a patient with unexplained breast pain, Dr. Beth eventually learned the cause when the patient courageously chose to share his identity story with her. Dr. Beth offers tips to other clinicians for creating an environment that encourages patients to share their stories (e.g., waiting room, intake forms, types of questions) and addresses the need for clinicians to practice humility when treating a diversified patient population. Dr. Beth finishes the podcast with advice for patients and loved ones of LGBTQIA-identified individuals (e.g., disclose your gender identity and sexual orientation with your physician because it can impact your health and the medical care you receive).

In this special edition podcast, Dr. Jonathan Burke explains why he chose to stop being a full-time primary care physician and change careers to join the proverbial “dark side” of health insurance. His response, “I was struggling with how medicine was practiced, the hamster wheel…[and] I hoped that I would be able to…change how things might work in the future.” In part one of the two-part series, Dr. Burke shares stories and answers questions (e.g., “Why are claims denied?”) to provide some transparency about the ins and outs of health insurance. He explains why doctors err on the side of “doing more” (e.g., tests, surgeries) and answers multiple questions about claims and bills, prescriptions, hospital/in-patient care, and out-patient care. The first question Dr. Burke was asked, “Why is U.S. healthcare insurance so expensive?” To ask a question or leave a comment for a future podcast on health insurance, go to nicoledefenbaugh.com/blog or Facebook. Apologies to our listeners for the audio feedback throughout the podcast. If you have suggestions for reducing audio feedback, please send a private message on our Facebook page (“healthstoriespodcast”).

Since the moment of her birth, Abbie has been the recipient of multiple medical errors. Approximately 700 medical mistakes occur each day in the United States (https://catalyst.nejm.org), leading to death. Despite experiencing a near-death mistake herself, Abbie forgave and continues to trust in the primary care physician who caused it. After the most recent mistake by another physician, however, Abbie questions if forgiveness is possible and instead considers legal action against the doctor who caused a brain hemorrhage. Facing two different errors, Abbie explains why she forgave one physician, continues to distrust the other, and how the simple yet powerful phrase, “I’m sorry” can mean the difference between absolution and litigation. We would love to hear your feedback! Please drop us a line at nicoledefenbaugh.com/blog or on our facebook page @healthstoriespodcast

Do you sometimes feel confused by what your doctor says or have difficulty understanding the directions on a prescription label? You are not alone. Approximately 77 million people have basic or below basic health literacy (https://health.gov) and even the podcast interviewee herself, Dr. Ashwini admits, “As a physician [I am health literate] maybe most of the time”. To explain complex concepts to her patients she draws images on the examination table paper and urges others to use visuals to increase comprehension. Given the gap between the health information we receive and our ability to understand and apply it to our own health care, Dr. Ashwini suggests that we “Ask what you don’t understand…it’s your right to know”. She addresses added challenges to health literacy due to language barriers and the growing job market for medical interpreters. We would love to hear your feedback! Please drop us a line at nicoledefenbaugh.com/blog or on our facebook page @healthstoriespodcast

When Michael is told, “We don’t know what to do with you because most people don’t live that long,” he realizes he’s lucky to be alive and he’s become an anomalous patient in the healthcare system. After 11 surgeries, losing 42 lbs. in eight days, multiple medical diagnoses (e.g., Crohn’s disease) and 31 years with a partial digestive system, his motto is “My body still works…with what it has”. Michael details the various procedures and treatments he endured including a memorable “shitty” night in the hospital and how he has become more comfortable talking about his body and its functions. His primary learnings: ask questions—even the embarrassing ones, educate and advocate for yourself, and embrace what’s happening to your body. His advice to others? “You have to find something positive in the midst of something that isn’t positive” and “Surround yourself with people who will love you and accept you for who you are.” Michael’s blog: https://thewritingprofessor55.com/ We would love to hear your feedback! Please drop us a line at nicoledefenbaugh.com/blog or on our facebook page @healthstoriespodcast

There are more than 49 million U.S. residents 65 years or older and many live with undiagnosed medical conditions, leaving children and other family members with added responsibilities and questions. This can be especially difficult when a parent lives far away. Dr. Kevin McNeill recounts the overlooked signs of his mother’s undiagnosed dementia and how his father compensated for his mother’s memory loss. He provides insights as his mother’s caregiver and as a family medicine physician. Kevin suggests how to watch for warning signs, encourage parents to get tested, and involve other clinicians (e.g., social workers) and community members. He concludes with tips for addressing financial concerns (e.g., elder lawyer) and the importance of knowing your parent’s health insurance plan. We would love to hear your feedback! Please drop us a line at nicoledefenbaugh.com/blog or on our facebook page @healthstoriespodcast

Registered Nurse and Reiki Master, Katrina Fritz, joins the podcast series to share her personal and professional experiences receiving and treating others with complimentary/integrative medicine (e.g., Reiki) and new approaches to patient-centered care (i.e., Flinders Chronic Condition Management). Katrina shares the powerful impact Reiki had when her brother-in-law died tragically and how she incorporates complimentary medicine in her clinical care with patients and fellow colleagues. She ends the interview with suggestions for how we might find a practitioner and how important it is to “trust your gut…and trust in yourself” with your health care. We would love to hear your feedback! Please drop us a line at nicoledefenbaugh.com/blog or on our facebook page @healthstoriespodcast

Dr. Mattheus-Kairys recounts her years of chronic back pain due to a herniated disc, complications from surgery, and a spinal leak that occurred during her residency program. Throughout the next few years, Dr. Mattheus-Kairys discovers how to live with the pain and attempts a new activity that leads to a surprising friendship. For those living with chronic pain she offers several suggestions (e.g., listening to your body and also ignoring it, awareness of your limitations, adaptions to your daily practices) and provides an interesting historical perspective explaining why some clinicians lack empathy toward a patient’s pain. As a chronic pain patient herself, Dr. Mattheus-Kairys shares how her experiences have influenced the way she treats patients and informs us of the myriad of available tools and treatments beyond prescription narcotics. We would love to hear your feedback! Please drop us a line at nicoledefenbaugh.com/blog or on our facebook page @healthstoriespodcast

“When the end of life is near, you still have a lot of life…”, recalls Dr. Gretchen in this podcast. Dr. Gretchen remembers the phone call she received, as her father’s caregiver, that he was going into hospice and how it [hospice] was an “amazing gift the healthcare system could have given to me…”. With a terminal diagnosis they chose to focus on quality of life and living—advice she suggests for her patients and their families. Dr. Gretchen describes her father’s choice to use medical cannabis for his pain and how it gave him control over his condition. She hopes to inspire listeners to not let a terminal diagnosis get in the way of living life, to walk each day in gratitude, and live in the present. At the end of the podcast she offers advice and steps to take when faced with hospice and a terminal diagnosis and reminds us to have a conversation with a loved one about your end-of-life wishes. For more related podcasts, check out the "On Death" podcast by Eugene Kim. We would love to hear your feedback! Please drop us a line at nicoledefenbaugh.com/blog or on our facebook page @healthstoriespodcast

During what appears to be a routine physical exam, Dr. D hears the story of how a patient’s decade-long addiction began with a single dose of Percocet (narcotic medication to treat pain) given to her in the hospital—the result of an error in the medical system and an all-too-common story about how addiction begins. Dr. D reflects on her preconceptions toward the patient and the importance of “switching gears” during the visit to encourage the patient to share her/his story. The message Dr. D relays to her fellow physicians, “Be aware of the power we hold in prescription pads” and offers tips for how to care for patients, including those who don’t realize they have an addiction. Dr. D ends with insights for those facing addiction and how loved ones might approach doctors for an intervention. We would love to hear your feedback! Please drop us a line at nicoledefenbaugh.com/blog or on our facebook page @healthstoriespodcast

Dr. Burke returns to the podcast to continue his story of “life after the accident” and what it was like being a chronic patient traveling through The Shire. He recounts his experiences seeing six specialists, including a psychologist who offered perspective and addressed the emotional stress Dr. Burke was feeling. The importance of vulnerability as a patient and having your PCP (primary care provider) help coordinate your care is mentioned along with the responsibility we all have to take care of ourselves. We would love to hear your feedback! Please drop us a line at nicoledefenbaugh.com/blog or on our facebook page @healthstoriespodcast

In this podcast interview, Dr. Burke shares what happened when he became a patient at the hospital where he works due to a tractor-trailer accident. He reveals why doctors in the ER often ask patients the same questions and the importance of having trust in clinicians. Dr. Burke details how being a patient impacted the way he provides care, reminds caregivers why self care is important to avoid Caregiver/Physician Syndrome, and why he has a primary care provider (PCP) for the first time in his life. We would love to hear your feedback! Please drop us a line at nicoledefenbaugh.com/blog or on our facebook page @healthstoriespodcast