Take a Pain Check

In 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 spent her time in so much pain and disclosed her arthritis diagnosis. She was lucky to have a great support system which helped her mental health. Christina discusses how her arthritis made her feel like she wasn’t herself most of the time. She gained weight, had knee surgery and dealt with depression. She mentions how she worked through those hurdles with physiotherapy, changing her mindset and implementing lifestyle changes such as weightlifting and eliminating certain inflammatory foods that she researched. Finally, the episode ends with Christina talking about her job in a non-profit organization for the visually impaired as a digital marketer and her current disease status being in remission.

Check out Christina's socials:  https://www.facebook.com/ChristinaHepnerMedia https://www.instagram.com/christina_hepner/ https://twitter.com/ChristinaHepner 

Check out our socials: Website: https://www.takeapaincheck.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/takeapainch... Twitter: https://twitter.com/takeapaincheck​​​Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@takeapaincheck  

Growing Pains, Copyright, 2018, Alessia Cara

As 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 point in her life with every added diagnosis, specifically the social and emotional aspects. In particular, she talks about the switch to home schooling due to the inability of her school faculty to accommodate. Ultimately, she decided to become her own boss and thrive in an environment that was meant for her. As the conversation continues, Alexa shares her experience with online college and discusses how online school helped her further explore her passions. She dives into her experiences with injection days and how the auto injector was her ultimate life saver to becoming more confident in giving herself her injections. Additionally, Natasha asks Alexa about dating while living with a chronic illness which led to them talking about insecurities relating to being “too difficult” to be with. Lastly, they discuss Alexa’s acting gigs, specifically Deadly Cheer Moms and navigating accommodations.

Check out Alexa's socials:  https://twitter.com/glowlexa https://www.instagram.com/glowlexa 

Check out our socials: Website: https://www.takeapaincheck.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/takeapainch... Twitter: https://twitter.com/takeapaincheck​​​Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@takeapaincheck  

Growing Pains, Copyright, 2018, Alessia Cara

On 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 inflammation. For Charlotte, that lead to her feeling the need to skip classes and not care about school for the longest time. On the other hand, she also developed other lifestyle changes such as going to the gym. As the conversation continues, they both discuss their experiences on triple therapy and the side effects they've experienced. Finally, the episode ends off with talking about Arthritis Research Canada's patient advisory board where Natasha and Charlotte first met.  

Next Joint Chat Rheum Session on Sunday, October 23 at 2pm EST/11 am PST: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZArcOmtpzsqHNSY5FVgIF1TetCQ_MZYbJhK  

Check out Charlotte's socials: Instagram @charryder   

Arthritis Research Canada: https://www.arthritisresearch.ca/  

Check out our socials: Website: https://www.takeapaincheck.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/takeapainch... Twitter: https://twitter.com/takeapaincheck​​​ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@takeapaincheck   

Growing Pains, Copyright, 2018, Alessia Cara

It 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 well as reading and learning about his diagnosis. Natasha discusses how she learned about her disease — through her parents — and how this process changed over the years. Natasha and Tony dive into their similarities in terms of the plant based lifestyle change they have both incorporated in their lives. Finally, Tony talks about the up sides of living with Lupus, specifically being able to give others hope about their disease through initiatives such as Take a Pain Check and the Lupus Foundation of Southern California.    

Next Joint Chat Rheum Session on Sunday, September 18th at 7pm EDT/4pm PDT:  https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regis... 

Check out Tony's socials:  Instagram: @a.sosa_ii   

Check out our socials: 

Website: https://www.takeapaincheck.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/takeapainch... 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/takeapaincheck

Growing Pains, Copyright, 2018, Alessia Cara 

On 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 joints - her knees. She talks about her experience with draining fluid in her knees, as well as a knee scope. Additionally, Megan discusses the different lifestyle changes she has implemented throughout her journey, such as changing her mindset, eating habits, and focusing on fitness. Finally, Megan discusses her career as a fitness trainer and how she is constantly empowering people with arthritis to be active through her social media platforms and advocacy work.  

Next Joint Chat Rheum Session on Sunday, September 18th at 7pm EDT/4pm PDT:  https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regis... 

Check out Megan's socials:  Instagram: @itsmegzz_fitness  

Check out our socials: Website: https://www.takeapaincheck.ca/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/takeapainch... Twitter: https://twitter.com/takeapaincheck​​​Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@takeapaincheck 

Growing Pains, Copyright, 2018, Alessia Cara

“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 the discussions progresses, he talks about his journey moving from pediatric to adult care and the difference in care as well as his way of articulating his health. Being a professional golfer, Sadiq explains that he had to start learning pain management techniques from the beginning. Lastly, Natasha and Sadiq both discuss their work with the Arthritis Patient Advisory Board from Arthritis Research Canada and other smaller arthritis awareness groups to help spread awareness and share their stories about overcoming their adversities.

Sadiq's blog on TAPC: https://www.takeapaincheck.com/post/inflammation-and-intimacy

Arthritis Research Canada: https://www.arthritisresearch.ca/

Check out Sadiq's socials: Instagram: @jiwanator  

Check out our socials: Website: https://www.takeapaincheck.ca/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/takeapainch... Twitter: https://twitter.com/takeapaincheck​​​Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@takeapaincheck 

Growing Pains, Copyright, 2018, Alessia Cara 

“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 diagnosis, Anna talks about their experience finding resources to help them understand their own conditions. Moreover, Natasha and Anna discuss the benefits of physiotherapy. The conversation progresses to talking about disability in different settings, specifically the blue and red seats on the TTC subway. Throughout Anna’s journey, they learned how to advocate for themselves in a health care setting and how they become more confident. Not only did they have to talk about their symptoms, but they had to “get better at talking to people.” Finally, Anna explains their involvement in Take a Pain Check as an ambassador, as well as their work in Health Union.

Next Joint Chat Rheum Session on Tuesday, August 16th at 7pm EDT: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUsc-CvqDMtEtdQYezlNi8gJhkW5roy5_TK

Self-Advocacy Live: https://www.instagram.com/tv/Cb5sHwVIC8P/

Makeup Live: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CaQI5eBKKTG/

Health Union: https://www.instagram.com/healthunion/ 

Check out Anna's socials:  Instagram @chronicallyillxo TikTok @chronicallyillxo Twitter: @chronicallyillx  

Check out our socials: Website: https://www.takeapaincheck.ca/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/takeapainch... Twitter: https://twitter.com/takeapaincheck​​​ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@takeapaincheck 

Growing Pains, Copyright, 2018, Alessia Cara

During 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 over not only Selena Gomez being an amazing lupus role model, but how they both don’t have the typical rheumatic disease symptoms, like a fever or rash. Additionally, Haley discusses her experiences being on blood thinners and the difference between the location of her injection including how that made her feel. She talks about growing up quickly and being given responsibilities from her parents once she was diagnosed. Finally, the episodes ends with Haley talking about her collaboration with Lupus Canada where she created her jewellery shop to raise awareness for Lupus Awareness Month this past May — Haley Made.

Check out Haley's socials: Instagram @haleymadeshop + TikTok @haleymadeshop

Check out our socials: Website: https://www.takeapaincheck.ca/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/takeapainch... Twitter: https://twitter.com/takeapaincheck​​​ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@takeapaincheck 

Growing Pains, Copyright, 2018, Alessia Cara

Imagine 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 helped her by providing her someone to talk to but also is used by many people in all communities as a tool for support. As the episode progresses, Amanda discusses what life was like throughout college to present day with an ileostomy bag in social settings, while playing basketball and when travelling. Since a young age, basketball was a passion of hers. Even with a medical device, Amanda continues to pursue basketball professionally while knowing her limits; she is unstoppable. Finally, Natasha and Amanda end off the podcast episode by talking about a new initiative Amanda is starting up to supply 3rd world countries with medical and school supplies for free, The Mango House.

Check out Amanda's socials: Instagram: @haparae @themangohouse_cebu  

Sign up for the July Joint Chat Rheum Session: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0ofuCspjsoGdduKrpgemnDZa1As6TvwYhL   

Check out our socials: Website: https://www.takeapaincheck.ca/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/takeapainch... Twitter: https://twitter.com/takeapaincheck​​​Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@takeapaincheck

Devyn 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 explains the struggle of having peers and school faculty not understanding that arthritis fluctuates, appointments can’t be on weekends and it's not “just joints that are sore sometimes but will go away”. From a young age, gymnastics was Devyn’s dream but soon after being diagnosed with arthritis she came to a realization that she had to let it go. With that in mind, Devyn mentions that letting go opened up a whole new world for her. Finally, they end the episode talking about Devyn becoming an arthritis advocate and discussing her involvement with Take a Pain Check, as well as her personal Instagram account @devs_jia_journey.  

5 minute video explaining JIA:  https://www.instagram.com/p/CTxoNO4g_DS/ 

Check out our socials: 

Website: https://www.takeapaincheck.ca/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/takeapainch... 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/takeapaincheck​​​

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@takeapaincheck 

Devyn's socials: Instagram: devyn_nicholsss, devs_jia_journey  Tik-Tok: devyn_nichols   

Growing Pains, Copyright, 2018, Alessia Cara