Conference 2025 – Lifestyle

LAURA BARDELL

Laura Bardell is a registered counsellor working with HFACT and a former midwife

Lifestyle – Teamwork to live your life

Chair ~ Dr Gianna Pastore
How important is it to connect? ~ Laura Bardell
Let’s talk about piercings, tattoos and even Botox ~ Steve Matthews
Complementary therapies in bleeding disorders: evidence for use, mechanism of action and relative risk ~ Cameron Cramey
A potential role for hypnosis in patients with haemophilia ~ Dr Vidya Limaye
Diets and weight management, and maintaining a healthy weight ~ Michael Wilson
Navigating the world: travelling with a bleeding disorder and partnering with your HTC ~ Megan Walsh

The Lifestyle plenary at the Australian Bleeding Disorders Conference, chaired by Dr Gianna Pastore, reflected this year’s conference theme of teamwork, highlighting how collaboration, connection, and shared responsibility can empower people with bleeding disorders to live well.

The session opened with counsellor Laura Bardell leading a discussion on the vital role of connection and practical ways to foster stronger links within local communities, emphasising how shared experiences and support can make a lasting difference in people’s lives.

Nurse Steven Matthews followed with a lively and practical conversation about piercings, tattoos, and Botox, emphasising the value of working closely with your Haemophilia Treatment Centre (HTC) teams to make safe and informed decisions.

Physiotherapist Cameron Cramey explored complementary therapies such as acupuncture, dry needling, yoga, and cupping, emphasising the value of working with trusted practitioners to achieve the best outcomes.

Dr Vidya Limaye shared compelling insights into the use of hypnosis for pain and anxiety management for those with bleeding disorders, drawing from her experience in her hypnosis clinic within the rheumatology unit at the Royal Adelaide Hospital.

Dietitian Michael Wilson encouraged a balanced ‘everything in moderation’ approach to nutrition, while addressing misconceptions about body image and weight and highlighting the importance of recognising that BMI (Body Mass Index) is not always an accurate reflection of overall health and the role dietitians can play in a multi-disciplinary team.

The session concluded with nurse Megan Walsh underscoring the importance of teamwork when travelling, encouraging individuals to partner closely with their HTC to ensure ongoing care and safety.

Together, the speakers reminded us that living with a bleeding disorder is not about limitations, but about collaboration, confidence, connection and building a lifestyle that supports both health and happiness.