Podcast host, Melissa Adams is signing off with gratitude from the I Am Not My Pain Podcast. Thanks to the encouragement and purpose from her sponsor, Heroes Circle, Melissa began the show wishing to bring living with chronic illness out of the shadows and into the light! After four seasons including 100 episodes with 56 chronic illness warriors from all over the world, this podcast has proved to be a profound, inspiring, and healing experience for her and hopefully, for her listeners as well. Tune in to her final episode as she reflects on this remarkable journey and shares her final thoughts as well as appreciation to past guests and the chronic illness community. She wishes to remind the chronically ill to never forget your voice and your life are valuable and important in the world and it is possible to find ways to live a fulfilled and meaningful life. YOU are so much more than your illness and pain. And as always to remember you are not alone, and you are not your pain.  

Continuing our conversation with warrior, Stephanie Venneri. Stephanie went in for a routine filling in 2021 and due to negligence, left with Trigeminal Neuralgia nicknamed the “Suicide Disease.” Excruciating pain and limited speaking time swiftly ended her over twenty year singing career, her livelihood and passion. Other diagnoses followed such as Hemicrania Continua, SUNA, Anesthesia Dolorosa and TMD/TMJ. Listen as in Part Two Stephanie discusses her feelings towards the dentist who caused her Trigeminal Neuralgia, how she copes living with multiple rare invisible illnesses and lastly, learning that it is okay to not to be okay. To learn more about Stephanie Venneri or her coaching services, go to www.stephvenneri.com or her Linktree at https://linktr.ee/stephvenneri.

Meet warrior, Stephanie Venneri. Stephanie went in for a routine filling in 2021 and due to negligence, left with Trigeminal Neuralgia nicknamed the “Suicide Disease.” Excruciating pain and limited speaking time swiftly ended her over twenty year singing career, her livelihood and passion. Other diagnoses followed such as Hemicrania Continua, SUNA, Anesthesia Dolorosa and TMD/TMJ. Tune in to Part One as Stephanie shares her remarkable story and how she manages gender and racial bias when seeking medical care. Stephanie is now a voice and life coach using her experience to help others manage the impact of chronic illness and other life’s challenges. To learn more about Stephanie Venneri or her coaching services, go to www.stephvenneri.com or her Linktree at https://linktr.ee/stephvenneri.   

Continuing our conversation with warrior, Michelle Milheiras. Michelle began experiencing vulva pain after a tailbone injury at only eight years old. Heavy periods, chronic UTI symptoms and yeast infections followed. Doctors dismissed and misdiagnosed her for over a decade, common for pelvic issues. Her pain and symptoms became so severe she had to leave her job. She was at last diagnosed accurately with Pelvic Floor Dysfunction, Endometriosis, Interstitial Cystitis, Lupus, Anxiety and Depression. Michelle now wishes to educate, uplift, and destigmatize these conditions by creating The Happy Pelvis website. Listen as in Part Two Michelle discusses interesting Endometriosis facts, her trauma from experiencing pelvic pain at a young age, and her tips for going to the doctor. To learn more about Michelle Milheiras including her blog, podcast, and valuable resources, go to https://thehappypelvis.ca or find her social media: Twitter @HappyPelvis, Facebook @TheHappyPelvis, and Instagram @the.happy.pelvis.

Meet warrior, Michelle Milheiras. Michelle began experiencing vulva pain after a tailbone injury at only eight years old. Heavy periods, chronic UTI symptoms and yeast infections followed. Doctors dismissed and misdiagnosed her for over a decade, common for pelvic issues. Her pain and symptoms became so severe she had to leave her job. She was at last diagnosed accurately with Pelvic Floor Dysfunction, Endometriosis, Interstitial Cystitis, Lupus, Anxiety and Depression. Michelle now wishes to educate, uplift, and destigmatize these conditions by creating The Happy Pelvis website. Tune in to Part One as Michelle shares her story, explains the anatomy, importance, and purpose of the pelvic floor and more. To learn more about Michelle Milheiras including her blog, podcast, and valuable resources, go to https://thehappypelvis.ca or find her social media: Twitter @HappyPelvis, Facebook @TheHappyPelvis, and Instagram @the.happy.pelvis.

Throwing it back to S1E8 with warrior, Leanne Million. Leanne’s identity was one of drama teacher, actress and all around go getter until she experienced a concussion in a car accident. Managing her physical pain and issues with her neurological function from post-concussion syndrome, Leanne had to leave her job and felt huge pieces of her identity slip away, a common occurrence in the lives of the chronically ill. Tune in as we hear Leanne reveal how she began the process of shifting her mindset on her identity and how she was able to recreate purpose and meaning in her life. If you are interested in Leanne’s services as a Certified Life, Relationship and Sexuality Coach, EFT or Reiki Practitioner, visit leannemillion.com or @leannemillion on Instagram.

Continuing our discussion with warrior, Kashinda Marche from S2E13. In 1995, Kashinda was a nineteen-year-old, new mother when she received the life-changing diagnosis of HIV. Reaching a breaking point with her mental health, Kashinda chose to focus on changing her mindset. Four neurosurgeries and many diagnoses followed throughout the years including Hidradenitis Suppurative, Autoimmune Disorder, Adrenal Insufficiency, Pituitary Adenoma, and Peripheral Neuropathy. Listen to Part Two as Kashinda shares how discovering of her authentic self fuels her passion to inspire, uplift, and empower African American girls and the chronic illness community as a published author, a certified personal development life coach that specializes in self-esteem strengthening, a TEDx speaker, and an Executive Director of the nonprofit, Kreative On Purpose. Kashinda believes health and life challenges don’t need to prevent one from living a fulfilled life. To learn more about Kashinda Marche, her services and her nonprofit, Kreative On Purpose, go to https://www.kreativeonpurpose.org. 

We are throwing back to S2E12 with warrior, Kashinda Marche. In 1995, Kashinda was a nineteen-year-old, new mother when she received the life-changing diagnosis of HIV. Reaching a breaking point with her mental health, Kashinda chose to focus on changing her mindset. Four neurosurgeries and many diagnoses followed throughout the years including Hidradenitis Suppurative, Autoimmune Disorder, Adrenal Insufficiency, Pituitary Adenoma, and Peripheral Neuropathy. Tune in to Part One as we hear Kashinda tell her remarkable story and explain the importance of mindset and of discovering her authentic self. This discovery fuels her passion to inspire, uplift, and empower African American girls and the chronic illness community as a published author, a certified personal development life coach that specializes in self-esteem strengthening, a TEDx speaker, and an Executive Director of the nonprofit, Kreative On Purpose. Kashinda believes health and life challenges don’t need to prevent one from living a fulfilled life. To learn more about Kashinda Marche, her services and her nonprofit, Kreative On Purpose, go to https://www.kreativeonpurpose.org. 

Continuing our discussion with warrior, Courtney, who along with uncommon conditions of POTS and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, struggles with worsening unexplained and life-altering symptoms. After experiencing extremely painful and concerning complaints for over a month and receiving little help from her family physician and other specialists, Courtney reluctantly attended her local emergency department only to be confronted with negligence and judgement. Tune in as Courtney talks about how her traumatic experience came to an end, and how she’s coping in its aftermath. 

We are throwing back to S2E7 with warrior, Courtney, who discussed the dismissiveness, gaslighting and judgements she faces on her odyssey to find respectful medical care. Courtney manages multiple rare conditions, which include POTS and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, but she also struggles with worsening unexplained symptoms, which are accumulating over time. Her uncommon, complex and ultimately poorly understood diagnosed conditions alone create their own significant difficulties when accessing emergency room care.  In combination with her new, seemingly unconnected, symptoms Courtney faces nurses and doctors who hyper-focus on certain complaints, such as pain, while completely dismissing or shrugging off others. Ultimately sending her home with no answers, and little more than temporary pain control.  Listen as Courtney recounts a recent horrific and nightmarish 21 hour-long emergency room visit, where her symptoms were not only dismissed, but where she was repeatedly denied basic compassionate care and how she’s coping after her ordeal.