health Archives

Major Pain Podcast Episodes

Living with Multiple Diagnoses and Multiple Mysteries

Stacey experiences a wide variety of complex health issues that impact her daily life. Doctors have diagnosed and labeled her with many things, including autoimmune diabetes, fibromyalgia, severe anxiety with agoraphobia, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Living inside such a multifaceted symptom picture has been extremely challenging, especially since doctors can’t Read more…

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By Major Pain Podcast, 3 yearsAugust 4, 2021 ago

Major Pain Podcast Episodes

Living with Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO)

Six weeks before finishing her residency in internal medicine, Summer started experiencing bizarre neurological symptoms in her left leg. Instead of focusing on becoming a doctor she suddenly became the patient, searching for answers to her mysterious symptoms. Summer was initially misdiagnosed with multiple sclerosis, learning years later that she Read more…

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By Major Pain Podcast, 3 yearsJuly 28, 2021 ago

Major Pain Podcast Episodes

Jesse’s Health Update, Travel Accessibility, Listener Questions with Andi

This week we have a community focused episode with Jesse and Andi. First they share an email from listener Morgan, and discuss the ramifications of multiple misdiagnoses when searching for answers to a mystery disease. Then they dive into Jesse’s health update, including progress towards finding a diagnosis and the Read more…

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By Major Pain Podcast, 3 yearsJune 30, 2021 ago

Major Pain Podcast Episodes

Registered Nurse on Navigating Healthcare System for Pain Patients

Many people with chronic pain, undiagnosed disease or invisible illness run into constant barriers when seeking medical care. Doctors often don’t take their symptoms seriously, or assume nothing is wrong when they can’t immediately pinpoint a cause. For people dealing with dynamic illness, understanding the medical system well enough to Read more…

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By Major Pain Podcast, 3 yearsJune 23, 2021 ago

Major Pain Podcast Episodes

Living with Multiple Sclerosis: Diagnosed at 19, Thriving at 34

15 years after her multiple sclerosis diagnosis, Lauren has learned to live comfortably and happily with her disease. She now conceives of MS as a friendly neighbor, something that pops by and says hello from time to time without weighing upon her daily life. Reflecting back on her diagnosis at Read more…

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By Major Pain Podcast, 3 yearsJune 16, 2021 ago

Major Pain Podcast Episodes

Living with CREST, aka Limited Scleroderma

When Cammie and Evan’s two boys were 1 and 2 years old, Cammie was diagnosed with CREST disease. CREST, also known as limited scleroderma, is an intensely painful rheumatic condition with a wide variety of symptoms that progressively affect the entire body. Cammie was told if she did everything right Read more…

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By Major Pain Podcast, 3 yearsJune 9, 2021 ago

Major Pain Podcast Episodes

Living with a Pituitary Adenoma

Three years ago Andi Alhadeff was stricken with a sudden influx of intrusive thoughts, a condition often associated with OCD, along with extreme anxiety and nausea. Blood tests showed elevated prolactin, a hormone produced by the pituitary gland. Further testing revealed that Andi had a pituitary adenoma (or prolactinoma), a Read more…

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By Major Pain Podcast, 3 yearsJune 2, 2021 ago

Major Pain Podcast Episodes

When Unexpected Illness Prompts Career Changes

Justin Balch has lived many lives, having been derailed several times by chronic pain and health issues. While studying as a saxophone performer he developed a mystery pain that forced him to put down his instrument permanently. He adjusted course and became a professional audio engineer, until a barotrauma caused Read more…

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By Major Pain Podcast, 3 yearsMay 26, 2021 ago

Major Pain Podcast Episodes

Living in Recovery from Drug Addiction and Alcoholism

Kenny Alhadeff is the chairman of Elttaes Enterprises, the Alhadeff Family Charitable Fund and a Broadway producer. He is also a drug addict and alcoholic, who has been successfully living in recovery for 36 years. In this episode of the Major Pain podcast, Kenny shares the story of learning to Read more…

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By Major Pain Podcast, 3 yearsApril 28, 2021 ago

Major Pain Podcast Episodes

Living with Seasonal Affective Disorder

Like many living in the Pacific Northwest, pediatric nurse Cara Pierson suffers from seasonal affective disorder, a type of seasonal depression that coincides with the winter months each year. As the science around mental health continues to evolve, it becomes increasingly clear just how much we don’t understand about the Read more…

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By Major Pain Podcast, 3 yearsApril 14, 2021 ago