Dr Judith R. Davidson, a Psychologist with clinical work and research focused on sleep disorders, talks to us about sleeping and pain with inflammatory autoimmune conditions. She discusses sleeping in the midst of flare-ups and symptoms that can make it hard to sleep properly, and gives us some tips and resources that can help.
Dr Helen Driver, a prominent Somnologist, registered Polysomnographic Technologist, and past-President of the Canadian Sleep Society, talks to us about sleep testing and therapy. While busy with her studies many years ago, she shares with us a personal story that compelled her to further her studies on the subject. Dr Driver discusses sleep testing and what happens during a sleep study, and talks to us about sleep aids and the different type of therapies for sleep.
Julie Jones, is a disability advocate with a background in the travel industry. When her son was born with Cerebral Palsy, Julie realised the big gap that existed in available information for people with disabilities that wanted to travel. The information when found was either conflicting, or only catered to a specific disability, whereas in reality many disabilities were also invisible – and not all disabilities of the same condition had the same needs.
Melinda Barrett shares her deeply personal story of living with Lupus. From health challenges that began at a young age to the many connected autoimmune conditions she has been diagnosed with, Melinda speaks with honesty, humour, and wisdom about what it means to live with Lupus.
She describes herself as the ‘luckiest unlucky person’ she knows, and acknowledges both the difficulties and sources of gratitude in her life, which she candidly refers to as a beautifully messy human chaotic story.
Melinda’s story is a testament to her strength and resilience, summed up in her powerful words: ‘We don’t fight lupus, we negotiate it’.
This is a video that was developed in conjunction with the Dubbo and Coonamble Aboriginal Health Services. The focus of the video was to encourage awareness within the community of the support and treatment options available for the debilitating impacts of musculoskeletal conditions in Aboriginal communities across Western NSW.
A significant number of our fellow Australians in the Getting you Life Back video may continue to accept their symptoms as unavoidable ‘aches and pains’ of life, which can lead to needless suffering and physical impairment – unaware that some ailments are indeed treatable.
This video features local Aboriginal people, in their own words, encouraging anyone regardless of age, to seek the help of local healthcare providers, and to then follow their treatment plan with the prescribed medications.
Help us improve musculoskeletal health in Aboriginal communities.
Autoimmune flares don’t happen ‘out of the blue’, even when it feels like it. Epigenetics can help explain why. Think of it as the way your environment and experiences like stress, infections, sleep, hormones, diet, even medications can switch certain immune genes on or off, without changing your DNA itself. In RA, these switches can turn up inflammation, making joints suddenly hurt, swell, or stiffen.
