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/

Be prepared: Surviving your Period on an Expedition. Welsh language episode of Unapologetic.

Imagine this: you’ve trained for months, nailed your nutrition, perfected your sleep, and you’re finally setting off on the biggest adventure of your life — an expedition. But just as you're hitting your stride, your period arrives. Sound familiar?

Let’s be honest — it’s more than just bad timing. For many women and girls, managing their period can feel like an invisible barrier in sport and adventure. Fear of leaks, the discomfort of cramps and unpredictable cycles can all knock our confidence every month. Too often, our world isn’t designed with menstrual health or cycles in mind — so we’re left making compromises, saying no to amazing opportunities and apologising much too often!

But it doesn’t have to be that way.

In this episode, Elin and Celyn are joined by Dr Mabli Wyn Davies, a doctor and researcher who’s spent years exploring how to better understand and manage our menstrual cycles — especially in high-performance and expedition settings. Together, they dive into the science of the menstrual cycle, share practical tips for training and adventuring on your period, and break down your options for delaying or stopping your period when needed.

This is your toolkit for taking back control of your cycle — so your period is never the reason to hold you back from your next adventure.

Dychmyga hyn: rwyt ti wedi hyffroddi am fisoedd, wedi perffeithio'r deiet a gwella dy gwsg a nawr rwyt ti ar fin dechrau ar dy antur fwyaf hyd yn hyn- alldaith! Ond, unwaith rwyt ti ar fin cymryd y cam gynta', mae dy fislif yn dechrau! Swnio'n gyfarwydd?

Mwy nag amseru gwael yw hyn. I lawer o ferched a menywod, mae rheoli ac ymdopi ar ein mislif yn rhwystr anweledig yn y byd chwaraeon ac anturiaethau. Mae'r ofn o ollwng, poen y crampiau a chylchredau anrhagweladwy i gyd yn gallu arwain at ddiffyg hyder bob mis. Yn anffodus, dydy ein byd heb ei ddylunio gyda'n cylchred fislifol mewn golwg- felly mae gofyn i ni gyfaddawdu, dweud na i brofiadau anhygoel ac ymddiheuro yn rhy aml.

Ond does dim rhaid i bethau fod fel hyn!

Yn yr episod yma, caiff Elin a Celyn gwmni Dr Mabli Wyn Davies sy'n ddoctor a ymchwilydd brwd sydd wedi treulio blynyddoedd yn dysgu sut i ddeall a rheoli ein cylchred yn enwedig yn y byd chwaraeon ac alldeithiau. Maent yn trafod gwyddoniaeth y gylchred, cyngor ymarferol am hyfforddi a chael antur ar eich mislif ac yn trafod yr opsiynau sydd ar gael i oedi neu atal y mislif os oes angen.

Dyma'r cyngor sydd ei angen arnat i reoli dy gylchred - er mwyn sicrhau nad dy fislif yw'r rheswm rwyt ti'n dweud 'na' i'r antur nesa'!

Linc i bapur ymchwil Mabli

Link to Mabli's research paper:

https://jwomenssportsmed.org/index.php/jwsm/article/view/66