There was a moment early in my medical journey — long before I had language for advocacy — when I should have asked for a second opinion… and didn’t.
Not because I didn’t care.
Not because I wasn’t paying attention.
But because I was exhausted, reassured, and didn’t know how to push back without sounding dramatic or difficult.
In this episode of Spitefully Yours, I talk about that moment — specifically, a visit with an allergist where I was told to “just keep eating” foods that were clearly triggering reactions. I remember sitting there knowing, deep down, that something wasn’t right… and still not saying anything.
This episode isn’t about blaming doctors or replaying the past for guilt’s sake. It’s about naming a very real problem patients face every day: knowing something feels unsafe, but not having the words — or energy — to challenge confident reassurance.
We talk about:
• Why second opinions are so hard for patients to ask for
• The difference between reassurance and real care
• How power dynamics and exhaustion keep us quiet
• Why “trust your gut” isn’t always enough when you’re sick
• And how to ask for a second opinion without burning bridges
I also share the exact language I wish I had back then — simple, grounded phrases that don’t argue or accuse, but clearly communicate concern and create a paper trail.
And yes — the resource I promised is finally here.
This episode introduces the Second Opinion Tool, a free, practical patient advocacy resource designed for low-energy, foggy-brain days. It includes plain-language scripts, decision prompts, and guidance for when something doesn’t add up but you don’t know what to do next.
Most importantly, it’s a living, breathing document.
When you download it, you’ll receive a short PDF that links to the full live version — a document that’s updated regularly as new tools, scripts, and resources are added. One link. Always current. No chasing updates.
Because patient advocacy isn’t static. And you shouldn’t have to start from scratch every time the system lets you down.
If you’ve ever left an appointment thinking, “Something isn’t right, but I don’t know how to say that,” this episode is for you.
This isn’t a pep talk.
It’s a survival strategy.
Staying alive out of spite isn’t just an attitude — it’s a game plan.
#SpitefullyYours #AliveOutOfSpite #PatientAdvocacy #ChronicIllness #MedicalGaslighting
#SecondOpinion #DisabilityCommunity #Neurodivergent #PodcastLife
