In this candid episode, Dr. Ariella Heffernan-Marks sits down with writer, editor, and chronic illness advocate Chloe Sargeant to explore what it really means to live with fibromyalgia and navigate a healthcare system that too often fails disabled people.
Chloe shares the raw realities of daily pain, fatigue, and brain fog — and the endless cycle of GP appointments, medication battles, and staggering out-of-pocket costs. From being told symptoms were “just depression” to going three weeks without essential medication after moving states, their story exposes how much chronically ill patients are forced to fight just to survive.
Together, Ariella and Chloe unpack:
✨ What a “day in the life” with fibromyalgia looks like — and why every case is different
✨ The financial and emotional toll of navigating continuity of care
✨ Why unsolicited advice (“have you tried yoga?”) is exhausting and harmful
✨ The rise of predatory wellness gurus preying on desperation — and how to spot them
✨ How tools like Ovum can bridge the gap until systemic change catches up
Chloe’s voice is fierce, funny, and unflinchingly honest. This is a conversation about survival, but also about solidarity: spoonies supporting spoonies, and refusing to be silenced.
If you’ve ever felt dismissed, gaslit, or pushed aside in the medical system, this episode is for you.
