Take a Pain Check
100 episodes - English - Latest episode: 21 days ago - ★★★★★ - 6 ratingsWelcome to the Take a Pain Check podcast, a community founded and hosted by the one and only Natasha Trehan. Our podcast is all about diving into the nitty-gritty conversations about health, relationships and everything in between when it comes to living with a chronic illness. With personal experiences from guests, we aim to create an engaging space for anyone looking for support, inspiration, and a good laugh. And we don't just stop there. By bringing together a diverse and amazing lineup of healthcare professionals and patients, we're modeling a wide variety of perspectives. This is especia
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Episodes
Episode 94 - Advocacy Rocks
June 23, 2024 16:00 - 38 minutes - 35.4 MBIn this episode of Take a Pain Check, we are joined by Ella Rabin, who shares her journey with Juvenile Arthritis (JA). Ella introduces herself, discussing her education, hobbies, and future aspirations. She details her diagnosis story, including the initial symptoms and changes over time, and speaks about her family history with arthritis, particularly her mother's experience. Ella emphasizes the importance of a strong support system from family and friends, addresses misconceptions about a...
Episode 93 - One Size Does Not Fit All
June 09, 2024 16:00 - 37 minutes - 34.6 MBThis week’s podcast episode features Carissa Peck, who discusses her journey with mixed connective tissue disorder, encompassing lupus and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The conversation begins with Carissa’s introduction and background, followed by her diagnosis story, including initial symptoms and their progression. Carissa shares her experiences with various treatments, from medications to other treatments. She describes managing flare-ups and the impact of her condition on relationships, em...
Episode 92 - Why me?
May 26, 2024 16:00 - 47 minutes - 43.8 MBIn this episode of Take a Pain Check, Amanda Chay discusses her journey with lupus and Sjogren's, sharing the challenges of getting diagnosed, advocating for herself, and the emotional impact of learning about and accepting her chronic illnesses. She highlights the importance of a strong support system, effective doctor-patient relationships, and the role of medications. Amanda also talks about maintaining an active lifestyle, the significant impact of diet on her symptoms, and managing her ...
Episode 91 - Riding the Chronic Illness Rollercoaster in the Dark
May 12, 2024 16:00 - 44 minutes - 40.6 MBEIn this episode of Take a Pain Check, host Natasha introduces Emily Wahl, who bravely shares her journey living with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA), Sjogren’s syndrome, Lupus, Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension, and FSGS. Emily candidly discusses her diagnosis story, recounting childhood experiences with arthritis and the challenges of managing various medications. She reflects on how her health conditions influenced her career choices and relationships, especially during pregnancy. Emily...
Episode 90 - Heartbeats of Hope: Navigating Kawasaki Disease
April 29, 2024 18:25 - 1 hour - 55.8 MBIn this week's episode of Take a Pain Check, Carin Lin joins as a guest to share her journey as a parent of a child with Kawasaki Disease (KD), focusing on her son Isaiah's experience. Carin recounts Isaiah's diagnosis story, shedding light on the symptoms that led them to seek medical attention and the challenges they faced during the diagnosis process. The discussion delves into what Kawasaki Disease is, its symptoms, and how it presents itself in children like Isaiah. Carin shares her ad...
Episode 89 - Strength in Struggle: Coping with Chronic Pain
April 28, 2024 11:44 - 47 minutes - 43.8 MBWelcome back to this week's episode of Take a Pain Check! Today, I'm thrilled to have Delane Linkiewich with us, sharing her journey with chronic pain and the incredible insights she's gained along the way. Delane opens up about her experiences, from the car accident that started it all to the psycho-social impacts she's navigated. We delve into the various physical therapies she's tried, her medication regimen, and how she managed treatment during the challenging times of the pandemic. Grow...
Episode 88 - The Story of Us (Lupus’ Version): How Taylor Swift Paid my Tuition
March 24, 2024 16:00 - 45 minutes - 41.6 MBIn this week's episode of Take a Pain Check, we welcome Ayesha as our special guest, sharing her incredible journey of diagnosis, advocacy, and touching moments of kindness. Ayesha recounts her initial symptoms that led her to seek medical help, navigating a complex medication regimen, and the ups and downs of her health journey. She reflects on her determination during her undergraduate years, the challenges of planning a wedding while managing her health, and a difficult experience in the ...
Episode 87 - Empowering Every Body: Accessible Fitness with Alex Levine Fitness LLC
March 10, 2024 16:30 - 44 minutes - 41.2 MBIn this episode of Take a Pain Check podcast, we delve into the life of Alexander Levine, unpacking his journey with Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) from diagnosis to shoulder surgery and beyond. Alex shares the story of his diagnosis, detailing life before AS and the challenges he faced in his career, particularly in the health and fitness industry. We explore the knowledge gap between fitness and AS, how his perspective on fitness shifted post-diagnosis, and the impact of physical therapy on h...
Episode 86 - Move More, Hurt Less
February 25, 2024 17:00 - 48 minutes - 44 MBIn this episode, we're honored to have Jeanine V McGuire sharing her incredible journey with JRA (Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis). From her diagnosis story spanning two years to navigating high school with accommodations, shifting friendship dynamics, and excelling as a student-athlete, Jeanine's resilience shines through. She dives into the challenges of managing arthritis during college, both living independently and staying at home. We explore her dedication to fitness, adapting training r...
Episode 85 - The Power of Place: JIA and the Strength of Small Town Support
February 11, 2024 17:30 - 44 minutes - 40.8 MBIn this episode of Take a Pain Check, we delve into the experiences of Jillian Wickert, who has been living with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) for the majority of her life. From her diagnosis story to navigating through various treatments and medications, Jillian shares her journey with candor and resilience. We explore the challenges she faced in school and the impact of her condition on her social life. Jillian also opens up about the psychological barriers she encountered and how sh...
Episode 84 - Finding Purpose Beyond the Pain
January 28, 2024 17:00 - 42 minutes - 38.8 MBIn this week’s episode of Take a Pain Check, we delve into the journey of Rachel Gehue, who bravely shares her experiences living with JRA, Spherocytosis, anxiety, OCD, and depression. From the emotional impact of her diagnosis to the challenges faced in school, sports, and social life, Rachel unfolds a narrative of strength and perseverance. She discusses the medications that have played a crucial role in her journey, the supportive relationship with her rheumatologist, and the importance o...
Episode 83 - Finding Purpose Beyond the Pain
January 14, 2024 17:00 - 43 minutes - 39.7 MBOn this week’s episode on Take a Pain Check, Kyle Brooks talks about his diagnosis journey and about navigating the challenges of JIA and psoriasis. From physio to a two-year wait for answers, Kyle shares his daily battles with symptoms and medications. We delve into the social aspect, addressing bullying, handling negative comments, and finding resilience. Kyle opens up about school life, securing accommodations, and fostering a positive relationship with his general practitioner. Not only ...
Episode 82 - Putting the Pain Puzzle Together to Find my Diagnosis
December 24, 2023 17:00 - 46 minutes - 42.1 MBIn this episode of Take a Pain Check, Isabel Dukes opens up about her personal journey dealing with JIA, Lupus, Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome, ADHD, and Dyslexia. She shares candid reflections on navigating the challenges of high school, dating in university, and the significant transition to adult life, including moving in with her partner. The episode delves into her medication journey and the evolving accommodations she has navigated since her youth. Isabel discusses the critical rol...
Episode 81 - Keeping the Adventure Alive
December 10, 2023 17:00 - 44 minutes - 40.5 MBIn this episode of Take a Pain Check, Alyssa discusses her journey in being involved in the treatment of osteoarthritis care. She discusses the knowledge gap in patient communication, the importance of a holistic approach, and practical advice on exercise for managing symptoms. Additionally, Alyssa also shares insights into physiotherapist appointments and highlights her initiative, “Keep the Adventure Alive,” aimed at helping those with osteoarthritis lead fulfilling lives. The episode expl...
Episode 80 - More Than DNA: Psoriatic Arthritis Changed the Dynamic Between My Siblings and Me
November 22, 2023 04:08 - 41 minutes - 37.9 MBJoin us on this week’s episode of Take a Pain Check as Brookie Zarb shares her journey with Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA). From the initial symptoms to facing healthcare practitioners, Brookie discusses her diagnosis, medication experiences, and their impact on her life. She explores how PsA influenced her high school years, friendships, and extracurricular activities. She dives into the dynamics of her family, navigating the emotional rollercoaster of sibling diagnoses. Brookie discusses the Au...
Episode 79 - Forging a Rewarding Career in Pediatric Rheumatology
November 05, 2023 17:00 - 43 minutes - 39.4 MBIn this podcast episode, we delve into Dr. Anna Costello’s pathway to becoming a rheumatologist. She shares her initial interest in oncology and the reasons as to why her decision took her to rheumatology and pediatric medicine. She discusses her educational background, from her undergraduate years at Brown University to her medical school experience and the unique opportunities that paved the way to her current position at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Dr. Costello opens up about...
Episode 78 - Arthritis Through the ’90s Lens: Laurie’s Story
October 22, 2023 16:00 - 50 minutes - 45.9 MBIn this week's episode of "Take a Pain Check," we sit down with Laurie Proulx, who takes us on a journey through her life and experiences dealing with arthritis. Laurie discusses her early years, when arthritis seemed to be taking control of her life, and how she found solace and inspiration in the realms of piano, dance, and voice lessons. Diagnosed with arthritis in 1991, she sheds light on the limited treatment options available at the time, including her experience with gold therapy and ...
Episode 77 - Making an Impact Through Pageantry
October 01, 2023 16:00 - 42 minutes - 39.2 MBIn this week's episode of Take a Pain Check, we dive deep into Maddie Nero's inspiring journey with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis. From the early symptoms and struggles with medical professionals to triumphing over bullying in school, Maddie's story is a testament to resilience. Join us as we explore her college life, her passion for pageantry, and her empowering initiative, the Self Care Club for people with disabilities who want to learn more about self care. Don't forget to subscribe t...
Episode 75 - Rx for Success: Why Patient Partners Matter
September 03, 2023 16:00 - 48 minutes - 44.7 MBJoin us on this week's episode on Take a Pain Check as Dawn Richards, diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, shares her incredible journey from diagnosis to clinical remission. She opens up about changing rheumatologists, managing methotrexate side effects, and the transformative impact of exercise. She discusses her life both as a researcher and being patient partner in research. Finally, she discusses her involvement with the Canadian Arthritis Network, CIHR IMHA and the Canadian Arthritis P...
Episode 74 - Running Through Life with Osteoarthritis
August 20, 2023 16:00 - 43 minutes - 40 MBIn this episode, Natasha talks to Kohle Merry about his journey with osteoarthritis. From undergoing joint injections to a hip replacement at just 29, Kohle's resilience is evident. As an engineering grad with aspirations for physiotherapy school, his surgical timeline redirected him to a PhD candidate in rehab science. He discusses the hurdles younger adults encounter in a rehab as it is setup predominantly for seniors and delves into the emotional struggles of persistent pain. Drawing from...
Episode 73 - Function over Frustration: The OT Way
August 06, 2023 16:00 - 56 minutes - 51.8 MBIn this week's episode, we dive deep into the world of occupational therapy with Lindsay DeLong. Lindsay's journey spans from her foundational education to her innovative initiatives in the OT profession, particularly her unique focus on medical equipment. Having worked in a rehabilitation hospital, she specialized in inpatient brain injury rehabilitation, offering a wealth of insights into the day-to-day life and challenges of an OT. Beyond her clinical work, Lindsay founded EquipMeOT, a p...
Episode 72 - Unstoppable Resilience
August 06, 2023 02:47 - 48 minutes - 44.5 MBJoin us on this week's episode featuring Navya Juneja, a university student and a patient partner living with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis. In this week's discussion, Navya candidly shares her journey, from the early symptoms to her recent diagnosis and the challenges of finding the right medications. Natasha and Navya delve into essential topics, such as university accommodations compared to high school, providing practical advice on how to request and access the necessary support. They ...
Episode 71 - Sculpting a New Path from the Youth System: Rural Roots to Artistic Discovery
July 09, 2023 16:00 - 57 minutes - 52.7 MBIn this week's episode of Take a Pain Check, prepare to be inspired as host Natasha welcomes the Sharona Franklin, an artist from Rural British Columbia. Sharona's story, despite grappling with multiple diagnoses, such as SJIA, AS, IBD, Pericarditis, and Vasculitis, transforms into a remarkable journey of unwavering resilience and strength. Natasha and Sharona dive deep into the profound impact of childhood struggles, the intricate complexities of the youth care system, the unique experience...
Episode 70 - Joint Forces: Rheumatology and Oral Surgery Collaboration
June 25, 2023 16:00 - 44 minutes - 40.7 MBJoin us on this week's episode of Take a Pain Check where our host, Natasha, delves into the world of pediatric oral and maxillofacial surgery with our esteemed guest, Dr. Cory Resnick. A science enthusiast since childhood, Dr. Resnick shares his journey into dentistry and his love for academic surgery. He discusses the challenges of maintaining work-life balance while running a private practice in New York and enlightens us about the inspiring environment created by working with trainee su...
Episode 69 - The Good Days and the Bad Days
June 11, 2023 16:00 - 31 minutes - 28.6 MBOn this week's episode of Take a Pain Check with your host Natasha, we delve into the world of Nikki Bhatti. Nikki bravely shares her personal journey living with rheumatoid arthritis - from the first instances of joint pain in her fingers and toes, to the evolution of her medication journey with her current medication called Actemra. Listen in as she discusses the social implications of managing arthritis, and dives deep into what it is like being a South Asian woman managing cultural expec...
Episode 68 - Physiotherapy Unleashed: Taming The Pain Beast
May 28, 2023 16:00 - 38 minutes - 35.7 MBWelcome to this week’s episode of Take a Pain Check with Natasha where we dive deep into the world of pain management. In this enlightening conversation, Nathan Augeard, a physiotherapist from Quebec and the visionary behind Physio Connection comes onto the podcast. Join us as we explore various facets of pain management and gain valuable insights from Nathan’s expertise. Nathan compares the healthcare systems of Scotland and Canada, shedding light on wait times and other crucial differences...
Episode 67 - The RA-lity Of Lupus
May 07, 2023 16:00 - 39 minutes - 36 MBIn honour of Canadian Mental Health Week and Lupus Awareness Month, tune in to this week’s episode as Krissy Stephenson, a successful business owner and chronic illness warrior, shares her journey of living with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and Lupus. Krissy discusses the challenges of finding a good rheumatologist who understands the complexities of her conditions, her medication journey, and her experience with pregnancy and RA. Krissy also introduces us to the Spoon Theory, a powerful metaph...
Episode 66 - Resilience Strikes a Chord: A 13 Year Old’s Story
April 23, 2023 16:00 - 41 minutes - 38.1 MBJoin host Natasha on this week's heartwarming episode of Take a Pain Check, as she sits down with Isabella, a remarkable 13-year-old girl who shares her inspiring journey with Lupus, Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, and Sjogren’s. Isabella's story began during the pandemic, when she experienced excruciating pain in her elbows at the tender age of 9. Initially hesitant to see a doctor, she attributed the pain to her extracurricular activities. However, after her hands turned purple due to Rayna...
Episode 65 - Beyond the White Coat: Empowerment in Patient Partnerships
April 09, 2023 16:00 - 46 minutes - 42.5 MBIn this week's episode of Take a Pain Check, Natasha welcomes Cassidy Bradley, a medical student at Dalhousie University, who bravely shares her journey with Fibromyalgia and POTS. Cassidy's story starts with her symptoms emerging during her time as a national-level speed skater, eventually leading to hip surgery. She discusses her mental health struggles and the benefits of therapy in coping with chronic illness, as well as accepting her disability and navigating accommodations in medical s...
Episode 64 - Advocacy Across Borders: Kabir’s TAPC Journey from South Africa
March 26, 2023 16:00 - 51 minutes - 47.4 MBGet ready to be inspired by this podcast episode hosted by Natasha Trehan and featuring Kabir Budlender! Kabir is a 16-year-old high school student and JIA patient from Johannesburg, South Africa. He's not just any ordinary teenager though - he's a passionate advocate for educating others about what life is really like when you're living with chronic illness and invisible disability. He discusses his medication journey for POTS, JIA and IBD including his experience with Humira and Methotrexa...
Episode 63 - Dateability
March 05, 2023 17:00 - 46 minutes - 42.8 MBOn this week’s episode on Take a Pain Check, Jacqueline and Alexa Child come on the podcast to talk about their own personal experience of living with a chronic illness and being a sister of someone who has a chronic illness, respectively. Jacqueline starts off by discussing her diagnosis journey with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and other chronic illnesses. She talks about bad joint and muscle pain, having a butterfly rash, experiencing sensitivity to the sun, and dealing with GI symptoms that le...
Episode 62: Journaling Through Ankylosing Spondylitis
February 19, 2023 17:00 - 34 minutes - 31.9 MBOn this week’s episode, Chris Pudlak talks about his journey with Ankylosing Spondylitis. Diagnosed at age 36, Chris struggled to lift up his kids or even play with them because of his arthritis pain. Since day one, he started journaling in which he intertwined his engineering skills to track his symptoms. He discusses lifestyle changes he implemented and how he tracked his symptoms. Not only that, Natasha and Chris discuss workplace accommodations such as a height adjusting desks and a diff...
Episode 61 - Alli The Arthritis Advocate
February 05, 2023 17:00 - 37 minutes - 34.2 MBAlli Buchanan joins host, Natasha, on this week’s episode on Take a Pain Check to discuss her diagnosis with Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA). Alli’s starts by talking about her diagnosis journey and how it took her 10 years to get diagnosed. Physicians were aware of Alli’s family history with PsA but did not take that into account when her symptoms progressed. Because of Alli’s mom’s experience with PsA, Alli discusses how her mom was her biggest advocate as she spent a lot of time reliving her ow...
Episode 60 - Experiencing Quarantine Before The Pandemic
January 22, 2023 17:00 - 44 minutes - 40.4 MBIt started off in the hospital when Juanita told her friend she would be back to school in two days. Soon, those two days turned into months of isolation, treatments, etc. On this week’s episode, Juanita Garcia comes on to share her story with Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP) and Lupus at ages 13 and 20, respectively. Being born and brought up in Columbia, Juanita shared her health care journey while going through the Canadian vs Columbia’s system. She discusses the difference in wa...
Episode 59 - On The Way To Becoming A Pediatric Rheumatologist
January 08, 2023 17:00 - 43 minutes - 39.4 MBDr. Molly Dushnicky brings her JIA and physician perspective to this week’s episode on Take a Pain Check. In this episode, Dr. Molly discusses the story of her JIA diagnosis at the age of two with approximately 45+ impacted joints. She faced barriers of access to care in her hometown Thunder Bay in Northern Ontario as there was no pediatric rheumatologist then and even now. She talks about how she had to be flown down to The Hospital of SickKids in Toronto and CHEO in Ottawa to be treated. D...
Episode 58 - Toronto's Collaborative Transition Heroes
December 11, 2022 17:00 - 45 minutes - 41.8 MBThis week’s episode features Dr. Natasha Gakhal (Adult Rheumatologist) and Dr. Evelyn Rozenblyum (Pediatric Rheumatologist), who come on the podcast to discuss their collaborative transition clinic in Toronto, Canada. They begin the episode by discussing where their interest in rheumatology came from and what drew them to focus on adult medicine vs pediatric medicine. They discuss how they met each other and what really led them to make this clinic including year long discussions at the tabl...
Episode 57 - "I Was Going Through MRIs Like They Were Candy"
November 27, 2022 18:18 - 41 minutes - 38.4 MBThis week’s episode features Naomi Abrahams, a PhD student at the University of Ottawa, who lives with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis. The episode starts off by Naomi talking about how life felt like when being misdiagnosed for 3 years. She brings Natasha along her journey to when her symptoms started with joint swelling and pain in her hips that then moved to her elbows. Eventually, she wasn’t able to brush her teeth or eat food without pain. Her world changed and she had frequent visits to ...
Special Episode: Navigating the Workplace with Arthritis
November 13, 2022 16:35 - 40 minutes - 36 MBIn this week’s episode, Sarah Shaw becomes the host and discusses the hot topic: workplace and arthritis with guests — Michael Kuluva, Annette McKinnon and Natasha Trehan (host of TAPC). They discuss working with a rheumatic diseases at various stages of life and address the challenges in keeping employment. Unemployment and underemployment lie at the core of poverty and the financial security of people with rheumatic disease. Income has long been recognized as a social determinant of health...
Episode 56 - If You Don’t Use It, You’ll Lose It
October 30, 2022 16:00 - 37 minutes - 34.7 MBIn this week’s episode, Christina Hepner talks about her symptoms that started when she was 19 in her sophomore year. Christina relates that she tried to hide her pain in university just to live a normal college life and used humour to cope with it for 1 whole year. However, after she returned from her summer break, she no longer could hide her disease from her friends who spoke about how much fun they had in the summer. Christina started bawling her eyes out and told her friends that she sp...
Episode 55 - Break A Leg
October 09, 2022 16:00 - 48 minutes - 44.5 MBAs a baby, she started off crawling then walking. After, she reverted back into crawling. On this week's episode, we invite Alexa Sutherland, an actress and writer from Los Angeles. She talks about her 4 chronic condition, including Ankylosing Spondylitis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Fibromyalgia and Graves Disease. She starts off the episode by explaining the joints impacted for each condition and how she differentiates the pain for each of them. Alexa describes the struggles she endured at each ...
Episode 54 - My New Mentality
September 25, 2022 16:00 - 43 minutes - 39.8 MBOn this week's episode on Take a Pain Check, Charlotte Ryder-Burbidge discuss her diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis and Celiac Disease. She was diagnosed away from home during her studies. Luckily, she discusses how she had great housemates during that time that supported her. Natasha and Charlotte both discuss the differences in being with their parents when receiving a diagnosis vs not being with them. They both relate on the struggles of studying science while dealing with hand pain and i...
Episode 53 - Fighting Fires & Flares
September 11, 2022 16:00 - 40 minutes - 36.7 MBIt started with blood clots in the lungs. If Tony waited a day or a couple of hours later, his story would’ve been very different. This week’s episode features Tony Sosa from Southern California who discusses his diagnosis with Lupus and Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome (APS). Due to his Lupus symptoms (the butterfly rash, joint pain and fatigue), Tony had to stop working in the fire fighting industry and his job in the kitchen. He quickly realized the importance of community support, as w...
Episode 52 - Exercising While Inspiring
August 28, 2022 16:00 - 39 minutes - 35.8 MBOn this week’s episode, Megan Tovar comes on the podcast to talk about her diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis. She discusses how she was active in several ways, which led to a confusing path to diagnosis as the blame was assigned to other physical activities that she was involved in. Natasha and Megan discuss the difference between transition and rheumatology care in different geographical locations across North America. Moreover, the conversation progresses to talking about Megan’s impacted ...
Episode 51 - No Pain, No Gain
August 14, 2022 16:00 - 48 minutes - 44.5 MB“Managing my arthritis can be compared to being the mayor of a village” Sadiq told Natasha, on this week’s episode. Sadiq Jiwa, a 26 year old professional golf player from Vancouver, Canada currently on the road for the PGA tour. The conversation starts off with Sadiq’s diagnosis story at the age of six and what life was like being young with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis. Moreover, the comments from people in school as well as the emphasis of confusing growing pains with arthritis pains. As...
Episode 50 - Embracing My Disability
July 31, 2022 16:00 - 48 minutes - 44 MB“Don’t say you're disabled” they said. These were comments Anna Samson received when they were using mobility aids to help them get through their daily tasks while living with a chronic illness. This week on Take a Pain Check, Anna Samson comes on the podcast to to talk about their life with Ankylosing Spondylitis and Fibromyalgia as a 23 year old. They start off the conversation by talking about their initial symptoms and explaining the 4 year wait to get a diagnosis. After receiving a diag...
Episode 49 - Eat, Sleep, Live Jewellery
July 17, 2022 16:00 - 39 minutes - 36 MBDuring the pandemic, Haley and her boyfriend went to the grocery store and a few minutes later, she fell to the ground. On this week’s episode, Haley Crespo joins Natasha to discuss her journey with lupus and Evan’s syndrome. Haley starts off the episode by discussing how her boyfriend was her main support system through her diagnosis story. Consequently, Haley discusses her symptoms and how her lupus varies from others in the sense that it effects only her blood. Natasha and Haley bond ove...
Episode 48 - Dribbling Through Chronic Illnesses
July 03, 2022 16:00 - 45 minutes - 41.9 MBImagine being 30 and needing to plan your funeral while also planning your will. This is the exact experience Amanda Ishii had to go through a few years ago. On this week’s episode, Amanda discusses her journey living with Lupus, Crohn’s disease, Colon cancer and Multi Organ Dysfunction. Amanda explains her initial symptoms and jumps into the importance of social and mental support when it comes to dealing with a chronic illness. Moreover, Amanda brings up therapy, a resource that not only h...
Episode 47 - Advocacy Queen At Fourteen
June 19, 2022 16:00 - 42 minutes - 39.3 MBDevyn Nichols, a 14 year old content creator for Take a Pain Check, comes onto the podcast to discuss her diagnosis with undifferentiated Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis. When talking about Devyn’s diagnosis journey, she brings up medical gaslighting to which led to her seeing many family doctors and rheumatologists. Natasha and Devyn discuss side effects they’ve experienced on Methotrexate and Prednisone, as well the insecurities that came alongside being teenage girls. Not only that, Devyn e...
Episode 46 - Desi & Diseased
June 05, 2022 16:00 - 49 minutes - 45.3 MBOn this week’s episode, Afshin Bhimani discusses her journey living with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia. She starts off by explaining her lengthy diagnosis process and how she felt during this time. Once she started to go to doctors to figure out what was wrong, she was unable to find a physician who took her seriously. Moving from India to the States, Afshin discusses the cultural changes that occurred in her life. Natasha and Afshin both bond over Indian culture and holistic approac...
Episode 45 - Pick me. Choose me. Love me.
May 22, 2022 16:00 - 43 minutes - 39.5 MBOn this week’s episode, Aleina Margos joins Natasha to discuss her journey with Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA). Being diagnosed during the pandemic, Aleina starts off the episode by elaborating on her rheumatoid arthritis, including symptoms, topicals and pill medications that she was prescribed at first. Aleina and Natasha discuss the affects of their medication, like discolouration and how they abstain from scratching the skin. Aleina elaborates about her diagnosis period and how she received ...