Understanding POTS with Dr. Diana Driscoll
PodcastDX
This Week on PodcastDX: Understanding POTS with Dr. Diana Driscoll This week we are honored to welcome none other than Dr. Diana Driscoll, a world-renowned authority on the autonomic nervous system. An optometrist and Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry (FAAO), Dr. Driscoll is internationally recognized for her groundbreaking research on Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) and other conditions once thought to be “invisible.” Dr. Driscoll has dedicated her career to improving the lives of those affected by autonomic disorders. Her journey began as a patient...
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Spinal Muscular Atrophy SMA with Gyzele Brown
PodcastDX
Gyzele Brown is a proud native of Greenville, MS, now residing in Cleveland, MS. She is the owner and operator of Gyzele’s Salon and Spa, where she’s dedicated to not only transforming looks but also impacting lives through her work. A graduate of Delta State University and Goshen Cosmetology School, Gyzele’s journey began with a background in speech and hearing science — yet her passion for hair and beauty took center stage. Beyond her career, Gyzele is a proud mother of three amazing children who all have spinal muscular atrophy, a rare genetic disease. Her journey...
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The Trifecta: EDS, POTs & MCAS
PodcastDX
What do we mean when we see the word "Trifecta" ? In Horse Racing you would be talking about a bet where you must pick the first, second, and third-place horses in the precise order they finish. In skincare, "The Trifecta" can refer to a set of three essential skincare products that work together for visible results, like a cleanser, serum, and moisturizer. But in this show where we discuss healthcare conditions, "" refers to the three specific diseases which are often found to occur together. For today's show that means EDS, (Ehlers Danlos Syndrome) POTs (Postural...
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Friedreich's Ataxia with Alexia Baker
PodcastDX
This week we talk with Alexis, 25, was diagnosed with Friedreich ataxia (FA) five years ago and since then, has been using her voice and social media platforms to raise awareness for the rare disease. Alexis recently started a foundation, whose goal is to raise money to provide new walkers and wheelchairs for those in need. She currently lives in Tennessee, loves fashion and is currently planning a wedding to her fiancée. Friedreich's ataxia is a rare, inherited disease. It damages the spinal cord, peripheral nerves, and the cerebellum part of the brain. It also leads to heart...
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Hemiplegic Migraine
PodcastDX
Migraine can present in a variety of ways. Hemiplegic migraine is a rare form of migraine where people experience weakness on one side of their body (hemiplegia) in addition to the migraine headache attack. The weakness is a form of migraine aura and occurs with other forms of typical migraine aura like changes in vision, speech or sensation. Our guest on today's show is Amber is a Registered Nurse turned blogger and patient advocate for those with chronic illnesses. Amber Blackburn is a Registered Nurse turned blogger and patient advocate for those with chronic...
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Dangers in the Beauty Industry
PodcastDX
This week we discuss dangers in the beauty industry. From a client's perspective, the issues might not be as severe, but the clinicians who must deal with chemicals day in and day out are at a greater risk. The average woman uses 12 different beauty products every day — cleansers, conditioners, hair dyes, fragrances, skin care products, scented lotions, nail polish, and makeup, to name a few. Take a quick glance at the labels, and you'll see a cocktail of chemical components. You might assume that all these ingredients have been tested to ensure that they're safe for long-term...
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Elderly Fade
PodcastDX
This week's episode has the cohosts talking about social isolation and earlier death among the elderly population. Studies have shown that loneliness is associated with a higher risk of mortality in older adults. For example, one study found that individuals experiencing loneliness at one or more points in time had a higher hazard for mortality compared to those who never experienced loneliness. Loneliness can trigger physiological stress responses, potentially leading to chronic inflammation and reduced immunity. These factors can contribute to the development of...
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Tularemia or Rabbit Fever
PodcastDX
Tularemia is a highly infectious disease you get from the bacterium F. tularensis. You can get it from bug bites, infected animals, contaminated water or food, and particles of bacteria in the air. Tularemia can affect your skin, eyes, throat, lungs and intestines. Tularemia should be treated as soon as possible with antibiotics. We will not have a guest for this week, but would love to invite anyone who has been diagnosed with Tularemia to be a guest on a future show. Tularemia causes your lymph nodes to painfully swell and other symptoms in your lungs, eyes, throat and intestines,...
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Blastomycosis
PodcastDX
Our guest for this week is Sara Olson. Sara (her TikTok name is ) is from the Wolf River area of Wisconsin which just happens to hold the highest concentration of the fungus that causes Blastomycosis. When Sara got Blastomycosis in January 2024, she thought it was 'just the flu'. With a chest xray, she was diagnosed with pneumonia. Several rounds of antibiotics didn't help so she did a CT scan where they found an embolism. Still not knowing anything else, they continued treating her for bacterial pneumonia. They did a swab of her sputum in which her health...
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Cruising to Disaster
PodcastDX
When people ask about getting sick on a cruise ship, they’re often worried about . But what happens if you catch a nasty cold, sprain your ankle, or (even worse) have a serious medical emergency like a heart attack? Rest assured, because cruise ships are well prepared. Are there doctors on cruise ships? Of course! Cruise ships will always have at least one doctor along with a staff of nurses. Larger ships will have more personnel with larger infirmaries. What kind of medications do they have? If you you’re looking for aspirin, seasickness meds or other basic over-the-counter meds, you...
info_outlineThis week we will discuss an extremely rare type of cancer that is most often associated with younger children. When it affects adults it is more difficult to treat. Our guest this week is Wilder McNemar. Wilder has a decent following on TikTok which is where I found him. You can follow him here: https://www.tiktok.com/@queerpple?lang=en
A Rhabdomyosarcoma is a type of soft tissue sarcoma. A sarcoma is a tumor that starts in the supporting tissues (connective tissues) of the body - for example, bone, muscle, fat, cartilage and ligaments.
Rhabdomyosarcomas grow in the muscles of the body. Rhabdomyosarcoma can occur anywhere in the body.
There are three types of rhabdomyosarcoma which affect different age groups:
Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma (ERMS)
This most often affects young children, usually under the age of 6 years. It most often occurs in the head and neck region, especially in the tissues around the eye (called an orbital rhabdomyosarcoma). Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma may also occur in the womb, vagina, bladder or the prostate gland. One type of Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma is called sarcoma botryoides, which looks like a bunch of grapes and most often occurs in the vagina or bladder.
Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcomas usually spread to surrounding tissues. However, the outcome (prognosis) is usually very good and most children with Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma are cured of the cancer.
Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma
This tends to occur in older children and young adults. Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcomas (also called ARMS) most often occur in the arms and legs, chest or tummy (abdomen). This is the type Wilder is working with.
ARMS typically affects all age groups equally. It makes up a larger portion of RMS in older children, teens, and adults than in younger children (because ERMS is less common at older ages).
ARMS most often occurs in large muscles of the trunk, arms, and legs.
ARMS tends to grow faster than ERMS, and it usually requires more intense treatment. However, in some cases of ARMS, the cancer cells lack certain gene changes, which makes these cancers act more like ERMS (and allows doctors to give less intense treatment).
Pleomorphic Rhabdomyosarcoma
This tends to occur in middle-aged adults. It is usually treated with chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy but treatment is not as effective as for other types of Rhabdomyosarcoma.
We will keep Wilder in our thoughts and prayers and if you are interested in making a donation, there's a link on Wilder's TikTok account: https://www.tiktok.com/@queerpple?lang=en .