MSMS: The Many Stories of Multiple Sclerosis
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Welcome to MSMS: The Many Stories of Multiple Sclerosis
Here, you'll hear real stories from real people—Australians and occasionally others from around the world—sharing their experiences of life with Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
The podcast began with Colleen's hope to build greater understanding of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT), by spotlighting the stories of Australians living with MS who had undergone this intense and often misunderstood procedure.
What started as a focus on HSCT has since grown to include a range of conversations relevant to Australians living with MS—honest, heartfelt stories that speak to the reality of this progressive disease.
By sharing our experiences, we support one another, reduce the isolation that so often comes with MS, and foster a sense of community—while also raising much-needed awareness.
The first series of MSMS centres on HSCT—the decision-making process, the challenges faced, and the individual outcomes that follow.
In Episode One, you’ll meet your host Colleen and her husband Kel, as they take you on their extraordinary journey to Moscow, Russia. It was there, just 5 years married and desperate to stop the rapid progression of her MS, that Colleen underwent HSCT.
What followed was an ordeal of unexpected challenges—physical, emotional, and logistical. Through it all, Colleen the patient, and Kel her steadfast champion.
Their story has been shared in Australian newspapers, radio and TV—but here, in their own words, Colleen and Kel share even more of their remarkable story, behind the headlines.
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Disclaimer:
This podcast is not intended to replace professional medical advice.
The views expressed in this podcast are those of the host or guest(s).
No story told, view expressed or opinion voiced, written or otherwise shared in any episode of this podcast is to be taken as medical advice, including when related in an episode as a professional opinion or professional advice given.
Always seek the guidance of your doctor or other qualified health professional with any questions regarding your health or medical condition.
Content Warning:
Multiple Sclerosis is an unpredictable condition and the conversations and stories in all episodes of this podcast will contain reference to MS symptoms as well as situations experienced before, during or after HSCT - some of which may be disturbing or upsetting for some. In Australia https://beyondblue.org.au and Lifeline on 13 11 14 or https://www.lifeline.org.au are organisations which provide assistance - do please look after yourself.
MSMS: The Many Stories of Multiple Sclerosis
Beyond the stories - let's go ... first stop DIET ...
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Welcome to a turning point in the MSMS podcast journey! While I'll continue sharing conversations with people living with or touched by Multiple Sclerosis, I'm adding a new dimension - solo episodes, exploring topics that matter to our community and will sprinkle in some possibly different perspective on life beyond diagnosis - beginning with the topic of Diet and MS explored a little in this episode. If you have a story around your MS to share, email msmspodcast@proton.me to arrange time for recording your story for the podcast!
You can join Colleen and other Australians living with MS in this podcast's Facebook group which was originally created to support those interested in HSCT and now exists to facilitate discussion on all issues relevant to MS.
Multiple Sclerosis and HSCT Australia - Facebook group
PS: I'd appreciate your donation to help in maintaining this podcast - if you could buy me a coffee or two please (donate $5, it's not real coffee! thank you!) - Colleen
Buy Colleen a Coffee - thank you!
Disclaimer:
This podcast is not intended to replace professional medical advice.
The views expressed in episodes of this podcast are those of the host or guest(s) and are not intended to replace professional medical advice.
No story told, view expressed or opinion voiced, written or otherwise shared in any episode of this podcast is to be taken as medical advice, including when related in an episode as a professional opinion or professional advice given.
Always seek the guidance of your doctor or other qualified health professional with any questions regarding your health or medical condition.
Content Warning:
Multiple Sclerosis is an unpredictable condition and the conversations and stories in all episodes of this podcast will contain reference to MS symptoms as well as situatio...
Introducing Solo Episodes
Speaker 1Hello and welcome back to MSMS, the mini stories of multiple sclerosis. I'm your host, colleen Daniels. If you've been listening for a while, you'll know that this podcast has always been about sharing real stories of life with MS and particularly with people in Australia, and particularly with people in Australia. Now those stories matter and I'll continue to bring conversations with people who live with or are touched by MS, but the person I don't interview is me. So I'm going to start adding a new layer to this podcast, and that might sound a bit selfish and it's not the aim. It's not about me. But alongside the interviews, I'll be sharing more solo episodes where it is just you and me. I'll be talking about topics that matter in the MS community, things around MS, and I'll do some and this is where I am going to be talking about me I'll do some Life Beyond MS episodes Because while MS is part of our story it's part of my story, part of your story it's not the whole story, and so I'm going to share pieces of life and some perspective perhaps I hope will come through, because we are more than that diagnosis that we get. The interviews aren't going anywhere. I'm still going to be doing those interviews. It's not always easy to find guests ready to share their story, and when I find someone with a story to tell, you'll hear it right here. But in between, you're going to get me Just being me, so I'll leave it there. Thank you so much for being part of this journey with me. I'd love to know what topics you'd like me to cover in some solo episodes. So reach out and let me know. The podcast is about all of us, and I hope you'll find the new episodes just as meaningful and that you continue to enjoy the interviews that we will have. And I'll move right into the very first solo episode that I want to bring you, and it's something that kind of how can I put it?
Speaker 1People say that they've been cured by changing their diet. So I want to talk about MS and diet. So let's go, and I'll begin by welcoming you to MSMS, the many stories of multiple sclerosis. I am Colleen Daniels and today I'm going to dive into this pretty big one. Diet and MS. It's a topic that sparks strong opinions. Some people swear by certain diets, strong opinions. Some people swear by certain diets. Others believe diet can cure MS. And then there are those who feel it's not about MS at all, but simply about living well. So I'll try to unravel it a bit and I hope it helps.
Popular MS Diets and Research
Speaker 1Why is diet such a hot topic in MS? Why is diet such a hot topic in MS? Well, ms is unpredictable. There's no one-size-fits-all cure. There is no cure. We all hear that. So naturally, people search for control, and diet is something we can control. We can choose to control that, so it becomes a hopeful focus. But what does research say?
Speaker 1There is no scientific evidence that any specific diet cures MS. Some diets are widely talked about the Swank diet it's low saturated fat, popular since about the 1950s. The Wiles protocol that's paleo inspired, high fruit and veggies. And the Overcoming MS program it's a plant-based, inspired by swank. It includes lifestyle changes like meditation and exercise.
My Personal Approach to Diet
Speaker 1Now studies show some benefits in symptoms, quality of life or fatigue reduction, but no evidence of halting the disease progression or reversing it in any way. What the experts agree on, though, is that general healthy eating, like more fruit, vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, less processed food and staying active within your ability, works hand in hand with good nutrition to boost energy, mood and general health. So that's fairly accepted, but it's also important to avoid extreme claims or restrictive diets without medical advice. So do be careful and do seek medical advice if you launch into a restrictive diet. And there's the emotional side of diet claims. Some people feel empowered by a diet and report life-changing results. Others might feel guilt, frustration or pressure when a diet doesn't work for them. It's important to hold space for both experiences. And so look what's my take For me, sure, it can make me feel better.
Final Thoughts and Call to Action
Speaker 1I notice it when I eat well and move more. I need to move more, but I do. I do eat quite healthily, just normally, and I exercise. I see a personal trainer twice a week, and lately I've been trying to walk a couple more times a week as well. But it sure makes me feel better and makes me feel stronger in myself, and that's worth something, isn't it? So what's the takeaway here? Funny word to use takeaway when we're talking food and diet, but anyway, diet there's no proof. There is no proof that diet cures MS. The most important thing is finding what supports you, your lifestyle and your well-being.
Speaker 1I'd love to hear your experiences with food and MS what's helped, what hasn't, and what myths you've run into. Even so, reach out. Maybe we can feature some of your stories in a future episode, just get in touch. You can email me directly via the email address msmspodcast at protonme. That email address is in the show notes. Now, if today's episode has helped you out in some way, please follow, share it with a friend or leave a review. It helps others in our MS community find us. So until next time, take care of yourself and remember MS is part of your story, but never the whole story. I'm Colleen Daniels, your host of MSMS, the Many Stories of Multiple Sclerosis podcast. Thank you for listening and bye for now.