Celine Dion says she含羞草研究社檚 been battling her rare illness for 17 years and, at one point, was taking nearly lethal doses of Valium to deal with the terrifying symptoms.

The Canadian superstar opened up about her life-altering neurological disorder during her emotional sit-down interview with NBC含羞草研究社檚 Hoda Kotb on Tuesday night, saying she should have stopped performing earlier to figure out what was wrong.

The 56-year-old singer says she first began noticing symptoms of stiff person syndrome during her Taking Chances World Tour in 2008, as her voice faltered during shows in Germany and her body became more rigid.

含羞草研究社淚t (felt) like somebody is strangling you,含羞草研究社� she said. 含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 like somebody is pushing your larynx含羞草研究社� and you cannot go higher or lower.含羞草研究社�

Dion says she and her team kept quiet about it because they weren含羞草研究社檛 sure what was happening with her health.

含羞草研究社淲e did not know what was going on (with me). I did not take the time含羞草研究社� I should have stopped; took the time to figure it out,含羞草研究社� she said.

She told Kotb she was prescribed Valium to cope with her symptoms before receiving her stiff person syndrome diagnosis in 2022. Dion says she began taking progressively higher doses of the drug so she could perform for her fans and built such a high tolerance that she was taking 90 milligrams a day at one point.

含羞草研究社�90 milligrams of Valium can kill you. You can stop breathing at one point. The thing is that my body got used to it at 20 (milligrams) and 30 and 40, until it went up. And I needed that. It was relaxing my whole body for what, for two weeks, for a month. Okay, the show must go on,含羞草研究社� she said.

含羞草研究社淚 did not know, honestly, that it could kill me.含羞草研究社�

Dion says she eventually weaned herself off the drug with the help of doctors because 含羞草研究社渋t stopped working.含羞草研究社�

It took more than a decade of tests and treatments for Dion to get an official diagnosis of stiff person syndrome, a progressive condition that leads to muscle rigidity and painful spasms.

Dion says she finally shared her diagnosis with the world in December 2022 because she felt like she was 含羞草研究社渓ying含羞草研究社� to the people who got her where she is today.

She told Kotb that her body was failing her while her husband Ren茅 Ang茅lil was dying of cancer, and she was trying to take care of their kids.

含羞草研究社淢y husband, as well, was fighting for his own life. I had to raise my kids,含羞草研究社� she said.

含羞草研究社淚 had to hide. I had to try to be a hero. Feeling my body leaving me, holding onto my own dreams. And the lying for me was 含羞草研究社� the burden was like too much.含羞草研究社�

She says her condition has affected her ability to move over the years and that it got so severe at one point that she had 含羞草研究社渂roken ribs含羞草研究社� from severe spasms. At times, it felt like she was blacking out.

含羞草研究社淚t started here,含羞草研究社� she said, gesturing to her throat. 含羞草研究社淥K, it含羞草研究社檚 going to be fine. Then you have a hard time to walk and then you含羞草研究社檙e blind for two hours, and you含羞草研究社檙e like, what happened? Am I missing something? Did I have a drop in sugar or something? You think of the simple things, not thinking you含羞草研究社檙e going to die.含羞草研究社�

During the special, Dion含羞草研究社檚 doctor said that while there is no cure for stiff person syndrome, it is treatable with a combination of immunotherapy, physiotherapy and medications.

The singer is vowing to return to the stage no matter what it takes. She sang several times throughout the special and her voice sounded in good form, hinting that she may be ready to perform again one day.

含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檓 going to go back on stage. Even if I have to crawl. Even if I have to talk with my hands. I will,含羞草研究社� she said.

含羞草研究社淚 am Celine Dion because today my voice will be heard for the first time. Not just because I have to or because I need to. It含羞草研究社檚 because I want to.含羞草研究社�

A documentary about her health struggle, 含羞草研究社淚 Am: Celine Dion,含羞草研究社� is set to premiere June 25 on Prime Video.

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