Send us a message about the podcast. For questions about MS please contact our helpline 0800 032 38 39

Menopause is the hot topic at the moment, with more and more people speaking up about the problems and issues it can bring. But did you know it can also affect your MS? In this episode we talk to Neurologist Ruth Dobson about how and why menopause and perimenopause can affect MS and what options there are to treat it. We also catch up with Hettie, who talks about how menopause affected her and her MS.  

 Episode notes
- MS Trust  A-Z on MS and menopause: mstrust.org.uk/search/menopause
- Can the menopause affect MS Research update: mstrust.org.uk/research/research-updates/update151013-menopause-MS
- BBC article about HRT to be sold over the counter:
bbc.co.uk/news/health-60227881
-The Wim Hof method as discussed in podcast: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wim_Hof
-Davina McCall; sex, myths and the Menopause www.channel4.com/programmes/davina-mccall-sex-myths-and-the-menopause

Send us a message about the podcast. For questions about MS please contact our helpline 0800 032 38 39

To start the year off, we caught up with MS Trust CEO, David Martin to ask questions like, "How is the MS Trust different to the MS Society?" and learn about our upcoming multiple sclerosis related projects. We're also joined by new Volunteer Manager, Mark to hear about what flexible volunteering opportunities are available in 2022.

Episode notes:
- Discover ways to get involved with the MS Trust: mstrust.org.uk/get-involved
- Contact our volunteering email address: [email protected] 

Send us a message about the podcast. For questions about MS please contact our helpline 0800 032 38 39

In our last podcast of 2021 we speak to Dr Nikos Evangelou about how cold temperatures affect people with MS. We also share some of your thoughts and real life experiences of cold sensitivity.

Episode notes:
- Temperature Sensitivity - Information from the MS Trust: mstrust.org.uk/a-z/temperaturesensitivity
- Cold sensitivity and MS - Information from the MS Trust: mstrust.org.uk/news/views-and-comments/chilled-out-cold-sensitivity-and-ms
- Dr Nikos Evangelou's paper on Temperature sensitivity in multiple sclerosis: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30377640/

Send us a message about the podcast. For questions about MS please contact our helpline 0800 032 38 39

For many people with multiple sclerosis, relapses are a big part of the condition. In this episode we discuss what relapses are, how to recognise if you're having a relapse and how to deal with them. We hear from MS Nurse Miranda Olding about what causes a relapse and how they are treated, and then we chat with Simon from our MS Trust Enquiry Line about some of the most common questions we get around relapses.

Episode notes:
- Managing relapses - Information from the MS Trust: mstrust.org.uk/about-ms/ms-symptoms-and-relapses/managing-relapses
- Ask the Expert - YouTube video of Miranda Olding explaining relapses in MS: youtu.be/KnQd5Z-xDYc
- Am I having a relapse? - YouTube video from the MS Trust: youtu.be/YNEvmBrEQ7Y

Send us a message about the podcast. For questions about MS please contact our helpline 0800 032 38 39

We discuss the 'hot topic' of HSCT for MS, hearing from Claire in the Information team about the criteria for receiving stem cell transplantation. Our guests also include Chris who was eligible for HSCT on the NHS and Gwen who went to Russia to seek treatment for PPMS. Both share their experiences of HSCT and give advice for anyone else considering the option.

Episode notes:
- MS Trust A-Z page - Stem cells and MS: mstrust.org.uk/a-z/stem-cells-and-ms-ahsct
- YouTube video on stem cell treatment in MS - an introduction: youtu.be/40hJmdx_kbo
- MS Trust page - Ask the expert: stem cell transplantation: mstrust.org.uk/news/ask-expert-stem-cell-transplantation 
- MS Trust A-Z page - Star-MS trial for HSCT in MS: mstrust.org.uk/a-z/star-ms-trial-hsct-ms
- YouTube video on disease modifying drugs for multiple sclerosis with neurologist Dr Sharmilee Gnanapavan: youtube.com/watch?v=ZBhO3qnIlDQ
- MS Trust page - Multiple sclerosis and disease modifying drugs, what are my options?: mstrust.org.uk/news/multiple-sclerosis-and-disease-modifying-drugs-what-are-my-options
- Watch Chris' YouTube vlogs about his HSCT journey: youtube.com/c/HSCTforMS/videos
- AIMS is the UK's first registered charity to support UK residents with Autoimmune Disease and Multiple Sclerosis, with an emphasis on HSCT. View the AIMS website: aimscharity.org/
- Facebook group for all UK residents who are HSCT patients or prospective HSCT patients, their family and caregivers and for people seeking information about HSCT. View UK HSCT for MS & Autoimmune Diseases Facebook group: facebook.com/groups/ukhsct/
- Europe's official accreditation body in the field of haematopoietic stem cell transplantation and cellular therapy. View EBMT website: ebmt.org/jacie-accreditation
- Introducing, Selma Blair available from Discovery+: discoveryplus.co.uk/show/introducing-selma-blair

Send us a message about the podcast. For questions about MS please contact our helpline 0800 032 38 39

Guest presenter and MS Trust volunteer, Will, returns to our archives. This time, he looks at the role Pharmacists play within an MS service, what support they offer and the latest drugs in development for people with MS. Featuring input from MS Pharmacists Brina and Aoife as well as Gemma from the MS Trust.

Episode notes:

• MS Trust Page - Ask the expert: MS pharmacists: mstrust.org.uk/news/ask-expert-ms-pharmacists
• MS Trust Page - A-Z Pharmacists:mstrust.org.uk/a-z/pharmacists/
• If you've got questions on this topic or anything else contact us: mstrust.org.uk/what-we-do/contact-us

Send us a message about the podcast. For questions about MS please contact our helpline 0800 032 38 39

In this episode, we discuss some of the barriers people of colour may face when diagnosed with a condition that in the past has been seen as a 'white or Caucasian condition'. We talk to Natalie, who set up the Black MS Foundation to raise awareness and provide a space for black people to discuss their own MS experiences. We also dive into the background on who gets MS and how different ethnicities are affected by multiple sclerosis with Claire from our information team.

Episode notes:

• View the Black MS Foundation website: blackmsfoundation.org/
• View the Black MS Instagram profile: instagram.com/blackmsfoundation/
• MS Trust page on how common is MS?: mstrust.org.uk/a-z/how-common-multiple-sclerosis
• MS Trust page on who gets MS and why?: mstrust.org.uk/news/views-and-comments/who-gets-ms-and-why

Send us a message about the podcast. For questions about MS please contact our helpline 0800 032 38 39

In this exercise and MS themed episode we discuss how exercise can benefit people with MS. In the past, people with multiple sclerosis were advised to avoid exertion. It turns out that this was not good advice. Regular, moderate exercise is now known to be an important part of maintaining good health and well-being for people with MS. 

In this episode we talk to Claire the head of the information and engagement team at the MS Trust, about MS and exercise and how it can it can help with many MS symptoms and then we will be chat to Emily and Nick who both have MS about how they find exercising helps them.

Episode notes:

• MS Trust pages on Exercise page: https://mstrust.org.uk/life-ms/exercise
• MS Trust Pilates videos with Neurophysiotherapist Joanne Pritchard : https://mstrust.org.uk/life-ms/exercise/move-it-ms-pilates-jo-pritchard
• View Emily's blog: https://thewibblydinosaur.com/ 
• View Nick's Instagram profile: instagram.com/dad_to_three_boys/
• Laurens’s sea swimming https://instagram.com/loey_lolo

Send us a message about the podcast. For questions about MS please contact our helpline 0800 032 38 39

In the first episode of this new series, our volunteer Will meets Megan, Head of Health Professionals Programmes at the MS Trust and MS Support Nurse, Laura. The two talk about how MS nurses are trained, what support the MS Trust offers to health professionals as well as looking at what the future holds for MS care and MS treatments.

Episode notes:
- This episode was produced by our volunteer Will
- More about MS Specialist Nurses: mstrust.org.uk/a-z/ms-specialist-nurses
- Find your nearest MS services: mstrust.org.uk/about-ms/ms-services-near-me
- UK MS Specialist Nurse Association: mstrust.org.uk/a-z/ukmssna-uk-ms-specialist-nurse-association
- Advanced MS podcast: mstrust.org.uk/talking-advanced-ms-and-advanced-ms-champions
- Laura's London Marathon JustGiving page: justgiving.com/team/MStrustlejog?utm_source=Sharethis&utm_medium=team&utm_content=MStrustlejog&utm_campaign=pfp-email&utm_term=509e197a7ede44328178a761df886b14

Send us a message about the podcast. For questions about MS please contact our helpline 0800 032 38 39

In this back to school themed episode we speak to Suzy, a teacher with MS and Nick, a dad to three boys who was diagnosed with MS at the start of lockdown. With schools going back after the summer holidays, we discuss everything from the challenges of home schooling to talking to children about multiple sclerosis.

Episode notes:
- This episode was produced by our volunteer Will
- MS Trust newly diagnosed page: mstrust.org.uk/about-ms/newly-diagnosed
- MS Trust Talking with your kids about MS free publication: shop.mstrust.org.uk/publications/talking-with-your-kids-about-ms/
- View Nick's Instagram profile: instagram.com/dad_to_three_boys/