Zach Kornfeld's Terrible Experience With Healthcare

Listen to my podcast, @DoctorMikeCheckup, here:

**This interview was recorded before the SAG-AFTRA strikes**

Zach Kornfeld is one of the founders of @tryguys, internet royalty who try everything under the sun. Over the last few years, Zach has been on a personal journey where he has tried navigating the US healthcare industry... with mixed results. In invited Zach on The Checkup to go into detail about his experienced in healthcare, from living with Ankylosing spondylitis, to nearly dying after a treadmill accident weeks before his wedding earlier this year.

00:00 Intro
01:03 Zach's Healthcare Woes
10:36 Zach's Chronic Condition
19:23 Can We Trust Doctors?
35:48 Ned Fulmer and Buzzfeed
50:40 Our Future Collab
59:14 Keith's Body After Eating The Menu

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Executive Producer: Doctor Mike
Production Director and Editor: Dan Owens
Managing Editor and Producer: Sam Bowers
Editor and Designer: Caroline Weigum
Editor: Juan Carlos Zuniga

* Select photos/videos provided by Getty Images *

** The information in this video is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information, contained in this video is for general information purposes only and does not replace a consultation with your own doctor/health professional **

[lucyhorst]

I am so thankful for zach and mike acknowledging people of color and women. Earlier this year i went to my doctor for extreme knee pain. I had to have coworkers assist me with standing up. By the time i got to an orthopedic doctor, i had to fight to have surgery. Which the surgery ended up fixing the problem. Not only that but the condition i have is so rare that they are using my surgery footage to teach med students and surgeons. The sad part is if I had been referred to the proper specialists ten years ago I would never had to have surgery. The reason i couldnt go see the specialist? Insurance and age.

[madelyneGaming]

As someone who's heart doctor said "You have something wrong we just don't know but you're young so you'll be fine" since high school. I have a heart condition but no one will look into it enough for me to get a diagnoses because I'm young and healthy in their eyes. I am thankful for you both acknowledging the problems

[sophiaisabelle]

Zach K. and Dr Mike seem to be on the same level. Their intellect and wisdom complement each other well.

[adasahlin]

The fact that the American health care is called an industry just explains the problem in itself.

[meidelev]

The fact that Dr Mike is ok with letting Zach do a surgery on him makes me wonder if he ever watched him bake a cake without instructions haha

[celtzen]

As a chonky woman - it took 20 years and moving to a country with universal healthcare to get an MRI ordered to find out that I had a birth defect that caused malformed and _missing_ spinal discs from my mid back down that was causing serious back pain.. obviously it was because of my weight, or the pain was being caused by PCOS or whatever else it could be handed off as. Once I found out - my docs and I could put together a pain management plan, physio and massage therapy that now lets me function without being in constant pain. After living in Europe for 20 years (and yes there are issues there as well) and moving back to the US the state of healthcare scares the hell out of me.

[trickyvicky]

I can empathise with Zach's frustration. I have chronic migraine and I feel like nothing actually works and the desperation does make people want that "magic cure" ❤

[ChelseaSanders]

As someone with an ongoing undiagnosed health issue, I get what Zach means about 'not wanting to know anymore'. There was a point during a brain CT where I went "I hope they find a brain tumor so I just know what this!" I was sick of all the tests and scans and blood draws and elimination diets and trying solution after solution with no answers. At this point I have a web of medications and coping tools so I can get by, and I'm fine with that. I may never have answers, and even if I had them, there may still not be a solution. And I don't have the time/money/resources for endless tests and treatments.

[anyght]

The government needs to regulate insurance companies just as harshly as it regulates doctors. And insurance companies have NO right to decided what is medically necessary. The insurance companies literally run everything and they convince patients that the doctor is the problem when in reality its the insurance that collects your premiums and then doesn't pay.

[KinseyTaylor-gmlg]

As a person with an invisible disability, thank you doctor Mike. For encouraging people to Advocate they’re needs. I can’t count how many times that doctors have overlooked Depression, Anxiety, some minor health problems, just because they say “It’s just your disability” then I go “Oh, ok, you’re right.” Disabilities like mine come with mental health problems and doctors need to be more Aware. So then minor things that are actually more big won’t be overlooked.

[knuddlbuddlruddlfudd]

Can you guys please make this a regular thing? I feel like your personalities work so well together and I could listen to this for hours :D

[mariapaz]

i need a counter of how many times Zach said "soft boy" or "boy" to refer to himself 🤣. But to be honest, fantastic episode, great chemistry between the two of you, but also the willingness to hear each other and validate each other's experiences. This is one of my favorite podcast episodes ever.

[mcaulayflour]

Wow. When Zach described downplaying the pain and symptoms because of the denial of how bad it really is, that hit home. Being afraid of the fact that it's not going away, or that no one understands what you're going through. That's a hard thing to face. Especially with pain!

[readyforclarity]

I'm only a few minutes in and just want to say thank you. As someone who's found it nearly impossible to find stable healthcare, I appreciate you speaking out with your platform about this. It shouldn't be so difficult for those of us who are desperate for care to advocate for ourselves to get it. Thank you, cheers, Hannah

[fredericbuchanan]

Currently testing for psoriasic arthritis, after more than 10 years of dismissed symptoms, I went for a disformed toe and looking at my psoriasis, nails and aches, the doctor was like, you never mentionned these symtoms? I was like....uh, yeah, multiple times, but I was labelled hypocondriac because of complaining about these symptoms and never got blood tests or xrays taken. He was flabergasted

[VRwarrior]

As a chronic pain suffer, I have watched Zach’s journal for a while. I admire him so much. He is honest about his illness, his level of pain, and struggle with his treatments and living with his diagnosis ❤❤

[EricaDiebold]

I love the topic of “punting” in the medical system with people with chronic illness finding a diagnosis. I was diagnosed with severe heart disease at 24 years old after years of symptoms and doctors that just passed me along the line…. Cardiologists who completely overlooked my severe disease because it was easier to gaslit the young girl who faints and is in a wheelchair due to extreme dizziness and chronic migraines

[oliviasolomon]

As someone who works in insurance denials and appeals for a medical center in the US - he’s exactly right. Just trying to get insurance to pay on a bill once you’ve had the service can often take months, occasionally years.

[Cinnocho]

I’m so glad Zac is still pushing through this love the tri guys

[carolinebonello]

As a nurse and someone who suffers from a rare disease, I can really relate to this from both sides. A much well needed discussion.