75. Living Through Gadolinium Deposition Disease: A Story of Survival, Science, and Hope with Dr. Richard Semelka

When you’re told you need an MRI with contrast, chances are you don’t think twice. You trust the process, sign the papers, and assume it’s safe. But what if the very injection meant to help diagnose your pain became the cause of a devastating health crisis?

That’s exactly what happened to Everyday Epigenetics co-host Susan Robbins. In this powerful episode, Susan shares her harrowing personal story of surviving Gadolinium Deposition Disease (GDD), a little-known but life-altering condition caused by gadolinium, a toxic heavy metal used in MRI contrast injections.

Susan’s Story: From Pain to Validation

Back in 2018, Susan underwent an MRI with contrast for a suspected hip injury. What followed was a nightmare of excruciating pain, muscle twitching, hair loss, and sleepless nights. When she turned to her doctor, who ordered the scan, for help, she was told it was “just anxiety.”

For weeks she felt invalidated, isolated, and hopeless. At her lowest point, she questioned if she could go on. But her persistence paid off—eventually, testing confirmed dangerously high levels of gadolinium in her body, along with additional heavy metal toxicity. That validation became the turning point in her healing journey.

Enter Dr. Richard Semelka

In this episode, Susan and Kate sit down with Dr. Richard Semelka, one of the world’s leading experts in MRI safety and the physician who first described GDD in medical literature. With over 380 peer-reviewed articles, six textbooks, and decades of experience in radiology, Dr. Semelka now dedicates his career to researching and treating individuals with gadolinium and other heavy metal toxicities.

Dr. Semelka explains what GDD is, why some people are more at risk than others, and how treatment works through careful chelation. He also shares why awareness matters, millions of MRIs with contrast are performed every year, yet too many patients are left in the dark about potential risks.

Lessons in Resilience and Lifestyle

Susan’s story is not just about survival, it’s about reclaiming her quality of life. Through treatment, lifestyle changes, and sheer determination, she’s built her strength back and uses her platform to help others avoid the suffering she endured.

This episode is a reminder that:

  • You have the right to ask questions before medical procedures.
  • Your symptoms are real, even if they don’t fit neatly into a doctor’s checklist.
  • Lifestyle choices, from nutrition to stress management, play a vital role in recovery.

Why This Episode Matters

GDD is still under-recognized, and far too many people are dismissed when they speak up about their pain and other symptoms. By sharing her story and spotlighting Dr. Semelka’s groundbreaking work, Susan is giving voice to countless others who have suffered in silence.

RESOURCES:

Connect with Dr Richard Semelka:

Connect with Susan:

Connect with Kate King:

Kate’s Books: 

Learn more about our guest Dr. Richard Semelka

Dr Semelka’s career is shown to be the #10 in MRI, # 12 in Medical Imaging worldwide by Scholar GPS. He has written 6 editions of textbooks on MRI of the abdomen and pelvis, 5 editions of a textbook on MR physics,  a textbook on quality improvement in Radiology and over 380 peer-reviewed articles, including the broadest range of subjects on safety issues in Radiology. Most recently he has described the entity Gadolinium Deposition Disease, on which he has written more than 16 articles. He has lectured around the world on topics in Radiology over a 35 year career. Presently he devotes his medical career to treating individuals with Gadolinium Deposition Disease and other metal toxicities. He is the president of the nonprofit GadTTRAC, an organization devoted to helping sufferers with Gadolinium and other heavy metal toxicity.

Learn More about Kate King:

Kate brings nearly two decades of experience as a licensed psychotherapist and board certified art therapist, combined with her work as a Radiant Life coach to the table. She is also the multi-award-winning author of three powerful self-help psychology books. Kate’s work integrates epigenetics through a relational, behavioral, and intergenerational family trauma lens. She also incorporates brain and nervous system science with psychology, spirituality, and creativity for a dynamic approach to deep inner work and personal healing.

Learn More about Susan Robbins:

Susan is a retired law enforcement officer and an accomplished Certified Epigenetic Human Performance Coach with a diverse and extensive background in wellness. She began her wellness career in 2015 as a holistic health and stress management coach. Her passion for helping others led her to expand her expertise into epigenetics in 2019, where she discovered the missing piece of the health optimization puzzle: Personalized health.

As a Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, Certified Level 2 Apeiron Zoh Epigenetic Human Performance Coach (DNA), and Certified PH360 Coach through Precision Health Alliance, Susan has developed a unique approach to health and wellness through completely personalized health. She is the proud recipient of the 2023 Precision Health Alliance Coach of the Year award. Susan works with clients to elevate their health and overall quality of life by understanding their unique needs based on their genetic makeup, taking out the guesswork, and getting results.

Their Synergy

Susan and Kate come from two very different, but perfectly complementary, worlds in the health and wellness space. Together, their synergy is magnetic. Think: science meets soul, strategy meets intuition, real talk meets radical transformation.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

JOIN the tribe