1 00:00:06,760 --> 00:00:10,440 Speaker 1: My name is Athena gier Bellini, and for fifteen years 2 00:00:10,520 --> 00:00:16,919 Speaker 1: I struggled with a disease known as hydrogenitis superativa. So 3 00:00:17,200 --> 00:00:23,639 Speaker 1: right around puberty, like thirteen fourteen, I started noticing these 4 00:00:23,720 --> 00:00:28,560 Speaker 1: tiny little pimples appear in between my thighs, my underwear line. 5 00:00:29,160 --> 00:00:33,239 Speaker 1: I had a couple in my armpits. Okay, So at 6 00:00:33,240 --> 00:00:36,519 Speaker 1: twenty one one day I was having this kind of 7 00:00:36,680 --> 00:00:39,560 Speaker 1: growing pain. I had to go to a doctor because 8 00:00:39,600 --> 00:00:43,880 Speaker 1: it just wasn't going away. And he told me that 9 00:00:43,920 --> 00:00:47,199 Speaker 1: what I had was a pery anal abscess. And he 10 00:00:47,320 --> 00:00:49,640 Speaker 1: looked at me straight in the eyes and said, pery 11 00:00:49,720 --> 00:00:54,320 Speaker 1: anal abscesses are caused by poor hygiene, and if you 12 00:00:54,440 --> 00:00:57,160 Speaker 1: want to stop them from happening again, you need to 13 00:00:57,160 --> 00:00:58,560 Speaker 1: take better care of yourself. 14 00:00:59,400 --> 00:01:03,320 Speaker 2: A decade goes by and Athena still doesn't know or 15 00:01:03,520 --> 00:01:05,760 Speaker 2: understand what's happening to her body. 16 00:01:06,120 --> 00:01:11,240 Speaker 1: It was watching my body start to deform by itself, 17 00:01:11,360 --> 00:01:14,560 Speaker 1: like it was doing it to itself, and I couldn't 18 00:01:14,560 --> 00:01:18,040 Speaker 1: do anything stop it. No matter why changed in my life, 19 00:01:18,959 --> 00:01:22,880 Speaker 1: it was just becoming its own thing on my body. 20 00:01:23,800 --> 00:01:26,640 Speaker 1: I got married, but I didn't talk about it with 21 00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:32,320 Speaker 1: anyone but when her husband fell seriously ill and immuno compromised, 22 00:01:32,760 --> 00:01:35,679 Speaker 1: Athena worried she would expose him to risk because of 23 00:01:35,680 --> 00:01:39,039 Speaker 1: her so called infections. That's what made her return to 24 00:01:39,080 --> 00:01:43,400 Speaker 1: the doctor for the first time in seven years. So 25 00:01:43,480 --> 00:01:45,760 Speaker 1: the first doctor visit that I went to, the doctor 26 00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:48,600 Speaker 1: takes a look at it and says it's mersin, which 27 00:01:48,880 --> 00:01:51,360 Speaker 1: is some sort of infection. But he gives me a 28 00:01:51,400 --> 00:01:53,880 Speaker 1: prescription and he says, if this doesn't clear up in 29 00:01:53,960 --> 00:01:57,680 Speaker 1: five days, come back. And so I went back in 30 00:01:57,720 --> 00:02:00,360 Speaker 1: five days because it was exactly the same as it 31 00:02:00,440 --> 00:02:04,720 Speaker 1: was before, but this time I got a brand new doctor. 32 00:02:05,320 --> 00:02:07,000 Speaker 1: And I always liked to joke and like give the 33 00:02:07,080 --> 00:02:11,280 Speaker 1: Douey Houser reference. He looked so young, he was a 34 00:02:11,320 --> 00:02:15,120 Speaker 1: baby and had just probably graduated medical school and you know, 35 00:02:15,200 --> 00:02:18,000 Speaker 1: had just gotten a more up to date education. And 36 00:02:18,080 --> 00:02:20,400 Speaker 1: so he takes a look at my armpit and he says, 37 00:02:20,520 --> 00:02:23,720 Speaker 1: that's not RSA, that's hydrodinitis superativa. 38 00:02:29,520 --> 00:02:33,720 Speaker 2: Welcome to House Calls. I'm Lauren bried Pacheco. On these 39 00:02:33,760 --> 00:02:37,359 Speaker 2: special segments, we'll check in with friends from former Symptomatic 40 00:02:37,400 --> 00:02:40,760 Speaker 2: episodes for updates on their health and live Since we 41 00:02:40,880 --> 00:02:42,040 Speaker 2: last connected. 42 00:02:48,480 --> 00:02:54,680 Speaker 1: Want. Hey Athena, Hi, so good to see you. Good 43 00:02:54,680 --> 00:02:57,080 Speaker 1: to see you too, Lauren. I'm so excited to be 44 00:02:57,160 --> 00:02:57,680 Speaker 1: back here. 45 00:02:58,000 --> 00:03:00,320 Speaker 2: I am so excited to see you. I can't believe 46 00:03:00,320 --> 00:03:03,840 Speaker 2: it's been this long. You were our second episode. It 47 00:03:03,919 --> 00:03:06,639 Speaker 2: was twenty twenty two. Yeah, how have you been. 48 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:10,240 Speaker 1: I've been so good. It's really good to be able 49 00:03:10,320 --> 00:03:13,120 Speaker 1: to do this follow up from such a good place 50 00:03:13,320 --> 00:03:17,560 Speaker 1: in my life, both physically and emotionally. I'm happy to 51 00:03:17,560 --> 00:03:20,480 Speaker 1: report that I'm in the best health, probably of my life. 52 00:03:21,040 --> 00:03:25,080 Speaker 2: I can tell You're glowing. You are just radiating happiness. 53 00:03:25,120 --> 00:03:26,320 Speaker 2: It's wonderful to see. 54 00:03:26,520 --> 00:03:26,960 Speaker 1: Thank you. 55 00:03:27,440 --> 00:03:28,280 Speaker 2: How is Homer. 56 00:03:29,120 --> 00:03:32,280 Speaker 1: He's good. He's in a crate behind me because if 57 00:03:32,320 --> 00:03:35,040 Speaker 1: I didn't do that, he would also be participating in 58 00:03:35,080 --> 00:03:40,760 Speaker 1: this podcast. But he's seven now and he is just 59 00:03:40,880 --> 00:03:44,360 Speaker 1: as goofy and fun loving as he's ever been. 60 00:03:45,160 --> 00:03:49,720 Speaker 2: So anybody who does not remember Homer from the previous episode, 61 00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:52,800 Speaker 2: he is a basset hound and the name is a 62 00:03:52,840 --> 00:03:57,000 Speaker 2: nod to both your Greek heritage and the Simpsons. Yeah, 63 00:03:57,040 --> 00:04:01,000 Speaker 2: which you can't get better than that, right, So I'm 64 00:04:01,040 --> 00:04:04,360 Speaker 2: going to give anybody who didn't listen to your episode 65 00:04:04,520 --> 00:04:06,880 Speaker 2: a chance to pause and go back and listen before 66 00:04:06,920 --> 00:04:09,680 Speaker 2: they hear the update. But I just want to explain 67 00:04:09,760 --> 00:04:15,080 Speaker 2: that you started exhibiting symptoms when you were just entering puberty, 68 00:04:15,600 --> 00:04:21,640 Speaker 2: and that you were diagnosed many years later with Hydrodenidis 69 00:04:21,640 --> 00:04:25,880 Speaker 2: superativa or HS, and it's a chronic inflammatory disease that 70 00:04:25,960 --> 00:04:29,920 Speaker 2: attacks skin cells, causing inflammation and rastures on the skin. 71 00:04:30,520 --> 00:04:33,719 Speaker 2: There's still a lot that's unknown, and because the symptoms 72 00:04:33,760 --> 00:04:39,080 Speaker 2: can mimic other skin conditions, namely cystic acne, it's often 73 00:04:39,520 --> 00:04:45,279 Speaker 2: overlooked or goes undiagnosed. Can you just share a quick 74 00:04:45,360 --> 00:04:49,360 Speaker 2: recap of how long it took you to get your diagnosis? 75 00:04:50,120 --> 00:04:54,360 Speaker 1: Sure, So, if we count initial symptoms starting at puberty, 76 00:04:54,400 --> 00:04:57,839 Speaker 1: that was probably like eleven to thirteen and is formally 77 00:04:57,880 --> 00:05:01,640 Speaker 1: diagnosed at twenty eight. Symptoms really kicked in right when 78 00:05:01,640 --> 00:05:04,440 Speaker 1: I was around twenty one, like the most noticeable one 79 00:05:04,480 --> 00:05:06,960 Speaker 1: and where I got my first misdiagnosis the first time 80 00:05:06,960 --> 00:05:10,839 Speaker 1: I'd ever seen a doctor. About this fifteen years I 81 00:05:10,839 --> 00:05:15,880 Speaker 1: would say from initial onset, but seven years from the 82 00:05:15,920 --> 00:05:20,160 Speaker 1: time I'd first received medical care and then a misdiagnosis. 83 00:05:20,400 --> 00:05:23,919 Speaker 2: You know what resonates so deeply with going back and 84 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:27,560 Speaker 2: listening to your episode is the amount of shame and 85 00:05:27,640 --> 00:05:31,640 Speaker 2: guilt you internalized from the onset of symptoms. 86 00:05:32,120 --> 00:05:37,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, and that only reinforces internal feelings that you're already having. 87 00:05:38,520 --> 00:05:42,839 Speaker 1: It pushes you further into isolation. It makes you feel 88 00:05:43,000 --> 00:05:46,039 Speaker 1: like it just confirms almost like your worst fears about 89 00:05:46,080 --> 00:05:50,320 Speaker 1: what's going on with your body, and it's so hard 90 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:53,960 Speaker 1: to undo that. Even to this day, when I'm talking 91 00:05:54,000 --> 00:05:56,360 Speaker 1: about it with people, I know full well the medical 92 00:05:56,400 --> 00:05:59,120 Speaker 1: mechanisms that go on to this disease. I stay very 93 00:05:59,200 --> 00:06:02,479 Speaker 1: educated rake to date with the research. I know that 94 00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:06,280 Speaker 1: this is not my fault, but I still, almost initially 95 00:06:06,320 --> 00:06:09,560 Speaker 1: when I'm explaining it to people who don't know, almost 96 00:06:09,600 --> 00:06:14,599 Speaker 1: get a little defensive because of that reinforcement of the 97 00:06:14,640 --> 00:06:16,000 Speaker 1: misdiagnosis that I had. 98 00:06:16,800 --> 00:06:21,719 Speaker 2: And it becomes so cruel because you're feeling, in a 99 00:06:21,800 --> 00:06:25,640 Speaker 2: very isolated way, singled out and betrayed by your body, 100 00:06:26,040 --> 00:06:29,760 Speaker 2: and then you're being told that you've betrayed your body 101 00:06:29,800 --> 00:06:32,200 Speaker 2: by not taking care of it properly, and it becomes 102 00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:37,840 Speaker 2: just an emotionally grueling cycle. I should think, Yeah. 103 00:06:37,760 --> 00:06:41,320 Speaker 1: It was difficult and really depressing, and you start to 104 00:06:41,400 --> 00:06:45,480 Speaker 1: understand when we look at the mental health tolls that 105 00:06:45,520 --> 00:06:49,240 Speaker 1: this takes on patience. You really understand that, because again, 106 00:06:49,400 --> 00:06:52,840 Speaker 1: it's your worst fears being confirmed by somebody with a 107 00:06:52,920 --> 00:06:57,280 Speaker 1: medical degree, Like this is not a random person who 108 00:06:57,400 --> 00:07:02,920 Speaker 1: is uneducated about the human body just making assumptions. This 109 00:07:02,960 --> 00:07:06,799 Speaker 1: is someone that you consider to be knowledgeable confirming your fears. 110 00:07:07,640 --> 00:07:10,560 Speaker 1: It's really hard to undo that. It's really really hard 111 00:07:10,560 --> 00:07:11,160 Speaker 1: to undo that. 112 00:07:11,960 --> 00:07:15,080 Speaker 2: You are doing some heavy lifting to undo it, though. 113 00:07:15,360 --> 00:07:18,000 Speaker 2: Can you just talk to me a little bit about 114 00:07:18,040 --> 00:07:24,160 Speaker 2: stepping into advocacy for other people who are dealing with HS. 115 00:07:24,800 --> 00:07:27,080 Speaker 1: I think that's one of the most empowering things that 116 00:07:27,200 --> 00:07:30,920 Speaker 1: I've been able to do, is really talking to people. 117 00:07:31,320 --> 00:07:34,520 Speaker 1: So in the work that we do as advocates, a 118 00:07:34,560 --> 00:07:37,160 Speaker 1: lot of it is connecting with patients, and most of 119 00:07:37,200 --> 00:07:39,440 Speaker 1: the time it's just being brave enough to be the 120 00:07:39,520 --> 00:07:42,240 Speaker 1: first person to say, this is what's going on with 121 00:07:42,280 --> 00:07:46,040 Speaker 1: my body. Because the minute we can as advocates say hey, 122 00:07:46,520 --> 00:07:49,200 Speaker 1: this has been my experience, this is what happened. Can 123 00:07:49,240 --> 00:07:52,360 Speaker 1: you tell me about yours, we kind of free them 124 00:07:52,840 --> 00:07:55,600 Speaker 1: by being the first ones to do it, and now 125 00:07:55,600 --> 00:07:58,360 Speaker 1: they can connect with that and now they're like, this 126 00:07:58,400 --> 00:08:00,680 Speaker 1: is a safe environment, this is why I'm such a 127 00:08:00,720 --> 00:08:03,920 Speaker 1: proponent of the support group model and the magic that 128 00:08:03,960 --> 00:08:06,280 Speaker 1: gets done in the work of the support groups, but 129 00:08:06,360 --> 00:08:08,720 Speaker 1: even just talking to patients and talking to people in 130 00:08:08,760 --> 00:08:12,440 Speaker 1: general in advocacy, the biggest and the hardest thing you 131 00:08:12,480 --> 00:08:15,000 Speaker 1: can do is to just open up and tell your 132 00:08:15,240 --> 00:08:16,119 Speaker 1: authentic story. 133 00:08:16,880 --> 00:08:22,080 Speaker 2: You know, I've always believed that vulnerability ultimately is a superpower, 134 00:08:22,600 --> 00:08:29,080 Speaker 2: and your story illustrates that, honestly, more so than any 135 00:08:29,320 --> 00:08:34,040 Speaker 2: I think we've told, because you went from feeling isolated 136 00:08:34,080 --> 00:08:37,800 Speaker 2: and horrified, trapped in what felt like a living nightmare 137 00:08:38,120 --> 00:08:43,400 Speaker 2: in your bathroom, to speaking openly about it in front 138 00:08:43,520 --> 00:08:48,520 Speaker 2: of conferences. And I'd love to know if you've had 139 00:08:48,640 --> 00:08:52,959 Speaker 2: any kind of response to the episode that we tape together, 140 00:08:53,520 --> 00:08:56,960 Speaker 2: because I just thought your authenticity and your honesty and 141 00:08:57,000 --> 00:08:59,320 Speaker 2: your bravery was staggering. 142 00:09:00,200 --> 00:09:02,680 Speaker 1: Well, thank you for that. It was a really freeing 143 00:09:02,720 --> 00:09:06,160 Speaker 1: and liberating experience for me as well. The feedback that 144 00:09:06,200 --> 00:09:09,680 Speaker 1: we've gotten from within the HS community has been great. 145 00:09:10,000 --> 00:09:13,119 Speaker 1: So many people have listened to it. I've gotten emails 146 00:09:13,160 --> 00:09:16,800 Speaker 1: and responses from it. I was so fortunate to be 147 00:09:17,040 --> 00:09:21,560 Speaker 1: given this platform to just come on and really really 148 00:09:21,640 --> 00:09:24,920 Speaker 1: kind of walk the public through my story. Right, because 149 00:09:25,559 --> 00:09:27,760 Speaker 1: when I speak of a lot of these conferences, they 150 00:09:27,760 --> 00:09:31,920 Speaker 1: are geared toward dermatology and the dermatology community, and I 151 00:09:31,960 --> 00:09:34,800 Speaker 1: get that it's very much in needed. I've done some 152 00:09:34,920 --> 00:09:37,920 Speaker 1: really cool things, you know, in between when we recorded 153 00:09:37,960 --> 00:09:42,200 Speaker 1: to now, and I love educating the community, but the 154 00:09:42,280 --> 00:09:46,240 Speaker 1: general public as well. People who might have this disease 155 00:09:46,559 --> 00:09:49,680 Speaker 1: or think they have this disease, or even have something 156 00:09:50,000 --> 00:09:53,760 Speaker 1: similar can listen to this story and find something to 157 00:09:53,800 --> 00:09:58,520 Speaker 1: connect with. And that has been amazing to look back 158 00:09:58,600 --> 00:10:00,320 Speaker 1: now and say of all the work that I done 159 00:10:00,360 --> 00:10:03,400 Speaker 1: and been able to do this as well. The feedback 160 00:10:03,440 --> 00:10:06,600 Speaker 1: has just been has been really good and really positive. 161 00:10:06,920 --> 00:10:09,160 Speaker 1: Even the comments that people have left them on podcast 162 00:10:09,240 --> 00:10:10,360 Speaker 1: were pretty amazing. 163 00:10:10,760 --> 00:10:13,080 Speaker 2: Absolutely. You know, I don't know if you saw this one, 164 00:10:13,080 --> 00:10:15,679 Speaker 2: but there was a doctor who said that he diagnosed 165 00:10:15,720 --> 00:10:19,959 Speaker 2: somebody with HS after having listened to the episode. There 166 00:10:20,000 --> 00:10:22,280 Speaker 2: was also an email that we received from a woman 167 00:10:22,360 --> 00:10:24,600 Speaker 2: named Cheryl. If you don't mind, I'd love to read 168 00:10:24,640 --> 00:10:25,079 Speaker 2: it to you. 169 00:10:25,320 --> 00:10:25,880 Speaker 1: Yeah. 170 00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:29,280 Speaker 2: She said that after listening to the episode featuring Athena, 171 00:10:29,400 --> 00:10:33,319 Speaker 2: who shared her journey with HS. As someone who unknowingly 172 00:10:33,360 --> 00:10:36,960 Speaker 2: lived with HS for so long, Athena's story hit me hard, 173 00:10:37,040 --> 00:10:40,160 Speaker 2: to say the least. For nearly ten years, I felt 174 00:10:40,240 --> 00:10:43,640 Speaker 2: isolated and misunderstood, not knowing the name of the condition 175 00:10:44,040 --> 00:10:48,160 Speaker 2: that was literally derailing my life. Athena's story reminded me 176 00:10:48,320 --> 00:10:51,360 Speaker 2: that no one is truly alone in this battle. It 177 00:10:51,480 --> 00:10:54,160 Speaker 2: lid a sense of understanding that has been missing for 178 00:10:54,200 --> 00:10:58,040 Speaker 2: far too long. Her bravery in discussing the physical and 179 00:10:58,080 --> 00:11:02,080 Speaker 2: emotional toll of HS has empowered me to navigate sharing 180 00:11:02,240 --> 00:11:06,200 Speaker 2: my experience more openly too. After listening to the episode, 181 00:11:06,240 --> 00:11:09,360 Speaker 2: I shared it with my mom. She had struggled to 182 00:11:09,440 --> 00:11:13,600 Speaker 2: believe and understand what I had been through for many, 183 00:11:13,640 --> 00:11:17,520 Speaker 2: many years. Hearing the similarities in Athena's story helped her 184 00:11:17,520 --> 00:11:20,720 Speaker 2: see the reality of living with HS from a wider 185 00:11:20,760 --> 00:11:24,320 Speaker 2: point of view, and I can pretty confidently say it 186 00:11:24,360 --> 00:11:27,120 Speaker 2: brought us closer together. I think it was a moment 187 00:11:27,120 --> 00:11:31,199 Speaker 2: of validation and connection that we both needed. This episode 188 00:11:31,400 --> 00:11:34,880 Speaker 2: is a must listen for anybody dealing with chronic illness. 189 00:11:35,360 --> 00:11:38,800 Speaker 2: Thank you Athena for your bravery and for helping me 190 00:11:39,160 --> 00:11:44,800 Speaker 2: feel seen and understood. Best Cheryl, Oh my, it's kind 191 00:11:44,800 --> 00:11:47,360 Speaker 2: of hard to fight back to deals with that one. 192 00:11:47,640 --> 00:11:52,160 Speaker 1: Cheryl. That's amazing and I am so honored that this 193 00:11:52,320 --> 00:11:55,480 Speaker 1: has done that for you and for your mother. I 194 00:11:55,520 --> 00:11:58,200 Speaker 1: can actually relate to that. I've told my friends and 195 00:11:58,240 --> 00:12:02,760 Speaker 1: family about this, but my father listened to this the episode, 196 00:12:02,840 --> 00:12:05,240 Speaker 1: and I'd never opened up with him in the way 197 00:12:05,280 --> 00:12:07,840 Speaker 1: that I kind of had with this podcast, right, I'd 198 00:12:07,840 --> 00:12:11,040 Speaker 1: never gone into the details. And my dad actually cried 199 00:12:11,440 --> 00:12:16,480 Speaker 1: listening to this episode. And so, yeah, Cheryl, it's so 200 00:12:16,800 --> 00:12:19,760 Speaker 1: hard right to have gone through this. And then I 201 00:12:19,760 --> 00:12:24,079 Speaker 1: think we're worried right that people aren't going to necessarily 202 00:12:24,280 --> 00:12:27,400 Speaker 1: fully connect with or, like you know, in our inner circles, 203 00:12:27,440 --> 00:12:30,360 Speaker 1: fully empathize with what we're going through because we're so 204 00:12:30,600 --> 00:12:34,760 Speaker 1: used to being minimized with this condition and with chronic 205 00:12:34,760 --> 00:12:37,960 Speaker 1: illness in general. People don't take us seriously when we 206 00:12:38,040 --> 00:12:41,600 Speaker 1: say I can't get out of bed this morning. I 207 00:12:41,640 --> 00:12:45,160 Speaker 1: had a hard time brushing my hair this morning. Everything 208 00:12:45,240 --> 00:12:49,000 Speaker 1: I do is exhausting. My energy levels are just depleted. 209 00:12:50,040 --> 00:12:53,040 Speaker 1: Sometimes we just don't even bother opening up to the 210 00:12:53,040 --> 00:12:55,960 Speaker 1: people that we love because we're just on top of 211 00:12:55,960 --> 00:12:58,360 Speaker 1: everything that we're going through. We don't want to argue 212 00:12:58,480 --> 00:13:00,920 Speaker 1: with them. We don't want to have to tenually explain 213 00:13:01,000 --> 00:13:05,480 Speaker 1: and continually defend as well. So, Cheryl, thank you so 214 00:13:05,600 --> 00:13:08,600 Speaker 1: much for sharing. I'm so glad that this was able 215 00:13:08,640 --> 00:13:09,160 Speaker 1: to help you. 216 00:13:10,120 --> 00:13:14,600 Speaker 2: I mean, it's a wonderful, honestly gift that you've given 217 00:13:14,720 --> 00:13:19,080 Speaker 2: people your bravery and your courage in being so open 218 00:13:19,120 --> 00:13:23,600 Speaker 2: and honest, and again it's a superpower and you're a superhero. 219 00:13:23,840 --> 00:13:29,000 Speaker 2: And talk to me a little bit about your ongoing progress. 220 00:13:29,520 --> 00:13:33,080 Speaker 1: So I am very happy to report that my AHS 221 00:13:33,240 --> 00:13:35,760 Speaker 1: is probably the best to spend in my entire life. 222 00:13:35,880 --> 00:13:39,719 Speaker 1: I am on a combination of medications. It's a new biologic. 223 00:13:40,640 --> 00:13:43,839 Speaker 1: The combination of the biologic and the spernolacton seemed to 224 00:13:43,880 --> 00:13:46,360 Speaker 1: take my HS to like a two out of ten, right, 225 00:13:46,440 --> 00:13:49,440 Speaker 1: like ten being worst one being you know, nothing. It 226 00:13:49,480 --> 00:13:51,520 Speaker 1: seemed to really take it there. We added the birth 227 00:13:51,559 --> 00:13:54,520 Speaker 1: control component and it put me into remission athena. 228 00:13:54,559 --> 00:13:55,400 Speaker 2: That's wonderful. 229 00:13:55,720 --> 00:13:58,559 Speaker 1: Yeah. So I've had a bunch of surgeries to remove 230 00:13:58,640 --> 00:14:02,240 Speaker 1: the AHS. They're still a little bit left. But I 231 00:14:02,320 --> 00:14:04,960 Speaker 1: actually recently went in because I was like, I just 232 00:14:05,000 --> 00:14:06,920 Speaker 1: want to get the last of this taken out and 233 00:14:06,960 --> 00:14:09,480 Speaker 1: taken care of. And they had said that I'm so 234 00:14:09,760 --> 00:14:12,440 Speaker 1: well medically managed that there was no reason to go 235 00:14:12,520 --> 00:14:16,320 Speaker 1: back in and to remove what was left, because it's 236 00:14:16,360 --> 00:14:17,480 Speaker 1: the best it's ever been. 237 00:14:18,080 --> 00:14:20,160 Speaker 2: What are some new things that have changed since we 238 00:14:20,240 --> 00:14:23,200 Speaker 2: last spoke. What are some new interesting things you're taking on. 239 00:14:23,960 --> 00:14:27,720 Speaker 1: So I've lost one hundred and twenty five pounds, wow, Athena, Yeah, 240 00:14:27,800 --> 00:14:30,680 Speaker 1: that's one of the coolest things is just I have 241 00:14:30,760 --> 00:14:34,000 Speaker 1: the ability right to move my body now in ways 242 00:14:34,040 --> 00:14:37,080 Speaker 1: that I hadn't and I have energy levels that I 243 00:14:37,080 --> 00:14:39,920 Speaker 1: didn't quite have before because my body is no longer 244 00:14:40,080 --> 00:14:44,040 Speaker 1: busy fighting something, and so now going to the doctor 245 00:14:44,160 --> 00:14:45,480 Speaker 1: really isn't all that stressful. 246 00:14:46,040 --> 00:14:50,280 Speaker 2: I'm so happy. And I'm sure that your social life 247 00:14:50,400 --> 00:14:55,160 Speaker 2: has expanded with these new ventures as well. 248 00:14:56,000 --> 00:14:58,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, I do so much now with my friends and 249 00:14:58,640 --> 00:15:01,560 Speaker 1: my family. I'm the one now that's like, let's go 250 00:15:01,640 --> 00:15:05,200 Speaker 1: hiking this weekend, or let's do some crazy adventure. Because 251 00:15:05,520 --> 00:15:08,360 Speaker 1: I can move my body both with this disease and 252 00:15:08,400 --> 00:15:13,160 Speaker 1: remission and the combined weight loss, it feels like a 253 00:15:13,240 --> 00:15:18,520 Speaker 1: regeneration of myself without even like the chains of depression. 254 00:15:19,400 --> 00:15:23,119 Speaker 1: I feel better and I feel more confident within myself 255 00:15:23,240 --> 00:15:26,840 Speaker 1: to go out and finally live the life that I've 256 00:15:26,880 --> 00:15:30,600 Speaker 1: always wanted to live, or really in creating a life 257 00:15:30,600 --> 00:15:31,840 Speaker 1: that fulfills me. 258 00:15:32,600 --> 00:15:35,200 Speaker 2: I can't tell you how happy I am for you 259 00:15:35,280 --> 00:15:39,320 Speaker 2: and what a wonderful two year check in this has been. 260 00:15:39,600 --> 00:15:44,040 Speaker 2: So much has happened, and I'm so happy that you 261 00:15:44,280 --> 00:15:48,040 Speaker 2: are on such a wonderful path, and so thank you 262 00:15:48,120 --> 00:15:51,680 Speaker 2: so much for sharing your voice and for agreeing to 263 00:15:51,760 --> 00:15:54,920 Speaker 2: check back in with us, because you're inspiring so many 264 00:15:54,920 --> 00:15:59,240 Speaker 2: more others to find their own and that's a wonderful thing. 265 00:16:00,120 --> 00:16:03,880 Speaker 1: I'm so grateful for this platform and the opportunity to 266 00:16:03,960 --> 00:16:08,840 Speaker 1: tell my story people like Cheryl and Hannah like that 267 00:16:09,000 --> 00:16:12,080 Speaker 1: was the whole goal, was to reach out to patients 268 00:16:12,080 --> 00:16:15,880 Speaker 1: and to educate the general community about this disease. It 269 00:16:16,120 --> 00:16:19,680 Speaker 1: was hard, but I think at the end of the day, 270 00:16:20,280 --> 00:16:23,600 Speaker 1: it's easier to connect with a real life story, which 271 00:16:23,600 --> 00:16:27,000 Speaker 1: is what your entire series did. As opposed to just 272 00:16:27,080 --> 00:16:31,840 Speaker 1: throwing out medical explanations or literature. We are adding the 273 00:16:31,960 --> 00:16:35,480 Speaker 1: human component to it and people will find connection. You know. 274 00:16:35,520 --> 00:16:37,680 Speaker 1: I listened to the other episodes as well in that 275 00:16:37,720 --> 00:16:39,600 Speaker 1: first series, and I'm now just starting to get into 276 00:16:39,600 --> 00:16:45,440 Speaker 1: the second and the power of storytelling and hearing people 277 00:16:45,560 --> 00:16:50,640 Speaker 1: speak their truth is also really inspiring to me. You 278 00:16:50,640 --> 00:16:54,440 Speaker 1: guys have done a great job with allowing patients to 279 00:16:55,240 --> 00:17:00,600 Speaker 1: really speak their truths and in an honest and meaningful, 280 00:17:01,040 --> 00:17:02,000 Speaker 1: impactful way. 281 00:17:02,920 --> 00:17:06,800 Speaker 2: I know my entire team appreciates that, because that's why 282 00:17:06,840 --> 00:17:10,480 Speaker 2: we're doing this, and so thank you for being one 283 00:17:10,480 --> 00:17:14,320 Speaker 2: of those individual voices who again has given voice to 284 00:17:14,400 --> 00:17:18,119 Speaker 2: so many others. I wish you so much continued success 285 00:17:18,240 --> 00:17:21,199 Speaker 2: and I so look forward to our next update to 286 00:17:21,280 --> 00:17:25,200 Speaker 2: see what you're up to then any time. On next 287 00:17:25,240 --> 00:17:29,320 Speaker 2: week's episode of Symptomatic, Scott Colin was in the best 288 00:17:29,359 --> 00:17:31,800 Speaker 2: shape of his life leading up to his fortieth birthday 289 00:17:32,160 --> 00:17:35,439 Speaker 2: when he noticed a small bump on his nose. He 290 00:17:35,520 --> 00:17:39,720 Speaker 2: initially ignored it until the symptom spiraled into a life 291 00:17:39,760 --> 00:17:44,159 Speaker 2: threatening condition, leading to an extended stay in the ICU. 292 00:17:45,440 --> 00:17:47,600 Speaker 3: They're wiring me up and cutting my shirt off and 293 00:17:47,640 --> 00:17:50,640 Speaker 3: getting me on a journey. You've got an ambulance sirens 294 00:17:50,640 --> 00:17:54,320 Speaker 3: going and it was frightening, and that was the moment 295 00:17:54,359 --> 00:17:56,760 Speaker 3: I was like, this is it, this is where I go. 296 00:17:58,080 --> 00:18:01,679 Speaker 2: This has been house calls. Thanks for listening and we 297 00:18:01,680 --> 00:18:04,119 Speaker 2: would love to hear from you too. You can email 298 00:18:04,200 --> 00:18:08,040 Speaker 2: us at Symptomatic at iHeartMedia dot com with thoughts about 299 00:18:08,080 --> 00:18:11,320 Speaker 2: other episodes or to share a medical mystery of your own. 300 00:18:11,720 --> 00:18:13,359 Speaker 2: Until next time, be well.