Sitcom Sensation Vicki Lawrence Shares Health Challenge

Vicki Lawrence, comedienne and Emmy^® Award-winning actress reveals her struggle with chronic idiopathic urticarial or ICU.

She joins me with Dr. Beth Corn, Board-certified allergist, Associate Professor and member of AAFA’s National Board of Directors.

CLICK HERE FOR MY INTERVIEW WITH VICKI: http://bcove.me/vwg0asb5

Vicki Lawrence is no stranger to being quick on her feet and playing off improv lines on stage.  In fact, she’s a legend.

But when the comedienne and Emmy^® Award-winning actress was diagnosed with CIU, she was caught off-guard. 

Vicki, best known as the star of sitcom Mama’s Family…

And as part of the ensemble cast of the The Carol Burnett Show, known for inducing uncontrollable belly laughs.

And, more recently, appearing on Hannah Montana. 

She was diagnosed with CIU four years ago.  It appeared out of the blue and can happen to anyone.

Vicki wants to help motivate others to talk to their doctors about their symptoms as she did.

CIU is characterized by hives that spontaneously occur without an identifiable cause and reoccur for six weeks or more.

Symptoms come and go unpredictably. They include red, itchy hives on the skin which can last months and even years.

In the U.S., it is estimated that approximately 1.5 million people suffer from CIU.

Now, Vicki is partnering with the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation and Genentech to share her experience with CIU to encourage people to have a robust and meaningful dialogue with their medical specialist as part of a new national campaign called CIU & You.

CIU & Youis an educational program focused on supporting the specific needs of people who have CIU.

It aims to empower patients to talk to their doctors to discuss treatment options with an allergist or dermatologist.

The program also provides a downloadable symptom tracker and discussion guide for patients to use when talking with doctors.

CIU & Youis developed in partnership with the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), and made possible by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation and Genentech. For additional information, visit www.CIUandYou.com.

For more information, speak with your doctor to better understand the disease and potential treatments.

 

More About Vicki Lawrence

Vicki Lawrence is a comedienne and Emmy^® Award-winning actress. She is famous for her role on The Carroll Burnett Show and Mama’s Family, and, more recently, on Hannah Montana. In 2010, Lawrence was diagnosed with CIU. For her official bio, please visit http://www.vickilawrence.com/VickisBio2013.html.

 

More About Dr. Corn

Dr. Beth Corn is a Board Certified Allergist practicing in New York City and an Assistant Professor of Medicine with over 20 years of experience in healthcare. She serves on the national board of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

You may be surprised to learn something new about Vicki Lawrence and your health by watching the interview here: http://bcove.me/vwg0asb5

Visit www.CIUandYou.com for more information.

  MARIA DORFNER is the founder of NewsMD and Healthy Within Network.  She can be reached at maria.dorfner@yahoo.com

“When We Tell Stories…People Listen.”