Take a Pain Check

Natasha
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  • Health & Fitness
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Welcome to the Take a Pain Check podcast, a community founded and hosted by the one and only Natasha Trehan. Our podcast is all about diving into the nitty-gritty conversations about health, relationships and everything in between when it comes to living with a chronic illness. With personal experiences from guests, we aim to create an engaging space for anyone looking for support, inspiration, and a good laugh. And we don't just stop there. By bringing together a diverse and amazing lineup of healthcare professionals and patients, we're modeling a wide variety of perspectives. This is especia

  1. Sep 20

    Growing Up with a Rheumatic Disease: Lessons, Challenges, and Perspectives from Adulthood | Ep. 127

    What does it mean to grow up and grow older with a rheumatic disease?Andrea Ou-Hingwan and Cristina Montoya share their experiences navigating chronic illness from adolescence into adulthood.Andrea was diagnosed with lupus at 16 and founded TLC (Taking Life as a Challenge), a support group for youth living with chronic illness. She continues to advocate for people with invisible disabilities through education, storytelling, and volunteer work.Cristina is a registered dietitian and the founder of Arthritis Dietitian. Having lived with rheumatoid arthritis and Sjögren’s disease for over 20 years, she supports people with inflammatory arthritis through practical, nonrestrictive approaches to nutrition.Together, they discuss:• Their diagnoses and early healthcare experiences• Unexpected challenges in adulthood• Careers, workplace accommodations, and self-advocacy• Family planning and parenting with chronic illness• Mental health, grief, and coping strategies• Social support and invisible disabilities• Advice for young people and familiesWatch now to hear their honest lessons, challenges, and perspectives on building a meaningful life with rheumatic disease.Read more about our in person event from last year: https://www.takeapaincheck.com/in-per... !Our socials: https://www.takeapaincheck.com/ https://www.instagram.com/takeapaincheck_/  https://www.tiktok.com/@takeapaincheck https://ca.linkedin.com/company/take-a-pain-check https://www.youtube.com/@takeapaincheck https://www.facebook.com/TakeaPainCheck https://www.x.com/takeapaincheck Subscribe to the Take a Pain Check Foundation for more patient stories, expert conversations, and resources for young people living with rheumatic diseases.

  2. Aug 19

    From Athlete to Wheelchair at 14 | Ep. 126

    Lisa Wang went from being an athlete to being in a wheelchair at the age of 14. Now, she's the winner of take a pain check's 2026 STEM Without Limits Scholarship. What happens when a life-changing chronic illness diagnosis at age 14 inspires a lifelong mission to find a cure?In this episode of the Take a Pain Check Podcast, Lisa Wang shares her journey navigating juvenile ankylosing spondylitis from enduring severe diagnostic delays, debilitating pain, and mobility loss to becoming an award-winning student researcher fighting for the future of pediatric rheumatology.We discuss:- What it is like being diagnosed with a severe rheumatic disease in high school- Overcoming mobility challenges, crutches, and the stigma of an "old person's disease"- Navigating the fear of biologics, injections, and complex treatment plans- How Lisa turned her personal health struggle into academic and research excellence- Her work in the lab studying cellular biomarkers to discover new treatments- Winning top scholarships and paving the path toward becoming a clinician-scientist- The power of patient story-sharing in driving scientific research forwardHow do you transform your greatest physical pain into your biggest life achievement?Watch the full conversation to learn how resilience, patient advocacy, and scientific curiosity can turn a diagnosis into a groundbreaking career.Don’t forget to like, comment, subscribe, and share this episode.Take a Pain Check's Socials:https://www.takeapaincheck.com/https://www.instagram.com/takeapaincheck_/ https://www.tiktok.com/@takeapaincheck / take-a-pain-check https://www.linkedin.com/company/take-a-pain-check/?originalSubdomain=ca / thttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRF07SYaN-9fbatNCKhL08ghttps://www.x.com/takeapaincheckDonate today: https://www.gofundme.com/f/takeapainc...#JuvenileArthritis #ArthritisAwareness #PediatricRheumatology#Rheumatology #scholarships #ChronicIllness

  3. Jul 19

    One Clinician. An Entire State. A Healthcare Crisis. | Ep. 125

    He’s the ONLY Full-Time Pediatric Rheumatology Provider in an Entire StateWhat happens when one clinician is responsible for providing pediatric rheumatology care across an entire state?In this episode of the Take a Pain Check Podcast, Brandon Ko shares the realities of serving children and families throughout New Mexico—many of whom must overcome long travel distances, workforce shortages, financial barriers, and delayed access to specialized care.We discuss:* What it is like to be New Mexico’s sole full-time pediatric rheumatology provider* How delayed care affects children with rheumatic diseases* The challenges facing rural and underserved communities* How advanced practice providers can help address workforce shortages* Brandon’s regional partnership with Children’s Hospital Colorado* Burnout, advocacy, mentorship, and sustainable healthcare models* What policymakers and healthcare institutions must do nextHow far should a family have to travel to access essential care and what happens when only one provider is available to help?Watch the full conversation to learn how collaboration, advocacy, and innovative care models can help close the gap.Don’t forget to like, comment, subscribe, and share this episode.Instagram: unm_pediatric_rheumatology, unmchildrens, rheumappLinkedin: linkedin.com/in/brandon-ko-pnpRhAPP organization: www.rhapp.orgTake a Pain Check's Socials:https://www.takeapaincheck.com/https://www.instagram.com/takeapaincheck_/ https://www.tiktok.com/@takeapaincheckhttps://ca.linkedin.com/company/take-a-pain-checkhttps://www.youtube.com/@takeapaincheckhttps://www.facebook.com/TakeaPainCheckhttps://www.x.com/takeapaincheckDonate today: https://www.gofundme.com/f/takeapaincheck

  4. Jun 14

    Living in Between Flares | Ep. 124

    Living with Juvenile Dermatomyositis (JDM) isn’t just physical. It’s emotional, unpredictable, and often invisible.In this episode of Take a Pain Check, we talk with Marissa Douglas, a PhD student at Georgia Institute of Technology, who has been navigating JDM since childhood.Marissa shares: • What early symptoms were missed and how she finally got diagnosed • How sun exposure, chlorine, and stress trigger flares • The mental weight of long-term medications • What infusion life is really like • Making major life transitions while managing disease • Learning how to advocate for yourself when you’re not taken seriously • Rebuilding identity, confidence, and trust in your bodyThis episode is about navigating life when your body doesn’t always cooperate. If you’ve ever felt dismissed, overwhelmed, or like you’re “starting over” during a flare this conversation is for you.https://www.takeapaincheck.com/https://www.instagram.com/takeapaincheck_/ https://www.tiktok.com/@takeapaincheckhttps://ca.linkedin.com/company/take-a-pain-checkhttps://www.youtube.com/@takeapaincheckhttps://www.facebook.com/TakeaPainCheckhttps://www.x.com/takeapaincheckInstagram: marissy.kins123 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marissa-d-226164269?trk=contact-infoDonate to Take a Pain Check Today: ⁠https://www.gofundme.com/f/takeapaincheck

  5. May 17

    Living Around Lupus Changed Me Forever | Ep.123

    What happens when chronic illness impacts not just one person, but an entire family?In this episode of Take a Pain Check, Estela Mata shares her journey living with chronic pain since her teens, being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, and supporting her sisters living with lupus while navigating her own health challenges. As President of Looms for Lupus, Estela has transformed lived experience into advocacy, community, and support for others navigating autoimmune disease and chronic illness.Together, we discuss the emotional reality of invisible illness, caregiving, grief, advocacy, mental health, and what it means to rebuild trust with your body after years of pain and uncertainty.This conversation is honest and deeply validating for anyone living with chronic illness, autoimmune disease, or chronic pain and for the people who love and support them. If you’ve ever felt dismissed, overwhelmed, isolated, or unseen in your health journey, this episode is for you. https://www.takeapaincheck.com/ https://www.instagram.com/takeapaincheck_/  https://www.tiktok.com/@takeapaincheck https://ca.linkedin.com/company/take-a-pain-check https://www.youtube.com/@takeapaincheck https://www.facebook.com/TakeaPainCheck https://www.x.com/takeapaincheck Estela's social'sTwitter:   / looms4lupus   YouTube Link:    / @looms4lupus136   Facebook link:   / looms4lupus   Instagram link: www.instagram.com/looms4lupus Newsletter Link: Resources (looms4lupus.org) Website: Looms For Lupus - www.looms4lupus.org LinkedIn:   / estela-mata-carcamo-00898230   Facebook: facebook.com/estela.mata.18 Instagram: www.Instagram.com/estela_mata Tik tok: www.tiktok.com/@estela.mataDonate to Take a Pain Check Today: ⁠https://www.gofundme.com/f/takeapainc...

  6. Apr 12

    I Was the Doctor… Then I Became the Patient | Ep.122

    She spent years treating rheumatoid arthritis. Then she became the patient. What happens when the person who’s supposed to have the answers suddenly doesn’t?In this episode of Take a Pain Check, Natasha sits down with Dr. Saimun Singla who is a triple board-certified pediatric rheumatologist whose life changed after being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis after becoming an attending physician.  Dr. Singla opens up about what it’s really like to navigate the healthcare system from both sides and how her diagnosis forced her to rethink everything she believed about medicine, patient care, and healing. We get into:- What doctors don’t fully understand until they become patients- The gaps in care that patients feel every day- Integrative vs functional medicine- How gut health, hormones, and environment may be impacting autoimmune disease- Physician burnout and what it actually looks like- What the future of medicine needs to becomeThis isn’t just a conversation about rheumatoid arthritis. It is about what happens when medicine becomes personal and why the system needs to change.Dr. Singla's Socials:https://www.instagram.com/rheum.to.grow.tx/Our socials:https://www.takeapaincheck.com/https://www.instagram.com/takeapaincheck_/ https://www.tiktok.com/@takeapaincheckhttps://ca.linkedin.com/company/take-a-pain-checkhttps://www.youtube.com/@takeapaincheckhttps://www.facebook.com/TakeaPainCheckhttps://www.x.com/takeapaincheckDonate to Take a Pain Check Today: ⁠https://www.gofundme.com/f/takeapaincheck

  7. Feb 1

    Eight Years Without Answers | Ep.120

    This week on Take a Pain Check, we’re joined by Ela Murray, a university student who has been living with Central Nervous System Vasculitis which an invisible, life-altering condition since childhood.Symptomatic at just 8 years old and diagnosed at 16 during the height of COVID, Ela shares what it was really like navigating years of uncertainty, MRIs, a brain biopsy, steroids, seizures, and university life while still finding her voice as a young advocate.In this episode, we talk about:• Delayed diagnosis and navigating complex medical systems• The impact of steroids on body image, confidence, and mental health• Living next to a hospital while trying to experience “normal” university life• Finding purpose through advocacy and youth representation• What it means to show up vulnerably on stage and in everyday lifeThis episode is a reminder that young patients deserve to be heard, believed, and supported both medically and emotionally. Watch now, share with someone who needs to hear this, and join us in prioritizing youth voices in healthcare.Donate to Take a Pain Check Today: ⁠https://www.gofundme.com/f/takeapainc...Vasculitis Canada: https://vasculitis.ca/Our socials: https://www.takeapaincheck.com/ https://www.instagram.com/takeapaincheck_/  https://www.tiktok.com/@takeapaincheck https://ca.linkedin.com/company/take-a-pain-check https://www.youtube.com/@takeapaincheck https://www.facebook.com/TakeaPainCheck https://www.x.com/takeapaincheckDon't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes.

  8. Jan 4

    Chronic Pain Isn’t What You Think | Ep. 119

    Your pain might not mean damage and that could change everything. In this episode of Take a Pain Check, we sit down with Vanessa Blackstone, Executive Director of the Pain Psychology Center, to talk about Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) — a science-backed approach helping people move beyond “just managing” chronic pain. We break down how the brain can learn pain, why fear keeps symptoms stuck, and how safety, language, and emotional trust can unlock real recovery. If you’ve been told your pain is permanent, this conversation may completely change how you see your body. Donate to Take a Pain Check Today: ⁠https://www.gofundme.com/f/takeapainc... Our socials: https://www.takeapaincheck.com/ https://www.instagram.com/takeapaincheck_/  https://www.tiktok.com/@takeapaincheck https://ca.linkedin.com/company/take-a-pain-check https://www.youtube.com/@takeapaincheck https://www.facebook.com/TakeaPainCheck https://www.x.com/takeapaincheck Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes.

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About

Welcome to the Take a Pain Check podcast, a community founded and hosted by the one and only Natasha Trehan. Our podcast is all about diving into the nitty-gritty conversations about health, relationships and everything in between when it comes to living with a chronic illness. With personal experiences from guests, we aim to create an engaging space for anyone looking for support, inspiration, and a good laugh. And we don't just stop there. By bringing together a diverse and amazing lineup of healthcare professionals and patients, we're modeling a wide variety of perspectives. This is especia

Information

  • Creator
    Natasha
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    126
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 497131
  • Show Website
    Take a Pain Check

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