House Calls - Case #16 Lauren

Summary

Symptomatic: A Medical Mystery Podcast – Episode Summary: "House Calls - Case #16 Lauren"

Release Date: December 10, 2024
Host: Lauren Bright Pacheco
Episode Title: House Calls - Case #16 Lauren

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Introduction

In the sixteenth episode of "House Calls" from Symptomatic: A Medical Mystery Podcast, host Lauren Bright Pacheco revisits the medical journey of Lauren Scholl, a former professional dancer who battled undiagnosed psoriatic arthritis for fifteen years. This detailed update delves into Lauren's struggles with misdiagnoses, the impact on her career and personal life, and her eventual path to a correct diagnosis and new career.

Lauren's Medical Journey

Lauren Scholl began experiencing symptoms at a young age, initially presenting with skin irritation and rashes. Her first visit to a dermatologist resulted in a diagnosis of dermatitis. As Lauren progressed through college, her skin condition worsened, accompanied by joint stiffness and pain in her legs and feet, which significantly impacted her ability to dance professionally.

Lauren Scholl [00:06]: "I pushed through pain for 15 years before being diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis at the age of 28."

Despite her dedication to dance, Lauren found herself frequently taking breaks due to her deteriorating health, signaling a deeper underlying issue.

Misdiagnoses and Impact

For years, Lauren grappled with a series of misdiagnoses, including dermatitis and psoriasis, which failed to address the root cause of her debilitating joint pain. Her condition often went unnoticed by her medical providers until a podiatrist recognized advanced arthritis patterns in her joints.

Lauren Scholl [01:13]: "He was the first person to actually notice my patches on my skin... he said, have you had this for a long time? That looks like psoriasis."

This period was marked by frustration and fear, as Lauren, a former professional dancer accustomed to listening to her body, watched her physical capabilities decline without a clear diagnosis or effective treatment plan.

Finding the Correct Diagnosis

The turning point in Lauren's medical journey came when she met Dr. Erin Arnold, who took a comprehensive approach to evaluating her symptoms and medical history. Dr. Arnold's persistence and thoroughness led to the correct diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis.

Lauren Scholl [02:09]: "She made me feel like we were not going to stop trying until we could find an option that worked."

This diagnosis not only provided clarity but also opened the door to appropriate treatment options, ultimately allowing Lauren to regain control over her health and life.

Emotional and Professional Impact

Lauren's journey was not just a physical battle but also an emotional one. The prolonged period of uncertainty and pain led her to question her career path, resulting in the difficult decision to leave professional dancing. However, this transition proved to be a blessing in disguise, as Lauren found fulfillment in a new career that aligns with her passion for helping others.

Matt [05:22]: "I had to change my career path because of the damage and the pain that I was feeling. It was a blessing in disguise."

Lauren's new role as a personal trainer and nutritionist allows her to empathize deeply with her clients, drawing from her own experiences with chronic illness and recovery.

Family and Personal Life

Lauren's condition also had a significant impact on her family life. Both of her children were diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and her husband has ankylosing spondylitis. This shared experience with autoimmune conditions fostered a supportive and understanding household, emphasizing the importance of self-care and rest.

Matt [08:10]: "Being able to show up for myself and show my kids the importance of taking care of ourselves has been constant talk in our household."

Lauren emphasizes the value of internal strength and the necessity of listening to one's body, challenging the often-romanticized notion of pushing through pain without heed.

Matt [07:49]: "Strength comes from being able to listen to your body... giving your body what it's asking for."

Listener Interaction

During the episode, Lauren Bright Pacheco engages with listener questions, addressing concerns about the diagnostic process Lauren underwent. A listener named Pete from North Carolina expressed confusion over why dermatologists did not connect Lauren's psoriasis with her arthritis symptoms.

Matt [12:48]: "I did go back to the dermatologist and no, they never linked my psoriasis to arthritis. There was never once the question asked."

This interaction highlights gaps in medical diagnostics and underscores the importance of holistic evaluation in chronic illness cases.

Maintaining Positivity and Moving Forward

Despite the challenges, Lauren maintains a positive outlook, attributing her resilience to her love for dance and her ongoing efforts to stay active.

Matt [14:49]: "Dance it out... I am still always dancing."

Lauren emphasizes that while her approach to dance has evolved, it remains a vital part of her healing and personal expression.

Conclusion

Lauren Scholl's story is a poignant example of the struggles faced by individuals with chronic, misunderstood illnesses. Her journey from misdiagnosis to empowerment serves as an inspiring testament to the importance of perseverance, comprehensive medical evaluation, and the pursuit of personal well-being. "House Calls - Case #16 Lauren" not only sheds light on the complexities of psoriatic arthritis but also celebrates Lauren's strength and the positive transformations that emerged from her arduous path to diagnosis and recovery.

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For more stories like Lauren's and to share your own medical mystery, you can reach out to [e-mail].

Transcript

[Ruby]

Ruby.

[Lauren Scholl]

My name is Lauren Scholl. I pushed through pain for 15 years before being diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis at the age of 28. I was young when I started having skin irritation, skin rashes. That's when I went to a dermatologist, and the dermatologist diagnosed me with what they called at that point, dermatitis. So when I got to college, my skin did actually get worse. But I did also start having issues where I couldn't do the things that I like to do as much anymore. So I started to feel, like, stiffness in my legs. The bottoms of my feet would hurt when I'd go run. I was dancing in college, and so there were times where I would just have to take a break from practice because my body didn't feel good for years.

[Ruby]

Lauren attributed her PA to the intense training she endured as a professional dancer. But after having to give up her career due to a difficult battle with mrsa, Lauren's symptoms escalated.

[Lauren Scholl]

Finally, it got to a point where I was doing laundry and, like, my husband's like, you are limping to the laundry machine. Like, there is no way that you are actually okay. And I thought I broke my toe. And we went into the podiatrist. I got X rays. He's like, well, your toe's not broken, but you're not even 30 years old, and we're seeing, like, advanced arthritis patterns in your joints. He was the first person to actually notice my patches on my skin. Then he said, have you had this for a long time? That looks like psoriasis.

[Ruby]

As a former professional dancer deeply in tune with her body, Lauren became increasingly fearful as she watched it slowly break down. Despite being diagnosed with psoriasis, her doctors hadn't been able to piece together all of the clues until she found Dr. Erin Arnold.

[Lauren Scholl]

I went in there in tears, on crutches, unable to live my life the way that I wanted to live. I at that point was 26, 27 years old. And she made me feel like we were not going to stop trying until we could find an option that worked. Being very, very communicative of me, like, really retracing what these past years have looked like, looking at my history, looking at all of my symptom. She said, sometimes it's almost just as important or even more important to look at the symptoms and to be able to really evaluate the progression of how things have moved along. And she diagnosed me with psoriatic arthritis.

[Lauren Bright Pacheco]

Welcome to House Calls. I'm Lauren Bright Pacheco. On these special segments, we'll check in with friends from former symptomatic episodes for updates on their health and lives since we last connected.

[Matt]

Hi.

[Lauren Bright Pacheco]

Hey, Lauren, how are you? I'm all right. How have you been?

[Matt]

I've been good. We've been very busy around here.

[Lauren Bright Pacheco]

And you just got out of baseball season?

[Matt]

Yeah, my 8 year old is playing with the 10 year olds and it's scary being the mom. But you know what?

[Lauren Bright Pacheco]

I miss those days though. Enjoy them. Enjoy them. They go so fast. So before we even dive in, I'm sure that most people have had a chance to listen to your episode, but I wanted to give them just a little recap basically for those who might have missed your episode, which is a great listen. You endured 15 years of pain before you were properly diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis at the age of 28. And dance wasn't just a passion for you, it was actually a profession. You were a professional dancer. But along the way in your health journey, you had a ton of misdiagnoses, including dermatitis and psoriasis, before finally finding a doctor who identified you with the correct condition for people who just want to hear it from you. Walk me through what you went through over that 15 year period.

[Matt]

Yeah, I mean, I went through a lot of question mentally. It was really hard because I was feeling pain. I had crazy patches all over my body that like, wouldn't go away with any of the typical treatments. After going to Dr. Beyond, Dr. Beyond Doctor, I started to feel like a little bit crazy myself. Because you get questioned, there's no answers to point you in what the problem is or that the problem is even a real problem. And you just start to feel like it's hopeless. This will never change. This will never go away. You know, I had to change my career path because of the damage and the pain that I was feeling. It was a blessing in disguise. I will say that because I was able to find a new career path that literally still to this day fills me up incredibly well.

[Lauren Bright Pacheco]

You're a personal trainer and also a nutritionist. And I think that that's wonderful because you've really been able, through your own struggles, to understand the challenges of your clients. Your case was so interesting to me because given the physical discipline that you were used to, you know, we often don't listen to our body, but you were used to pushing your body through discomfort already. And perhaps had you not been trained for so many years as, you know, an elite athlete, as a dancer, you may have been more willing to listen to your body's earlier signs.

[Matt]

Yes, And I think it's hard depending upon the person and their personality. And I think, like you said, as you have a mentality of an athlete that is determined to push through it or work through it or ignore pain or tell ourselves that we're tough so we, we can keep going, it can work against us.

[Lauren Bright Pacheco]

And I think there is a romanticizing of pain, particularly in sports where it is as pithy as it sounds. No pain, no gain. Would you agree that's not necessarily the best path now that you're training others?

[Matt]

Yes. And I think too, like, maybe I say this because I am a woman, but I also think for women to be able to say, like, I've been there, I've fought through this and I fought through that. And you almost feel like, like you are this superhero fighting all of these battles. But I think that the truth, strength comes from being able to listen to your body. And I call it giving in to your body, giving your body what it's asking for. And that might be rest, that might be recovery, that might be exploring what's really going on rather than ignoring it, fighting past it. Just like the basic things for me have been really important in making sure that I'm giving my body what it needs day to day to just keep myself feeling as best as I can and keep my good streaks going as long as I can ride them out.

[Lauren Bright Pacheco]

You know, it's wonderful because your basics aren't strict, rigid rules. They are adjusting with your needs given the given day and the reality of your workload. And also juggling busy life as a mom of two boys. Are they 8 and 11 now?

[Matt]

They are 8 and 11. 8 and a half. He would be mad at you if he mortified.

[Lauren Bright Pacheco]

How dare I? How dare I?

[Matt]

He's eight and a half.

[Lauren Bright Pacheco]

And you know, I would have to say, of course, we talked about the last time we spoke about you living by example because your family has a very interesting health profile as well.

[Matt]

Both my kids have juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and my husband has ankylosing spondylitis. My husband and I did not know that we were both autoimmune, you know, people until well after our two kids were born, but it just so happened that way. So being able to show up for myself and show my kids what they are capable of, but also the importance of taking care of ourselves in order for us to be able to do those things has been constant talk in our household of reminders of rest and recovery and bed times, which aren't always easy when you've got an eight and a half year old and an 11 year old who want to stay up all night playing video games. But talking about what sleep does for our bodies and all of those things and them seeing mom get in bed early too, I think is a huge help. And I hope they continue to adapt so they can continue to do all the amazing things that they do too.

[Lauren Bright Pacheco]

So did they ever listen to your episode?

[Matt]

They did. I had some of their friends listen to my episode, which was so cool.

[Lauren Bright Pacheco]

That's wild. What were some of the most interesting reactions you got to it?

[Matt]

Most of the reactions, like, my kids were just like, they were just very proud of me. That was like their biggest takeaway. You know, I show up for them and we talk about their school quizzes and their spelling tests and all those things. But they don't necessarily always see the things that I've battled in my personal life and where I'm at today meant a ton to me. But also just the fact that they see that journey and also where I've come across the other side of it. And they always joke around with me and tell me that I'm the strongest woman. We do family workouts together and they see me lift weights all the time and mom's the strongest woman in the world. Right? But like, that strength to them this time around didn't come in the form of my muscles or the weights that I'm lifting. It came from like the internal strength. And the fact that they can see that strength comes in so many ways, shapes and forms is really cool.

[Lauren Bright Pacheco]

That's so beautiful. Also, because I'm sure that if their friends did listen, they were probably bewildered because the truth is, as is the case with so many people who are navigating chronic illnesses, particularly one such as your own, you don't necessarily physically manifest the symptoms on your exterior. Your personal trainer, you look like a personal trainer. You're in wonderful shape in every single aspect of the way in which you present, including your wonderful energy.

[Matt]

You know, it's interesting too, like you said, it's just people don't see that side of me on the outside, it's hard to recognize. But a big part of that is where I am today with my condition and the things that I have over time figured out to help me be that fun and active and engaging moments as well too, because that is really important to me.

[Lauren Bright Pacheco]

Oh, and how did your husband Matt, react to the episode?

[Matt]

He loved it. He loved it, actually. Listening to the bits and pieces and hearing his perspective of how it's affected him and all of that kind of stuff. And him feeling kind of helpless at times where he's like, I do my best I can to support and be hands on and give whatever I can give. But also like, hating to see me in pain or fatigue. Like, you know, it's hard, but also like a good remind to both of us how far we've come.

[Lauren Bright Pacheco]

Absolutely. So we got an email actually just on Friday from a listener who had questions for you. I'd love to share them and you can answer them in real time. Here we go.

[Matt]

Amazing.

[Lauren Bright Pacheco]

It said, I'm mystified as to how this case progressed. Did Lauren go back to the dermatologist? Once a psoriasis diagnosis was confirmed, psoriatic arthritis should have immediately leapt to mind. To my way of thinking, poor Lauren must have gone to the wrong doctors for help. By the way, I am a former dancer now 80 years old and feels so much for Lauren. It is a terrible blow to ponder living without dance if one is young and immersed in it. So happy she has gotten at least part of her life back and I wish her well. Thanks, Pete from North Carolina. P.S. i also have psoriasis skin variety. Fortunately, it's mild and doesn't need treatment. My wife insists that sunlight helps and I think she's right. She usually is.

[Matt]

We always are. So the question was if I went back to the dermatologist after the confirmed psoriasis diagnosis and whether they tried to connect it to psoriatic arthritis. I did go back to the dermatologist and no, they never linked my psoriasis to arthritis. There was never once the question asked. And this is one part of my story that really upsets me and you know, I'm over and now. Right. But like, it made me angry back when I had been diagnosed, when I was diagnosed with the psoriasis, nobody asked me if there was any type of joint pain or any other symptoms that accompanied that psoriasis.

[Lauren Bright Pacheco]

I'm just so happy to see you doing so well.

[Matt]

Thank you. I am really, really happy too. It was a long journey of me fighting all of the emotions, the ups and the downs of coming to a diagnosis and really realizing that this is likely something that I will be dealing with for the rest of my life. But now it is almost a blessing because I have gotten to find myself in a career path that I genuinely love and can help others that have experienced or are experiencing what I've been through. And also being able to get to know my body on another level that most people don't know their bodies on, so I feel like a lot of good has come out of it. I try to do my best to stay positive, but it seems to continue to get better and better.

[Lauren Bright Pacheco]

Oh, that's wonderful. Because honestly, the most important responsibility we're all individually tasked with is taking care of ourselves. Ultimately, we all know our bodies better than anyone else possibly can. It's a wonderful thing.

[Matt]

Thank you.

[Lauren Bright Pacheco]

Is there something that you've learned along the way that has really helped you cultivate and maintain positivity?

[Matt]

Dance it out. And I know that the question that came through said that it's hard and when you've been a dancer your entire life to think of never dancing again. And I will tell you that I dance all the time. It may not be in the professional way and I may not look professional doing it anymore, but I am still always dancing.

[Lauren Bright Pacheco]

Love it. Lauren, thank you so much for sharing the update.

[Matt]

Thank you.

[Lauren Bright Pacheco]

On next week's episode of Symptomatic, what.

[Ruby]

Starts as an ordinary day for Trent Fielder spirals into a nightmare when he suddenly can't move his legs, throwing him.

[Lauren Bright Pacheco]

Into a devastating health crisis.

[Matt]

I was actually underneath a car trying to work an estimate and was trying to get out and my legs wouldn't hold my weight.

[Lauren Bright Pacheco]

By the next day, Trent was thrust.

[Ruby]

Into a relentless battle for his health, facing the terrifying possibility he would never walk again.

[Matt]

I ended up having two embolisms back to back, and the second one actually killed me.

[Lauren Bright Pacheco]

This has been House Calls. Thanks for listening and we would love to hear from you, too. You can email us@ symptomaticheartmedia.com with thoughts about other episodes or to share a medical mystery of your own. Until next time, be well.