The Invisible Condition Podcast
Ending the stigma of invisible disabilities, chronic illnesses, and non-apparent conditions, one story at a time.
At Invisible Condition, we elevate voices, educate workplaces, and encourage curiosity. This podcast is for individuals living with invisible conditions and the leaders responsible for creating disability-inclusive spaces.
It's up to us to break the barriers of fear and judgment. Hear from real people, living with non-apparent conditions, on how we can end the stigma and create inclusive workplaces.
Join host Tim Reitsma, who lives with Crohn’s Disease, arthritis, and anxiety, as he invites guests to share their stories publicly. Together, we’ll tackle the stigmas of shame, fear, and the notion of “being different” – when we are all normal.
Topics covered include:
- Strategies for effective self-advocacy and securing the accommodations you need.
- Insights into disability inclusion practices that make workplaces more equitable.
- Breaking down stigmas surrounding chronic illnesses, neurodiverse conditions, and non-apparent disabilities.
- Understanding and advocating for invisible disabilities in the workplace.
- Addressing mental illness and creating a culture of support.
Invisible Condition Defined: A non-apparent illness or condition, whether physical or mental, that isn’t visible from the outside. This includes autoimmune disorders, mental illness, neurodiverse conditions (like ADHD or Autism), chronic illnesses, cancers, trauma, and brain injuries.
By sharing openly and vulnerably, we empower each other to eliminate stigma and build understanding.
The Invisible Condition Podcast
Self-Advocacy, Colonoscopy Results, and Manic Muffins - Journal Entry No. 6
Hey, it's Tim! Just wanted to share a bit about my recent adventures with Crohn's disease. So, I had a scope done recently and, surprise! Mild inflammation in multiple spots. Yeah, it's a bit frustrating, but I'm choosing to stay hopeful. After all, it’s not severe, and that's a win!
In this short episode, I talk about hope, scopes, advocacy, and developing a muffin recipe while on prednisone.
Let me tell you about my “manic muffins” story. When I was on a high dose of steroids, I couldn’t sleep. So, I started baking at 3 AM. My family eventually begged me to stop!
Advocating for myself has been a huge part of this journey. After a massive bleed, I called my doctor and said, “Hey, I think I need an iron infusion.” Turns out, my levels were low enough to get it done quickly. Then, I pushed for a scope to understand what was going on.
Living with chronic illness can be tough, but I choose hope and gratitude over frustration. It's better for my mental health, and it keeps me going. And remember, if your doctor isn’t giving you what you need, don't hesitate to get a second opinion. Your health matters!
Hope this little update brings some encouragement your way. Keep advocating for yourself and stay hopeful!
Link to muffin recipe: www.invisiblecondition.com/blog/tims-manic-berry-muffiis
Thanks for listening, I appreciate you!
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Social Media
Hey, tim here, and as most of you know, I live with Crohn's disease. I had a scope recently and the results show that there is mild inflammation in my guts, not just in one spot but in multiple spots, and while it can be frustrating and it is a little frustrating, I'm choosing to see this as being hopeful. It is a little frustrating, I'm choosing to see this as being hopeful. If somebody asked me if I'm frustrated and I'm not going to let myself go there, I know that there's still no cure for Crohn's disease yet. I'm hopeful that changing up a few things in my lifestyle and continuing on the medication that you know it will take effect and we'll see where it goes from there, that it will take effect and we'll see where it goes from there. And, as a friend said to me, at least it's not severe. So I'm kind of leaning into that right now. It's not severe. When I was in the peak of my flare, I was prescribed extremely high dose of steroid, which just was a disaster on my life. The only good thing out of being on steroids was developing a recipe that I now call manic muffins, and I still need to put it up on the website. I would wake up at two or three in the morning and just bake to the point where my kids and my wife said, please, no more baking. But I'm not there, and so that's why I'm leaning into hope Now.
Tim Reitsma:I wanted to share a little bit about how I even got to have a scope, because it took a bit of advocating for myself. A few weeks ago, I called up my doctor after experiencing a massive bleed, and so I said, hey, this is what's going on, and he said well, it could be a number of things. And I said but it could also be Crohn's, we don't know that. I also explained to him that I have no energy. I'm not just tired, I am beyond fatigued. I am beyond fatigued to the point where I need naps in the afternoon just to get through the day. So I asked him like, what do we do? What are the options here? And we came to the conclusion that I need an iron infusion, and I even asked for that. I said, hey, what's it going to take for me to get an iron infusion? And he pulled up my blood work and said well, actually you're lower than the acceptable level, so let's get you in for that. And thankful for our cancellation at the hospital because they got me in very, very quickly for that.
Tim Reitsma:But I also advocated for getting a scope done. My last scope was about eight months ago and so I understand they try not to do them super often and I could see why it's not fun. It's not like going to a carnival or anything like that, drinking that nasty cleansing liquid just for a camera to go up the backside. It's not fun. But I wanted that scope, I wanted to know what was going on. So I asked, hey, what would it look like if we did a scope? And he said, yeah, let's get one in there, let's get one done. And so we did. And the clinic I use, where my doctor is, they have just a phenomenal service and a holistic approach to medicine. They even have a scope clinic right inside where his office is or not in the office, but close to it. So I got in fairly quick and that's when I got the results, when I got the results.
Tim Reitsma:The point of this is, you know, I want to share that you know, while I live with chronic illness and some pain with arthritis and Crohn's disease, I've chosen to live in this place of hope and gratitude rather than a place of what if, and while it can be frustrating, I know, for me, for my mental health, I just can't go there, I can't allow myself to live there. And so with that I just want to share that a little bit. And so don't be afraid to ask for a second opinion If your doctor isn't supporting what you're looking for. Go get that second opinion. So I'm hopeful and I hope this message encourages you as well. Have a good one.
