My health has reached a point where pushing through no longer works. In this short episode, I explain why I’m ending Season Four early and taking the rest of September away from the podcast. I need my limited energy for treatment, appointments, symptoms, and the work of getting through each day. I also need space to experience this difficult period without turning every part of it into something productive. I’ll return at the end of September to begin Season Five with more stories from life inside a rebellious body.
This podcast is narrated using an AI voice. The words, reflections, and lived experience are my own.
More info about Sarcoidosis and to donate toward research: The Foundation For Sarcoidosis Research
Doctors' medications, symptoms, and exhaustion are taking every bit of energy I have. I've reached the point where I need to stop.
SPEAKER_01It's about a remains where the truth gets told. About medical mysteries. Growing old with a little dark humor and a whole lot of it when his body throws a tantrum. He rolls with it. Oh man.
SPEAKER_00Welcome to A Body Rebels. I'm Tate. This podcast shares my personal experiences and is not medical advice. Please speak with your own provider before making medical decisions. The voice you're hearing is AI because illness makes speaking difficult. But the writing, memories, opinions, and experiences are mine. This short episode explains why I'm ending season four early and stepping away for the rest of September. If you've been listening this season, you already know my health has been giving me a rough ride. Right now, rough doesn't cover what I'm experiencing. I'm going through hell with my health. There isn't a polished way to put it. I'm exhausted. Physically, mentally, and emotionally. I've reached a point where I need to stop pushing through everything as though determination will somehow make my body cooperate. It won't. After living with chronic illness for 20 years, I've become skilled at adapting. Something changes, so I adjust. I lose the ability to do something, so I find another way. I get knocked down, recover a little, and keep moving. Over time, I started expecting myself to do this no matter what happened. I believed I would always find another gear. Right now, there isn't another gear. My body is saying, enough. This time, I'm listening. I'm done arguing with my body. I'm setting aside the schedule and the pressure to publish another episode. I'm also letting go of the fear that taking a few weeks away means I'm letting someone down. I need this break. I haven't run out of things to say. God knows that hasn't happened. Whatever energy I have needs to go toward getting through the day. I need it for my health, appointments, medications, symptoms, and the exhaustion accompanying all of them. Frankly, I need some space where I don't have to turn what I'm experiencing into something productive. Writing this podcast means looking closely at my life. I take an experience apart, decide what matters, and find the words to share it. Even a short episode asks me to shape something difficult into a finished piece. Right now, I don't have enough distance from what's happening. I need to experience it without immediately turning it into a story. With this episode, I'm officially bringing season four to a close earlier than planned. A body rebels will take the rest of September off. I'll return at the end of the month as we move into the first week of fall. My return will mark the beginning of season five. I'm looking forward to it. Even during this difficult stretch, I have stories I want to tell. I have subjects I want to discuss, and parts of chronic illness I want to bring into the open. Some experiences are funny, others are frightening or maddening. Many happen behind closed doors, beyond the view of people who have never lived inside a body determined to rewrite the rules. Those conversations will continue after I've had time to rest. I also want to thank you. Whether you've listened from the beginning, found the podcast yesterday, or drop in when an episode speaks to you, thank you for giving me some of your time. Knowing these stories leave the room where I write them and reach someone who understands means more than I know how to explain. Especially during a period like this. I've talked before about giving ourselves permission to rest. Now I have to practice what I preach. Resting might be harder for me than making the podcast, but I'm going to try. For the next few weeks, I'm concentrating on getting through what I'm facing. I'm making no promises about a miraculous recovery. There will be no inspirational montage and no pretending everything is fine. There will be rest, treatment, time, and I hope, some healing. Then we'll meet here again at the end of September. Season five. Same rebellious body, same stubborn man living inside it. Plenty left to talk about. Until then, please take care of yourselves. If your body is telling you to stop for a while, listen. I'm finally listening to mine. I'm Tate. Thanks for sharing this time with me. Until next time, take care of yourself. Keep breathing, and remember, sarcoidosis is only rare until you're the one living with it.
SPEAKER_01It's a body reap. Where the truth gets told.
