The MS Gym Podcast

In today's podcast, we delve into the topic of mindfulness with our guest Stephen Schettini. Stephen, AKA the inner monk, shares his experiences as a mindfulness coach and as a former Tibetan monk. In our episode, he shares how mindfulness: Differs from meditation Creates self-awareness Is bypassed by habitual behaviours Draws us into authenticity Allows us to feel the full spectrum of emotions Helps those with a chronic illness Provides realistic hope Makes us aware of negative thinking patterns Works best within a community Becomes part of your daily rhythm Visit schettini.com to learn more about Stephen Schettini and his work.

Join us for a special podcast episode with the CEO of The MS Gym, Ken Allen. In today’s interview we’ll learn about: Ken and his career before The MS Gym How he met founder Trevor Wicken The MS Gym’s evolution and ethos The The MS Gym product offerings Its online growth and social media outreach Who’s not a good fit for The MS Gym Ken’s views about partnership and affiliates The MS Gym’s program updates Plans for MS Gym community events

Take a journey overseas as we address the rarely discussed topic of mental health in the chronic illness community. Join our podcast guest Lynn as she shares about her: Early childhood symptoms Symptoms dismissed as anxiety Numerous doctors appointments but yielding no results Medical team delaying a diagnosis out of fear of legal action Physiotherapist (sister) "diagnosing" her with MS Mother's catastrophic reaction to diagnosis Various MS medications Struggle with mental illness and isolation Loss of friends due to disease progression New found love of baking Story with The MS Gym Numerous setbacks caused by infections Travel plans with her family "Why" MS GYM LINKS: THE MS GYM Motivational Monday - Reconnecting with your WHY

In today's podcast, we meet Michelle and explore her passion for advocacy, while she navigates her own health challenges.Michelle will share about her: Sudden, troublesome symptoms Numerous diagnostic tests Official MS diagnosis Family history with MS Post-secondary education and career Passion to help vulnerable groups Rollercoaster ride with different DMTs Discovery of The MS Gym Dedication to exercise Volunteer opportunities Ability to advocate for herself and others Goals and achievements THE MS GYM LINKS: THE MS GYM

Let's travel down under to chat with Australian MS Gym member Kerry. Learn about her rare disease and journey of: Being diagnosed with Inclusion Body Myositis (IBM) Battling muscle atrophy Living with a disease that has no treatment options Embracing the Wahls protocol and experiencing symptom relief Finding The MS Gym Using her research skills to learn more about her disease Traveling to the U.S. to attend the Wahls coaching program Joining an international MS Gym Buddy Group to find community Refocusing her schedule to manage family priorities Training like an "athlete" Planning goals and future travel plans Self-care

In today's podcast we delve into the chaos with MS Gym veteran Julie. Join us as we travel down the winding path as Julie shares her: Initial symptoms Years of being gaslight Delayed MS diagnosis Son's cancer diagnosis Ability to find calm and community in the storm Sudden worsening of symptoms and departure from work Environmental triggers and isolation Change in life after finding The MS Gym Dedication to exercise and physical victories Memorable experiences at her children's weddings Goals for the future MS Gym Links The MS Gym Confident In Crisis - Motivation Monday Overcoming Your Crisis of Belief - Motivation Monday

Be encouraged by today's podcast as we talk with long time MS Gym member Joann. Journey with us as we unpack Joann's: Initial symptoms Challenges of navigating an MS diagnosis before the internet Choice to ignore unhelpful advice from medical providers Determination to continue her career Decision to pursue accommodations at work Routine with work and exercise Choice of medications Distaste for "labels" Feelings of being mistreated because of her disability Path to finding The MS Gym Passions and future desires Advice to the newly diagnosed Tenacity to keep moving forward MS GYM LINKS: The MS GYM

Join us for our first episode of the fall season as we talk with MS Gym veteran, Yulia, and learn about the many tools she's found and used in her healing journey with MS. We'll talk about her: Initial symptoms and adolescent diagnosis Course of treatments - both pharmaceutical and natural Introduction to The MS Gym Love for The MS Gym community Freedom from loneliness and anxiety Tool belt - CPAP machine, Yoga Nidra, PEMF, EMS, Wim Hof Changes in diet and difficulties with Intermittent fasting Issues with body image and disordered eating Use of mobility aids for exercise Passion for exercise Advice to the newly diagnosed Victorious trip to Singapore Affirmation of her hard work MS Gym Links The MS Gym

In today's message Jodi Feltham shares about her own humble beginnings and healing journey from a broken rib injury. She also recounts the early beginnings of The MS Gym.

Join us for our podcast as we learn more about Brenda, one of the Original Gymmers (OG) in The MS Gym. Today, she'll talk about her: Initial symptoms Unexpected diagnosis DMT and treatment choices Journey to find The MS Gym Her commitment to exercise Her change in vocation Travel bug origins Mobility aids that assist her in her passion for global travel Upcoming plans Advice to fellow Chronic Illness Warriors MS Gym Links The MS Gym

Social media is all around us and is a valuable tool for spreading knowledge, influencing others, and creating awareness. Today, we will learn from Toronto-born Christina Andaya as she shares about how she uses social media to: Create community and share about her own MS journey Raise awareness about atypical MS symptoms and unusual diagnosis in minority ethnic groups Collaborate with organizations, such as MS Canada and #sothisisMS Showcase her involvement in the Miss Galaxy Canada competition Explore career opportunities Learn more about Christina Andaya. Instagram Christina Andaya - Social Media Marketing Specialist

With summer, vacation months upon us, at least here in the U.S., for those of us living with mobility issues, it adds on an extra layer of complexity and consideration into planning a trip.Things like...Is your vacation rental gonna have steps? Is it going to have an elevator? Are you going to be able to get to your connecting flight fast enough through the airport? Are you going to hold everybody back because you're slow? Are you even going to be able to enjoy yourself on the trip? You know what I'm talking about. Today's guest is going to tell you how you can conquer all of your fears with ease...on a scooter. That's right. It's the mobility device you didn't know you needed. Maybe the mere thought of using one makes you want to stop listening. Maybe you think you're not ready or bad enough yet to use a scooter. Well, you can keep wasting your time and your physical energy trying to get all of your daily tasks completed. You can struggle through trying to keep up with the crowd. You can continue to rely on others to get you where you need or want to go. Or, you can listen to today's guest debunk all of your misgivings and tell you how it's done. Join me in welcoming Jodi Johnson, one of our fellow MS Gymmers, to the podcast. EPISODE NOTES: - Rapid decline - Most symptoms -related - Persistent foot drop - Tripping - Enter mobility aids - From strolling to rolling - Starting with canes - The joy and frustration that came with deciding to use a mobility aid - Embarrassment - Traveling with aids - Discovering a workaround for walking longer distances - Renting a wheelchair even though she wasn't "ready" - Feeling small - Being an ambulatory wheelchair user - Trying out a walker/wheelchair combo…even in Portugal and Costa Rica - Getting unapologetically used to using a mobility aid - Mobility aids in the home - Getting her first scooter - Pride Gogo Scooter - Shocked at the freedom and portability of a scooter - Going to the mall again! - Getting her independence back - Using multiple mobility aids depending on how she was feeling on any given day - Canes/walker/wheelchair/scooter - Acquiring her bumblebee scooter - Flying with a foldable scooter - The Transformer by Solax - Getting a lift for her car - Bruno Scooter Lifts for vehicles - Opening up doors for travel - Been on over 40+ flights - Being aware of potential airline damage LINKS: Jodi Johnson on Instagram Pride Gogo Scooter Solax Transformer Automatic Folding Scooter Bruno Scooter Lifts for vehicles THE MS GYM: Website YouTube Facebook Instagram BROOKE SLICK: Website Instagram

Welcome back to our 3rd and initially unplanned episode with Dr. Richard Burt, author of the recently released book, Everyday Miracles and the OG provider of HSCT here in the US. Let me explain why we thought it would be useful for our listeners, as well as Dr. Burt to come back and re-hash some of Dr. Burt's touch points from the first two episodes. In particular his stance on NOT treating PPMS and non-active SPMS with HSCT. You see, after the first two episodes, I witnessed rumblings of concern and discontent within the online HSCT community. I belong to multiple HSCT groups and most had at least one or two conversations going on addressing Dr. Burt's most recent interviews, including ours on this podcast. So, who was most concerned? Well, primarily PPMS patients, and non-active SPMS patients who are either considering HSCT, are already booked to have HSCT or those who've recently had HSCT. I 100% understand how Dr. Burt's stance on the efficacy of HSCT on their types of MS would have been reason for pause. Knowing that, I felt a responsibility to revisit the topic with him and drill down on the details. It would also give us a chance to ask him a couple of questions we missed on the first interview, like dietary restrictions before and after HSCT as well as questions on second transplants. We feel so fortunate that Dr. Burt graciously agreed to come on again and address a lot of these pressing issues. Also, if you hold on until the end, Jodi and I have a short chat about what we took away from today's interview and recap our thoughts on our entire experience with Dr. Burt. Because she and I have had HSCT, and each in different facilities, Russia and Mexico, we have a unique perspective and are able to relate to the concerns of an HSCT patient no matter what stage they're at in their HSCT journey. EPISODE NOTES: - 2nd transplants - Were you misdiagnosed? - Do you even have MS? - Many diseases mimic MS - The average percentage of patients who relapse post HSCT - Explaining in detail his thoughts on treating PPMS and non-active SPMS patients - What is RPMS (relapsing progressive MS) and would he offer HSCT to RPMS patients? - The type of regimen he would recommend If progressive MS is treated with HSCT - If not HSCT, what types of treatments does he recommend for PPMS and non-active SPMS patients? - Does he have any dietary recommendations for HSCT patients either before or after HSCT? - His thoughts on carbohydrates - The Epstein Barr virus (EBV) connection to MS - Following EBV titers after transplant LINKS: Episode #1 on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ezjhqHtYA8Y This episode, #2 of 2, on YouTube: https://youtu.be/40dqLdIeZlc Dr. Burt's book, EVERYDAY MIRACLES: https://www.amazon.com/Everyday-Miracles-Scleroderma-Autoimmune-Hematopoietic/dp/1637631251 Dr. Burt's website: https://astemcelljourney.com/about/drrichardburt/ Email to apply for HSCT with Dr. Burt: BURTRRMSTrial@scrippshealth.org THE MS GYM: Website YouTube Facebook Instagram BROOKE SLICK: Website Instagram JODI FELTHAM: TikTok Instagram