The desperate desire Celine Dion to remain on stage, despite fighting a rare neurological disorder, led her to take up to 90 milligrams of Valium (Diazepam) daily, a dose that could have been fatal, as revealed in an interview with NBCNews.
The famous Canadian singer was diagnosed in August 2022 with stiff person syndrome (SPS), a debilitating condition that severely impacts the lives of 1 or 2 people per million.
According to Dion, in his attempt to control the symptoms, which included severe muscle spasms and seizures, he began taking 20 milligrams of Valium, a powerful medication used as a sedative and anxiolytic. Generally, the dosage for adults ranges from 2 to 10 milligrams.
“Ninety milligrams can kill you. You can stop breathing. But at some point my body got used to 20, 30 and 40 [miligramos], until it went up. And she needed it. “He needed to relax my whole body,” Dion said.
The five-time Grammy winner was forced to halt her activities in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It was then that she took the opportunity to reduce her consumption with the help of health professionals. “I stopped everything with the help of doctors, because when these medications are reduced, one can also die. “You can’t just stop everything,” he added.
However, once he stopped the medications, his symptoms worsened. His committed search for new treatments and his recovery of strength are reflected in the trailer for his upcoming documentary, I’m Celine Dion (I Am: Celine Dion), where she is seen undergoing physical therapy and vocal training to relearn how to control her voice.
“Trying to sing with this condition feels like someone is strangling you. It’s like someone is pushing on my larynx and pharynx, making it impossible for me to modulate my tone.”Dion explained in a promotional clip. The singer also expressed to NBCNews the emotional impact that the disease has had on his identity: “I no longer knew who I was because I am no longer the person I used to be.”
The interpreter of My Heart Will Go On She also recalled the most difficult moments during her shows, when she was forced to “lie” to her audience, pretending that the microphone was not working or asking attendees to sing in her place. “I was trying to survive”.
Stiff person syndrome usually manifests itself in patients between 30 and 60 years old. In some cases, symptoms remain stable, while in others they may progressively worsen. Dion said that on one occasion he fractured his ribs due to intense spasms.
Irene Taylor Brodsky, director of the documentary, described this event as the “most extraordinarily awkward moment of my life.” “Her body was enduring something that was unimaginable,” she added.
But Dion is not ready to give up. In a conversation with People magazine, he stated that although it is difficult for him to live, he does not want his children, René-Charles, 23, and the twins Nelson and Eddy, 13, to feel the pain of death again, after death. of his father René Angélil, who died in 2016 due to complications from throat cancer.
“’Don’t be scared if I can’t talk. Mom is not dying. Mom can’t use her vocal cords. If I don’t answer you, I may hear you, but I can’t communicate,’” Dion said, explaining that he had passed these instructions on to his children. “They know what to do: call 911,” the singer concluded.
The documentary I’m Celine Dion It will premiere on the Prime Video platform on June 25, 2024.
