Putting Scleroderma into Remission with Katie Spilka PH180

<p>This week’s story features Katie Spilka who shares her story of being diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease called scleroderma at age 16 and how CrossFit and a positive outlook have helped her put her symptoms into remission.</p> <p> </p> <p>Katie was an everyday teenager when she first experienced unusual symptoms, including numbness in her fingers.  Because of her family’s medical history, Katie’s mom advocated for her to see a rheumatologist, and conversations with the doctor revealed that symptoms Katie had thought were normal were actually signs of scleroderma.</p> <p> </p> <p>After 5 years of treatment involving some heavy hitting medications, Katie worked with her doctor to begin weaning off some of her prescriptions.  Says Katie, “At this time I was 20 years old and scared yet relieved that I would be able to feel “normal” again. I knew I needed to do more for myself to keep myself well.”</p> <p> </p> <p>She made the leap to join a CrossFit affiliate and the workouts and community were instrumental in helping her re-build strength she had lost to her disease, as well as providing an incentive to improve her nutrition.</p> <p> </p> <p>As an adult, Katie, inspired by her rheumatologist, has gone on to become a nurse so that she can help care for others.  She continues to experience remission from her symptoms and says, “I have now been weaned off all my medications that I was taking for my scleroderma and trying to take it one day at a time taking the best care of myself that I can!”</p> <p> </p> <p>You can connect with Katie via Instagram @kspilkz</p> <p> </p> <p>Related Episodes:</p> <p> </p> <p><a href='https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dr-axel-pflueger-on-fighting-chronic-disease-fitness/id1019070179?i=1000423768372'>Ep 99 - Dr. Axel Pflueger on Fighting Chronic Disease with Fitness</a></p> <p><a href='https://podcasts.apple.com/dk/podcast/taking-control-multiple-sclerosis-jasmine-joy-ph169/id1019070179?i=1000497981405'>Ep 169- Taking Control of Multiple Sclerosis with Jasmine J