MS Podcasts

In this episode of the MS Boost, we discuss the challenges of living with chronic illness with psychotherapist Katie Willard Virant. Katie, a practitioner and author of the blog 'Chronically Me' on Psychology Today, shares her insights into the societal pressures that lead people to wear a 'costume of wellness' despite their health struggles, which inspired her article 'Feeling Sick, Faking Well', where Katie explores the concept of projecting wellness to meet societal expectations and the implications of this facade on mental health.

We chat about how this can look for people in their everyday lives, and the particular impact that this may have on mothers with MS, given that the majority of people diagnosed with MS are female and often in the prime of family life.

Katie also provides advice on how people can begin to shift towards being more authentic and the importance of taking up space in the world despite living with chronic illness. This episode provides a deep dive into the emotional complexities of living with an ongoing health condition and strategies for coping with societal pressures.

With thanks to Katie Willard Virant.

You can read the episode transcript here

For more support, reach out to Lifeline on 13 11 14 or online at, www.lifeline.org.au, or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636 or access free, confidential support online, www.beyondblue.org.au

Reach out for support:
MS Plus Connect 1800 042 138 or email [email protected]

Get in touch to share your comments and suggestions about this episode, or for future guests and episode topics by emailing [email protected]

Views expressed on the MS Podcast, including any discussions or reference to medications or treatments by podcast guests, do not necessarily represent the views of MS Plus and should not be seen as either an endorsement or rejection of a treatment.  

MS Plus does not recommend any specific treatment for people living with MS. Decisions about any treatments, taking into consideration the potential benefits and side effects for each individual’s circumstances, should be made in careful consultation with the person’s neurologist or health care professional. 

Vitamin D has a complex relationship with MS, with links to increased risk of diagnosis, influencing gene expression in immune cells and generally being lower in people living with MS. In this episode of the MS Boost, we speak with Dr Wei, neurologist and researcher from the Alfred MSNI clinic, and discuss how much vitamin D people with MS need, how to get adequate levels of Vitamin D, as well as the role of supplementation in children of parents with MS.

With thanks to Dr Wei Yeh.

Presenter:

Dr Wei Yeh is a post-doctoral research fellow in the Department of Neuroscience, School of Translational Medicine, and neurologist in the Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology (MSNI) Unit at Alfred Health. His PhD investigated modifiable factors which interact with MS, specifically vitamin D immunobiology, through transcriptomics, and peri-pregnancy disease activity.

You can read the episode transcript here.

Reach out for support:
MS Plus Connect 1800 042 138 or email [email protected]

Get in touch to share your comments and suggestions about this episode, or for future guests and episode topics by [email protected]

Views expressed on the MS Podcast, including any discussions or reference to medications or treatments by podcast guests, do not necessarily represent the views of MS Plus and should not be seen as either an endorsement or rejection of a treatment.  

MS Plus does not recommend any specific treatment for people living with MS. Decisions about any treatments, taking into consideration the potential benefits and side effects for each individual’s circumstances, should be made in careful consultation with the person’s neurologist or health care professional. 

This episode of the MS Boost features Nicola Palfrey, a child clinical psychologist and head of clinical leadership at Headspace, focusing on how parents diagnosed with multiple sclerosis can effectively communicate with their teenagers about the diagnosis.

Nicola shares her views on teens and how they often get a bad rap, and the complexities of adolescent development. Nicola chats about the importance of respecting teens' experiences and offers strategies for parents to engage in meaningful conversations, that teens may be more receptive to.

Nicola also provides parents with tips about signs to look out for that may hint your teen isn’t coping and may need some additional support, and the importance of teens being part of the family conversation.

With thanks to Nicola Palfrey.

Nicola Palfrey is a Clinical Psychologist and currently works as Head of Clinical Leadership at headspace National where she works to support the best possible delivery of care to young people experiencing mental health concerns. She also has a lived experience as a young carer to her mother who had MS.

If you need more support, reach out to Lifeline on 13 11 14 or online at,www.lifeline.org.au, or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636 or access free, confidential support online,www.beyondblue.org.au

You can read the episode transcript here.

Reach out for support:
MS Plus Connect 1800 042 138 or email [email protected]

Get in touch to share your comments and suggestions about this episode, or for future guests and episode topics by [email protected]

Views expressed on the MS Podcast, including any discussions or reference to medications or treatments by podcast guests, do not necessarily represent the views of MS Plus and should not be seen as either an endorsement or rejection of a treatment.  

MS Plus does not recommend any specific treatment for people living with MS. Decisions about any treatments, taking into consideration the potential benefits and side effects for each individual’s circumstances, should be made in careful consultation with the person’s neurologist or health care professional. 

In this episode we chat with neurologist Dr Cassie Nesbitt, one of the principal investigators for haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne.

Cassie explains the process of HSCT, risks and considerations for accessing HSCT treatment overseas, as well as the current research on who is likely to benefit and how this is accessed in Australia. Cassie outlines things to consider when undergoing HSCT such as fertility preservation, and the impact of HSCT on the immune system. We chat about how hope plays a role in people taking risks for treatment, and the future of HSCT and treatment for MS. Cassie also highlights how collaborative the MS HSCT community of neurologists are, and that they welcome people who have undergone HSCT overseas to continue seeing their neurologists and engaging in their healthcare

With thanks to Dr Cassie Nesbitt

Dr Cassie Nesbitt is a neurologist at Alfred Health in Melbourne. She is one of the principle investigators for HSCT at the Alfred, and one of the Autologous Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (AHSCT) Registry Steering Committee Members.

You can read the episode transcript Here

For more information about HSCT:
MS Research Australia: https://www.msaustralia.org.au/ahsct/
Get in touch with MS Plus to speak with a Nurse Advisor about HSCT and treatment options

Reach out for support:
MS Plus Connect 1800 042 138 or email [email protected]

Get in touch to share your comments and suggestions about this episode, or for future guests and episode topics by [email protected]

Views expressed on the MS Podcast, including any discussions or reference to medications or treatments by podcast guests, do not necessarily represent the views of MS Plus and should not be seen as either an endorsement or rejection of a treatment.  

MS Plus does not recommend any specific treatment for people living with MS. Decisions about any treatments, taking into consideration the potential benefits and side effects for each individual’s circumstances, should be made in careful consultation with the person’s neurologist or health care professional. 

With thanks to Olivia Wills.

Olivia is an Accredited Practising Dietitian and member of Dietitians Australia’s. She completed a Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics (Hons)(Deans Scholar) from the University of Wollongong in 2021. Olivia is now completing a PhD in multiple sclerosis and lifestyle management and is supported by a postgraduate scholarship from MS Australia.

At the heart of Olivia’s research is her commitment to enhancing the lives of those living with MS. Her research focuses on the impact of adopting protective health behaviours to maximise lifelong brain health and she is particularly passionate about translational research, engaging healthcare professionals and people living with MS to support her research findings into actionable strategies.

Olivia also has experience in providing dietetic counselling services for a range of endocrine, gastrointestinal, metabolic disorders and neurological disorders. She is a firm believer of providing individualised and specific advice and support to all of her patients and is a strong advocate for adopting a holistic approach in the management of medical conditions.

Check out the episode transcript here.

Check out the Brain Health: time matters in multiple sclerosis report here.

Linda Rowley, mental health consultant, delves into the complexities of mental health for carers, focusing on the overlooked experience of ambiguous loss. Linda discusses the importance of acknowledging these emotions, how to find meaning and hope, as well as the need for compassion and self-care for carers.

Linda is a wellbeing specialist with a professional interest in ambiguous loss. Linda draws on current research on ambiguous loss and wellbeing science coupled with her own lived experience.With qualifications in business wellbeing, positive psychology and the neuroscience of leadership, Linda brings a robust evidence base to her work.

With thanks to :Linda Rowley

Please see episode Transcript

Reach out for support:
MS Plus Connect 1800 042 138 or email [email protected]

Get in touch to share your comments and suggestions about this episode, or for future guests and episode topics by [email protected]

Check out the transcript here.

Medical Gaslighting: Multiple Sclerosis’ Dirty Little Secret? Authored by Rachel Horne

With thanks to Rachel Horne.

Rachel Horne is a journalist and MS advocate. Rachel was diagnosed with MS in 2009, age 43. She has written extensively about the disease and has co-authored a number of papers published in The BMJ, Neurology, Nature Reviews Neurology and other prestigious journals. Rachel has also appeared on BBC’s Radio Four to talk about living with MS. In 2022, she set up the Rachel Horne Prize for Women's Research in MS – an international, annual award which recognizes a woman scientist for their outstanding contribution to women’s health-related research in MS. Rachel is an Honorary Research Fellow at Queen Mary University, London and has a strong interest in promoting gender-equality and diversity in the MS community. She is on social media: @rachelhorne19.

Have you experienced medical gaslighting? We’d love to hear from you, get in touch to share your comments and suggestions about this episode, or for future guests and episode topics by emailing [email protected]

Reach out for support:

MS Plus Connect 1800 042 138 or email [email protected]

In this episode of the new fortnightly series, the MS Boost, we discuss a new subcutaneous delivery mode for Tysabri, with MS nurse Louise Rath and the things you need to consider when making a switch, including the practical considerations, efficacy, logistics to costs and potential side effects.

Check out a copy of the transcript here.

With thanks to Louise Rath, MS Nurse

Louise Rath is the MS neuroimmunology nurse consultant at Alfred Health in Melbourne, Victoria. She has over 20 years’ experience in public neurology services including outpatient appointments. Louise is the nurse clinical lead at the Alfred Multiple Sclerosis & Neuroimmunology Clinic focusing on patient experience, promoting engagement in health care and developing health literacy documents for the service with consumers.

For more information about medications, call MS Plus Connect to speak with an MS Nurse Advisor.

Reach out for support:
MS Plus Connect 1800 042 138 or email [email protected]

Get in touch to share your comments and suggestions about this episode, or for future guests and episode topics by emailing [email protected]

In this podcast episode, Leif Lagesen, an accredited practicing dietitian and habit science practitioner, discusses the mechanisms behind building better habits. He explores the steps involved in building long-lasting habits and shares his tips on how small changes can lead to lasting lifestyle changes.

Leif is an accredited practicing dietitian, with dual degrees in Sport and Exercise and Nutrition Dietetics. He is highly energised by the fusion of behavioural change strategies with health technologies. His experience extends from working with national health coaching programs to clinical settings, and includes various collaborations with health tech startups.

With thanks to Leif.

Reach out for support:
MS Plus Connect 1800 042 138 or email [email protected]

Get in touch to share your comments and suggestions about this episode, or for future guests and episode topics by [email protected]

Summer brings the risk of natural disasters, and preparing mentally is just as important as preparing physically. In this podcast, Catherine and Michael, MS Social Work Advisors discuss the importance of preparing mentally for crisis, and strategies to help people feel confident this coming summer season.

With thanks to Catherine and Michael

Reach out for support:
MS Plus Connect 1800 042 138 or email [email protected]

Get in touch to share your comments and suggestions about this episode, or for future guests and episode topics by [email protected]