Medical Gaslighting: Scripts for When a Doctor Doesn't Believe You
Told your tests are normal but you know something's wrong? Medical gaslighting is real and documented. Scripts and preparation strategies to be taken seriously.
The SpoonieToolkitStudio Blog
Blog — Chronic Illness Tips for POTS, MCAS, hEDS & Dysautonomia
Parenting With Chronic Illness: Guilt, Energy, and Showing Up Anyway
Can you parent well with chronic illness? Yes — practical, guilt-easing strategies for showing up for your kids with limited energy.
Low-Histamine Grocery List: A Practical Starting Point for MCAS
Is salmon high in histamine? Fresh, canned and smoked are not the same answer. A practical low-histamine grocery list and fish guide for MCAS and histamine intolerance.
Body Image and Chronic Illness: Making Peace With a Body That Changed the Rules
Chronic illness changes bodies — and how we feel about them. Research-backed insight into body image, self-compassion, and adaptive clothing for spoonies.
Gentle Movement With Chronic Illness: How to Stay Active Without Crashing
Movement doesn't have to trigger a flare. Gentle, paced exercise strategies for POTS, hEDS and dysautonomia — including the 20% baseline rule.
Holidays and Social Occasions With Chronic Illness: A Pacing Plan That Actually Works
The holidays don't have to end in a crash. A practical, spoonie-tested pacing plan for social events, travel and family gatherings with chronic illness.
Finding the Right Specialist: Red Flags and What Good Care Looks Like
Not every doctor is the right fit for complex chronic illness. Red flags to watch for and practical ways to find a specialist who actually gets it.
Building a Support System When You're Chronically Ill
Chronic illness can quietly shrink your social world. Practical, gentle ways to build a support system — even on housebound days.
Traveling With a Chronic Illness: Flying, Packing, and Preventing Flares
Traveling with POTS, MCAS or dysautonomia takes real preparation. Practical tips for flying, packing and preventing flares before, during and after a trip.
Navigating Medical Bills and Paperwork With Chronic Illness
Medical paperwork is its own part-time job. How to keep records, question a charge, challenge a denial and build a paper trail that holds up — in any system.
The Chronic Illness Hospital Bag: What to Pack Before You Need It
An ER visit isn't a matter of if with chronic illness — it's when. A practical hospital go-bag checklist for POTS, MCAS, hEDS and dysautonomia patients.
How to Explain Your Chronic Illness to People Who Don't Get It
"But you look fine." A practical guide to explaining chronic illness to family, friends and coworkers — and turning sympathy into real, useful help.