Back in September we featured a chat with Brandon Sedgwick, a participant in my DMAT training program. In the earlier interview, Brandon was getting ready to go to Mexico for HSCT (hematopoietic stem cell transplantation), an intense chemotherapy treatment for MS.

In the first of a two-part interview, we talk about his biggest fears immediately before starting the treatment, the facilities in Mexico, the care he received, and the HSCT process.

Links and Resources:
Listen to Ep. 67 of Move It Or Lose It: Brandon Sedgwick - HSCT Prep - Getting Ready for Upcoming Stem Cell Therapy 

Find out more about my DMAT Fitness Training program

Visit MS Disrupted

You can find Kathy Chester at:
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]

Connect with @msdisrupted on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok 

Here are some additional products that help Kathy deal with beating the Heat and Migraines.  Take advantage of the coupon code.

Koldtec - Cool Head Wrap
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2 items = $20 savings
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Cold bean bag Releafpack. 15% discount use code Disrupt15
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Although the focus of my work is the importance of maintaining physical health, more and more we're all aware of the need to maintain a healthy mind. So I love to bring you conversations that cover the psychological impact of living with a chronic illness. Especially when they also focus on the impact on caregivers, a subject that is very dear to my heart. And if the person I'm speaking to is a health professional who lives with MS, then I'm there!

Dr. Rebecca Maguire (CPsychol.) was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2007. She joined the Department of Psychology at Maynooth University, near Dublin in Ireland, in September 2017 and has been Associate Professor since October 2020.

Although Rebecca has a number of research interests, her primary agenda focuses on health and well-being. Since 2014, Rebecca has been involved in a number of projects examining quality of life in cancer survivors and their caregivers, and has a particular interest in how cognitive appraisals and representations of health influence people's well-being.

In this conversation, we talk about Dr. Maguire's broad specialism in health psychology, the influence of her own MS diagnosis, and her current focus on the well-being of caregivers. We also touch on disclosing an illness at work, wider social factors that affect quality of life, and Rebecca's current and future projects.

Links and resources:
Connect with Dr. Maguire on Twitter
Visit Dr. Maguire's Maynooth University profile 

Find out more about my new DMAT Fitness Training program

Visit MS Disrupted
You can find Kathy Chester at
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Connect @msdisrupted on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok 

Here are some additional products that help Kathy deal with beating the Heat and Migraines.  Take advantage of the coupon code.

Koldtec - Cool Head Wrap
KOLD10

To save $10 off every item in-store.
2 items = $20 savings
3 items = $30 savings

https://www.koldtec.com/ 

Cold bean bag Releafpack. 15% discount use code Disrupt15
https://www.releafpack.com 

Jenn Powell is an active advocate in the Multiple Sclerosis community, imparting hopeful optimism to the real-life challenges facing those of us living with MS. Jenn is the Brand and Marketing Manager for BioNews, an organization that strives to create dynamic communities that give patients and caregivers a powerful voice. 

Jenn also writes for Multiple Sclerosis News Today (a subsidiary of BioNews) and is the host of the Multiple Sclerosis Podcast. Now with secondary-progressive MS, Jenn continues to elevate the patient voice and better the lives of the MS community.

In this conversation, Jenn talks about how the sadness she felt when she was first diagnosed with MS came from her own ignorance about the disease. She also talks about how she is now exploring lifestyle changes as a way to manage her MS, her experiences with depression, how she continues to choose optimism and hope, her work for BioNews, and lots more.

Links and resources:

Connect with Jenn on Instagram
Visit BioNews and Multiple Sclerosis News Today
Listen to the MS News Today podcast

Find out more about my new DMAT Fitness Training program

Visit MS Disrupted
You can find Kathy Chester at:
[email protected]

Connect @msdisrupted on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok 

Here are some additional products that help Kathy deal with beating the Heat and Migraines.  Take advantage of the coupon code.

Koldtec - Cool Head Wrap
KOLD10

To save $10 off every item in-store.
2 items = $20 savings
3 items = $30 savings

https://www.koldtec.com/ 

Cold bean bag Releafpack. 15% discount use code Disrupt15
https://www.releafpack.com 

Jenn Powell is an active advocate in the Multiple Sclerosis community, imparting hopeful optimism to the real-life challenges facing those of us living with MS. Jenn is the Brand and Marketing Manager for BioNews, an organization that strives to create dynamic communities that give patients and caregivers a powerful voice. 

Jenn also writes for Multiple Sclerosis News Today (a subsidiary of BioNews) and is the host of the Multiple Sclerosis Podcast. Now with secondary-progressive MS, Jenn continues to elevate the patient voice and better the lives of the MS community.

In this conversation, Jenn talks about how the sadness she felt when she was first diagnosed with MS came from her own ignorance about the disease. She also talks about how she is now exploring lifestyle changes as a way to manage her MS, her experiences with depression, how she continues to choose optimism and hope, her work for BioNews, and lots more.

Links and resources:

Connect with Jenn on Instagram
Visit BioNews and Multiple Sclerosis News Today
Listen to the MS News Today podcast

Find out more about my new DMAT Fitness Training program

Visit MS Disrupted
You can find Kathy Chester at:
[email protected]


Connect @msdisrupted on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok 

Here are some additional products that help Kathy deal with beating the Heat and Migraines.  Take advantage of the coupon code.

Koldtec - Cool Head Wrap
KOLD10

To save $10 off every item in-store.
2 items = $20 savings
3 items = $30 savings

https://www.koldtec.com/ 

Cold bean bag Releafpack. 15% discount use code Disrupt15
https://www.releafpack.com 

One of the biggest stories in the world of health over the last few years has been the use of Cannabis and CBD as a treatment for pain, anxiety, depression, and more. CBD, or cannabidiol, is an essential component of medical marijuana and is either derived directly from the hemp plant or manufactured in a laboratory. 

CBD does not cause a "high" by itself but the claims made for its use are so persuasive (and the profits so inviting) that CBD products are now available anywhere and everywhere. So what's the true potential for those of us in the autoimmune community?

My guest today is Dr. Mikhail (Misha) Kogan, a leader in the newly-established field of Integrative Geriatrics. He describes cannabis as the best palliative drug that we have. 

He is also the author of Medical Marijuana: Dr. Kogan's Evidence-Based Guide to the Health Benefits of Cannabis and CBD. So if anyone can cut through the static, it's Dr. Kogan!

As well as sharing his surprising background in the former Soviet Union, Dr. Kogan talks about the resistance that he has seen within the medical community with regard to the use of medical marijuana, which contrasts with the increasing requests for access from patients. He also offers some guidance for listeners on how to use CBD properly, how it could play a major role in reducing reliance on opioids, and much more. 

DISCLAIMER
The information in this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.

Links and resources:

Visit Dr. Kogan
Buy Medical Marijuana: Dr. Kogan's Evidence-Based Guide to the Health Benefits of Cannabis and CBD - includes hardcover, Kindle, and audiobook formats
Connect with Dr. Kogan on Twitter and YouTube

Find out more about my new DMAT Fitness Training program

Visit MS Disrupted

You can find Kathy Chester at
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]

Connect @msdisrupted on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok 

Here are some additional products that help Kathy deal with beating the Heat and Migraines.  Take advantage of the coupon code.

Koldtec - Cool Head Wrap
KOLD10

To save $10 off every item in-store.
2 items = $20 savings
3 items = $30 savings

https://www.koldtec.com/ 

Cold bean bag Releafpack. 15% discount use code Disrupt15
https://www.releafpack.com 

As a physician and patient living with MS, Dr. Susan Payrovi has a unique perspective on managing the condition. Her medical training initially meant putting her faith in the diagnosis-to-medication pathway. But by studying integrative and functional medicine Dr. Susan was able to widen her understanding of chronic disease and find new tools to manage a complex condition like MS.

In this interview, Dr. Susan talks about what integrated medicine is, her diagnosis story, the moment she realized that she couldn't continue working as an anesthesiologist, and the link between lifestyle and conventional medicine, which she uses with her patients.

DISCLAIMER
The information in this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.

Links and resources:
Visit TRUE Medicine
Visit Dr. Payrovi's profile at Stanford University 
Find out more about my new DMAT Fitness Training program
Visit Disrupt Fitness
You can find Kathy Chester at:
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]

Connect @msdisrupted on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok 

Here are some additional products that help Kathy deal with beating the Heat and Migraines.  Take advantage of the coupon code.

Koldtec - Cool Head Wrap
https://www.koldtec.com/

KOLD10

To save $10 off every item in-store.
2 items = $20 savings
3 items = $30 savings

Cold bean bag Releafpack. 15% discount use code Disrupt15
https://www.releafpack.com 

I'm constantly inspired by the courage and passion that our young disability advocates display. 

My guest today is Isabel Mavrides-Calderón, whose passion for activism was sparked by her medical journey as a disabled Latina teen. At the time of this recording, Isabel was still only 17 but she is already well-established as a community organizer and activist. 

Isabel focuses on community outreach, public speaking, and advocating for policy change for intersectional disability justice. Her experiences in activism have confirmed her belief that everyone’s voice has the power to enact change. 

In this fascinating and inspiring conversation, Isabel talks about her early experiences as a disabled person and how she was inspired to advocate for the disability community through seeing the work of other young activist organizations. She also talks about the use of social media in her activism, her biggest challenges, and the changes that she has seen since beginning this work.

As you'll hear, Isabel sees herself as a speaker of the truth, not a motivational speaker. 

Links and resources:

Connect with Isabel on TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter
View Isabel's profile on Patients Rising 

Find out more about my new DMAT Fitness Training program
Visit Disrupt Fitness
You can find Kathy Chester at
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]

Connect @msdisrupted on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok 

Here are some additional products that help Kathy deal with beating the Heat and Migraines.  Take advantage of the coupon code.

Koldtec - Cool Head Wrap
KOLD10

To save $10 off every item in-store.
2 items = $20 savings
3 items = $30 savings

https://www.koldtec.com/ 

Cold bean bag Releafpack. 15% discount use code Disrupt15
https://www.releafpack.com 

Geoff Allix lives in Devon, England, and was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2015. Geoff was determined to do whatever he could to remain well, so he and his wife launched into action and Googled as much as they could about the condition.

They came across the Overcoming MS Program, which Geoff has been following ever since. He now hosts the Living Well with MS podcast for OMS. And even though Geoff might not be running marathons anymore, he is optimistic about the future and is sure that OMS is letting him live his best possible life. 

In this podcast, we talk about his family history with MS, Geoff's early symptoms and the long road to a formal diagnosis, what the OMS Program is, and lots more!

DISCLAIMER

The information contained in this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.

Links and resources:

Listen to the Living Well with MS podcast
Visit Overcoming MS
Connect with Geoff on Twitter

Find out more about my new DMAT Fitness Training program

Visit Disrupt Fitness 

You can find Kathy Chester at
[email protected]
[email protected]

Connect @msdisrupted on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok 

Here are some additional products that help Kathy deal with beating the Heat and Migraines.  Take advantage of the coupon code.

Koldtec - Cool Head Wrap
KOLD10

To save $10 off every item in-store.
2 items = $20 savings
3 items = $30 savings

https://www.koldtec.com/ 

Cold bean bag Releafpack. 15% discount use code Disrupt15
https://www.releafpack.com 

 Meet Brandon Sedgwick. Brandon is a participant in the DMAT Disrupt, Move and Transform - Autoimmune Training Program and Future HSCT - Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation therapy recipient. Kathy discusses Brandon preparation for his HSCT treatment in Mexico which includes his strength training preparation in Kathy's DMAT Program. Listen to Brandon tell his story while getting ready for this life changing event. Additionally, follow his progress via this podcast as well as the follow @msdisrupted on Social Media. 

Jacqueline Kaufman, PhD, is an Associate Professor within the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Michigan. Dr. Kaufman is the co-founder of the Michigan Adapted Cognitive Assessment Clinic (M-ACAC), the only known clinic of its kind, which conducts cognitive assessments for children and young adults with severe speech and motor impairment. Patients have traveled from as far as California and Arizona to receive care in this unique specialty clinic!

Dr. Kaufman is doing amazing and important work for our auto-immune community, with a particular interest in caring for children who are undergoing neuropsychological assessment. In this conversation, we talk about how she works to provide personalized care for parents and children, how her experience volunteering while at school led to her "lightbulb moment", and the hopes she has for her work in the future.

Links and resources:

View Dr. Kaufman's profile on the University of Michigan website

Email Dr. Kaufman 

Find out more about my new DMAT Fitness Training program

Visit Disrupt Fitness 

You can find Kathy Chester at
[email protected]
[email protected]
Instagram - @msdisrupted 

Here are some additional products that help Kathy deal with beating the Heat and Migraines.  Take advantage of the coupon code.

Koldtec - Cool Head Wrap
KOLD10

To save $10 off every item in-store.
2 items = $20 savings
3 items = $30 savings

https://www.koldtec.com/ 

Cold bean bag Releafpack. 15% discount use code Disrupt15
https://www.releafpack.com