‘It feels like being strangled’ – Celine Dion on her illness

Celine Dion speaks about her debilitating health struggle


Legendary Canadian singer Celine Dion, has opened up about her challenges with Stiff Person Syndrome and how it impacted her well-being.

In a recent interview with NBC News, Celine Dion, now 56 years old, described her symptoms, likening them to “being strangled.”

Celine Dion

Celine Dion revealed that she frequently endures excruciating cramps, which have even led to broken ribs on occasion.

It’s like somebody is strangling you. It’s like somebody is pushing your larynx/pharynx. It was like talking like that, and you cannot go high or lower,” she said.

The singer also described the stiffness and rigidity that come with the condition, saying:

“It feels like, if I point my feet, they will stay in (that position). Or, if I cook – because I love to cook – my fingers, my hands, will get in position … It’s cramping but it’s like in a position where you cannot unlock them.

“I have broken ribs at one point because sometimes when its very severe, it can break.”

Recall that in 2022 Celine Dion was diagnosed of Stiff Person Syndrome, a rare neurological disorder.

The singer opened up to her fans in a tearful Instagram post on Thursday, confessing that her health had forced her to postpone her European tour.

She wrote: “Hello everyone, I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to reach out to you. I miss you all so much and can’t wait to be on stage talking to you in person.

“I’ve been dealing with problems with my health for a long time, and it’s been really difficult for me to face my challenges and to talk about everything that I’ve been going through.”

“Recently I’ve been diagnosed with a very rare neurological disorder called the stiff person syndrome which affects 1 in a million people”

The singer shared that initially, she tried to manage the symptoms on her own, but eventually she had to accept that her life was going to change significantly.

While she continues to navigate living with the condition and finding ways to cope with it, Celine Dion emphasized that she refuses to let it define her.

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