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3Spoonies On Being Healthcare Professional with a Chronic Illness
Episode Number: 64 Date 17th September 2026
What happens when a healthcare professional becomes the patient?
In this episode of 3Spoonies, we’re joined by Shelley Gautam to talk about the reality of working in healthcare while living with a chronic illness.
From burnout and undiagnosed illness to remote work, career pivots and navigating the healthcare system from both sides, this is an honest and powerful conversation about what it really takes to build a sustainable career as a Spoonie.
We cover:
- Burnout in healthcare and why it happens
- Living and working with undiagnosed chronic illness
- Lyme disease diagnosis and long-term impact
- Transitioning from clinical work to remote healthcare roles
- The reality of healthcare systems (US vs Europe)
- Why healthcare professionals struggle to care for themselves
- Stigma, shame and “pushing through” illness
- Flexible work, consulting and self-employment for Spoonies
- How chronic illness changes your perspective as a clinician
- Why careers don’t need to be linear to be successful
If you’re a healthcare professional, living with chronic illness, or trying to build a career that works with your health — this episode is for you.
Let us know your thoughts in the comments
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If you’d like to find out more about our hosts;
Jo O’Neil
Website: https://bright-cat.co.uk/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanne-oneil/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrightCatBusiness
Claire Napper
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-napper
Website: www.strangelittleobsessions.co.uk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Strangelittleobsessions
Karen Duncan
Website: http://www.ponyponypony.co.uk
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/PonyPonyPony
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PonyPonyPonyCourses
Guest Info
Shelley Gautam
Shelley is a healthcare professional and career consultant who has built a fulfilling and flexible career while living with Lyme Disease. She helps other clinicians create meaningful careers that both align with their values and support their well-being.
https://intro.co/shelleygautam
Sponsor
A HUGE thank to our Main Sponsor for this Season: Maddy Alexander-Grout
Maddy Alexander-Grout is a visibility strategist, ADHD coach, and advocate for people with hidden disabilities.
She’s the founder of Mad About Money, an inclusive platform that provides practical financial advice for neurodivergent individuals, and also runs Invisible to Influential, a brand that helps entrepreneurs turn their vulnerabilities into visibility.
https://stan.store/maddyalexandergrout
Buy the Book, Mad about Money: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1394299729?ref=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cso_cp_apin_dp_4XCQ1VWRX9J2NXHW860J&ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cso_cp_apin_dp_4XCQ1VWRX9J2NXHW860J&social_share=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cso_cp_apin_dp_4XCQ1VWRX9J2NXHW860J&bestFormat=true
And to our Feature Sponsor!
Liz Drury
As a multi award winning professional voice over artist, working from a broadcast quality home studio since 2013, I’m a safe voice for your project.
As the saying goes, first impressions last, and your business needs to sound as good as it looks. Let me help you with that!
Their support allows us to keep showing up every week, having these conversations, and making the podcast what it is — so if you can, please do go and check them out and support them in return.
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