What more can be said about the legendary career of Celine Dion? Throughout the 1990s, Dion was a global superstar with various hit songs, with “My Heart Will Go On” being one of the most popular. After decades of captivating audiences with her incredible voice, Dion would eventually be hailed the “Queen of the Power Ballad.”
In 1988, Celion Dion received her big break by winning the Eurovision Song Contest when she was twenty years old. From there, Dion would enjoy a luxurious career—that is, until her recent health diagnosis, which has sidelined her career and life. Spoiler alert if you haven’t caught the documentary yet!
Celine Dion Reveals Her Health Condition
In December 2022, Dion dropped heartbreaking news to her fans that she was diagnosed with stiff person syndrome (SPS), which affected her voice and ability to walk. As a result of her SPS diagnosis, Dion would have to cancel her worldwide tour after weeks of postponing and canceling shows.
If you don’t know, stiff person syndrome is an autoimmune disorder that affects the body by causing painful spasms and muscle stiffness that, unfortunately, may worsen over time. With her new documentary, I Am: Celine Dion, the singer and the film’s director, Irene Taylor, would offer fans an intimate and heart-wrenching look into Dion’s life as she faces this debilitating disorder.
Stiff Person Syndrome Diagnosis
Throughout the documentary, fans get a detailed look at how SPS has negatively impacted Dion’s life. She experienced a lot of pain when she walked and had a problem keeping her balance. Since stiff person syndrome affects the nervous system, the pain Dion felt would come from her muscles stiffening from lack of use or overuse.
Surprisingly, it took Dion around seventeen years before she finally received her diagnosis in July 2022. Random muscle spasms affecting her vocal cords led to the diagnosis. As a result of her condition, Dion tearfully explains that her team would lie about her numerous event cancellations before she finally canceled her tour.
How Valium Almost Ended Dion’s Life
Before Dion got her diagnosis, she would try other remedies like over-the-counter medications and even steam showers. When Dion’s symptoms continued to worsen, she would seek out medical help instead. As a result of seeking medical care, doctors would give her various drugs, such as Valium, which is a muscle relaxant, to give Dion a much-needed break from her pain.
Unfortunately, the standard doses of Valium that Dion took would quickly wear off. Due to the short life of these drugs, Dion would take even more Valium, which could’ve been life-threatening. To clarify, a standard dose of Valium is between two to ten milligrams, but Dion would increase her intake to 90 milligrams of Valium just to finish a show.
The Shocking Scene Of Dion’s Flare-Up
There’s a moment in the documentary where fans will actually see Dion experience a flare-up. After recording in the studio without issue, Dion found herself experiencing pain during her periodic physical therapy. What began as foot spasms would see her entire body freezing up. To remedy the pain that Dion felt, her team would give her a diazepam nasal spray for relief.
In the documentary, Dion explains that overstimulation can trigger an episode. Yet, despite the agonizing pain these flare-ups can cause, they’re not usually life-threatening on their own. Only a person experiencing spasms in their chest muscles is extremely dangerous due to difficulty breathing.
I Am: Celine Dion Reveals Legendary Singer’s Strength
Although the documentary can be heartbreaking, there are still light-hearted moments throughout the film that show how strong Celine Dion really is. Indeed, fans can watch home videos of Dion having fun with her friends and family and what her everyday life is like off the stage and away from cameras.
Since I Am: Celine Dion is officially out, you should check it out on Amazon Prime. In addition to the documentary, Dion released a soundtrack as an official album. The soundtrack features thirteen songs, all of which are Dion’s most iconic tunes. Along with her hit songs, Dion also included seven instrumental tracks created by producer Alberto Fabris and cellist Redi Hasa.
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