Jessica is a respected yoga teacher–young, fit, doing the right things to stay healthy. She’s also highly knowledgeable about anatomy, with two graduate degrees. But a series of episodes involving circulation to one arm lead her to urgent care and a diagnosis of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, or TOS. 

Her surgeon soon recommends the standard solution for TOS–removal of her top rib. This will relieve compression between her rib and clavicle that pinches a vein and triggers dangerous blood clots.  

“Given my yoga philosophy, I was definitely not keen on having that first rib removed,” recalls Jessica. “But my thoracic surgeon, he was really great, actually. He said, ‘I'm okay with you trying to figure things out.’”

Two years later, has Jess figured out her TOS? Listen in for a body odyssey of the unexpected sort, when an otherwise healthy yogi grapples with a life-threatening condition through her knowledge of anatomy and experience with movement. 

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Resources

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Original music by Ryan Adair Rooney

"Pregnancy is no joke," Erin tells us in this body odyssey that's both deeply personal and all-too-common. Having been on bed rest with preeclampsia, Erin confides, “I wasn’t good at being pregnant.” Weight gain and postpartum depression --a condition affecting 1 in 8 new moms-- made matters worse. 

But when a close friend and fellow high school teacher tells Erin that running might help her behavioral and physical challenges, she (begrudgingly) starts training for a marathon. 

“Each person needs a plan that is well suited for that personality and for their functioning level,” advises Dr. “Shosh” Bennett, a clinical psychologist who has personally struggled with postpartum. “The take-home message shouldn't be: I have to run a marathon in order to beat postpartum depression. It should be: Find something that's going to give them great satisfaction.”

Does Mom-on-the-Run Erin find that satisfaction on a 26.2-mile run? Listen in to see how putting in extra miles helps her kids, her partner and herself. 

Original Music by Ryan Adair Rooney

SHOW NOTES

Expert:

Dr. Shoshana Bennett, PhD 

Internationally recognized as the go-to expert on prenatal and postpartum depression and related mood and anxiety disorders, clinical psychologist Dr. Shoshana Bennett has inspired and transformed countless lives worldwide through her radio shows, books, lectures, interactive tele-classes, consultations, and videos.

Books:

Postpartum Depression For Dummies (2006)

Beyond the Blues (2019)

Links:

More resources at www.mybodyodyssey.com

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How do we know when to push through pain to pursue the activities we love? And when should we suspect that injuries are part of a disease process? 

In this episode we meet Doc Sarah, a pediatrician, mother of four, and avid runner bedeviled by these questions.

“I had gone for 30 years with no injuries,” Sarah recalls. “Then all of a sudden I've got IT band, plantar fasciitis, I’m tearing my hamstrings.”

This odyssey highlights the challenge of diagnosis even for an experienced Doc like Sarah and confirmed by Divya Muthappa, a General Practitioner in Texas. 

“There are patients that I am just 99% sure that I know what their diagnosis is,” confides Dr. Muthappa. “And it ends up being something else.” 

While Dr. Jeffrey Sparks, a rheumatologist at Brigham & Women's, notes that Sarah’s ordeal is by no means atypical. 

Tune in for an odyssey of self-diagnosis and self-discovery as Doc Sarah emerges a better listener to her patients and to her own body’s aches and pains. 

Original music by Ryan Adair Rooney

Show Notes

Our Experts:

Dr. Jeffrey Sparks

Brigham & Women's, Twitter, Google Scholar

Dr. Divya Muthappa

Profile in MD Monthly, Founder of Health Choice Clinic

Additional Resources

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Iron Woman Diane has completed three full Ironman triathlons, numerous marathons and many cycling events, such as the New England Tour De Cure where My Body Odyssey first met her. 

One day, though, Diane drinks some juice before a yoga class and “next thing you know I’m inside an ambulance.”

Maintaining healthy blood sugar levels is a balancing act for many millions of Americans with diabetes, especially those with Type 1 or juvenile diabetes, like Diane.  

This episode features expert commentary from Dr. Michael Riddell of York University, one of the world's true experts on diabetes and exercise, who also advises world class athletes like the NHL’s Max Domi on diabetes management.  

If Maxi Domi routinely handles the intensity of pro hockey shifts, and Diane has conquered 13-hour triathlons, how did a simple yoga class land her in the emergency room? 

Listen in to find out on “Iron Woman Diane: The Rewards & Challenges of Exercise With Diabetes,” the second full episode of My Body Odyssey, a Fluent Knowledge production. 

Show Notes

Our Experts:

Dr. Michael Riddell, PhD: Faculty Page, Twitter, Google Scholar

More Resources:

Homepage: www.mybodyodyssey.com

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Twitter: @mybodyodyssey

Facebook: @mybodyodysseypod

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In My Body Odyssey’s (MBO) first episode, we meet Ultimate Mark – uber-competitive weekend warrior in Ultimate Disc: “If it hurts me but helps the team, it's worth it in my mind.”

Problem is Ultimate Mark has a fully-fused spine dating back to scoliosis in high school. And that lack of flexibility, along with his competitive spirit, puts him at risk for frequent injuries and another surgery. 

“There’s something called adjacent segment disease,” explains Mayo Clinic Neurosurgeon Mohamad Bydon. “It's not inforeseeable…a decision will have to be made on extending that fusion.”

Dr. Mark Stoutenberg of Temple University also sounds a cautionary note on competing with a fused spine: “I don't think our younger selves really understand what being fifty and having chronic back pain is like.” 

Does Ultimate Mark love competition too much? Listen in to learn about Mark’s tradeoff of physical pain for behavioral benefit on this first episode of My Body Odyssey. 

SHOW NOTES

Our Experts:

Dr. Mohamad Bydon, M.D: Faculty Page, Linkedin, Google Scholar

Dr. Mark Stoutenberg PhD: Faculty Page, Linkedin, Google Scholar

• Relevant Publication: Physical activity assessment, prescription and referral in US healthcare: How do we make this a standard of clinical practice?

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