Spring 2023 (Volume 33, Number 1)
Patient Perspective:
Natasha Trehan
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Natasha Trehan, founder of the Take a Pain Check
Foundation and host of the “Take a Pain Check”
podcast,
available at www.takeapaincheck.com.
Elementary school is hard enough to navigate without
having to come to terms with developing a
life-long illness. In the summer of 2016, I noticed
my left wrist and fingers were inflamed. I was actively
playing tennis and assumed that I had suffered a sprain.
An X-ray and ultrasound proved that there was something
more. My family doctor then ordered blood work and immediately
referred me to a rheumatologist at The Hospital
for Sick Children who diagnosed me with juvenile idiopathic
arthritis (JIA). I was only 13 years old. My family and
I had never heard of this disease before, and the diagnosis
changed my life.
I struggled to respond to remarks and questions from
my peers when I did not participate in physical education
class due to the intense pain in my feet. My limited ability
to write and complete assignments led many to discourage
me from pursuing my chosen science subjects.
I was forced to advocate for myself during the next few
years in high school. Besides the challenges that I faced
in school, my disease was not fully managed as my body
did not respond to several medications that I was prescribed.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reports revealed
that I had damage to my feet, fingers, and wrists. Finally,
after having tried non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
(NSAIDs) and biologics, 10 corticosteroid shots in my
small joints and triple therapy helped bring down the
blood test markers as well as the inflammation.
Although my family and friends supported me every
step of the way, I felt alone. I wanted to know about the
experiences of other people who were diagnosed at my
age. When I tried seeking out support groups, I found that
none of them were youth-led. I recognized a huge need,
and I was determined to fill this gap. During the pandemic
lockdown, I learned about my disease and how it
affects my joints. I reached out to research organizations,
doctors, and hospitals to get involved in research. I became
a patient partner with the Choice Research Lab, a citizen
partner with the COVID-END team and a member
of the National Advisory Board on Pain Canada. I completed
a summer internship in the department of eHealth
Innovation at the University Health Network and, the following
year, I was a research student in the Cell Biology
program at The Hospital for Sick Children.
In March 2021, I launched a podcast called “Take a
Pain Check”. In each episode, I host and interview guests
directly or indirectly involved with or affected by autoimmune
diseases. They could be youth living with the disease,
caregivers, researchers, or healthcare professionals.
Each individual gets to share their experience and story
with the goal of empowering listeners. To date, more
than 60 guests have been featured and have discussed
their health journeys, life with chronic illness, advocacy,
school, relationships, successes, and challenges. The
podcast is widely available on a number of platforms including
YouTube, Spotify, Apple, Google Podcasts, and
iHeartRadio In October 2021, I created the Take a Pain
Check Foundation, a not-for-profit organization with
the mission of forming a safe and inclusive community
and creating awareness, as well as supporting others
through connection and content creation on social media.
To spread more awareness, I have been featured on
the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) Ottawa
Morning radio show, as well as releasing a documentary
about community support and friendship in relation to
chronic illness. I have also shared my story with the York
Region newsletter.
The podcast has grown into a community of approximately
2000-plus guests, ambassadors, health care professionals,
volunteers, listeners, and followers. The Take a
Pain Check platform has expanded to Instagram, Twitter,
TikTok and Facebook. We host bi-weekly podcasts, run
ambassador programs for health professionals and youth,
pilot rheumatic disease-related events, feature stories on
our blog platform and lead monthly Joint Chat Rheum
hangouts. My overall goal is to continue to give and be
a voice, as well as support and connect those living with
chronic illnesses for years to come.
Natasha Trehan
Founder, Take a Pain Check Foundation
Founder and Host, “Take a Pain Check” podcast
Undergraduate student, Biomedical Science
University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario
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