Living Well with Multiple Sclerosis
Welcome to Living Well with MS, the podcast from the Overcoming MS charity. In each episode, your host Geoff Allix explores a different aspect of the Overcoming MS Program in greater depth by talking with experts and people with MS about health lifestyle changes. New episodes are published on Wednesdays and feature interviews with scientists, neurologists, fitness specialists, diet experts, stress reduction professionals. The podcast also features inspirational, real-life stories from people with multiple sclerosis following the Overcoming MS program, about the challenges and victories of managing symptoms through lifestyle modification.
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Webinar Highlights: Your opportunity to ask a qualified nutritional therapist about the Overcoming MS diet with Sam Josephs | S6E8
04/17/2024
Webinar Highlights: Your opportunity to ask a qualified nutritional therapist about the Overcoming MS diet with Sam Josephs | S6E8
In this episode, we are sharing highlights from our webinar, ‘Your opportunity to ask a qualified nutritional therapist about the Overcoming MS diet’ with Sam Josephs. Sam is a qualified nutritional therapist and Overcoming MS facilitator. In this episode, she discusses fasting patterns, tips for Overcoming MS-friendly meals on a budget and how to prevent weight loss. Keep reading for the key episode takeaways. Topics and Timestamps: 02:40 Can fasting help you reduce inflammation? 05:58 How much calcium is safe for you with high doses of vitamin D3? 08:11 Comparing benefits: flax oil supplements vs Omega-3 rich foods. 09:40 Can you have coconut or meat in the absence of Overcoming MS-friendly options? 11:25 Vitamin D2 vs D3 in fortified foods. 13:40 The link between eating dairy and osteoporosis. 16:48 The different types of saturated fats. 19:11 Can you ever eat fast food or processed foods? 22:12 Can you eat egg yolk or meat occasionally? 25:59 How much vitamin K should you have to prevent calcium buildup? 27:16 Is there a limit to the number of egg whites you can eat? 28:18 Can you eat lean meat on the Overcoming MS diet when trying to put on weight? 30:12 What minerals can you take to help with spasticity and tight muscles? 21:46 Tips for cooking Overcoming MS-friendly meals with a busy schedule. 36:48 Snacks to help you prevent weight loss on the Overcoming MS diet. 40:23 Alternatives to flax oil for Omega-3 supplementation 41:59 The benefits of a variety of whole grains for your gut bacteria 44:20 Budget tips for cooking Overcoming MS-friendly meals Selected Key Takeaways: Highly processed foods have negative health implications. 20:11 “Highly processed foods sometimes irritate the gut lining, which can affect our friendly bacterial populations. We're only just starting to understand the detrimental effects of some of these unknown food chemicals, not to mention high levels of salt, and high levels of sugar, all of which on a metabolic level are not good for us. Salt can cause excretion of calcium, which we're trying to retain. The sugars can cause metabolic issues, things like becoming overweight and obese.” A variety of whole grains is beneficial for the gut. 42:35 “It’s important not to rely too heavily on one grain or another. But to keep that variety because each grain has a different nutritional profile and will be broken down differently in the body. The more variety you have with your grains, the more you're encouraging healthy bacteria which indirectly calms MS activity so think about different rice: what about wild rice [or] the red rice? What about buckwheat? Have you tried quinoa yet?” There are multiple intermittent fasting methods to suit your lifestyle. 03:05 “Some people do the five-two diet, which involves eating normally five days of the week, and then just eating dinner on two days of the week, consuming much lower calories. You could fast overnight for 16 hours and then eat your food in a much smaller window of eight hours. It could be done as a water fast where you don't eat anything at all, and just drink water one day a week or a couple of days a month.” Want to learn more about living a full and happy life with multiple sclerosis? to hear our latest tips. More info and links: Sam Josephs has been featured on , , and New to Overcoming MS? Follow us on social media: Don’t miss out: to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS episodes . If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review. Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing . Make sure you to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS. Support us: If you enjoy this podcast and want to support the ongoing work of Overcoming MS, we would really appreciate it if you could leave a donation . Every donation, however small, helps us to share the podcast with more people on how to live well with MS.
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Mindfulness with MS Nurse and Overcoming MS Facilitator, Sue Tibbles | S6E7
04/03/2024
Mindfulness with MS Nurse and Overcoming MS Facilitator, Sue Tibbles | S6E7
Welcome to Living Well with MS, where we are pleased to welcome Sue Tibbles as our guest! Sue is an MS nurse and Overcoming MS facilitator who follows the Program. She is a qualified mindfulness teacher with a Master’s in Mindfulness from the University of Aberdeen. In this episode, she discusses tips for setting up a mindfulness practice, the role of stress and MS and shares some different mindfulness practices. Watch this episode on YouTube . Keep reading for the key episode takeaways. Topics and Timestamps: 01:19 Sue’s stress-related MS diagnosis. 05:59 Navigating the difficulties of starting a mindfulness practice. 09:24 Effective ways you can settle the mind. 10:54 Practical tips for setting up your own mindfulness practice. 13:05 The role of an MS Nurse. 16:23 How to talk to your healthcare provider about the Overcoming MS Program. 18:52 Tips for when you are newly diagnosed or new to the Program. 24:51 The impact of stress in MS flares. 30:21 Formal vs informal mindfulness practices. Selected Key Takeaways: Don't stress if your healthcare professional initially dismisses the Overcoming MS Program 17:03 “I think it's a really nice opportunity for you to be able to teach [your healthcare professional about the Program]. If you come across resistance from them, I don't think there's an awful lot of point in becoming resentful about that. That's not going to achieve anything at the end of the day. There is lots of support within [the] Overcoming MS [community], if you're not getting it from your MS nurse or your neurologist. Although I think a lot of healthcare professionals are becoming better at being open about these things.” We can’t control what’s going on outside of us, but we can control our response to it 24:51 “I will regularly say to my patients, 'We can't change what's going on outside of us, we can't change that stressful situation at work, we can't change the builders coming in and messing up. We can't change any of that, but we can change our response to it.’ That's what we need to work on, and mindfulness helps with that.” There are no downsides to following the Overcoming MS Program 34:30 “When I was first diagnosed and discovered the Program, I remember thinking to myself, ‘What have I got to lose? By eating a bit more healthily, doing a bit more exercise, [and] doing a bit of mindfulness, what have I got to lose? What is there to gain?’” Want to learn more about living a full and happy life with multiple sclerosis? to hear our latest tips. More info and links: Read the Learn more about Listen to Find out more about the Check out one of our New to Overcoming MS? Follow us on social media: Don’t miss out: to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS episodes . If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review. Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing . Make sure you to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS. Support us: If you enjoy this podcast and want to support the ongoing work of Overcoming MS, we would really appreciate it if you could leave a donation . Every donation, however small, helps us to share the podcast with more people on how to live well with MS.
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Advanced cell therapy for progressive MS with Dr Stefano Pluchino | S6E06
03/20/2024
Advanced cell therapy for progressive MS with Dr Stefano Pluchino | S6E06
Welcome to Living Well with MS, where we are pleased to welcome Dr Stefano Pluchino as our guest! Dr Pluchino is a Professor of Regenerative Neuroimmunology at Cambridge University and has been researching stem cell therapy for progressive MS. In this episode, Dr Pluchino speaks to Geoff about what advanced cell therapy is, the success of his phase one trial and what the future of DMTs looks like indicating what people with MS may experience. Watch this episode on YouTube . Keep reading for the key episode takeaways. Topics and Timestamps: 01:31 Dr Pluchino’s background and research into stem cell therapy for progressive MS. 02:52 The difference between types of MS. 05:09 Navigating DMT options for progressive MS. 08:40 Dr Pluchino’s advanced cell therapy research trial: The success of phase one and plans for phase two. 21:05 How advanced cell therapy compares to HSCT or bone marrow transplants. 26:02 What it means for the future of DMTs. 33:39 How you can be part of groundbreaking MS research and trials. Selected Key Takeaways: There are nuances in types of MS beyond ‘relapsing’ or ‘progressive’. 04:23 "It is becoming more complex between active and non-active types of primary and secondary progressive MS where activity is attributed to other episodes. Clinical episodes of disease or radiologically evident episodes of disease, which can be identified by the use of contrast agents at the time of the MRI. So, they are very complex very heterogenous types of disease, with or without activity, which inevitably undergo accumulation of neurological deficits.” The next generation of DMTs will target progression rather than relapses. 06:39 “What's becoming very interesting is that [over the last] few years, there is a general worldwide consensus that progressive MS is becoming and has become a clinical unmet need. The old MS world is concentrating on financing, funding and efforts towards stopping MS through the development of a new generation of DMDs which will eventually target progression rather than relapses.” The future of advanced cell therapy research will look at remyelination, reduction of inflammation and neuroprotection. 19:10 "There is space for assessing whether a proportion of the injected cells [can] differentiate in vivo into new myelin-forming cells. There is a space to assess whether some of the cells [can] increase the survival of neurons in the brain. There is space to assess whether the transplanted cells [can] reduce the type of inflammation which characterises progressive MS, which is what we call a smouldering inflammation. These highly diffuse homogeneous, low-level activations of microglia (immune cells of the central nervous system) and astrocytes (star-shaped cells that hold nerve cells in place) might be reduced by means of advanced cell therapy and the reason why I am specifically alluding to these three major biological mechanisms of disease, remyelination, reduction of inflammation and neuroprotection is because we have managed to identify each of these mechanisms in clinically relevant animal disease models in the last 25 years. So, there is [an] expectation that a clinical trial designed in a way that will allow us to establish the efficacy of the treatment will reveal what we have established already in one of these models.” Want to learn more about living a full and happy life with multiple sclerosis? to hear our latest tips. More info and links: New to Overcoming MS? Follow us on social media: Don’t miss out: to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS episodes . If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review. Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing . Make sure you to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS. Support us: If you enjoy this podcast and want to support the ongoing work of Overcoming MS, we would really appreciate it if you could leave a donation . Every donation, however small, helps us to share the podcast with more people on how to live well with MS.
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Change your life, for life with health coach Laura Crowder | S6E05
03/06/2024
Change your life, for life with health coach Laura Crowder | S6E05
Welcome to Living Well with MS, where we are pleased to welcome Laura Crowder as our guest! Laura is a health coach and recently joined the Overcoming MS team as an Overcoming MS facilitator. In this episode, she talks to Geoff about what the ‘Change your life for life’ pillar means, how to make lifestyle changes easier to adopt and the importance of looking at your overall lifestyle. Watch this episode on YouTube . Keep reading for the key episode takeaways. Topics and Timestamps: 01:02 Intro: Laura’s MS diagnosis. 02:08 Laura’s new role as an Overcoming MS facilitator. 03:48 Change your life, for life: What it means and how you can implement it. 08:18 How finding your deep ‘why’ makes lifestyle changes easier to adopt. 13:40 How you can feel empowered by following the Overcoming MS Program. 15:28 The impact of reducing alcohol on your physical and mental health. 25:48 What it means to feed the soul and the body. Selected Key Takeaways: Positive lifestyle changes can have immediate health effects. 05:08 “The minute I read [the Program was] evidence based, I thought, ‘I've got to read this.’ I read the entire book, and I jumped straight in. I implemented the diet and the vitamin D straight away, I couldn't do much about the exercise at the time, because I was still off my feet. Eventually, I started walking and then running. It was brilliant. I felt the effects instantly, I think because my previous lifestyle was so poor.” Some people find reducing alcohol consumption can have a positive impact on mental and physical health. 17:05 “Karen Law speaks about this in the Overcoming MS Handbook about how she just noticed that her stress response was better without alcohol in the mix. I think that was probably quite a significant part for me as well. My running improved hugely, I actually completed my first marathon last year, and just my health in general [improved]. So, for me, I decided that I didn't want to start drinking again.” Our health is impacted by our overall lifestyle. 27:00 “Our health is not just what we eat, it isn't just exercise [or] supplementation. Things like our career, relationships and finances, these aspects of our lives are so important in terms of nourishing us. If we're dealing with conflict or unresolved issues, or if we have got very destructive or negative relationships in our lives, that's going to have a really adverse effect on our health, even if we're eating all the superfoods in the world.” Want to learn more about living a full and happy life with multiple sclerosis? to hear our latest tips. More info and links: Find out more about New to Overcoming MS? Follow us on social media: Don’t miss out: to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS episodes . If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review. Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing . Make sure you to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS. Support us: If you enjoy this podcast and want to support the ongoing work of Overcoming MS, we would really appreciate it if you could leave a donation . Every donation, however small, helps us to share the podcast with more people on how to live well with MS.
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Webinar Highlights - Mental Health and Wellbeing with MS with Michelle Overton | S6E04
02/21/2024
Webinar Highlights - Mental Health and Wellbeing with MS with Michelle Overton | S6E04
In this episode, we are sharing highlights from our webinar, ‘Mental Health and Wellbeing’ with Michelle Overton. Michelle is a qualified counsellor and Mental Health First Aid Instructor Trainer. She discusses the impact of life’s challenges on your mental health, coping mechanisms for stress and her top self-care tips. You can watch the original webinar . Keep reading for the key episode takeaways. Topics and Timestamps: 01:03 Michelle shares her own mental health journey. 06:05 How does mental health shape your self-esteem and confidence? 08:27 The impact of life's challenges on your mental wellbeing. 11:00 Stress and how it can affect your DNA. 13:53 Shifting from unhealthy to healthy coping mechanisms. 19:14 Michelle’s top self-care tips for improving your mental health. 24:02 The power of listening. 25:46 How you can find ways to improve sleep and mindful practices. Selected Key Takeaways: Mental health impacts many aspects of life. 07:01 “Confidence can be gauged in new situations [by] learning new skills [or] it could be in a workplace. Self-esteem is how you value yourself on the inside. Our mental health will govern how we feel, how we think, how we behave and how we manage change. It will [also] govern how we make, sustain and end relationships.” Stress can impact our physical health. 10:35 “After you've been experiencing stress for more than two weeks, your body will start to kick out hormones. Your double helix is your DNA and at the bottom of it, you've got the bottom of your shoelace strings that keep it together at the bottom, when the hormones are being kicked out from the stress, what happens is the shoe lay strings get corroded, and it comes undone. And this is when we start to get rogue DNA going around. And that's why it's been linked to being carcinogenic." Find what works for you and your mental health. 25:52 “It's finding what's right for you. I find talking has been a really helpful space for me, whether that's in therapy, or whether it's support services. Making sure that you're hydrated as well. Water can be a very simple thing that can really help instantly.” Want to learn more about living a full and happy life with multiple sclerosis? to hear our latest tips. More info and links: Follow Michelle on social media on or Study: New to Overcoming MS? Follow us on social media: Don’t miss out: to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS episodes . If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review. Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing . Make sure you to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS. Support us: If you enjoy this podcast and want to support the ongoing work of Overcoming MS, we would really appreciate it if you could leave a donation . Every donation, however small, helps us to share the podcast with more people on how to live well with MS.
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Career and Employment with MS with Yasmin Neves | S6E3
02/07/2024
Career and Employment with MS with Yasmin Neves | S6E3
Welcome to Living Well with MS, where we are pleased to welcome Yasmin Neves as our guest! Yasmin is an HR professional and recently joined the Overcoming MS team as a facilitator through our ‘Train the Trainer’ programme. In this episode, she talks to Geoff about topics to help you with your work: navigating work with MS, how to talk to your employer about your MS, taking time off work for MS and the pros and cons of being self-employed after an MS diagnosis. Watch this episode on YouTube . Keep reading for the key episode takeaways. Topics and Timestamps: 01:11 Intro: Yasmin’s MS journey. 04:10 Yasmin's new role as an Overcoming MS facilitator. 08:14 Navigating your work with MS: when and how you share your diagnosis with your employer. 13:40 Job interviews and MS: should you disclose or not disclose? 18:50 Taking time off or leaving work with MS: practical considerations for you to think about. 26:32 Self-employment after an MS diagnosis: weighing up the pros and cons. Selected Key Takeaways: All the adjustments you can ask your workplace for. 17:23 “In terms of adjustments whilst you're at work, it could be adjusting your working hours, it could be adjusting to working from home more or working at a different location. It could be changing your setup or how you sit on a chair or at your desk. The list is endless. They have to be tailored to your MS, how your symptoms affect you and what is needed as [part of the] job. It's all about making sure that you are given the support for you and your role.” Keeping motivated and having a purpose when taking time out of work. 19:46 “How are you going to feel if suddenly you've got a whole year off? How are you then going to find your purpose? How are you going to keep motivated without having that thing in your life that maybe was once important? That can go either way.” Weighing up the pros and cons of working for yourself. 28:21 “Work-life balance is very important to me because I'm my own boss, I can decide my own diary. There are obviously cons because I don't get things like sickness benefits, which might be quite helpful with a condition like MS. But then I do get other perks, like I can decide who I work with. Stress is so important with this condition, if there is a client or a project that doesn't quite align with my purpose and it causes me stress, I'm fortunate enough that I can say actually, this isn't for me, and I can turn it away.” Want to learn more about living a full and happy life with multiple sclerosis? to hear our latest tips. More info and links: Want to adopt the Overcoming MS program over 6 months like Yasmin did? New to Overcoming MS? Follow us on social media: Don’t miss out: to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS episodes . If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review. Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing . Make sure you to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS. Support us: If you enjoy this podcast and want to support the ongoing work of Overcoming MS, we would really appreciate it if you could leave a donation . Every donation, however small, helps us to share the podcast with more people on how to live well with MS
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Overcoming MS Charity Updates with CEO Alex Holden | S6E2
01/24/2024
Overcoming MS Charity Updates with CEO Alex Holden | S6E2
Welcome to Living Well with MS, where we are thrilled to bring you our 150th episode! Donations make our podcasts possible – so we’d like to take the opportunity of this milestone to ask if you could . As we mark this significant milestone, we are pleased to welcome Overcoming MS CEO, Alex Holden as our guest. Alex joined Overcoming MS in March 2023 and, during her time at the Charity, has completed a lot! In this episode, she talks to Geoff about meeting the Overcoming MS community, her experience at the ECTRIMS conference (the world’s largest research meeting in multiple sclerosis) and the exciting plans for the Overcoming MS charity! Watch this episode on YouTube . Keep reading for the key episode takeaways. Topics and Timestamps: 01:17 Learn about Alex’s background, expertise and how she became CEO of Overcoming MS. 03:30 Alex’s view of the most compelling pillars of the Overcoming MS Program and changing your lifestyle based on evidence. 04:46 The mental and physical benefits of wild swimming. 05:56 Meeting the resilient and hopeful Overcoming MS community. 07:58 Abseil off the ArcelorMittal Orbit and other ways to support Overcoming MS. 10:22 How she keeps busy with her teenagers outside of work. 11:23 In-person Overcoming MS events taking place in 2024 you might like to attend. 14:15 Join the Live Well Hub – the Overcoming MS app – where over 2,000 community members are already sharing tips and advice. 17:43 Alex’s experience at the largest MS research conference in the world, the 2023 ECTRIMS conference (European and American Committees for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis). 21:06 Future plans for the Overcoming MS charity. Selected Key Takeaways: Put respect for individuals at the forefront. 02:32 “Everybody needs respect, no matter what struggles they have, no matter what they've gone through. Understanding people's situations are so individual to them, I think that's shaped where I've gone with the rest of my career.” Your diet can contribute to your well-being and energy. 03:42 “I've always been very interested in nutrition. At one point I did consider training as a nutritional therapist. So that's something that I'm really passionate about the importance of diet and how that contributes to your wellbeing rather than taking things out of your diet, how you look at what's contributing to energy.” One of the main reasons Alex was drawn to Overcoming MS was because of the community 06:42 "It is such a strong community and a very giving community. People who have had really quite devastating news are managing to give each other so many levels of support, tips, positivity and hope. To be part of that community and amongst those people who have that mindset, I feel very fortunate. As an organisation, we're really small. We are absolutely dependent on people who are in our Circles, our Ambassadors, and people fundraising for us. There are only twelve staff members, and most of us are part-time; the only way we can support a global community is through the community themselves.” Want to learn more about living a full and happy life with multiple sclerosis? to hear our latest tips. More info and links: Watch the Learn more about the New to Overcoming MS? Follow us on social media: Don’t miss out: to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS episodes . If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review. Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing . Make sure you to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS. Support us: If you enjoy this podcast and want to support the ongoing work of Overcoming MS, we would really appreciate it if you could leave a donation . Every donation, however small, helps us to share the podcast with more people on how to live well with MS.
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Motivation to follow the Program with Claire and Nev Dean | S6E1
01/10/2024
Motivation to follow the Program with Claire and Nev Dean | S6E1
Happy New Year! Welcome to season 6 of Living Well with MS. We are excited to kick off the new season with the musicians of our fantastic, brand-new theme tune, Claire and Nev Dean. Claire was diagnosed with MS in 1999 and has been following the Overcoming MS Program since 2008, her husband Nev also follows the Program even though he doesn’t have MS. They generously wrote a new theme tune just for the Living Well with MS podcast. We really enjoyed speaking with them about their experience following the Overcoming MS Program, Claire’s passion for physical activity and hearing from Nev about being married to someone with MS. Watch this episode on YouTube . Keep reading for the key episode takeaways. Topics and Timestamps: 01:08 Introducing Claire and Nev, musicians who follow the Overcoming MS Program. 04:27 Claire’s MS diagnosis. 06:58 The benefits of following the Overcoming MS Program even when you don’t have MS. 09:46 Online exercise sessions for people with MS. 12:29 Feeling motivated to follow the Overcoming MS Program. 14:21 Writing the new theme music for the Living Well with MS podcast. 17:17 The importance of exercise and core strength in MS. 19:29 Tips for navigating marriage when a partner lives with MS. 21:35 The importance of meditation, even if you only have one minute. Selected Key Takeaways: The Overcoming MS diet is healthy for everyone. 02:11 Nev: “When we got married, I was rather larger. When we started the diet, I did all the cooking. Obviously [as I was doing the cooking], I started eating the same diet as Claire because I had to cook food for her. Over the years I've lost over six and a half stone.” Following the Overcoming MS Program has stopped Claire’s progression. 12:25 Claire: “The year before we found Overcoming MS, we got married, and I was using a wheelchair. Since I've been following the [Overcoming MS] diet, I haven't got any worse and my progression has stopped.” Working out in bed is a viable option. 17:17 Claire: “During lockdown, the MS Centre was closed, and I remember my uncle said to me I could do crunches. I just lay in bed, and I worked on my stomach muscles. I went from 20 [crunches] a day up to 300. I've continued to work on my stomach and my abs. Since then, I've started on the pull-up bar, and I do that every morning.” Want to learn more about living a full and happy life with multiple sclerosis? to hear our latest tips. More info and links: New to Overcoming MS? Follow us on social media: Don’t miss out: to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS episodes . If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review. Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing . Make sure you to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS. Support us: If you enjoy this podcast and want to support the ongoing work of Overcoming MS, we would really appreciate it if you could leave a donation . Every donation, however small, helps us to share the podcast with more people on how to live well with MS.
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Sophrology for MS with Audrey Zannese | S5E38
12/13/2023
Sophrology for MS with Audrey Zannese | S5E38
Welcome to Living Well with MS, where we are pleased to welcome Audrey Zannese as our guest! Audrey is a mindfulness expert living with MS and specialises in the relaxation method, sophrology. This practice has helped her to live well with MS. She talks to Geoff about her MS journey, what sophrology is and the research behind it. At the end of the episode, Audrey gives a guided sophrology practice. Watch this episode on YouTube . Keep reading for the key episode takeaways. Topics and Timestamps 01:19 Audrey’s MS journey. 05:25 Managing stress. 08:19 The origins of sophrology. 11:22 The aims and benefits of sophrology. 14:00 Audrey’s switch from research scientist to sophrologist. 18:43 The research into the positive effects of sophrology. 22:25 Guided sophrology practice. Selected Key Takeaways Sophrology is a stress-reduction technique. 06:14 “Sophrology is a uniquely structured mind-body practice that combines both Western relaxation methods and Eastern meditative practices. It can be used for personal development, enhancing performance, but also for improving health and well-being. It includes a variety of exercises that are accessible and easy to incorporate into your daily life. There are gentle body movements, breathing exercises [and] aspects of mindfulness and meditation.” The aims and benefits of sophrology practice. 11:22 “The aim of sophrology is to help you reconnect with yourself. Self-awareness of how you're feeling inside helps you build the capacity to regulate your internal state but also builds the capacity as you would find in mindfulness and meditation of acceptance and letting go when things cannot be changed. Through this work, as it is repetitive and very much a practice, you get to a place where you are feeling balanced in terms of your mind, body, and emotions.” Sophrology is a big part of how Audrey lives well with MS. 15:04 “I remember one day I came out of my flat, and I was so happy to be alive. I didn't feel [my] MS anymore. I wasn't scared, I knew I had everything in me to live my best life, in a way I had never been [able to] before when I was healthy. When I look back, I look with compassion, but I realise that through this journey, what it was to be happy.” Want to learn more about living a full and happy life with multiple sclerosis? to hear our latest tips. More info and links: Visit the New to Overcoming MS? Follow us on social media: Don’t miss out: to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS episodes . If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review. Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing . Make sure you to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS. Support us: If you enjoy this podcast and want to support the ongoing work of Overcoming MS, we would really appreciate it if you could leave a donation . Every donation, however small, helps our charity to share how to live well with MS with more people.
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Dying Well with filmmaker Krystina Christiansen | S5E37
12/06/2023
Dying Well with filmmaker Krystina Christiansen | S5E37
Welcome to Living Well with MS, where we are pleased to welcome Krystina Christiansen as our guest! Krystina is a filmmaker who has recently finished a documentary about an end-of-life letter she found, written by a man with MS. Overcoming MS wants everyone to live a full and healthy life with MS, but it is inevitable that everyone, with or without MS, will pass away. It is therefore unhelpful that death is often a taboo subject. Krystina talks to Geoff about healthy ways to think about your own mortality, her new film, ‘Dear Brandon’ and planning ahead for your end of life, which is something that everyone needs to consider. Keep reading for the key episode takeaways. Topics and Timestamps: 02:29 Krystina found an end-of-life letter from a man with MS on a mountain in Hawaii. 04:12 ‘Dear Brandon’ is a film about death and grief, but also hope and community. 10:41 Healthy ways to think about your own mortality. 12:31 Writing a will and planning your funeral. 14:55 Resources at the end of life. 18:00 Death doulas can help the dying and their families. 20:18 Death cafes are safe spaces to talk about mortality. 24:35 Follow along with Brandon’s story and Krystina’s films. Selected Key Takeaways: Talking about death and dying doesn’t have to be taboo 07:03 “To know Brandon is to know someone who is going to die, he is on his deathbed. That's the social contract that you agree to when you become friends with him. I’d also like to point out that that's the social contract you have with everybody. It's just more obvious with him, I guess. I've learned that sometimes just talking about [death] does make it a bit easier for everyone.” Make a plan for your funeral and estate 09:32 “Make sure that you plan for your death if it is something that we have the opportunity to do. Planning makes not only your end of life a bit smoother, but also for the ones you leave behind. It makes their lives a lot better and allows them to just focus on grieving versus dealing with the business of death.” Death is not an emergency 19:05 “If you have someone in the home who passes away, you don't have to call anyone immediately. You can take your time and be with your loved one. There is no rush. You can even have people come over and say goodbye in the home. You can prepare the body in the home, there are so many different options.” Want to learn more about living a full and happy life with multiple sclerosis? to hear our latest tips. More info and links: New to Overcoming MS? Follow us on social media: Don’t miss out: to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS episodes . If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review. Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing . Make sure you to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS. Support us: If you enjoy this podcast and want to support the ongoing work of Overcoming MS, we would really appreciate it if you could leave a donation . Every donation, however small, helps us to share the podcast with more people on how to live well with MS.
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Webinar Highlights: Ask a Neurologist with Dr Aaron Boster | S5E36
11/29/2023
Webinar Highlights: Ask a Neurologist with Dr Aaron Boster | S5E36
Welcome to Living Well with MS. In this episode, we are sharing the highlights from one of our ‘Ask Aaron’ webinars, where neurologist, Dr Aaron Boster, answers questions about MS from the community. In this episode, Dr Boster covers a range of topics, including heat intolerance, when to start a DMT and his tips for self-managing MS. You can watch the original webinar . Keep reading for the key episode takeaways. Topics and Timestamps: 02:13 Considerations for changing to a less stressful job and stronger DMTs. 05:09 Talking to clinicians about stress. 06:25 Hyperbaric oxygen therapy. 08:11 Stem cell transplants for PPMS. 10:35 Tysabri during pregnancy and breastfeeding. 12:23 MS and Stroke. 13:52 MRI showing brain cysts. 16:57 Betaferon and slow progression. 19:45 Changing from Tysabri to Ocrevus. 21:41 Vertigo. 23:05 Ampyra for walking, spasticity, and nerve pain. 25:50 Types of inflammation. 28:05 Anesthetic or epidural and MS. 30:15 B-cell depletion therapy and allergies. 31:17 Tips for self-managing MS. 37:42 Heat intolerance. 40:30 When to start on a DMT. 41:22 Ocrevus and low lymphocyte levels. 43:40 Diet and MS. 48:50 Nausea as an MS symptom. 51:30 CBD for MS. 52:45 Bursitis and MS. 53:36 Choosing a DMT and considering side effects. 55:16 Invisible illness in an ableist world. Selected Key Takeaways: Exercise as part of your daily lifestyle 34:42 “Exercising as part of a lifestyle means that if you do it, you're not rewarded. There's no reward for doing something as part of your lifestyle and if you don't do it, there's no punishment - you're not sent to the naughty corner. So, for example, I have a lifestyle of brushing my teeth. I don't tweet about it. I don't make YouTube videos about it. I don't even talk about it when I get to work. It's just something I do every morning and if I happen to forget to brush my teeth before I head off to the office, I'll run upstairs and do it. This is part of my lifestyle. So, I need people impacted by MS to exercise as part of their lifestyle.” Plan your day to minimise symptoms like heat intolerance 39:43 “We can conserve energy during those times when it's really hot out. Whereas I would normally encourage a patient to park at the back of the parking lot to get their steps in. If it's the middle of the day, [walking that far is] going to sap all your energy so that when you get to the grocery store you can't shop, that doesn't really work very well, does it? And so that's an example where we would have someone drop us off at the threshold of the grocery store so that you can be successful in your shopping.” Be brave in using mobility aids and seeking accommodations. 57:27 “I tell people who are embarrassed by their cane, ‘Don't you dare be embarrassed by your cane, a cane is a sign of intelligence.’ A person with a cane would like to not fall. So, when a little boy is walking with [his] mum, and says, ‘Mummy, why is she using a cane?’ That's an opportunity for the mother to say, ‘Well, she doesn't want to fall, she has a problem with her leg and the cane helps her.’ It normalises it. So, one of the things that we need to do is to be brave. I'll remind you of the definition of bravery, ‘doing something despite being scared’. The second thing is, I want you to be very selfish. You need to be selfish; you live your life once. You're not living your life so some stranger, you don't know, thinks nice polite things about you.” Want to learn more about living a full and happy life with multiple sclerosis? to hear our latest tips. More info and links: Watch the original webinar . Dr Boster was on three previous Living Well with MS episodes: Check out Dr Boster’s popular covering all aspects of MS. New to Overcoming MS? Follow us on social media: Don’t miss out: to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS episodes . If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review. Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing . Make sure you to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS. Support us: If you enjoy this podcast and want to support the ongoing work of Overcoming MS, we would really appreciate it if you could leave a donation . Every donation, however small, helps us to share the podcast with more people on how to live well with MS.
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Webinar highlights: Guide to the Overcoming MS Diet with Gillian Robertson and Ashley Madden | S5E35
11/15/2023
Webinar highlights: Guide to the Overcoming MS Diet with Gillian Robertson and Ashley Madden | S5E35
Welcome to Living Well with MS. In this episode, we are sharing the highlights from our webinar, ‘A guide to the Overcoming MS Diet’, with Gillian Robertson and Ashley Madden. Gillian and Ashley are both professional chefs who follow the Overcoming MS Program. In this webinar, they discuss how to adopt the diet, the benefits of a plant-based diet, dairy substitutes and much more. Watch the original webinar . Keep reading for the key episode takeaways. Topics and Timestamps 02:52 Practical ways to adopt the Overcoming MS Diet. 08:56 What is a plant-based diet? 14:58 Meals and snacks that offer a complete protein. 22:32 Substituting cheese and ice cream. 27:13 Cooking without oil. 33:13 Meal planning equipment. 39:33 Plant-based meal planning on a budget. Selected Key Takeaways A whole food, plant-based diet is health-promoting. 11:00 Ashley Madden: “A plant-based diet is high in essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and fibre. It's overall anti-inflammatory because we're getting a lot of antioxidants from all those colourful plant foods. It's low in saturated fat, which is important for us, of course, and also has extensive health benefits that go beyond. A plant-based diet has been shown to reduce the risk of some cancers, it can help with weight loss or weight stabilisation, and it can also decrease the risks and sometimes reverse some of the modern-day chronic diseases that we're seeing in a lot of the developed countries.” It’s easy to get enough complete protein on a plant-based diet. 14:27 Ashley Madden: “What modern science has taught us is that the amino acid gaps in one plant food are filled in by another plant food. The bottom line is that you don't need to strategically pair plant foods in specific meals to get the protein that you need. We now know that eating a variety of whole plant foods will get you all of the essential amino acids that are required. I have here listed just some simple meal and snack ideas that actually do offer you complete protein that you're probably already doing and don't even know it. So brown rice and beans, oatmeal, and nuts and seeds or soy milk, sprouted bread is a great one because it has a combination of legumes and grains and nuts and hummus on whole wheat toast.” Plant based cooking can be done on a budget. 39:45 Gillian Robertson: “Organic now is a big trend. Obviously, it can be very expensive. Don't feel that you always have to buy organic. As long as you're washing your fruit and vegetables well, you're going to be okay. And it's okay to look at frozen fruit and vegetables as well as fresh ones, these are often cheaper, they're just as nutritious and they can help save time because they're often pre-prepared as well. Frozen fish can also be much more economical. If you start thinking about the inexpensive items in plant-based cooking, [such as] grains, pulses, seasonal vegetables, if you make those the base of your meals, then your meals really are not going to cost that much money. More info and Links: New to Overcoming MS? Follow us on social media: Don’t miss out: to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS episodes . If you like Living Well with MS, we’d appreciate it if you could leave us a 5-star review. Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing . Make sure you to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS. Support us: If you enjoy this podcast and want to support the ongoing work of Overcoming MS, we would appreciate it if you can leave a donation .
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Ask Jack – Cooking with Tofu | S5E34
11/08/2023
Ask Jack – Cooking with Tofu | S5E34
Welcome to Living Well with MS, where we are pleased to welcome Jack McNulty as our guest! Jack is a professional cook and a longtime follower of the Overcoming MS Program. In this episode, he answers questions from the community about how to cook with tofu. Watch this episode on YouTube . Keep reading for the key episode takeaways. Topics and Timestamps: 01:42 What is tofu? 02:37 Is it possible to make tofu from scratch? 03:59 Benefits of adding tofu to your diet. 05:54 Debunking the myth that ‘tofu is bland’. 07:03 Saturated fat levels in tofu. 08:52 Different types and textures of tofu. 16:24 The difference between tofu and tempeh. 21:49 Ways to change the texture of tofu. 28:57 Do you have to press tofu before cooking? 31:22 Jack’s favourite tofu marinades and recipes. Selected Key Takeaways: Tofu is an affordable, easy-to-digest, source of protein. 04:25 “Tofu is fairly easy to digest. A lot of people who may have trouble [digesting] legumes can actually digest tofu a little bit easier than they can from the whole bean, which is nice. It's definitely a good source of protein. It’s really affordable. The other thing that I think that's really interesting with tofu is it's basically just a blank canvas." Tofu vs. tempeh 17:01 “Tofu is made from soy milk from the whole soybean turned into milk and then coagulated. Tempeh which originates from Indonesia (and you see it a lot in Indonesian cooking) is [made from] whole beans. It's generally soybeans, but it can be made with other kinds of beans like chickpeas and is pressed together and inoculated with a mold and then packaged so it has this sort of white net around the beans, which gives it a very specific flavour.” Pressing tofu can make it dry. 29:19 “You want to be careful [pressing tofu] because you're forcing out a lot of the moisture from the interior of the tofu that's going to make it fundamentally dry at the end. I would be very cautious with recipes that say, ‘start off by pressing the tofu’. I think it's much better to take a different approach, maybe freeze it, maybe pour some boiling salted water over it, or marinate it rather than pressing it.” Want to learn more about living a full and happy life with multiple sclerosis? to hear our latest tips. More info and links: New to Overcoming MS? Follow us on social media: Don’t miss out: to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS episodes . If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review. Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing . Make sure you to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS. Support us: If you enjoy this podcast and want to support the ongoing work of Overcoming MS, we would really appreciate it if you could leave a donation . Every donation, however small, helps us to share the podcast with more people on how to live well with MS.
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Oils and Fats with industrial chemist Mike Newton | S5E33
11/01/2023
Oils and Fats with industrial chemist Mike Newton | S5E33
Welcome to Living Well with MS, where we are pleased to welcome Mike Newton as our guest! Mike is an industrial chemist and follows the Overcoming MS Program. He lives in Australia and has been following the recommendations of Dr Roy Swank and Professor George Jelinek for 25 years. He talks to Geoff about the difference between saturated and unsaturated fats, heating oils and his Overcoming MS journey. Watch this episode on our YouTube . Keep reading for the key episode takeaways. Topics and Timestamps: 01:13 Defining oils, fats, triglycerides and lipids from a cooking and chemistry perspective. 07:35 Fats to avoid and include in your diet. 12:54 What’s the difference between plant, animal and fish triglycerides or fats? 16:44 Why do we want to increase our Omega-3s and decrease Omega-9s? 19:24 The difference between monoglycerides and diglycerides is in the melting point, lower melting points are better for brain health. 22:50 Overcoming MS and Dr Roy Swank Selected Key Takeaways: Defining Oils and Fats 01:40 “Triglycerides are the encompassing description of all oils and fats, whether they are from plants or animals, and whether they are liquid or solid. The terms oil and fat are more for the layman and the cooking man. Oil is a liquid at room temperature, and fat is a solid at room temperature.” Hydrogenated fat in commercially produced foods 16:09 “The reason that they use hydrogenated fats is to give the [food] structure so that they can make a pie that you can eat with ease without it all collapsing around you while you're eating it. So, it's purely done for your mouthfeel and structure, so you can eat it (more easily).” Roy Swank’s theory on fat and MS 24:27 “Swank took the theory that the brain is made of a very high percentage of fat and cholesterol. If [your brain] is rock hard like this candle, then when it's rattling around in your head, the lesions in your brain will be scraping against your skull or another very hard piece of brain, causing more symptoms than that you would get if your brain was fluid and malleable.” Want to learn more about living a full and happy life with multiple sclerosis? to hear our latest tips. More info and links: New to Overcoming MS? Follow us on social media: Don’t miss out: to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS episodes . If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review. Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing . Make sure you to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS. Support us: If you enjoy this podcast and want to support the ongoing work of Overcoming MS, we would really appreciate it if you could leave a donation . Every donation, however small, helps us to share the podcast with more people on how to live well with MS.
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Autoimmunity with Dr David Bilstrom | S5E32
10/25/2023
Autoimmunity with Dr David Bilstrom | S5E32
Welcome to Living Well with MS, where we are pleased to welcome Dr David Bilstrom as our guest! Dr Bilstrom, MD is the Director of the International Autoimmune Institute & Bingham Memorial Center for Functional Medicine and an expert in treating autoimmune diseases. He talks to Geoff about what autoimmune diseases are, about Vitamin D and gives his tips for sticking with lifestyle change. Watch this episode on YouTube . Keep reading for the key episode takeaways. Topics and Timestamps: 00:59 Dr Bilstrom’s introduction and work in autoimmunity. 01:48 Reversing MS symptoms. 03:32 Infections and autoimmune diseases. 05:52 Vitamin D and MS. 10:45 Supplementing with butyrate. 12:23 Leaky gut and autoimmunity. 14:34 Oestrogen dominance and autoimmunity. 19:03 Adverse childhood events and autoimmunity. 23:40 Tips for sticking with lifestyle change. Selected Key Takeaways: The risk of autoimmunity increases if a parent has an autoimmune disease. 02:04 “It's so easy if you get one autoimmune disease to get a second or third or fourth, but also, if a parent has an autoimmune disease, the child is at a higher risk of every autoimmune disease. For example, if a parent gets rheumatoid arthritis, that child is at a 5.4 times greater risk of getting type one diabetes. We want to educate people about what we know about why people get autoimmune diseases.” Vitamin D and prevention of autoimmune diseases 06:38 “If a woman's vitamin D is above 50 during pregnancy, she's going to decrease the risk of her child ever getting MS by 50% … Vitamin D is uber important when it comes to immune system stuff, such as preventing MS in pregnancy. Cancer is the flip side of the same coin, that's [another] autoimmune disease. If a woman's vitamin D is above 60, she has automatically decreased her risk of ever getting breast cancer by 82%. Kids that take vitamin D 2000 IU in the first year of life will decrease the risk of ever getting type one diabetes by 90%.” Epigenetics and autoimmunity 11:11 “We used to think our genes, our DNA in our cells, [that] whatever we got from our parents [and] grandparents we’re stuck with it. If a parent has MS, they’d think “well, I wish I could change some of the genes my child has.” Well, it turns out, it's not what genes you have, it’s which ones get turned on and turned off. So, it's epigenetics, the things that influence gene expression. There are a lot of bad genes that drive chronic disease, we’ve got to turn those guys off, as well as good genes that drive health, we’ve got to turn those guys on.” Want to learn more about living a full and happy life with multiple sclerosis? to hear our latest tips. More info and links: New to Overcoming MS? Follow us on social media: Don’t miss out: to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS episodes . If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review. Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing . Make sure you to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS. Support us: If you enjoy this podcast and want to support the ongoing work of Overcoming MS, we would really appreciate it if you could leave a donation . Every donation, however small, helps our charity to share how to live well with MS with more people.
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Webinar Highlights Breathwork with Dr Véronique Gauthier-Simmons | S5E31
10/18/2023
Webinar Highlights Breathwork with Dr Véronique Gauthier-Simmons | S5E31
In this episode, we are sharing highlights from our webinar, ‘Breathwork for people living with MS’ with Dr Véronique Gauthier-Simmons. Véronique is a qualified yoga therapist, follows the Overcoming MS Program and has supported Overcoming MS as a facilitator. She discusses what breathwork is, how it can help people living with MS and ends the talk with a breathwork practice for you to try. Watch the original webinar . Keep reading for the key episode takeaways and Véronique’s bio. Topics and Timestamps 00:58 Véronique’s background 06:25 Véronique’s breathwork training 08:58 Breathing basics 11:24 Dysfunctional breathing patterns 13:31 The power of the breath 16:00 Using the breath to influence other body systems. 18:37 Benefits of breathwork for MS 24:01 The diaphragm 27:00 Breathwork practice Selected Key Takeaways You can take control of your breath. 15:22 “We don't have to think, ‘I need to breathe in, I need to breathe out.’ It happens automatically. But we can also tell the brain, ‘I'm taking over the control, I'm in charge now’. That is the only system in the body that can do that, and that gives us the power to change how we feel because they are connected. We can use the breath as a language to communicate with the different systems in the body.” You can reduce inflammation with breathwork by stimulating the Vagus Nerve 20:26 “There is a really interesting link between breathing and inflammation. I'm sure you've all heard about the Vagus Nerve, and we can stimulate the Vagus Nerve with breathing, [which] reduces stress and inflammation, [as] we know that stress leads to inflammation. So, there is an indirect way to reduce inflammation via the Vagus Nerve with breathwork.” A tense diaphragm can negatively impact our breathing.26:12 “The problem with the diaphragm is that we are not very aware of it, and it can get tense because it’s linked with the Vagus Nerve and the psoas muscle, which connects the upper body and the lower body. So, when we spend many hours sitting [and] when we are stressed, everything tightens, everything gets tense. This affects the movement of the diaphragm and our breathing.” Want to learn more about living a full and happy life with multiple sclerosis? to hear our latest tips. More info and links: Find out more about Véronique here: New to Overcoming MS? Follow us on social media: Don’t miss out: to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS episode . If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review. Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing . Make sure you to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS. If you enjoy this podcast and want to support the ongoing work of Overcoming MS, you can leave a donation.
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Mindfulness and Self-compassion with Melanie Lown | S5E30
10/11/2023
Mindfulness and Self-compassion with Melanie Lown | S5E30
Welcome to Living Well with MS, where we are pleased to welcome Melanie Lown as our guest. Melanie is a mindfulness teacher, has an M.A. in Psychology, and follows the Overcoming MS Program. She talks to Geoff about her MS diagnosis, the power of mindfulness and the importance of self-compassion. Watch this episode on YouTube . Topics and Timestamps: 01:30 Melanie’s introduction and MS diagnosis. 03:58 Balancing self-advocacy with compassion for healthcare professionals. 07:07 Using a diagnosis to discover your purpose. 09:48 Discovering Overcoming MS. 12:02 Our lived experience is as valid as datasets. 13:29 DMTs and COVID. 16:31 The growing popularity of mindfulness in Western medicine. 21:45 Meditation physically changes the brain. 23:33 Depression and spiritualism are opposite sides of the same neural pathway. 27:54 The awakened brain vs. the achieving brain. 29:39 Activating the parasympathetic nervous system with self-compassion. 33:39 Emotions are not ‘good’ or ‘bad’. 35:44 Mindfully choosing your healthcare team and treatment. 42:22 Tips to incorporate mindfulness into your lifestyle. 47:54 Non-judgmental awareness. More info and links: Visit or follow her on Instagram: @welcometothemat. Melanie’s Recommended Meditation teachers and guides: New to Overcoming MS? Melanie’s Recommended Books: The Awakened Brain by Dr. Lisa Miller Self-Compassion by Kristin Neff How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach Cured by Jeffrey Rediger Learned Hopefulness by Dr. Dan Tomasulo Melanie's Recommended Scientific Articles: Fredrickson, B. L., & Losada, M. F. (2005). Positive affect and the complex dynamics of human flourishing. American psychologist, 60(7), 678. Miller, L., Bansal, R., Wickramaratne, P., Hao, X., Tenke, C. E., Weissman, M. M., & Peterson, B. S. (2014). Neuroanatomical correlates of religiosity and spirituality: a study in adults at high and low familial risk for depression. JAMA psychiatry, 71(2), 128-135. Miller, L., Wickramaratne, P., Gameroff, M. J., Sage, M., Tenke, C. E., & Weissman, M. M. (2012). Religiosity and major depression in adults at high risk: a ten-year prospective study. American Journal of Psychiatry, 169(1), 89-94. Portnoff, L., McClintock, C., Lau, E., Choi, S., & Miller, L. (2017). Spirituality cuts in half the relative risk for depression: Findings from the United States, China, and India. Spirituality in Clinical Practice, 4(1), 22. Follow us on social media: Don’t miss out: to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS episodes . If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review. Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing . Make sure you to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS. Support us: If you enjoy this podcast and want to support the ongoing work of Overcoming MS, we would really appreciate it if you could leave a donation . Every donation, however small, helps us to share the podcast with more people on how to live well with MS.
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Developing new DMTs with Professor Stephen L. Hauser | S5E29
10/04/2023
Developing new DMTs with Professor Stephen L. Hauser | S5E29
Welcome to Living Well with MS. In this episode, we are delighted to welcome neurologist, Professor Stephen L. Hauser as our guest. Professor Hauser has been researching MS since the 1970s, and his team’s research led to the development of the disease-modifying therapy ‘Ocrevus’. He talks to Geoff about the future of DMTs for MS, what autoimmunity is, and how he and his team developed one of the most world-renowned MS DMTs. Questions and Timestamps 01:45 Can you introduce yourself and tell us about your work? 04:23 What is autoimmunity and how does it relate to MS and inflammation? 06:37 Are some people more prone to develop autoimmune conditions? 10:11 How can a person get the most out of the time they have with their neurologist? 14:01 The benefits of participating in a clinical trial. 16:01 How is MS similar or different from other brain conditions? 20:11 Is there a role of infection in brain diseases like MS? 23:10 The role of hygiene in autoimmunity. 25:40 Book excerpt and how Ocrevus was developed. 32:53 What’s next in B-cell research and MS? 37:58 What tips do you have for lifestyle modifications for people who have MS? More info and links: New to Overcoming MS? Follow us on social media: Don’t miss out: to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS episode . If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review. Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing . Make sure you to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS. If you enjoy this podcast and want to support the ongoing work of Overcoming MS, you can leave a donation.
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Webinar Highlights: Movement and Breathing with Gillian Robinson | S5E28
09/27/2023
Webinar Highlights: Movement and Breathing with Gillian Robinson | S5E28
In this episode, we are sharing highlights from our webinar, ‘Movement and Breathing Better whilst Living Well with Overcoming MS’ with Gillian Robinson. Gillian is a physiotherapist at the MS Therapy Centre in Lothian, Scotland. She discusses how MS affects breathing, how to breathe better and the importance of physical activity for people with MS. This webinar was recorded as part of our Finding Hope with Overcoming MS webinar series. Watch the original webinar . Keep reading for the key episode takeaways and Gillian’s bio. Topics and Timestamps 00:57 Why and how we should breathe. 04:22 How MS can affect respiration. 09:13 Consequences of ineffective breathing. 11:00 Monitoring and slowing your breathing helps with fatigue and stress management. 14:05 Posture and nasal breathing are important. 20:19 Deep breathing exercises can be part of your meditation practice to strengthen respiratory muscles. 27:23 Benefits of exercise for people with MS. 33:00 Include both aerobic and anaerobic activities in your routine. 36:38 Vestibular retraining, physiotherapy, Tai Chi and Thera Bands can be helpful for people with MS. 38:16 Breathing exercises can strengthen your pelvic floor and abdominals. 40:06 Virtual reality and visualisation can both be used to improve wellbeing. 41:53 Noticing your breathing is the first step to improving it. Selected Key Takeaways Breathing can be affected by MS, so it’s important to keep active to strengthen muscles in the respiratory system. 04:24 “It's only in recent years that it's been demonstrated that the respiratory system can be affected quite early on in MS. I think most of us are aware that it can be affected in the more advanced stages of MS. [These early effects are] logical really, as we know that muscle strength can be affected by MS in the disease process itself, as wherever your lesions are, they can cause muscle weakness in the rest of our body. So, it makes sense that it will cause muscle weakness in our respiratory system. Not only is this primary weakness a result of the MS itself, but if you're not using [your] muscles and reducing levels of activity, you can develop secondary weakness or deconditioning.” Nasal breathing is really important for optimal health.17:17 “Nasal Breathing is really important. We know that chronic mouth breathing can cause problems with your respiratory system and your lung function and certainly impair the effectiveness of your breathing. You can get dental problems by breathing through your mouth, and you're losing 40% more moisture than you do by breathing through your nose.” Visualisation whilst breathing can help strengthen muscles. 41:00 “An interesting bit of research out there shows that through visualisation activities alone, you can improve muscle strength. So, if you struggle with activity and getting your body moving, visualise activities that you might enjoy. The more detail that you can add to your mental imagery, the better and the more likelihood of success. Just try to bring your awareness of your breath. We've talked about how important breathing technique and exercising your respiratory muscles is.If your breathing is optimised, it most definitely has a knock-on effect on your wider wellbeing.” Noticing your breathing is the first step to improving it.42:39 "Notice your breathing responses during activity, so notice what your breathing patterns do. Do you start to get more shallow as you get more effortful? Do you start to breathe through your mouth? Be more mindful of how your breathing responds to activity." Want to learn more about living a full and happy life with multiple sclerosis? to hear our latest tips. More info and links: New to Overcoming MS? Follow us on social media: Don’t miss out: to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS episode . If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review. Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing . Make sure you to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS. If you enjoy this podcast and want to support the ongoing work of Overcoming MS, you can leave a donation. Gillian’s bio: Gillian’s qualifications and career background After graduating from Dundee University with a BSc Hons in Anatomical Sciences, Gillian went on to study physiotherapy. She graduated in 2002 and worked in Croydon University Hospital for 10 years where she cemented her passion for neurology. During her time in Croydon, she completed an MSc in Acupuncture from Coventry University, a useful tool for the treatment box. The MS Therapy Centre In 2012, Gillian moved to Edinburgh where she began working at the MS Therapy Centre Lothian as Lead Physiotherapist. Here she has developed a reputable service for those who attend the centre and has established strong links with the medical and healthcare professionals who are involved in their clients’ care. The ethos promoted by the MS Therapy Centre is one of supported self-management, encouraging and enabling the clients to understand and take control of their symptoms. Within her role Gillian is dedicated to helping people explore their capabilities and facilitate them to achieve a fitter, healthier, happier self. The Health Design Collective – designing products to support people with MS. Gillian is also a director of the social enterprise, Health Design Collective. Set up in 2019, they have a vision to create innovative products for people with long-term health conditions through co-design with the end users. Their first product currently under development is footwear for people with foot drop.
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A Newfound Gratitude for Health with Mike Kennedy | S5E27
09/20/2023
A Newfound Gratitude for Health with Mike Kennedy | S5E27
Welcome to Living Well with MS. In this episode, we are pleased to welcome Mike Kennedy as our guest. Mike was diagnosed with MS over 10 years ago and is an advocate for living a healthy life and following the Overcoming MS Program. He will be discussing with Geoff the lessons he has learnt along the way, including when he deviated from the Overcoming MS diet. Keep reading for the key episode takeaways. Questions and Timestamps: 00:33 Could you introduce yourself? 02:32 Can you tell us about your MS and Overcoming MS journey? 11:21 Unhealthy vegan food 18:25 Experience with first neurologist 21:42 Cryotherapy or cold exposure 25:26 Hyperbaric oxygen therapy 29:50 Homeopathy 33:15 The placebo effect 38:31 Family prevention 43:44 Tea and plant-based milks 45:38 Matt Embry’s influence 49:28 What advice would you give to someone newly diagnosed? Selected Key Takeaways: Change your life for life 15:01 “If I was told right now, ‘Mike, you no longer have MS, you will not [get] it again', I would not go back to eating cheese. I would not go back to eating dairy. I would not go back to eating big fat burgers. Honestly, I think that it's all habitual because these are the habits that I built around my life.” Cryotherapy and hyperbaric oxygen therapy helped Mike’s inflammation. 23:13 “At the 10-year mark, my symptoms at that time were a little more pronounced. I tried hyperbaric oxygen [therapy] for an hour and then cryotherapy. I can only say it was the most incredible relief or feeling I've [ever] experienced. [When] I got out of the cryotherapy tank, I felt like I could run a marathon, and I have never run a marathon. All the inflammation in my legs [was] gone; it was just like fresh blood came into my legs and it was the most incredible feeling. I recommend anyone with problems with inflammation or MS to try cryotherapy.” There can be a silver lining to an MS diagnosis 53:40 “Believe me, it's not all bad news. There's so much you can do to make this situation much better for yourself. In fact, in so many ways, I'm a lot healthier now than I would have been had I not had MS. I know that sounds pretty strange, but it's true. I got healthier; my weight’s a lot healthier. I'm not saying I wouldn't wish I didn't have it, but it certainly gives me a lot of positives as well as negatives, without doubt.” Want to learn more about living a full and happy life with multiple sclerosis? to hear our latest tips. More info and links: Connect with Mike on Twitter @mrmikekennedy or Instagram @miketonykennedy Listen to Dr Gretchen Hawley's podcast episodes: Find out more about New to Overcoming MS? Follow us on social media: Don’t miss out: to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS episodes . If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review. Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing . Make sure you to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS. Support us: If you enjoy this podcast and want to support the ongoing work of Overcoming MS, we would really appreciate it if you could leave a donation . Every donation, however small, helps us to share the podcast with more people on how to live well with MS.
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Assistive Technology with Kristi Peak-Oliveira | S5E26
09/13/2023
Assistive Technology with Kristi Peak-Oliveira | S5E26
Welcome to Living Well with MS. In this episode, we are pleased to welcome Overcoming MS Ambassador Kristi Peak-Oliveira, who has been following the Overcoming MS Program since 2016 and is an Ambassador for the Boston Circle. She is also a pathologist and the assistant director for assistive technology services at ‘Easterseals Massachusetts’, whose clients include people with multiple sclerosis. Watch this episode on YouTube . Keep reading for the key episode takeaways and Kristi's bio. Questions and Timestamps 01:00 Could you tell us a bit about yourself and your MS diagnosis? 05:08 How did you come across Overcoming MS? 07:14 Tell us about how you became the Ambassador for the Boston Circle. 11:44 Have you talked to your neurologist about Overcoming MS? 18:28 You work as a speech pathologist and as the assistant director for assistive technology services at ‘Easterseals Massachusetts’. Could you tell us what that is? 21:08 What are some examples of assistive technology that can help symptoms like cog fog and memory issues? 24:54 Do you have examples of assistive technology for fine motor control as well? 26:13 Is there anything we can do ourselves to make our devices more accessible? 26:59 Can you tell us about your upcoming trip to Peru, to take assistive technology to orphan children with disabilities? 31:39 You have always loved dancing, are you still able to dance with your MS symptoms? 35:41 What advice would you offer to someone who has been newly diagnosed with MS? Selected Key Takeaways Assistive technology helps people complete daily tasks more independently. 18:45 “Assistive technology is a broad category, but it's basically almost anything that can compensate for your disabilities to help you access different life skills, whether it's working on a computer, cleaning your house, or remembering to take your medication. Augmentative communication is what I do as a speech pathologist, [and] is a subset of assistive technology. It focuses on someone who is not able to use speech as their primary means of communication. So, we're helping them with technology.” Kristi credits the Overcoming MS Program for giving her the confidence to take a humanitarian trip to Peru. 30:32 “My yoga teacher got this idea; it's called ‘Project Give a Voice’. I'm going with her in September for two weeks to bring augmentative communication to students in Peru who are not able to speak. I'm really excited about it [and] she's excited about it [too]. It's because of Overcoming MS. If it wasn't for Overcoming MS, I might not ever have tried yoga or ended up with this teacher. [Following] Overcoming MS gives me the confidence to know that I'm going to physically be able to participate in this trip.” Finding a reason to live well helps Kristi stay motivated. 32:58 “You have to find something that's really motivating. For me, it was my dance class. I didn't want to give up my dance class, I love the women there. That was the thing that really motivated me to dig into Overcoming MS. Over time, foot drop was an issue [and] I've definitely fallen in the class. But over time, I've definitely noticed especially my right foot, (my right side is more affected) has gained in strength.” Want to learn more about living a full and happy life with multiple sclerosis? to hear our latest tips. More info and links: . It was written by a speech-language pathologist who works at a nursing home dedicated to people with progressive neurological diseases whom Kristi knows professionally. Listen to the episodes Vickie the Ambassador from Connecticut was on: New to Overcoming MS? Follow us on social media: Don’t miss out: to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS episodes . If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review. Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing . Make sure you to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS. Support us: If you enjoy this podcast and want to support the ongoing work of Overcoming MS, we would really appreciate it if you could leave a donation . Every donation, however small, helps us to share the podcast with more people on how to live well with MS. Kristi’s bio: Kristi’s MS and Overcoming MS journey Kristi was diagnosed with MS in July of 2016 and started following the Overcoming MS program later that year. She has been a part of the Boston, US Circle since it began and now serves as the Ambassador. Kristi’s personal life Kristi is married with two adult children, and thanks to Overcoming MS continues to enjoy activities such as yoga, dance class, gardening, and singing in her church choir. Kristi’s career Kristi has been a speech-language pathologist for over 30 years and currently serves as assistant director of assistive technology services at Easterseals Massachusetts, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to serving the needs of individuals with disabilities. Clients include those with multiple sclerosis, and they are provided with assistive technology (AT) solutions to compensate for sensory, physical and cognitive challenges. Kristi has used AT solutions herself to deal with MS symptoms and exacerbations and is happy to share the information so others with MS can benefit.
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HSCT with Professor Richard Burt | S5E25
09/06/2023
HSCT with Professor Richard Burt | S5E25
Welcome to Living Well with MS, where we are pleased to welcome Professor Richard Burt as our guest! Professor Burt is a leading expert in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for autoimmune diseases including MS and has been awarded a number of prestigious accolades. Watch this episode on YouTube . Keep reading for the key episode takeaways and Professor Burt’s bio. Questions and Timestamps 02:35 Could you introduce yourself and tell us about your work with patients with autoimmune conditions and MS? 12:03 What do you think about the idea of flipping the model and offering the most aggressive treatment options to patients first? 16:27 What are the risks of HSCT? 21:18 Can you tell us about the costs associated with stem cell transplantation? 24:13 What type of patients respond best to HSCT? 31:16 Do you see a future where doctors are trained in multiple fields and understand the whole picture of autoimmunity? 38:10 If someone’s interested in exploring HSCT, what should they look for in a clinic or physician? 41:47 HSCT has a high upfront cost but how does that compare to being on an MS drug for years or perhaps a lifetime? 53:50 The Dalai Lama wrote the introduction to your book 'Everyday Miracles'. How did that come about? Selected Key Takeaways Randomised controlled trial results for HSCT have been very positive 05:12 “In a randomised trial, [HSCT] was just hands down much better than any [other] drug. All the drugs you use for MS are based on approval for slowing disease activity. That is slowing the number of relapses or slowing the rate of progression of disability but not stopping it or not reversing it. Often you stay on these drugs indefinitely. A transplant, on the other hand, is a one-time treatment and afterwards, you get better, your neurologic disability reverses, nothing else had done that.” It’s important to consider the disease trajectory, risks, and benefits of stem cell transplants. 14:02 “MS causes accelerated loss of brain volume, that is brain atrophy. Unfortunately, as we age, we get brain atrophy and a normal, very low, but normal decline. But once you get MS, that decline takes a much sharper drop, and you're losing neural function a lot faster than normal ageing. For some reason, that's not viewed as a sub-acute or semi-emergency situation that you want to reverse. Traditional drugs have mostly just slowed that rate of decline, but it's still faster than what happens with normal ageing. I would think a more aggressive approach up front would be wise, but you always have to remember [the] risk–benefit. If we could do a stem cell transplant with zero risk of mortality, I would say absolutely for everybody. But you can't do that right now.” A medical speciality and institute for autoimmunology could help push the field forward 34:20 “There are 80 different autoimmune diseases that I can think of offhand. They're all “homeless” in different departments like Crohn's disease [which is] in gastroenterology, Scleroderma [which] is in rheumatology, and multiple sclerosis [which] is in neurology. They're all separated [into] different areas. If there was a better organisation, beginning at a federal level with a national institute of autoimmune diseases that supports centres of excellence around the country, that would really help this go forward.” Want to learn more about living a full and happy life with multiple sclerosis? to hear our latest tips. More info and links: Read Professor Burt’s new book on HSCT for autoimmune diseases ‘’ Check out Professor Burt’s medical textbook ‘’ New to Overcoming MS? Follow us on social media: Don’t miss out: to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS episodes . If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review. Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing . Make sure you to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS. Support us: If you enjoy this podcast and want to support the ongoing work of Overcoming MS, we would really appreciate it if you could leave a donation . Every donation, however small, helps us to share the podcast with more people on how to live well with MS. Professor Richard Burt’s bio: Professor Richard Burt is a Fulbright Scholar, Professor of Medicine at Scripps Health Care, tenured retired Professor of Medicine at Northwestern University, and CEO of Genani Biotechnology. He endeavored for 35 years, first with animal models and then with some of the world’s first clinical trials, to bring the field of stem cell and cellular therapy to the patients’ bedsides. Publishing Professor Burt has published more than 145 first-author articles and is the editor of four medical textbooks. He was the first Autoimmune Committee Chairperson for the International Bone Marrow Transplant Registry (IBMTR) and was the principal investigator of a National Institutes of Health (NIH) $10 million multicenter contract to develop stem cell clinical trials for autoimmune diseases. Hematopoietic stem cell transplants Professor Burt performed America’s first hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) for multiple sclerosis (MS), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Crohn’s disease (CD), stiff person syndrome (SPS), and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) and published the world’s first randomised clinical stem cell transplantation trials for systemic sclerosis and multiple sclerosis. Awards and achievements He has been awarded the Leukemia Scholar of America, the Lupus Foundation of America Fidelitas Award, the van Bekkum Award by the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation, the Distinguished Clinical Achievement Award by the Clinical Research Forum, and the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation Clinical Achievement Award. Professor Burt was presented in Vatican City, Rome, with the “Keys to the Vatican,” was a speaker at the Festival of Thinkers in Leadership in Healthcare in the United Arab Emirates and chaired the biotechnology session at the Baku Azerbaijan International Humanitarian Forum. Professor Burt was recognised by Science Illustrated for accomplishing one of the top 10 medical breakthroughs for the next 10 years and by Scientific American as one of the top 50 individuals for improving humanity and outstanding leadership.
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Menopause and MS Roundtable | S5E24
08/30/2023
Menopause and MS Roundtable | S5E24
In this episode of Living Well with MS, Overcoming MS Medical Advisor Dr Jonathan White, who is an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, welcomes Neurologist, Dr Kate Petheram, and Gynaecologist and Menopause specialist, Dr Siobhan Kirk for a round-table discussion on multiple sclerosis and menopause. Watch this episode on YouTube . Keep reading for the key episode takeaways. Questions and Timestamps: 00:34 The importance of talking about menopause and MS. 01:33 What is menopause? 04:48 What do we know about the effect of menopause on MS? 07:12 What are the symptoms somebody may experience with menopause, that a gynaecologist can help with? 08:47 What is hormone replacement therapy (HRT)? 10:17 Is HRT safe to take with disease-modifying therapies for MS? 12:31 Can blood tests diagnose menopause? 15:02 Is HRT safe for someone who has a family history of breast cancer? 16:33 Does HRT cause people to put on weight? 19:01 Should someone start HRT because they have MS? 21:58 Will supplements or dietary changes help menopause symptoms? 23:14 What about this concept of bioidentical HRT? 24:19 Do you think somebody with MS would benefit from testosterone patches? 26:40 What's the latest research we know about the impact on hormones and menopause treatment, and the outcomes? 28:15 Are hot flushes and heat sensitivity a concern for people with MS? 29:49 What is the Mirena coil and how that may be a part of HRT? 32:23 What are the side effects of progestogen? 32:55 Does early menopause (before 40) affect the rate of progression of someone's MS, either for the better or for worse? 39:26 Topical oestrogen and bladder symptoms Selected Key Takeaways: There is a lot of overlap between MS symptoms and menopause symptoms.6:42 Dr Kate Petheram: “Because of the overlap in symptoms. There are perhaps elements which are so relevant to menopause, which we can perhaps talk about as well in terms of symptoms such as hot flushes and heat intolerance, which again may exacerbate symptoms of MS. So, there may not be a biological difference, but the symptoms of menopause and perimenopause may influence and make worse MS symptoms, which is why I believe it's so important to recognise and point women in the right direction to get the right help." There is no evidence that Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) causes cancer. 15:19 Dr Siobhan Kirk: “There is no evidence that HRT causes breast cancer. But if you're taking extra hormones, and you've got abnormal cells, then the extra hormones can promote the growth of the abnormal cells. There's no increased risk of breast cancer with use of HRT under the age of 50, for earlier menopause, because you're just replacing what the uterus should be producing.” There is a lot of research taking place around the world on different aspects of living with MS including menopause. 34:12 Dr Jonathan White: “It is reassuring [for] someone living with MS to know that there is just a colossal amount of research going on around the world on all sorts of aspects of living with MS. I feel like reproductive health and women's health is getting to that place slowly. There's a really big push, I can see that in the research community and I'm glad to hear that menopause and post-reproductive health is getting it too.” Want to learn more about living a full and happy life with multiple sclerosis? to hear our latest tips. More info and links: Read more about menopause and MS New to Overcoming MS? Follow us on social media: Don’t miss out: to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS . If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review. Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing . Make sure you to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS. If you enjoy this podcast and want to support the ongoing work of Overcoming MS, you can leave a donation . Bios: Dr Siobhan Kirk’s Bio: Dr Siobhan Kirk is an Associate Specialist in Gynaecology and Clinical Lead for Sexual & Reproductive Health in Belfast HSC Trust. Siobhan’s career She is a Fellow of both the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists and the Faculty of Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare. She is a British Menopause Society accredited menopause specialist and trainer, based in the menopause clinic in the Mater Hospital, Belfast. She is passionate about all aspects of women’s health, is on NI RCOG and FSRH committees, and is involved in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching. Dr Kate Petheram’s Bio: Dr Kate Petheram is a Consultant Neurologist in Sunderland where she is currently MS lead. Kate’s career background Kate studied medicine in Bristol and stayed in the southwest to do her medical training in Bristol and Exeter moving to London to do Neurology jobs at St Georges and The Royal Free. She made the move to the North East to undertake Neurology specialist training. She is a local PI for a number of observational studies. She is a member of the ABN quality committee and one of the medical advisors for the MS Society. She has recently been appointed as training programme director for the North East. Dr Jonathan White’s Bio: Jonathan’s Career: Dr Jonathan White went to the University of Glasgow Medical School, graduating in 2008 (MBChB). He completed a further five years of training in Obstetrics and Gynecology and is a member of the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists (MRCOG). He works at the Causeway Hospital, Coleraine and has a special interest in early pregnancy and recurrent pregnancy loss. In April 2022, Jonathan was awarded “Doctor of the Year” at the inaugural Northern Ireland Health and Social Care Awards. He contributed to the ‘Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis Handbook: Roadmap to Good Health’ by writing the chapter about medication. Overcoming MS and personal life: Jonathan was diagnosed with RRMS in October 2015 and has been following the Overcoming MS Program ever since. Dr White assists Overcoming MS as a medical advisor and event facilitator. He lives on the North Coast of Northern Ireland, is married to Jenny and father to Angus and Struan. His interests include the great outdoors, cycling and running (reluctantly), reading, rugby, film, and spending time with his family.
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The Mind-Body connection with filmmaker Shannon Harvey | S5E23
08/09/2023
The Mind-Body connection with filmmaker Shannon Harvey | S5E23
Welcome to Living Well with MS, where we are pleased to welcome Shannon Harvey as our guest! Shannon is an Australian journalist and filmmaker specialising in wellness, mental health, and optimising wellbeing for those with chronic conditions. Watch this episode on YouTube . Keep reading for the key episode takeaways and Shannon’s bio. Questions and Timestamps: 03:17 Can you tell us about your film ‘The Connection: Mind Your Body’? 05:22 In your film ‘The Connection’ you interview some of the top scholars on mindfulness and the mind-body connection including Jon Kabat-Zinn and Dr. Herbert Benson. Can you tell us a bit about their work and what you learned from them? 08:05 You mentioned that for your project ‘My Year of Living Mindfully’ (both a film and book) you tried out the science on yourself. How did that go? 10:01 Is there a big difference between doing mindfulness rigorously every day and doing it three or four times a week? 11:21 You've also written a book, ‘The Whole Health Life’, and have interviewed dozens of scientists and patients about living a healthy life with an autoimmune disease. So, what are the takeaways from writing that? 12:55 You count Professor George Jelinek as a personal hero of yours. Could you tell us about what it was like to meet George? 15:44 Could you tell us about your latest project called ‘What if mental illness was preventable’? 18:38 How can listeners find out more about your work and watch your films? Key Takeaways: Making lifelong changes is hard but worth it. 12:19 “‘The Whole Health Life’ is broken up into very practical things that the Overcoming MS community is already [doing]. Things like making sure I regularly exercise, get enough sleep, have meaningful connections with the people that I love, and [how to] nurture those relationships. Then, [it] talks about the fact that making these lifelong changes is really, really hard. The book is also about how we can apply the science of behaviour change to actually make [these] changes [so] that we can actually stick to [them].” Professor George Jelinek shows that people can live well with chronic conditions. 13:04 “I met George (Jelinek) when I was first shooting ‘The Connection’. It was very much the beginning of my understanding of the many things that we can do for ourselves in order to live well with a chronic illness. He blew me away the first time I met him, because he was really well, despite everything. Despite his family history, despite his prognosis, he was just so well, and meeting him was quite inspirational because I thought to myself, ‘well, if, if he can do it, then he's like a living case study for me to show that I can do it, too.’” Shannon’s next project asks, “What if mental illness was preventable?” 16:53 “While I was making ‘My Year of Living Mindfully’, I learned that so much of mental illness actually begins before the age of 20 or 22, I think it is. If you develop a mental illness at a young age, you are significantly more likely to develop it again later in life. If you've developed it a second time, it greatly increases your chances of developing it a third time. So, I'm really personally interested in this idea of prevention.” Want to learn more about living a full and happy life with multiple sclerosis? to hear our latest tips. More info and links: Find out more about ‘ Find out more about ‘’ Find out more about Visit the New to Overcoming MS? Follow us on social media: Don’t miss out: to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS episodes . If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review. Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing . Make sure you to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS. Support us: If you enjoy this podcast and want to support the ongoing work of Overcoming MS, we would really appreciate it if you could leave a donation . Every donation, however small, helps us to share the podcast with more people on how to live well with MS. Shannon’s bio: Shannon Harvey is the multi-award-winning director of two internationally acclaimed documentaries, The Connection: Mind Your Body and My Year of Living Mindfully. She’s currently working on a new film project while balancing her life as the mother of two adventurous boys. Shannon’s career background Shannon was the recipient of the National Press Club of Australia’s “Health Journalist of The Year” award for her first book, The Whole Health Life, which is about finding good health after being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. Shannon has worked as a news and current affairs journalist for leading news organisations such as ABC, Nine Network and Fairfax and her latest book, My Year of Living Mindfully is published by Hachette.
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Webinar highlights: Women’s Heath with Dr. Jonathan White and Professor Helen Rees Leahy | S5E22
08/02/2023
Webinar highlights: Women’s Heath with Dr. Jonathan White and Professor Helen Rees Leahy | S5E22
In this episode, we are sharing the highlights from our webinar 'Women’s Health' with Dr. Jonathan White and Professor Helen Reese Leahy. Dr. Jonathan White is an Obstetrician and Gynecologist, and the Overcoming MS Medical Advisor. Helen lives with primary progressive MS and follows the Overcoming MS Program. They discuss how MS impacts women’s health and how the Overcoming MS Program can best support women’s health. This webinar was recorded as part of our Finding Hope with Overcoming MS webinar series. You can watch the whole webinar or the podcast highlights on YouTube . Keep reading for the key episode takeaways and bio information. Topics and Timestamps 00:56 The history of MS research with women (Helen) 08:15 Reproductive health and MS (Jonathan) 26:14 The Overcoming MS Program supports every aspect of women’s health (Helen) 34:51 Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) (Jonathan) 47:41 Bladder issues with MS and menopause (Jonathan and Helen) Selected Key Takeaways More research is needed to understand menopause’s effect on MS "The age group with the highest number of people with MS, both men and women, is now 55-64. So, if you think about [that] within the general MS population, that's obviously a very large number of women who are either menopausal or postmenopausal. But very, very few women over 50 are recruited for MS research trials. So, the effects of menopause on the lives and health of women with MS, in general, but also our response to DMTs, are very under-researched.” Inflammation can worsen as we age "‘Inflammageing’ is a fascinating term, which essentially [means] the inflamed pro-inflammatory state that people exhibit as they get older. A lot of the conditions we develop at an older age are actually due to increases in inflammation. Cardiovascular disease would be a prime example of that. We think that ‘Inflammageing’ certainly has a role in this mixed bag of MS and menopause, and of course, the obvious one to look at will be oestrogen deficiency. Is HRT beneficial if you have MS? There is some evidence to say that it is. But again, none of those studies are prospective or randomised control studies. Generally speaking, it's not recommended to take HRT just by virtue of having MS to protect yourself. But there's certainly no reason not to [take it] because you have MS [and menopause] and in fact, it may be beneficial. So, if you are struggling with the hot flushes, the night sweats or your urinary symptoms have suddenly got much worse, you're suffering from vaginal dryness, then this is definitely a conversation that you should be having." Bladder issues are common with MS and menopause "With MS in both males and females, we think up to between 50% and 70% of people will have bladder dysfunction due to MS. That usually affects the nerves supplying the muscle, the detrusor muscle in the bladder wall, and makes it very irritable, so it tends to be an overactive or urge problem with MS. That's also very common post-menopause, and the mechanism isn't entirely the same, but it does share a bit, and part of it is certainly to do with oestrogen deficiency." More Info and Links: Listen to Dr. Jonathan White’s podcast episodes on , , , , and Read the paper‘’ Read ‘’ Listen to Dr. Rachael Hunter discuss the 3Ps on New to Overcoming MS? Follow us on social media: Facebook Instagram YouTube Pinterest Website Don’t miss out: to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS episodes . If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review. Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing . Make sure you to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS. Support us: If you enjoy this podcast and want to support the ongoing work of Overcoming MS, we would really appreciate it if you could leave a donation . Every donation, however small, helps us to share the podcast with more people on how to live well with MS. Dr. Jonathan White’s Bio Career: Jonathan went to the University of Glasgow Medical School, graduating in 2008 (MBChB). He completed a further five years of training in Obstetrics and Gynecology and is a member of the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists (MRCOG). He works at the Causeway Hospital, Coleraine and has a special interest in early pregnancy and recurrent pregnancy loss. In April 2022, Jonathan was awarded “Doctor of the Year” at the inaugural Northern Ireland Health and Social Care Awards. He contributed to the ‘Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis Handbook: Roadmap to Good Health’, by writing the chapter about medication. Overcoming MS and personal life: Jonathan was diagnosed with RRMS in October 2015 and has been following the Overcoming MS Program ever since. Dr. White assists Overcoming MS as a medical advisor and event facilitator. He lives on the North Coast of Northern Ireland, is married to Jenny and father to Angus and Struan. His interests include the great outdoors, cycling and running (reluctantly), reading, rugby, film and spending time with his family. Professor Helen Rees Leahy’s bio: MS and Overcoming MS Helen was diagnosed with Primary Progressive MS in 1997 when she was 37 years old. Being ineligible for any Disease Modifying Treatment (DMT) within the UK National Health Service, she began to explore holistic approaches to managing her condition. She discovered Overcoming MS in 2008 and has followed the Program ever since. She was previously a Trustee for Overcoming MS. Personal life and career Helen lives in Conwy, a small, medieval town in North Wales. In 2017, she took medical retirement from the University of Manchester where she was a Professor in the Department of Art History and Cultural Practice. As an Emerita Professor, Helen continues to research and teach doctoral students. She also spends time hand-weaving and learning Welsh, the language of her ancestors.
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Phil King: An MS nurse with Multiple Sclerosis | S5E21
07/26/2023
Phil King: An MS nurse with Multiple Sclerosis | S5E21
Welcome to Living Well with MS, where we are delighted to welcome MS Nurse, Phil King, as our guest! Phil offers a great perspective: as a Multiple Sclerosis nurse who also has MS himself, he has been following the Overcoming MS Program for more than a decade. Watch this episode on YouTube . Keep reading for the key episode takeaways and Phil’s bio. Questions and Timestamps 00:54 Can you tell us about your personal MS journey and professional MS journey? 05:35 Did you become an MS nurse before or after your diagnosis? 11:36 Do you recommend Overcoming MS to your patients? 17:09 Would you say that your patients are typically keen to add in lifestyle modifications? 20:41 How does smoking affect MS? 25:06 Medication is a pillar in the Overcoming MS Program. 26:07 How does having MS yourself help you in your role as an MS nurse? 29:43 What are your tips for us as patients for interacting with nurses and neurologists? 38:48 Meditation can take on many different forms. 40:15 If you could give some advice to someone recently diagnosed or just starting the Overcoming MS program, what would it be? Selected Key Takeaways Be honest with your nurse about your symptoms, even if you think they are embarrassing. 32:19 “I'll be honest, I've had bladder issues before. If I'm talking to a patient and they say, ‘I'm having to get up two or three times a night, and it's embarrassing. Sometimes I don’t make it to the toilet in time. I don't really want to speak to a nurse about it, and I don't want to go into the bladder and bowel clinic about it,’ I say, ‘Well, why not? I've been [to the clinic].’” Work with your healthcare team to manage your condition for life. 37:25 “[MS is] not a condition that is going to end your life very quickly. This is a condition for life. We're now seeing that people with MS have a near-to-normal lifespan, [just like] any other person. So, it's about managing your condition, [and] it's about being honest with your nurse. If your nurse or neurologist asks you to keep a diary [of] how often these symptoms occur, it's really helpful to us because we want you to live the best life that you possibly can.” You can live a very good life with MS. 43:17 "MS is frightening when you're newly diagnosed, but it does settle down, and there is hope. There is a life to be lived with MS. You can live a very good life. I would say that I look at MS as a gift, which I never thought I'd say. It’s shown me so many different things, different ways of living, [and] different friend groups. If I was told tomorrow, 'Phil, we've made a big mistake. You haven't got MS,' I wouldn't change my lifestyle at all." Want to learn more about living a full and happy life with multiple sclerosis? to hear our latest tips. More info and links: Are you a Healthcare Professional? New to Overcoming MS? Follow us on social media: Don’t miss out: to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS episodes . If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review. Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing . Make sure you to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS. Support us: If you enjoy this podcast and want to support the ongoing work of Overcoming MS, we would really appreciate it if you could leave a donation . Every donation, however small, helps us to share the podcast with more people on how to live well with MS. Phil’s bio: Phil’s journey with Overcoming MS and fitness Phil King has been following the Overcoming MS program for 11 years. He discovered Overcoming MS through Rebecca Hoover’s site while he was scouring the internet for help just before diagnosis. Phil still runs, cycles and lift weights (he admits, “I’ll never be Mr. Muscle but I’m working on it!”) Phil’s MS and career as an MS Nurse Phil has only had 1 relapse since diagnosis and follows the Overcoming MS program strictly. He works as a multiple sclerosis nurse for England’s National Health Service and contributed his story to the Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis Handbook.
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Nutrition Facts for MS with Dr Michael Greger | S5E20
07/12/2023
Nutrition Facts for MS with Dr Michael Greger | S5E20
Welcome to Living Well with MS, where we are pleased to welcome Dr Michael Greger as our guest! Dr Greger is a physician, New York Times bestselling author, and internationally recognised speaker on nutrition, food safety, and public health issues. He speaks to Geoff about gluten and MS, how to get enough iron from food and how to ensure you don’t get a leaky gut. Keep reading for the key episode takeaways and Dr Greger’s bio. Make sure you to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS. And if you’re new to Overcoming MS, to find out more about how we support people with MS. Selected Key Takeaways: Fibre from whole intact grains and legumes will decrease intestinal permeability AKA “Leaky Gut”The most important thing to decrease intestinal permeability or [to] seal up a leaky gut is [to get enough] short-chain fatty acids that our body makes from fibre and resistance starch. These prebiotics that we eat are turned by our good gut bacteria into what are called ‘post-biotics’. What are the most concentrated sources of fibre in the diet? Number one, whole intact grains and legumes including beans, split peas, chickpeas and lentils are the most important sources of fibre. There are many health benefits to eating ground flaxseedsI'd rather people get their flaxseed oil within their flaxseeds, so from ground flaxseed (that's part of my daily dozen). Just because, in addition to getting the short-chain Omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid in those flax seeds that are found in the oil, you also get a nice low soluble fibre [and] most importantly the lignans which are cancer-fighting compounds which are not found in oil. Vitamin C improves the absorption of plant-based iron sources To get enough iron from plant-based sources, you combine sources of iron like legumes and whole grains with Vitamin C-rich foods. Vitamin C actually improves the absorption of plant-based iron. Vitamin C-rich foods [are foods such as] citrus, tropical fruits, broccoli [and] bell peppers. You just want to have it all in your stomach at the same time and that will improve your absorption. Related Links: (an early pioneer in lifestyle medicine) New to Overcoming MS? Follow us on social media: Don’t miss out: to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS episodes . If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review. Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing . Make sure you to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS. Support us: If you enjoy this podcast and want to support the ongoing work of Overcoming MS, we would really appreciate it if you could leave a donation . Every donation, however small, helps us to share the podcast with more people on how to live well with MS. Dr Michael Greger’s bio: A founding member and Fellow of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, Michael Greger, M.D., is a physician and internationally recognised speaker on nutrition. He is a graduate of Cornell University School of Agriculture and Tufts University School of Medicine. Dr Greger’s careerHis science-based nonprofit, , offers a free online portal hosting more than 2,000 videos and articles on myriad health topics. Dr Greger is a sought-after lecturer and has presented at the Conference on World Affairs and the World Bank, testified before Congress, and was invited as an expert witness in Oprah Winfrey’s defence in the infamous “meat defamation” trial. Dr Greger’s booksDr Greger is also an acclaimed author. How Not to Die, The How Not to Die Cookbook, and How Not to Diet became instant New York Times Best Sellers. More than a million copies of How Not to Die have been sold. All proceeds Dr Greger receives from the sales of his books and speaking honoraria are donated directly to charity.
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Webinar highlights: Progressive MS with Phil Startin and Helen Rees Leahy | S5E19
07/05/2023
Webinar highlights: Progressive MS with Phil Startin and Helen Rees Leahy | S5E19
In this episode, we are sharing the highlights from our webinar ‘Living Well with Progressive MS’ with Dr Phil Startin and Professor Helen Reese Leahy. Both Phil and Helen have progressive MS and follow the Overcoming MS Program. They discuss what progressive MS is and how the Overcoming MS Program can benefit people with progressive MS. This webinar was recorded in July 2021 as part of our Finding Hope with Overcoming MS webinar series. You can watch the whole webinar or the podcast highlights on YouTube . Keep reading for the key episode takeaways and bio information. Make sure you to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS. And if you’re new to Overcoming MS, to find out more about how we support people with MS. Selected Key Takeaways Overcoming MS is for every type of MS Helen Rees Leahy: “Overcoming MS is really determined to be an inclusive space in which everybody's experience of MS is acknowledged and honoured. So, though we [people with progressive MS] may be small in number, our voice is growing, and we're very much being heard within the Overcoming MS conversation.” Exercise is still important with progressive MS but be gentle and kind with yourself Phil Startin: “Be kind to yourself, try not to judge [and] compare what you can do now to what you used to be able to do. I've certainly spoken to people who refuse to exercise saying exercising reminds them of what they now can't do and that's really upsetting. We still need goals but hold them more lightly [and] more gently.” Think of the Overcoming MS Program as a toolkit rather than a set of rules Helen Reese Leahy: “I started following the Overcoming MS Program in the 2000s. It's become a framework for my daily life. I've never been eligible for any disease-modifying therapy, so in a sense, Overcoming MS is my health care programme. I feel very empowered by following the Program. I am taking responsibility and managing my own health to the best of my ability. I always regard Overcoming MS not as a book of rules, but as a kind of toolkit and to be honest, I really enjoy following the Program.” More info and helpful links: Watch the original webinar Try yoga with Overcoming MS facilitator Veronique Gauthier-Simmons New to Overcoming MS? Follow us on social media: Don’t miss out: to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS episode . If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review. Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing . Make sure you to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS. If you enjoy this podcast and want to support the ongoing work of Overcoming MS, you can leave a donation . Dr. Phil Startin’s bio: Career and Overcoming MS: After a DPhil in Quantum Physics, Phil left his academic roots for a more peripatetic career in management consulting, initially with Price Waterhouse. After years of travelling around the world for both work and pleasure, including a two-year assignment in Geneva, he was diagnosed with Primary Progressive MS (PPMS) in 2007. Phil discovered Overcoming MS in 2011, and coupled with his earlier discovery of mindfulness meditation, it awakened a whole new area in his life. With training and supervision from Bangor University, he now teaches an eight-week mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) course to people with MS and to the general community on a pro-bono basis. He is also a trustee for MS-UK. Personal life: Phil lives in Arrochar, Scotland with his American wife, Cristina, whom he met over a weekend at the Jazz Fest in New Orleans. Phil’s completely convinced that the Overcoming MS Program and mindfulness have positively affected the trajectory of his condition Professor Helen Rees Leahy’s bio: MS and Overcoming MS: Helen was diagnosed with Primary Progressive MS in 1997 when she was 37 years old. Being ineligible for any Disease Modifying Treatment (DMT) within the UK National Health Service, she began to explore holistic approaches to managing her condition. She discovered Overcoming MS in 2008 and has followed the Program ever since. She was previously a Trustee for Overcoming MS. Personal life and career: Helen lives in Conwy, a small, medieval town in North Wales. In 2017, she took medical retirement from the University of Manchester where she was a Professor in the Department of Art History and Cultural Practice. As an Emerita Professor, Helen continues to research and teach doctoral students. She also spends time hand-weaving and learning Welsh, the language of her ancestors.
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Parkinson’s and MS with Dr Jonny Acheson and Dr Jonny White | S5E18
06/21/2023
Parkinson’s and MS with Dr Jonny Acheson and Dr Jonny White | S5E18
In this episode of Living Well with MS, Dr Jonathan White, Overcoming MS Medical Advisor who is living well with MS, welcomes Dr Jonny Acheson as our guest. Jonny Acheson is a physician who lives with Parkinson’s Disease. They chat about Dr Acheson’s diagnosis, the cross-over between MS and Parkinson’s and the importance of healthy lifestyle to manage symptoms for neurological conditions. Watch this episode on YouTube . Keep reading for the key episode takeaways, which include great tips and advice for people living with MS and other neurological conditions. Questions and Timestamps: 02:54 Could you start by just giving us an introduction about yourself, your background, your personal background and what you do for a living? 05:48 What was it that initially brought you to that first consultation? 09:41 Was your consultation done any differently because of the fact that you're a doctor? 18:09 Can you explain what Parkinson's disease is? 20:44 Most people with MS are diagnosed between around the ages of 20 and 40. It's maybe slightly later in Parkinson's disease normally, is that right? 21:37 Does everybody with Parkinson's end up taking Levodo? 25:09 I know for you, exercise has become a really important part of how you manage your Parkinson's. Can you tell us about that side of things? 29:59 How has work changed for you since your diagnosis? 33:12 Do you think that Parkinson's has changed the way you are a doctor in any way? 36:06 When and how do you disclose your diagnosis to your patients? 38:52 The cross over between MS and Parkinson’s lifestyle changes. 41:49 Environmental factors linked to chronic conditions. 45:33 The role of stress and how that affects you. Key Takeaways A lifechanging Diagnosis 11:07 “I was totally blindsided. I thought I had Multiple Sclerosis. I thought I had Motor Neuron Disease. I thought I had I had a brain tumor. So, for him [the doctor] to say those words [you have Idiopathic Parkinson’s disease], it was life changing news, but I think he was quite sensible. He said, "take four weeks off." I think he was wise and doing that - I needed time to get my head around it. Now you don't get your head around it in four weeks, but at least you start to educate yourself about it and some things started to make sense.” Taking time off when possible to process and learn about a diagnosis can benefit your wellbeing 16:31 “There are the invisible symptoms that you don't see: the anxiety, the apathy, the problems sleeping. All that stuff is very difficult for people to understand because they don't see it. The four weeks off really helped me, and I think it taught me two things. One, this disease wasn't going to kill me. Well, not directly anyway. And secondly, that high intensity exercise of two and a half hours a week, may slow progression, and it'll certainly help you feel better and reduce your symptoms.” Find an exercise that you enjoy, that is easy and accessible to keep you motivated 27:50 “I think the difficulty is that the general population has difficulty exercising and motivating themselves to exercise. I think if you're living with a long-term neurological condition, it's so important to keep the motivation. That is really quite a challenge. I think it's about finding something that you enjoy doing. It's finding something that you'll stick at, it's something that you know that is easy, and accessible.” More info and helpful links: Read Find out more about Read about Find out more about Find out more about New to Overcoming MS? Follow us on social media: Don’t miss out: to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS . If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review. Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing . Make sure you to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS. If you enjoy this podcast and want to support the ongoing work of Overcoming MS, you can leave a donation . Dr Jonny Acheson’s Bio: Jonny’s background Jonny Acheson is an Emergency Medicine Consultant in Leicester who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2016 when he was 41. Originally from Northern Ireland, he moved to England in 2004 to continue his medical training. He uses his art to educate people about Parkinson’s and he has recently taken up the post as Director of Engagement at the Parkinson’s Excellence Network. Advocacy for Parkinson’s He advocates about the importance of exercise in managing Parkinson’s and is presently running a campaign to ensure people in hospital with Parkinson’s get their t medication when they need it. Jonny’s personal life He is married to Heather, and they have two children Ben (17) and Anna (12). He enjoys watching Leicester City and playing golf.
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Webinar highlights: NEU updates with Associate Professor Sandra Neate | S5E17
06/14/2023
Webinar highlights: NEU updates with Associate Professor Sandra Neate | S5E17
Welcome to Living Well with MS. In this episode we are delighted to welcome Associate Professor Sandra Neate as our guest! Sandra is from the Neuroepidemiology Unit (NEU) at the University of Melbourne where she researches lifestyle modification and diet quality for people with MS. This webinar was recorded in September 2022 as part of our 'Finding Hope with Overcoming MS - 10th-anniversary edition' webinar series. You can watch the whole webinar or the podcast highlights on YouTube . Keep reading for the key episode takeaways and bio. Make sure you to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS. And if you’re new to Overcoming MS, to find out more about how we support people with MS. Selected Key Takeaways: Evidence shows there are benefits to regular meditation (28:57) “The most compelling result was that meditation resulted in reduced depression, and increased feelings of mastery. It's about the feeling that one's life is under one's own control and not controlled by external forces, feelings of empowerment, that sort of thing. The interesting finding was that those who were meditating even as little as once weekly for 20 minutes were still experiencing a benefit.” Sticking to the Overcoming MS diet can lead to improved health outcomes (21:34) “We've conducted two studies that have looked at sticking with an MS-specific diet. Now some of these are named MS diets, like the Swank diet, the Overcoming MS diet, the Wahls style, etc. One of our studies looked at whether following an MS-specific diet led to improved health outcomes. It found that persistent adherence to the Overcoming MS diet led to lower fatigue, disability and depression than both non-adherence and ceased adherence to the diet. So, your ability to stick with the diet is a very important thing.” The Neuroepidemiology Unit wants to provide the tools for people with MS to take control of their health (45:15) “We're trying to build a picture of what lifestyle modification can do in MS. By doing that we hope to help people with MS find confidence and empowerment through the knowledge they've gained. We hope to provide people with MS with the tools to self-manage because the principles are fairly simple. The practicalities may not be so simple, but the tools are there. We hope that people will live with hope, based on the evidence that we've provided.” Related Links: Watch the original webinar Read the Listen to previous episodes with Sandra Season 3E36 Season 4E47 Find out more about the NEU New to Overcoming MS? Follow us on social media: Don’t miss out: to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS . If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review. Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing . Make sure you to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS. If you enjoy this podcast and want to support the ongoing work of Overcoming MS, you can leave a donation . Associate Professor Sandra Neate’s bio: Sandra’s career Associate Professor Sandra Neate is a clinician researcher who is the head of the Neuroepidemiology Unit (NEU) within the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health at the University of Melbourne in Australia. NEU research The NEU researches lifestyle-related risk factors in MS and health outcomes and the experiences of people who adopt lifestyle modification. The NEU is also developing and researching novel ways to deliver evidence-based information about lifestyle modification to people with MS, including online modalities. Sandra's personal research interest is in talking with people with MS and their families regarding the experiences of lifestyle modification.
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