What more can be said about the legendary career of Celine Dion? Throughout the 1990s, Dion was a global superstar with various hit-making songs, with “My Heart Will Go On” as one of the most popular. After decades of captivating audiences with her incredible voice, Dion would eventually be called the “Queen of the Power Ballad.”
In 1988, Celine 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 diagnosis of stiff person syndrome (SPS).
Background Information on Celine Dion’s Documentary
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In December 2022, Dion would drop heartbreaking news to her fans that she was diagnosed with stiff person syndrome, which affected her voice and ability to walk. As a result of her SPS diagnosis, Celion 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 affecting the body by causing painful spasms and muscle stiffness that, unfortunately, may worsen over time. With her new documentary, I Am: Celine Dion, she and director Irene Taylor would offer fans an intimate and heart-wrenching look into Dion’s life as she faces this debilitating disorder.
What is Stiff Person Syndrome Exactly?
Throughout the documentary, fans get a detailed look at how stiff person syndrome has negatively impacted Dion’s life. For Dion, she would experience a lot of pain when she walked and had a problem with 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, after experiencing random muscle spasms affecting her vocal cords. As a result of her condition, Dion explains tearfully in the documentary that her team would lie about the numerous cancellations due to sinus and ear infections before she finally canceled the tour.
Valium Almost Ruined Celine 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 to be 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 Most Heartwrenching Scene in I Am: Celine Dion
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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 would find 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 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 life-threatening on their own. Only if a person is experiencing spasms in their chest muscles can become life-threatening as said person can have difficulty breathing.
Although the documentary can be heart-wrenching, there are still light-hearted moments throughout that shows 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.
Where to Watch I Am: Celine Dion
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. Its soundtrack features thirteen songs, all of which are Dion’s most iconic hits. Along with her hit songs, Dion also included seven instrumental tracks in the album, which was created by producer Alberto Fabris and cellist Redi Hasa.
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