Podcast
Women On Steroids
Hosted by Jenny Bencardino, MD · EN
This space is devoted to all women silently struggling with autoimmune diseases in the midst of the worst health crisis in recent history: the Coronavirus pandemic. The conversations will bring about awareness of the unspoken toll of suffering from the direct physical and mental manifestations of autoimmune disorders and the side effects of the medications use to treat them.
10episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
EPISODE 10. Holiday Special: Conversations in Spanglish
Dec 17, 202000:41:08Tap to summarizeIt's that time of the year again... and thanks to Ms. Rona, millions of Americans will experience how it feels to walk in the shoes of an immigrant during "Tis the Season". The longing for time with family and friends around the Holiday table. The faint echoes of holiday songs sung in our native languages. The imagined smells of typical dishes served on traditional pottery that live in the memory cells where our childhood dreams are stored. Thousands of immigrants around the world spend the holidays alone wishing to be able to afford the transport home to hug their loved ones. This is why our family loves hosting Holiday parties attended by immigrants and children of immigrants every year. Pictures, videos, and handcrafts are stored as evidence of the joy experienced only by spending time with friends and family. The memories of these events are to be fished out from our minds as messages sent down the water in bottles to be consumed during difficult times. Join us for small Holiday party talk in this Episode when we meet for "Conversations in Spanglish" with my friend Dr. Teresa Mular and my dearest cousin Miguel Eusse Bencardino. Felices Fiestas!
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EPISODE 9. Mental Health and Autoimmune Diseases: "You're maniac, I'm not!"
Dec 3, 202000:35:54Tap to summarizeThe coronavirus pandemic has forced many of us to reveal details of our medical history that are considered high risk factors for poor outcomes from a COVID19 infection. This situation has generated emotional disruption and stress in our lives as we try to follow medical advice to keep safe and protected. This is added to the baseline changes that autoimmune diseases and the medications used to treat them have on our brain function responsible for a variety of mental symptoms, which not infrequently require professional attention. Join me in conversation with Dr. Ahmed Hankir, a medical specialist who practices Psychiatry in London. Ahmed is a very vocal advocate for bringing awareness about the social stigma that makes mental disease so difficult to diagnose and treat in a timely fashion. Dr. Hankir's Twitter handle is @ahmedhankir
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EPISODE 8. Crowns and Masquerades
Nov 18, 202000:11:22Tap to summarizeAutoimmune Diseases are often treated with medication that suppress the immune system. It is therefore crucial to take essential measure to protect ourselves now that we are facing a surge in the infection rates by COVID19. Take a listen and also watch the video: bit.ly/2UGltk8
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EPISODE 7. Hombres en Esteroides
Nov 4, 202000:30:06Tap to summarizeEven though greater than two thirds of people affected by autoimmune diseases are women, a significant portion of the patient population is male. Our guest speakers for this episode are Dr. Max Gutreiman, specialist in Internal Medicine practicing in Costa Rica, and my cousin Giovanni Estrada Bencardino, radiology technologist from Ibague, Colombia. Dr. Gutreiman's Ulcerative colitis and Giovanni's Bullous pemphigoid have impacted their lives for over a decade leading them to experience serious complications from their diseases and also life-threatening adverse effects from the medications used to treat them with high dose Prednisone as a staple in their treatment regime. This episode was recorded in Spanish.
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TRAILER EPISODE 7. Men On Steroids
Nov 4, 202000:01:16Tap to summarizeEpisode 7. Hombres en Esteroides was recorded in Spanish. Our guest speakers are Dr. Max Gutreiman, Internist from Costa Rica, and Giovanni Estrada Bencardino, Radiology Technologist from Colombia. They shared with us their experience as health care workers as well as patients impacted by autoimmune diseases. Esperamos que lo disfruten. Pura Vida!
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BONUS EPISODE 6. Of Friendship and Love: Brave
Oct 28, 202000:11:04Tap to summarizeShe called me "Brave", and I said: "Brave On Steroids". Prednisone has significantly enhanced traits in my personality that had stayed under the radar for all of my existence before dermatomyositis. Sometimes, I am thankful for the added endurance, fake energy boost, and extra-hours of work due to insomnia. Some others, I don't find being a woman on steroids so much of "a blessing in disguise", but rather a liability. This episode of my life still gives me goose bumps. My friend Zehava still feels happy about the outcome and insists in calling me "Brave".
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EPISODE 6. Of Friendship and Love
Oct 28, 202000:22:51Tap to summarizeDr. Zehava Sadka Rosenberg and I have known each other for 25 years. She has been a mentor, an advisor and a colleague for equal amount of time before and after my autoimmune disease diagnosis. As someone who has struggle coming to terms with my medical condition and the secondary effects of the medications used to treat it, I could not have wished for a better friend than Zehava. She has been a solid rock and also a sounding board whenever I have needed her. Join Zehava and I in conversation as we go over how to best support and advocate for your friends who may be facing difficulties related to the diagnosis and treatment of their autoimmune disorder. Always remember that their hope for recovery may rely in good part on counting with your friendship and love.
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BONUS EPISODE 4. MEDITATE: Not just a calming technique. Advanced MR imaging in Autoimmune Diseases
Oct 21, 202000:21:02Tap to summarizeOur invited speaker, Dr Eric Sigmund, will take us on a journey of discovery exploring the basic principles of image acquisition using diffusion weighted ((DWI) MR imaging and how the technique applies to autoimmune conditions affecting the muscles of the pelvis and thighs. Eric and I work together along with a group of investigators including Dr Steven Baete at the NYU Center for Biomedical Imaging developing MEDITATE. This is a sequence that uses DWI as a probe for assessment of muscle microstructure during exercise activation. The listener will find this episode the right combination of being informative, but yet entertaining. Enjoy!
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BONUS EPISODE 5. Of Airports and New Meds
Oct 20, 202000:02:59Tap to summarizeAll medications have the potential of causing adverse effects. Patients must avoid taking new medication when getting in a plane or while airborne.
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EPISODE 5b. Steroid Replacement Therapy
Oct 16, 202000:20:50Tap to summarizeSteroid replacement therapy includes immunosuppressants/immunomodulators and immunotherapy. Join Dr Franks and I as we discuss this and more in this rather important subject.
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