"I'm not my bills. I'm not my debt. I am worthy of care." —Donna Piper
Being sick isn’t just exhausting—it’s expensive in ways nobody warns you about. The stress of medical bills, insurance denials, and endless receipts can weigh just as heavily as the symptoms themselves. If you’re tired of feeling like your wallet is as worn out as your body, you’re not alone.
In this episode, Donna opens up about the real price tag of chronic illness, sharing her journey through misdiagnoses, out-of-pocket treatments, and the emotional toll of fighting for care. She breaks down the true costs while offering hard-won tips for tracking expenses, finding support, and making every dollar count.
Tune in and get the unfiltered truth about insurance battles, budgeting for treatments, organizing medical expenses, funding hacks, and the mindset shifts that make it all survivable—plus a few laughs and a lot of solidarity.
Connect with Donna:
Website: https://www.donnapiper.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnapiper
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lipedema_donna
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedonnapiper
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thedonnapiper
Episode Highlights:
01:30 Why Money Stress Hits Harder with Chronic Illness
06:12 The True Price of Treatments, Surgery, and All the Little Extras
17:04 Mindset Shift: Spending for Quality of Life, not Guilt
25:22 Smart Spending: Where to Splurge, Where to Save
31:16 Why Documentation and Planning Every Expense Matters
39:00 Shake Off the Stress: Letting Go of Financial Tension
46:05 Practical Reset: Clear Your Mind Before Spending
54:11 Make a Money Map
01:02:48 Money Stress is Felt by the Body
Resources:
🤔Got a question for me? Every month, I do a listener coaching episode—and I’d love to hear from you!
Send your questions, stories, or flare-up confessions to donna@donnapiper.com, and you just might hear your answer on the show.
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Money stress hits harder when you’re already fighting for your health. Get real talk on medical bills, insurance battles, and smart spending in this episode as Donna shares practical tips to track costs, budget smarter, and shake off the financial tension. #DearBodyImListeningPodcast #Lymphedema #lipedema #MCAS #ChronicIllness #HealthCosts #SelfCare #Insurance #FinancialHealth #PatientAdvocacy
Quotes:
01:49 "Financial stress has its own smell, its own energy, and you feel it everywhere when you live in a body like ours." —Donna Piper
03:23 "Being sick is expensive, and I don't just mean co-pays and deductibles. I mean the whole invisible price tag." —Donna Piper
15:27 "When I spend this money, I'm buying for something that is going to drastically shift my quality of life." —Donna Piper
16:26 "Stress fuels the inflammation, which then fuels all the other stuff that we have. Having chronic inflammation and having chronic stress feed off of each other." —Donna Piper
31:31 “Figure out what other comorbidities you may or may not have, and then start to make purchases based on what you need.” —Donna Piper
38:35 “Figure out where you need to splurge and save.” —Donna Piper
43:46 “Invest in something that you want to do and what you like to do.” –Donna Piper
51:52 "Think of a budget as what you want to spend, not what you are constricted by." —Donna Piper
54:17 "You can create a money map that supports your body without drowning your finances." —Donna Piper
01:04:33 "Say: I'm not my bills. I'm not my debt. I am worthy of care." —Donna Piper
01:05:21 "Just let your body feel free. Your body is already carrying enough. You don't have to carry the stress of money on top of it." —Donna Piper
01:07:11 "Say the numbers out loud, name the stress, and break the silence. It's a small rebellion, and it does help you come to grips with what is important." —Donna Piper
01:07:54 "Make the invisible visible with not only what the illnesses are, but all the other things that come with it." —Donna Piper
01:09:03 "Be gentle with your capacity. Meet yourself where you are." —Donna Piper
Meet Your Host:
Donna Piper is a Relationship Coach, Trauma Expert, and Akashic Records Healer dedicated to empowering successful single women to transform their love lives and attract fulfilling partnerships without sacrificing their professional ambitions.
With a holistic approach blending therapeutic coaching, trauma-informed techniques, and Akashic Records wisdom, she guides clients to release limiting beliefs, heal emotional blocks, and cultivate unshakable self-trust. Her work focuses on aligning mind, body, and spirit to create lasting change—helping clients refine communication, deepen self-worth, and build the foundation for healthy, loving relationships.
Donna’s sessions are a safe haven for those ready to break cycles, embrace vulnerability, and design a love life that harmonizes with their thriving careers. For women committed to both personal and professional fulfillment, she offers tailored strategies to unlock their full potential and step into the relationship of their dreams.
