The Reality of Invisible Illness - Ep 6

People living with invisible illness often carry challenges others never see. In this episode of The Chronic Fighter, I sit down with Signe Libbon, who was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (RA) at just three years old. For more than two decades, she has navigated chronic pain, surgeries, flare-ups, different medication regimens, and the unpredictability of living with RA. From a young age, Signe had to think about how her choices would affect her joints long term. That meant missing out on experiences like playing sports and grieving those limitations, while learning how to listen to her body, stay involved, and keep going after her goals. Signe shares personal stories about the day-to-day realities of RA, including how difficult standing can be and the rest and recovery that may follow an event. We also talk about friendships and relationships with chronic illness. Signe shares how she became more open about her health with friends, how much they showed up for her, and how she and her now-husband, Drew, learned to communicate about her symptoms so he could best support her. What stands out most in this conversation is the way Signe continues to live with so much joy and gratitude despite everything she has faced. A big part of that perspective comes from the role faith plays in her life. 📌 In This Episode 0:00 Coming Up 1:26 Meet Signe Libbon 2:24 Diagnosed With Rheumatoid Arthritis at Age 3 4:42 Growing Up With RA & Medical Complications 7:49 Managing Flares & Learning Your Limits 10:59 The Reality of Invisible Illness 15:03 Opening Up About Chronic Illness 18:32 The Daily Impact of RA & Medication 21:40 What People Don’t See Behind the Scenes 26:37 Grieving What Illness Limits & Finding Gratitude 35:24 Friendship, Support, & Feeling Less Alone 42:11 Dating With Chronic Illness 51:30 PT & Managing RA 57:01 Faith & Hope with Chronic Illness If This Episode Helped You... Please like this video, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs to hear this conversation. If you're new to The Chronic Fighter, start with Episode 1, where I share my chronic illness journey and the lessons I've learned along the way. In Episode 2, my parents and I talk about navigating chronic illness as a family, and in Episode 3, I dive into my experience with PNES. Episode 4 features two of my best friends and former college soccer teammates as we talk about friendship and athletics with chronic illness, and Episode 5 focuses on reducing medical anxiety. 🔔 New episodes every other Tuesday. 🎧 Listen on Your Favorite Podcast App Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/14nc... Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Resources Mentioned The Chronic Fighter: Health coaching, membership, and additional resources: https://thechronicfighter.com 📲 Follow Along Beyond the Podcast Business & Coaching Socials: TikTok:   / thechronicfighterco   Facebook:   / thechronicfighterco   Instagram:   / thechronicfighterco   Threads: https://www.threads.net/@thechronicfi... Podcast Socials TikTok:   / thechronicfighterpod   Facebook:   / thechronicfighterpod   Instagram:   / thechronicfighterpod   "A fighter doesn't push harder. They choose smarter. Healing isn't about waiting for life to begin. It's about learning to build a meaningful life alongside chronic illness." #ChronicIllness #InvisibleIllness #ChronicPain #ChronicFighter #ChronicIllnessAwareness #HealthPodcast #HealingJourney #DisabilityAwareness #StudentAthlete #ChronicIllnessSupport