Living Well with Multiple Sclerosis

In conversation with Caroline Clarke | S2E11

Bio:   Caroline Clarke was appointed group chief executive of the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust in February 2019, following her role as deputy chief executive over the past seven years.   Caroline was the trust’s chief finance officer between 2011 and 2018 and in 2012 she was made the finance director of the year by the Healthcare Financial Management Association. She was formerly director of strategy at NHS North Central London. Prior to that she was an associate partner in KPMG's health strategy team.   She has spent most of her career in NHS finance, having been director of finance at the Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and City and Hackney Primary Care Trust.   Caroline is a trustee of Overcoming MS and the 2020 President of the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA), the representative body for finance staff in healthcare.   Links:   About Caroline Clarke About Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust   Coming up next:   Coming up next, treat yourself to a morsel of insight from the OMS community on Living Well with MS Coffee Break #4, which launches on Monday, June 8.   On the next full-length episode of Living Well with MS, launching June 17, 2020, we have the pleasure of welcoming Vickie Hadge, who serves as Ambassador for the OMS Circle in Connecticut. Vickie will tell us all about the importance of building community and the role it plays in helping people with MS find answers, support and hope.   Don’t miss out:   Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. You can catch any episode of Living Well with MS here or on your favorite podcast listening app. Don’t be shy – if you like the program, leave a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you tune into the show.

Coffee Break with community member Sarah T | S2E10

Welcome to Living Well with MS Coffee Break #3, where we travel to the San Francisco Bay Area to welcome Sarah T as our guest!   As you now know, we decided to do something a little different in expanding the range of content we produce here at Living Well with MS. To honor the community that forms the beating heart of Overcoming MS, this special series called Coffee Break features short interviews with members of the OMS community talking about their personal journeys adopting and staying on the OMS 7 Step Recovery Program, the challenges they encountered and how they overcame them, and their tips and tricks for sticking to the path that leads to better health.   We hope you enjoy and learn from these intermezzos between our regular episodes, and as always, your comments and suggestions are always welcome by emailing podcast@overcomingms.org.   Bio:   Sarah lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and two young children. She has spent 15 years consulting in pharmaceutical and academic health outcomes research, and she is most recently a Director of Research at a health technology company. When she was first diagnosed with MS, she was devastated. She immediately dove into the research on MS, and Dr. Roy Swank’s findings gave her much hope. Sarah adopted the Swank diet along with starting a disease modifying medication. She discovered George Jelinek’s book and OMS in late 2012 and has appreciated its evidence-based and holistic approach to managing the disease. She is currently sheltering in place with her family, and, like many other parents across the world, she is appreciating teachers like never before.   Questions:   Can you tell us a little about yourself, your family, your life, where you live and anything about yourself you’d like to share? When were you diagnosed with MS and how long have you been following the Overcoming MS 7 Step Recovery Program? What is your favorite thing about the program, namely what do you feel has made the biggest positive impact? What was your greatest challenge in adopting the OMS program, and how did you overcome it? How have you had to adapt your daily healthy habits to the new realities imposed by COVID-19? Do you have any other tips or tricks you can share with our audience that might help them on their journeys?   Links:   OMS COVID-19 main resource page Excellent COVID-19 resource page from Dr. Gavin Giovannoni   If you post something concerning OMS and COVID-19, especially if it’s a bit of good news during this rough patch, don’t forget to use the hashtag #positivelyOMS.   Coming up on our next episode:   On the next full-length episode of Living Well with MS, launching May 27, 2020, we have the honor of welcoming Caroline Clarke, Chief Executive of the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, to hear both her personal and professional insights on Overcoming MS.   Don’t miss out:   Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. You can catch any episode of Living Well with MS here or on your favorite podcast listening app. Don’t be shy – if you like the program, leave a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you tune into the show.

Gut health: your microbiome and you with Kim Venter | S2E9

Bio:   Kim Venter is a British South African currently living in London who was diagnosed with MS in 2010. Kim is a trained teacher, professional psychological counsellor and nutritional consultant who thoroughly enjoys working with people and helping them overcome various challenges in their lives. Kim is particularly interested in Health Psychology, which is to say exploring the impact on the mind of what is going in the body. She feels that this training has increased her awareness of the psychological impact MS has and how the food we eat affects the health of our minds. Kim’s website offers a huge amount of resources as well as a course covering diet, exercise and mindfulness.    Questions:   What is the microbiome and why is it so important? The gut-immune system connection – how does what we eat affect our immune system? What is Leaky Gut Syndrome and how it can give rise to symptoms? The gut brain axis – isn’t there a blood-brain barrier that stops foreign substances from injuring the brain? How do you keep the gut healthy with probiotics and prebiotics (food for the good bacteria)? Is it best to take prebiotic and probiotic tablets, or can we use certain foods to the same effect? How does gut health or lack thereof impact MS?   Links:   FODMAP Food Database App About Kim Venter   Coming up next:   Coming up next, treat yourself to a morsel of insight from the OMS community on Living Well with MS Coffee Break #3, which launches on Monday, May 11.   On the next full-length episode of Living Well with MS, launching May 27, 2020, we have the honor of welcoming Caroline Clarke, Chief Executive of the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, to hear both her personal and professional insights on Overcoming MS.   Don’t miss out:   Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. You can catch any episode of Living Well with MS here or on your favorite podcast listening app. Don’t be shy – if you like the program, leave a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you tune into the show.

Coffee Break with community member Vicky Argyle | S2E8

Welcome to our second installment of Living Well with MS Coffee Break, where we welcome Vicky Argyle as our guest! As you now know, we decided to do something a little different in expanding the range of content we produce here at Living Well with MS. To honor the community that forms the beating heart of Overcoming MS, this special series called Coffee Break features short interviews with members of the OMS community talking about their personal journeys adopting and staying on the OMS 7 Step Recovery Program, the challenges they encountered and how they overcame them, and their tips and tricks for sticking to the path that leads to better health. We hope you enjoy and learn from these intermezzos between our regular episodes, and as always, your comments and suggestions are always welcome by emailing podcast@overcomingms.org.   Bio:   Vicky originally worked as a music publisher in London before moving to Scotland in the late 1980s and retraining as a massage and reflexology therapist and teacher of Aura-Soma. 15 years later, she moved back to England where she ran a Soil Association Organic Box Scheme in Herefordshire before going on to work in the Renewable Energy Industry. Vicky was diagnosed with MS in 2013, and now works part-time for her partner, a farmer in South Somerset. Finally, she has a chance to put some focus into her true passion, writing.   Questions:   Can you tell us a little about yourself, your family, your life, where you live and anything about yourself you’d like to share? When were you diagnosed with MS and how long have you been following the Overcoming MS 7 Step Recovery Program? What is your favorite thing about the program, namely what do you feel has made the biggest positive impact? What was your greatest challenge in adopting the OMS program, and how did you overcome it? How have you had to adapt your daily healthy habits to the new realities imposed by COVID-19? Do you have any other tips or tricks you can share with our audience that might help them on their journeys?   Links:   OMS COVID-19 main resource page Excellent COVID-19 resource page from Dr. Gavin Giovannoni   If you post something concerning OMS and COVID-19, especially if it’s a bit of good news during this rough patch, don’t forget to use the hashtag #positivelyOMS.   Coming up on our next episode:   On the next full-length episode of Living Well with MS, launching May 6, 2020, Geoff Allix  gets a “macro” view on a critically important “micro” topic, Gut Health: Your Microbiome and You, from Kim Venter, a trained teacher, professional psychological counsellor and nutritional consultant, who helps us understand the connection between gut health and the immune system.   Don’t miss out:   Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. You can catch any episode of Living Well with MS here or on your favorite podcast listening app. Don’t be shy – if you like the program, leave a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you tune into the show.

Journaling as a path to healing with Mari McCarthy | S2E7

Bio:   Mari L. McCarthy is an award-winning and international bestselling author whose books Journaling Power: How to Create the Happy, Healthy Life You Want to Live and Heal Yourself with Journaling Power have introduced people around the world to the power journaling has to help heal the body. After losing feeling and function in the right side of her body in 1998, Mari was diagnosed with MS. Undaunted, she took up a daily journaling practice which over time helped improve her MS symptoms to the extent that she is now an accomplished recording artist with three full-length albums. Mari’s website, CreateWriteNow.com, is the platform she runs to share her methods, expertise and passion for journaling.   Questions:   Can you please share with our audience a bit about your own personal story, and your journey since being diagnosed with MS? What are the key benefits of keeping a journal? Is there any link between journaling and healing? Do you think there’s a connection between your journaling and your music? Can keeping a journal actually improve our health? What are your best tips for someone who has never journaled to start journaling? Is it important to journal using pen and paper, or would a journaling app work just as well?   Links:   CreateWriteNow About Mari McCarthy CreateWriteNow Facebook CreateWriteNow Twitter CreateWriteNow YouTube   Coming up on our next episode:   Coming up next, treat yourself to a morsel of insight from OMS community member Vicky Argyle on Living Well with MS Coffee Break #2, which launches on Monday, April 20.   On the next full-length episode of Living Well with MS, launching May 6, 2020, Geoff Allix  gets a “macro” view on a critically important “micro” topic, Gut Health: Your Microbiome and You, from Kim Venter, a trained teacher, professional psychological counsellor and nutritional consultant, who helps us understand the connection between gut health and the immune system.   Don’t miss out:   Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. You can catch any episode of Living Well with MS here or on your favorite podcast listening app. Don’t be shy – if you like the program, leave a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you tune into the show.

Coffee Break with community member Maisie Markham | S2E6

Welcome to our first Living Well with MS Coffee Break episode! We decided to do something a little different in expanding the range of content we produce here at Living Well with MS. Since our community forms the beating heart of Overcoming MS, we are commencing this special series called Coffee Break, which features short interviews with members of the OMS community talking about their personal journeys adopting and staying on the OMS 7 Step Recovery Program, the challenges they encountered and how they overcame them, and their tips and tricks for sticking to the path that leads to better health. We hope you enjoy and learn from these intermezzos between our regular episodes, and as always, your comments and suggestions are always welcome by emailing podcast@overcomingms.org.   Questions:   Can you tell us a little about yourself, your family, your life, where you live and anything about yourself you’d like to share? When were you diagnosed with MS and how long have you been following the Overcoming MS 7 Step Recovery Program? What is your favorite thing about the program, namely what do you feel has made the biggest positive impact? What was your greatest challenge in adopting the OMS program, and how did you overcome it? How have you had to adapt your daily healthy habits to the new realities imposed by COVID-19? Do you have any other tips or tricks you can share with our audience that might help them on their journeys?   Bio:   Maisie lives in the Cotswolds of England where she settled in 2018 after travelling the world and being constantly on the move with the British Army. She has two grown children. In 2016, while training for the Berlin marathon, she noticed numbness in her feet, initially thinking it was due to the stress of marathon prep. The numbness continued to spread and caused her difficulty in walking. Running was out of the question. Six months later, after medical referrals and testing, she was diagnosed with MS. Since then, Maisie has left the Army, discovered OMS and is just about to finish an MSc in Nutritional Therapy. She is back to running and last year completed the London and Snowdonia marathons and took part in the Thames Path Challenge for OMS. She is currently cocooned in the Cotswolds due to COVID-19 and the immune suppressing drugs she is taking for her MS.   Links:   OMS COVID-19 main resource page Excellent COVID-19 resource page from Dr. Gavin Giovannoni   If you post something concerning OMS and COVID-19, especially if it’s a bit of good news during this rough patch, don’t forget to use the hashtag #positivelyOMS.   Coming up on our next episode:   On the next full episode of Living Well with MS, launching April 15, 2020, Geoff Allix explores the power journaling has to help heal the body with Mari L. McCarthy, an award-winning and international bestselling author of books such as Journaling Power: How to Create the Happy, Healthy Life You Want to Live and Heal Yourself with Journaling Power. The power of Mari’s own story and the impact she has had on people all over the world will open your eyes.   Don’t miss out:   Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. You can catch any episode of Living Well with MS here or on your favorite podcast listening app. Don’t be shy – if you like the program, leave a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you tune into the show.

The COVID-19 crisis and MS with Dr Jonathan White | S2E5

Whether one has MS or not, the world is going through an unprecedented and difficult time. So, we have created this special episode of Living Well with MS, featuring Dr. Jonathan White, to better understand the coronavirus, or COVID-19, pandemic and how it affects people with MS. Please be aware that knowledge of this virus is changing rapidly, and we are presenting the best information that we have at time of recording, but you should check for updates regularly, with your healthcare professionals and from credible sources on the Web, including the links below in the show notes, to ensure that you have the latest advice. And remember, stay safe, healthy and sane while we work our way through this chapter in history.   Questions:   What is Coronavirus/COVID-19? What are the early signs that might indicate you’ve contracted it? What are the key steps you should take if you think you have COVID-19? Is it especially dangerous if you have a condition like MS? Why? We have been hearing a lot about social distancing and self-isolation. Is this especially important for people with MS? What’s the difference between self-isolation and social distancing and what are your recommendations for implementation? Do DMTs affect COVID-19? What happens in these scenarios? Likely low-risk DMTs Likely medium-risk DMTs Likely high-risk DMTs HSCT (Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation) What if I’ve just had a round of treatment… which extra precautions should I take? Possible positive effects of DMTs How do you keep a sound mind and maintain a healthy exercise regimen at a time when things seem so bleak and the world is grinding to a halt? Should I attend hospital visits? I know that in the OMS book, George says not to take multi vitamins. Does this advice still stand during the pandemic if people are struggling to get enough nutrients from food as they either can’t get to a shop or there is very little food in the shops?   Bio:   Dr. Jonathan White, a practicing medical doctor in Belfast, Northern Ireland, also works with Overcoming MS as a medical consultant and event facilitator. You can learn more about Dr. White’s professional background here.   Links:   OMS COVID-19 main resource page Excellent COVID-19 resource page from Dr. Gavin Giovannoni A video on COVID-19 from neurologist Dr. Brandon Beaber A video on COVID-19 from neurologist Dr. Aaron Boster   If you post something concerning OMS and COVID-19, especially if it’s a bit of good news during this rough patch, don’t forget to use the hashtag #positivelyOMS.   Coming up on our next episode:   On the next episode of Living Well with MS, launching April 15, 2020, Geoff Allix explores the power journaling has to help heal the body with Mari L. McCarthy, an award-winning and international bestselling author of books such as Journaling Power: How to Create the Happy, Healthy Life You Want to Live and Heal Yourself with Journaling Power. The power of Mari’s own story and the impact she has had on people all over the world will open your eyes.   Don’t miss out:   Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. You can catch any episode of Living Well with MS here or on your favorite podcast listening app. Don’t be shy – if you like the program, leave a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you tune into the show.

Using exercise to build neuroplasticity with Dr Gretchen Hawley | S2E4

We all know that exercise is a key component of healthy living, and particularly important too if you have MS, which is why it plays such a prominent role as one of the steps of the OMS 7 Step Recovery Program. But did you know that when you’re exercising your body, you’re working out your nervous system as well? Our guest on this episode of Living Well with MS, Dr. Gretchen Hawley, will explain neuroplasticity (for us lay people, that’s the brain’s ability to continually change, a sign of brain health) and how exercise can impact it, as well as share her insights on helping people with MS improve their strength, balance and mobility.   Bio:   Gretchen Hawley is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and a Multiple Sclerosis Certified Specialist. After graduating from Simmons University in Boston, she developed a Multiple Sclerosis program alongside two of the city's top MS neurologists. Dr. Hawley utilizes the concept of neuroplasticity to improve strength, balance and walking in those with MS by using specific, functional exercises. She has been a keynote speaker at several National MS Society events and other MS focused conferences in 2018 and 2019 and presents frequently to MS groups. Dr. Hawley brings a keen understanding of the challenges faced by people living with MS and has developed a virtual physical therapy program to help people improve their MS symptoms while in the comfort of their own home and guided by an MS specialist. Dr. Hawley resides in Buffalo with her dog, Finn.     Questions:   How is MS physical therapy different from orthopedic/"regular" physical therapy? What are some of the pitfalls for someone with MS who doesn’t get specialized PT? What is neuroplasticity and how does it work? What are some tips to manage fatigue when exercising, and how can exercise help with fatigue? How do you handle goal setting with your PT? Tell us about your program, MSing Link? How is it designed to help people with MS who don’t have access to a PT who specializes in MS?   Links:   The MSing Link Behind the Scenes Video About Gretchen Hawley   Coming up on our next episode:   On the next episode of Living Well with MS, Geoff Allix explores the power journaling has to help heal the body with Mari L. McCarthy, an award-winning and international bestselling author of books such as Journaling Power: How to Create the Happy, Healthy Life You Want to Live and Heal Yourself with Journaling Power. The power of Mari’s own story and the impact she has had on people all over the world will open your eyes.   Don’t miss out:   Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. You can catch any episode of Living Well with MS here or on your favorite podcast listening app. Don’t be shy – if you like the program, leave a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you tune into the show.  

Lifestyle choices and their impact on MS with Dr Aaron Boster | S2E3

Living Well with MS is proud to welcome back Dr. Aaron Boster, an Ohio-based neurologist specializing in MS, whom we featured last season on an episode exploring how to make the right medication choices when you have MS. Now we tap his expertise to help us understand the complicated calculus of how the lifestyle choices we make might impact MS and our overall health. We are surrounded by temptations – from that delicious pint of ice cream to the lure of sleeping in instead of hitting the gym – but the lifestyle choices we make come at a price. Whether or not you have MS (but particularly if you do), it’s important to understand the bargain you’re making between living a healthy life and enjoying some of your favorite vices. We hope this episode helps spark your thinking on this crucial topic.   Dr. Aaron Boster’s Bio:   Dr. Aaron Boster is an award-winning, widely published and Board-certified neurologist who currently serves as the Director of the Neuroscience Infusion Center at OhioHealth. Witnessing his uncle’s diagnosis with MS when he was 12, he and his family came to see a lack of coherence in the way MS was treated at the time. That experienced informed Dr. Boster’s drive to do things differently. At OhioHealth, he spearheads a revolutionary model in MS treatment and patient care drawing on interdisciplinary resources and putting patients and families first. Dr. Boster is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Neurology at Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, and a former Assistant Professor of Neurology at The Ohio State University, where he also formerly headed the Neuroimmunology division. Dr. Boster received his MD from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. He also manages a popular YouTube channel covering all aspects of MS.   Questions in this episode include:   What comprises your “4 for 4” approach? The OMS 7 Step Recovery Program includes stress reduction and specifically encourages mindfulness. How does this align with your “4 for 4” approach? Another OMS pillar is to encourage a healthy lifestyle for family members because they have an increased risk of possibly getting MS. Do you agree with this thinking?   Coming up on our next episode:   Did you know exercise can help build neuroplasticity (for us lay people, that’s the brain’s ability to continually change, a sign of brain health)? On the following installment of Living Well with MS, Geoff Allix dives into this mind-expanding topic with Dr. Gretchen Hawley, a physical therapist and MS specialist based in Boston who is also the founder of the MS wellness program, The MSing Link.   Don’t miss out:   Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. You can catch any episode of Living Well with MS here or on your favorite podcast listening app. Don’t be shy – if you like the program, leave a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you tune into the show.

A conversation with Jessie Ace, host of the ‘DISabled to ENabled’ podcast | S2E2

Thanks for listening in to our second season’s second episode. Deuces are wild, so we are breaking with our usual format and setting the stage for two podcasters to have a frank and intimate conversation about their respective journeys. Joining Geoff for this episode is the talented Jessie Ace – blogger, illustrator and host of the DISabled to ENabled, a podcast that aims to inspire people living with chronic illness.   Jessie has interviewed everyone from Paralympians and radio DJs to chronic illness bloggers and marathon runners. She’s also a writer and illustrator for the biggest MS charities worldwide, such as the multiple sclerosis today, National MS Society, MS Society UK, shift.MS, MS-UK amongst others, and has also written articles and illustrated for Momentum magazine, MS Matters and New Pathways. Jessie was diagnosed with MS at 22 and says MS makes her feel blessed every day to be able to live a new life and to connect with so many amazing people. Her own experience of being newly diagnosed so young was negative and scary, so she wants to change this for other young people and support them through the process by being a patient advocate.   In lieu of specific questions, Jessie and Geoff discuss their respective MS diagnoses and the challenges they faced, as well as focusing a bit on OMS and how its 7 Step Recovery Program can help add a ray of hope to people with MS.   Links:   Jessie Ace’s Website From DISabled to ENabled Podcast Jessie Ace’s Blog Enabled Warriors on Facebook Enabled Warriors on Instagram Geoff Allix’s Bio   Our next episode, Dr. Aaron Boster, an Ohio-based board-certified clinical neuroimmunologist specializing in MS, returns to the guest chair to rejoin Geoff in discussing lifestyle choices and how many the right (or the wrong) ones can impact your MS. Be sure to tune in!   Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. You can catch any episode of Living Well with MS here or on your favorite podcast listening app. Don’t be shy – if you like the program, leave a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you tune into the show.