Tackling the Stigma around Invisible Disabilities: Living beyond the boxes.

In this episode of Unapologetic , we are chatting to Cerys Davage, host of the Unbalanced podcast, which raises disability awareness and shares individuals' stories. Cerys shares her personal journey with limb girdle muscular dystrophy, from her first symptoms to how she manages her condition day-to-day , and the challenges she faces as a woman living with a disability.

We explore important topics including:

• The unique experiences of women with disabilities

• The stigma surrounding invisible disabilities

• The social and political barriers that affect disability benefits and access to support

• How to be a better ally to people living with disabilities

Cerys’ honesty and insight shed light on the realities of living with LGMD and the broader need for inclusion, understanding, and advocacy within women’s health and society.

If you’re interested in women’s health, disability awareness, chronic illness, or inclusive healthcare, this episode offers a powerful perspective on resilience and representation

Yn y bennod hon o Paid Ymddiheuro, rydym yn sgwrsio â Cerys Davage, cyflwynydd y podlediad Unbalanced, sy'n codi ymwybyddiaeth o anableddau ac yn rhannu straeon unigolion. Mae Cerys yn rhannu ei thaith bersonol gyda limb girdle muscular dystroph; o'i symptomau cyntaf i sut mae hi'n rheoli ei chyflwr o ddydd i ddydd, a'r heriau y mae'n eu gwynebu fel menyw sy'n byw gydag anabledd.

Rydym yn archwilio pynciau pwysig gan gynnwys:

• Profiadau unigryw menywod ag anableddau

• Y stigma sy'n ymwneud ag anableddau anweledig

• Y rhwystrau cymdeithasol a gwleidyddol sy'n effeithio ar fudd-daliadau anabledd a mynediad at gefnogaeth

• Sut i fod yn gynghreiriad gwell i bobl sy'n byw gydag anableddau

Mae gonestrwydd a mewnwelediad Cerys yn arddangos realiti byw gydag LGMD a'r angen am ddealltwriaeth gwell o anableddau yn ein cymdeithas heddiw.

Os oes gennych ddiddordeb mewn iechyd menywod, ymwybyddiaeth o anabledd, salwch cronig neu ofal iechyd cynhwysol, mae'r bennod hon yn cynnig persbectif pwerus ar wydnwch a chynrychiolaeth.

Links

https://www.mda.org/disease/limb-girdle-muscular-dystrophy

https://www.musculardystrophyuk.org/conditions/a-z/limb-girdle-muscular-dystrophy-r9/

https://open.spotify.com/show/7zMIefnEXU4AdhrslYSiOu

https://www.instagram.com/unbalancedpodcast/

Living Beyond Limits: a Mother, a Son and MS

In this heartfelt episode, we sit down with a mother and her son, Gaynor and Guto, as they share their lived experience with Multiple Sclerosis — a condition that affects women four times more than men, according to the National MS Society. Together, they offer an honest, down-to-earth conversation about what it really means to live with MS on a daily basis.

From navigating the complexities of the social care system to celebrating the often-overlooked work of carers and healthcare professionals, this family sheds light on the quiet (and sometimes not-so-quiet) moments of resilience that define their journey. Their refreshing approach reminds us that a serious illness doesn’t silence joy — there’s still space for humour, fun and noise!

This episode reminds us to see the person behind the diagnosis, to respect and support those who care for others, and to cherish the laughter that lives alongside the challenges.

Yn y bennod emosiynol hon, rydym yn cael cwmni mam a'i mab, Gaynor a Guto, wrth iddynt rannu eu profiad bywyd gyda Sglerosis Ymledol - cyflwr sy'n effeithio ar fenywod bedair gwaith yn fwy na dynion, yn ôl y Gymdeithas MS Genedlaethol. Gyda'i gilydd, maent yn cynnig sgwrs onest, ddiymhongar am yr hyn y mae'n ei olygu mewn gwirionedd i fyw gydag MS yn ddyddiol.

O lywio cymhlethdodau'r system gofal cymdeithasol i ddathlu gwaith gofalwyr a gweithwyr iechyd proffesiynol sy'n aml yn cael ei anwybyddu, mae'r teulu hwn yn pwysleisio'r eiliadau tawel (ac weithiau ddim mor dawel) o wydnwch sy'n diffinio eu taith. Mae eu hagwedd positif yn ein hatgoffa nad yw salwch difrifol yn tawelu llawenydd - mae lle o hyd i hiwmor, hwyl a sŵn.

Mae'r bennod hon yn atgof pwerus i weld y person y tu ôl i'r diagnosis, i barchu a chefnogi'r rhai sy'n gofalu am eraill, ac i drysori'r chwerthin sy'n byw ochr yn ochr â'r heriau.

Lincs:

https://www.mssociety.org.uk/

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/multiple-sclerosis/

https://mstrust.org.uk/

https://www.nhs.uk/social-care-and-support/support-and-benefits-for-carers/help-for-young-carers/

https://carers.org/about-caring/about-young-carers

https://www.gov.uk/browse/benefits/help-for-carers

Diolch i'r Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol am noddi'r rhaglen hon.

Invisible Pain: A Diagnosis at Last

Yn y bennod emosiynol ac onest hon o Paid Ymddiheuro, mae Elin a Celyn yn siarad â myfyrwraig feddygol blwyddyn gyntaf, Begw Fussell, sy’n rhannu ei diagnosis diweddar o endometriosis—cyflwr a luniodd ei harddegau’n dawel, effeithio ei bywyd academaidd, ac a’i gorfododd i lywio drwy system iechyd a anwybyddodd ei phoen dro ar ôl tro.

O’r symptomau cynharaf , i’r ffordd yr effeithiodd ei phoen gronig ar ei pherfformiad ysgol a’i thaith drwy feddygaeth heddiw, rydyn ni’n archwilio effaith gudd cyflwr sy’n cael ei gamddeall yn rhy aml.

Gyda’n gilydd, rydyn ni’n trafod canlyniadau corfforol ac emosiynol diagnosis hwyr—gan drafod pynciau sensitif ond hanfodol fel effaith ar iechyd meddwl, bywyd rhywiol, ac a oedd medical misogyny yn ffactor yn y daith faith hon at gael diagnosis.

Mae’r bennod hon yn sgwrs onest a phwerus am fyw gyda salwch anweledig, y cryfder sydd ei angen i ddefnyddio eich llais heb ymddiheuro, a pham fod rhaid cymryd poen menywod o ddifrif.

In this personal episode of Unapologetic, we sit down with a first-year medical student, Begw Fussell, who shares her long-overdue diagnosis of endometriosis—a condition that silently shaped her teenage years, impacted her academic life, and left her navigating a healthcare system that too often dismissed her pain.

From her earliest symptoms , to how chronic pain affected her school performance and now her journey through medical school, we explore the hidden toll of a condition that is too often misunderstood and overlooked.

Together, we unpack the emotional and physical consequences of delayed diagnosis—touching on sensitive but essential topics like the impact on her mental health, sex life, and the possibility that medical misogyny played a role in her experience.

This episode is a raw and necessary conversation about what it means to live with invisible illness, the strength it takes to advocate for yourself, and why women’s pain must be taken seriously.

Diolch i'r Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol am noddi'r rhaglen hon.

Links:

Instagram Page of Sophie Richards - Endometriosis Advocate

https://www.instagram.com/sophie.richards/

Endometriosis UK Charity

https://www.endometriosis-uk.org/