Celine Dion says she91裸聊视频檚 been battling her rare illness for 17 years and, at one point, was taking nearly lethal doses of Valium to deal with the terrifying symptoms.
The Canadian superstar opened up about her life-altering neurological disorder during her emotional sit-down interview with NBC91裸聊视频檚 Hoda Kotb on Tuesday night, saying she should have stopped performing earlier to figure out what was wrong.
The 56-year-old singer says she first began noticing symptoms of stiff person syndrome during her Taking Chances World Tour in 2008, as her voice faltered during shows in Germany and her body became more rigid.
91裸聊视频淚t (felt) like somebody is strangling you,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 like somebody is pushing your larynx91裸聊视频� and you cannot go higher or lower.91裸聊视频�
Dion says she and her team kept quiet about it because they weren91裸聊视频檛 sure what was happening with her health.
91裸聊视频淲e did not know what was going on (with me). I did not take the time91裸聊视频� I should have stopped; took the time to figure it out,91裸聊视频� she said.
She told Kotb she was prescribed Valium to cope with her symptoms before receiving her stiff person syndrome diagnosis in 2022. Dion says she began taking progressively higher doses of the drug so she could perform for her fans and built such a high tolerance that she was taking 90 milligrams a day at one point.
91裸聊视频�90 milligrams of Valium can kill you. You can stop breathing at one point. The thing is that my body got used to it at 20 (milligrams) and 30 and 40, until it went up. And I needed that. It was relaxing my whole body for what, for two weeks, for a month. Okay, the show must go on,91裸聊视频� she said.
91裸聊视频淚 did not know, honestly, that it could kill me.91裸聊视频�
Dion says she eventually weaned herself off the drug with the help of doctors because 91裸聊视频渋t stopped working.91裸聊视频�
It took more than a decade of tests and treatments for Dion to get an official diagnosis of stiff person syndrome, a progressive condition that leads to muscle rigidity and painful spasms.
Dion says she finally shared her diagnosis with the world in December 2022 because she felt like she was 91裸聊视频渓ying91裸聊视频� to the people who got her where she is today.
She told Kotb that her body was failing her while her husband Ren茅 Ang茅lil was dying of cancer, and she was trying to take care of their kids.
91裸聊视频淢y husband, as well, was fighting for his own life. I had to raise my kids,91裸聊视频� she said.
91裸聊视频淚 had to hide. I had to try to be a hero. Feeling my body leaving me, holding onto my own dreams. And the lying for me was 91裸聊视频� the burden was like too much.91裸聊视频�
She says her condition has affected her ability to move over the years and that it got so severe at one point that she had 91裸聊视频渂roken ribs91裸聊视频� from severe spasms. At times, it felt like she was blacking out.
91裸聊视频淚t started here,91裸聊视频� she said, gesturing to her throat. 91裸聊视频淥K, it91裸聊视频檚 going to be fine. Then you have a hard time to walk and then you91裸聊视频檙e blind for two hours, and you91裸聊视频檙e like, what happened? Am I missing something? Did I have a drop in sugar or something? You think of the simple things, not thinking you91裸聊视频檙e going to die.91裸聊视频�
During the special, Dion91裸聊视频檚 doctor said that while there is no cure for stiff person syndrome, it is treatable with a combination of immunotherapy, physiotherapy and medications.
The singer is vowing to return to the stage no matter what it takes. She sang several times throughout the special and her voice sounded in good form, hinting that she may be ready to perform again one day.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 going to go back on stage. Even if I have to crawl. Even if I have to talk with my hands. I will,91裸聊视频� she said.
91裸聊视频淚 am Celine Dion because today my voice will be heard for the first time. Not just because I have to or because I need to. It91裸聊视频檚 because I want to.91裸聊视频�
A documentary about her health struggle, 91裸聊视频淚 Am: Celine Dion,91裸聊视频� is set to premiere June 25 on Prime Video.
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