disorder Archives

Major Pain Podcast Episodes

Managing Somatic Symptom Disorder Inside a Multitude of Chronic Illnesses

Colby has 11 chronic illness and mental health diagnoses. These include chronic pain (currently diagnosed as fibromyalgia), PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome), asthma, IBS, eczema, PTSD, depression, anxiety, bipolar, ADHD and somatic symptom disorder. That last diagnosis might be the least well-known of Colby’s illnesses. According to psychiatry.org, “somatic symptom disorder Read more…

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By Major Pain Podcast, 1 monthMarch 27, 2024 ago

Major Pain Podcast Episodes

Transposition of the Great Arteries: My Blood Flows Backwards

Like many babies born with transposition of the great arteries, Amelia was born blue. Her blood was not circulating to her entire body because the two main arteries leading blood away from her heart were switched, sending blood in the wrong direction. She was immediately helicoptered to a larger hospital Read more…

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By Major Pain Podcast, 2 monthsMarch 13, 2024 ago

Major Pain Podcast Episodes

Living with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)

For Meresa, one of the hardest parts of living with mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) is the daily uncertainty. She says, “It’s still such an everyday variable disease. It really sucks a lot of the time. It’s really painful. People don’t understand what it is, they don’t always understand what Read more…

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By Major Pain Podcast, 2 monthsFebruary 28, 2024 ago

Major Pain Podcast Episodes

Jesse Mercury on Starting the Major Pain Podcast and Seeking a Diagnosis for Mystery Illness

This week on the Major Pain podcast, our host Jesse is interviewed for a change! This interview is taken from a recent rheumatoid arthritis summit hosted by Andrea Dunn. She asks Jesse what inspired him to create the Major Pain podcast, inquires about his health journey and recent diagnosis of Read more…

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By Major Pain Podcast, 2 monthsFebruary 21, 2024 ago

Major Pain Podcast Episodes

When Small Fibers Cause Big Problems; Mark’s Mysterious Case of Small Fiber Neuropathy

Mark’s disturbing health problems have been stumping doctors for years. He started having zappy pains in his hands, face and feet, temperature dysregulation, heart rate and dizziness issues. His PCP was quick to blame these symptoms on anxiety, but Mark knew there was something else at work. His gastroenterologist discovered Read more…

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By Major Pain Podcast, 3 monthsJanuary 24, 2024 ago

Major Pain Podcast Episodes

Serena’s Duo of Severe Chronic Pain Conditions

Serena has gone to great lengths to uncover the cause of their severe chronic pain. Like many chronic illness patients, they have run into barrier after barrier when seeking care. Serena lives in Tennessee and has been denied for health insurance 5 times. They have also been denied 3 times Read more…

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By Major Pain Podcast, 4 monthsJanuary 3, 2024 ago

Major Pain Podcast Episodes

Isobel’s Chronic Illness Chronicle: POTS, SFN, ME/CFS and More

Every time Isobel has a medical test done, she has her fingers crossed that something will come back abnormal. She has been living with flare-ups on and off throughout her life, starting after a severe viral infection when she was 9 years old. Her symptoms include extreme fatigue, dizziness, brain Read more…

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By Major Pain Podcast, 5 monthsDecember 13, 2023 ago

Major Pain Podcast Episodes

The Link Between Head Trauma and Central Diabetes Insipidus

In 2005 Tracey was in a car crash that completely changed her life. She immediately developed slurred speech and an ice-pick headache right through the center of her brain. At the emergency room she was diagnosed with a concussion and sent home, but things only got worse from there. She Read more…

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By Major Pain Podcast, 5 monthsNovember 29, 2023 ago

Major Pain Podcast Episodes

Kristin Shares Her History with Acromegaly, A Growth Hormone Disorder

In her early 20s, Kristin’s body started exhibiting changes that she could not explain. She started gaining weight mysteriously, noticing that her hands and face were growing larger. Over the years this mystery intensified, even her tongue and internal organs were growing. Kristin sought help from many doctors, but was Read more…

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By Major Pain Podcast, 5 monthsNovember 22, 2023 ago

Major Pain Podcast Episodes

FND or MS? Elly’s Battle for a Diagnosis After Child Loss

Functional neurological disorder (FND) is usually diagnosed when an individual has neurological symptoms but no clinical evidence of disease, and a history of personal trauma. The theory is that the brain converts stress or trauma into physical symptoms, and the treatment involves cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) aimed at rewiring the Read more…

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By Major Pain Podcast, 6 monthsNovember 8, 2023 ago