Good morning everybody and welcome to The Balancing Act.
We're having some fun, as always.
Always.
I'm Julie Moran.
And I'm Olga Villaverde.
Speaking of fun, alright, what is your favorite Disney movie?
I know mine.
Oh my gosh, Beauty and the Beast.
That's mine.
But then you go to Frozen, and Snow White scared me to death.
There are too many.
Alright.
There are too many, but get this, there is a way you can have all your favorites from
Disney, Pixar, and Marvel Entertainment on your digital devices utilizing streamlined
access.
Girlfriend, get the popcorn ready.
Oh my gosh.
That is too cool!
It's the best.
Oh, and switching gears here, we're going to learn more about Restless Leg Syndrome
and what's being done to help those who suffer from it.
Also, how one local South Florida University is helping those who want a higher education
and achieve their goal.
So much on today's show.
The Balancing Act starts right now.
(music).
As many of you know, this year it's all about Star Wars.
December 18th is a huge day for Star Wars fans.
Star Wars The Force Awakens hits theaters.
My family and I, honestly, can't wait to see this movie.
We also can't wait for something very special called Disney Infinity 3.0.
What is it?
Well, today we're speaking with David Mayernik, from the Production Team at Disney Interactive
to tell us all about it.
Good morning.
Hi.
Good morning.
It's great to be here.
Do you love Star Wars?
Of course.
Who doesn't?
Who doesn't love Star Wars?
Oh my gosh, and this Disney Infinity 3.0, I know it's a fun game, give me a little sneak.
What is it?
Right.
So, 3.0 Edition is the Star Wars edition, and we're introducing Star Wars characters
from across the entire universe.
And with the Force Awakens play set coming out, we really feel like we have the complete
Star Wars experience.
So, if you're a mom or dad who loves Star Wars, this is a great fun interactive way
to introduce this world to your kids.
And I love that idea, David, because there are so many things today that don't involve
the family, to be honest.
And this is a great way for that family game night, family time together to play.
Yeah.
We're utilizing technology in a fun positive way, and the great thing about Infinity is
there's something for everybody.
I know in our green room, we have a family right now.
Who's playing?
Yeah, yeah.
Hunter, Holden, and Leigh are over there playing right now.
So I just take Obi-Wan and put him over here, and that switches the characters?
Yeah.
Once you take Yoda off and you put Obi-Wan Kenobi on, you switched the characters.
Tell me what we're seeing right now.
So they're in Twilight of the Republic, which is a our play set that comes with the starter
pack.
So, there's two ways to play.
There's Play Sets and The Toy Box mode.
Play Sets are true to property experiences, kind of like your traditional mission based
game play, right?
You put that Play Set piece on the base, and you're transported into that world.
You can kind of immerse yourself into it, right?
Alright, let's watch and see what this family's doing right now.
Let's take a look.
Okay, what's going on there.
Okay, so right we did an entire combat upgrade, right?
So, they're checking out new combo moves, they're using their force push-and-pull powers,
and they're going through Coruscant right now.
Alright, wait there's more still.
Let's watch.
What's cool is all the characters have their own skill trees and power-ups, and as you
level them up you unlock different moves and things like that.
So, it looks like they're doing pretty well.
They're doing great.
Okay, one more time, let's look.
Alright, what was that?
They're coming up on a boss battle now.
They're fighting General Grievous and they're ripping through this play set.
They're doing pretty advanced right now.
They really know what they're doing, and mom's having a good time, too.
Yeah.
And what's fun is if you have the younger kids, they can kind of just button mash, and
they're going to have a satisfying experience.
But if you're a little more technical or advanced, you can unlock those combos and find special
moves.
So, there's a skill level for all different types of players.
And really it's a great gift for the whole family.
It's a great gift for the holidays, really year-round.
Yeah.
Well, everybody has a character they can relate to, and what's cool about year-round is if
you have 1.0 or a 2.0, all those characters are forward compatible.
So, you still have value in those older characters.
They'll all work in the 3.0 edition Toy Box mode which is a lot of fun.
Can we look one more time?
Yeah.
Okay.
Let's look one more time.
I feel like I'm there.
Okay, take me there.
What were they doing?
Okay, I'm going to say they're in the Toy Box mode here, and the Toy Box mode is kind
of the heart of Infinity.
How does that work?
Well, this is where kids can really express their creativity.
They can build worlds, they can tell their own stories, and use their imagination.
And it's up to them what they want to create.
And this is where you mix and match all the characters.
It's a lot of fun.
Get ready.
Great for the holidays.
I'm coming back.
You're going to come back.
There's so much more to come.
So, where do we get Disney Infinity 3.0 because I know my daughter's going to write it on
Santa's list?
Well, you can get it at all major retailers, and you there's more info on Disney.Com/Infinity
where you can learn a lot about the game.
Figures make great stocking stuffers for your kids.
This is true.
Also, there's little power disc packs, so there's a lot of stuff for Christmas available.
Thank you so much.
Oh, yeah.
It's great being here.
Definitely expecting you soon again.
I hope so.
And if you're looking for a great way to spend the holidays with your family, consider family
game night with friends and family and Disney Infinity 3.0, and of course you can always
go to our website, TheBalancingAct.com.
This is for sure a be-there at my house.
(music).
I got to the breaking point and went to see a doctor when we were trying to enjoy musical
and I was getting up and walking out.
This is it.
I'm not going to let this rule my life anymore.
What you're listening to may sound all too familiar.
If it is, you're probably one of 7 million Americans suffering from Restless Leg Syndrome,
or RLS.
Yet, with so many affected out there, why are so many doctors still not acknowledging
RLS as a true medical condition?
Well, here to answer that question is RLS and Sleep Disorder Specialist, Dr. Richard
Bogan, and here to share her personal journey to overcome RLS is Shirley Ness.
It is so good -- this is such an important topic.
Thank you for coming in the studio today.
Thank you.
Shirley, I want to start with you.
Where did it all start for you and how long ago did you start with your symptoms?
I was in my late teens, I was in college.
I couldn't sit through the long lectures.
I had to keep moving my legs around, and I was so glad to get up and move around when
they were over.
And teachers probably thought, "Oh, she's hyperactive, she's squirming, she can't sit
still."
And how did it affect then your life, your job, your family?
Because I couldn't sleep at night, I was rolling around, I was kicking around.
I had to get up and walk half the night.
I was exhausted.
So, I couldn't do the things that I wanted to do like, for instance, I played the organ
since I was in high school and I had to stop.
Really?
I couldn't sit still.
And how did you doctor respond when you told him your symptoms?
I said the symptoms to him, and he looked at me and said, "You have RLS.
You have Restless Leg Syndrome."
Thank goodness he was able to diagnose you, but how old were you when that happened?
Oh, it was about 15 years later because as you get older, it gets worse.
So, I got to the point where I was desperate and I went to him.
Great.
And Dr. Bogan, I know this is a real disease affecting millions of people, but isn't it
true that many doctors out there are still not acknowledging it?
It's interesting.
RLS is really prevalent and it's medically important.
I'm intrigued, 30 years ago, we thought this was a rare disorder.
But now with scientific study and research, we know that 10% of the population, the adult
population, has some symptoms at some time, and 3% of the adult population is moderate
to severe and interferes with sleep and causes significant impairment of function.
But it affects children, too?
It can.
We know children with growing pains could likely have Restless Leg Syndrome, and oftentimes
are mistaken for ADHD.
What are the important signs you, Doctor, look for when you're diagnosing this?
Well, the patients tell us that they have this unbelievable urge to move.
So, it's worse in the evening hours with rest, and if they do move around they get temporary
relief from the symptoms.
So, it greatly impacts sleep.
I mean, when you're resting at night trying to get to sleep is the worst time.
Worst time.
So, sleep is disturbed, and they have spontaneous leg movements, and they have leg movements
during sleep.
So, it disturbs sleep and affects next-day functions.
They're tired, they're sleepy.
And any positive updates on treatment options?
Well, fortunately, we have lots of good treatment options now.
So, the main thing is to recognize the disorder.
If you don't recognize the disorder, you will not make the diagnosis.
And these folks are significantly impaired, and now we have good treatment options available.
Thank you so much, Doctor.
And when we come back, we'll also hear Shirley's advice on living well with RLS.
So stay right there.
(music).
Welcome back to The Balancing Act.
We are rejoined by Sleep Disorder Specialist, Dr. Richard Bogan, and by Restless Leg Syndrome
patient advocate, Shirley Ness.
We learned some interesting things, but now let's get specific.
Doctor, what are the symptoms and symptom patterns for RLS?
Right.
These individuals have the uncontrollable urge to move their legs.
So, we have these four definitions: uncontrollable urge to move the legs, oftentimes associated
with pain or funny feelings -- creepy-crawly feelings, it is worse in the evening hours
-- comes on with rest, and the urge to move is so bad that they get up and move around.
If they move around the get temporary relief or relief from the symptoms, then that's Restless
Leg Syndrome.
Wow.
And because the symptoms are mild and they get worse with age, does that often cause
like a delay in diagnosis?
Absolutely.
Many of the patients actually present to their physician with insomnia or can't sleep or
tired.
Ah, that makes sense.
So they're seeing their doc about hypertension or diabetes or whatever problem they have,
and then as they're leaving, "Oh, by the way, I can't sleep."
If you don't ask the question, "Do your legs bother you?
Is it in your mind or is it in your legs?", you will not make the diagnosis.
You have to ask those four questions.
Four questions.
Very important.
Shirley, how long did it take for you to reach that diagnosis with your doctor?
It took about 15 years, but they started out mild.
Right.
But as I got older, it got worse and I got to that point where I could not sleep, I could
not do things with my family.
It completely ruined my life.
So, I went to the doctor.
And during those 15 years that you were undiagnosed, did you ever tell anyone your symptoms that
specifically, or was it just that it was an awareness that wasn't there?
I had never heard of Restless Leg Syndrome.
See?
Mm-Hmm.
It was something new to me.
And it must have been an encouragement because this disease has such a profound effect on
a person's quality of life.
Yes.
And for you, it must have been a huge change to be diagnosed.
Oh, it was.
I was able to go back doing things with my family that I couldn't do before.
I could go to movies, I could sit through sporting events.
All these things I had given up.
Oh my gosh.
What a relief.
Yes.
And Doctor, someone out there experiencing these symptoms.
You know, burning in the legs, I guess it feels creepy and crawly, and it's hard to
sleep.
How do you start that conversation with your doctor?
Well, I think it's important for the patients to know that there's treatment available.
So, you have to talk to your physician.
You have to describe the symptoms and make sure that you describe this uncontrollable
urge to move, and again those four things.
And Doctor, what are the treatment options available?
Well, you have several treatments.
We have dopamine agonists and alpha-2-delta ligands and opioids.
So, there are treatments available for this disorder, but you've got to ask your physician
about what's going on.
Absolutely.
And Shirley, how are you feeling today?
Oh, 100% better.
Really?
All these things that I couldn't do, I'm doing now.
I'm making up for lost time.
And you're sleeping?
I'm sleeping.
And what advice would you give to our viewers or our audience members out there that might
be feeling some of these symptoms coming on?
Well, definitely go to a doctor who knows Restless Leg Syndrome.
Describe your symptoms.
There is help out there.
You shouldn't have to suffer.
Wonderful advice.
Such an important topic.
Thank you so much for both joining me today.
It was a pleasure to have you in the studio.
Well, thank you for having me.
It's very important to diagnose.
Yes it is.
If any of the RLS symptoms we mentioned sound familiar to you or you need some support and
resources, head to RLS.org, RestlessLegs.com, or NoRestForRLS.com.
And of course, you can also logon to TheBalancingAct.com as well.
(music).
An education is certainly one of the most important tools for a successful future.
Sometimes the average tuition can be too costly.
However, this morning we're going to tell you about Florida International University
or FIU, which offers online and brick and mortar campus classes and degrees at half
the national average cost.
FIU is a highly accredited university in the U.S., and with me this morning, Christina
Chong, FIU Online Success Coach, and Jennifer Latham, an FIU online student.
Good morning.
Thank you for having me.
No, thanks for being here.
You know, I was reading here, Christina, this is pretty amazing.
You are the fourth largest public university, I did not know that, and I lived around that
area for I think 20 years by enrollment, and 54,000 students.
That's so impressive.
Let's talk about that online application and admission.
Easy?
How does it work?
Yeah.
So, our fully online programs now have been up and running for four years, and it's the
same process as it is for an on-campus student.
So, you submit your application, you make sure you meet the requirements, you give in
all the documentation, and then you're in.
Jennifer, is that what you did?
Yeah.
It was fully online.
I mean, I'm a fully online student, but I figured I would at least have to drive down
there, turn in paperwork.
None of that.
I just filled out the forms online, submitted everything, and I was done.
Ready to go.
What I like also, I was reading here, Success Coach Model.
You offer that to all students that enroll?
So, every student that's a fully online student enrolled in any of those classes has a Success
Coach assigned to them.
And what do they do?
What that means is you have somebody that's going to support you and be with you throughout
your entire time, from the moment you start all the way until the point that you graduate.
Wow, I didn't have that.
How has that helped you, Jennifer?
It's just an extra push.
It's knowing that there's somebody else in your corner that they're there to support
you.
It gives you reassurance that you can do this.
They offer you skills, advice to make sure that you are successful in your school career.
You want to add something?
Yeah.
So we also have a number of resources for our fully online students.
We have free online tutoring, we have career services, we have librarian services.
So, we don't want you to feel that if you're not on campus you miss out.
We still want you to feel just as connected as an on-campus student would feel.
Because when you go on campus, and I know you have a great campus, you know you feel
like you really do that have that help and the tools and the services.
So, when you do online, you have the same thing, too.
How have you used those tools, Jennifer?
Just knowing that they're there, you know, it's more for peace of mind because it is
a little bit scary to jump out of the comfort zone of what college should look like.
You know, so when you're going online you feel like you're alone, but you really aren't,
you know.
You use them for group projects, you know, you have interaction with your classmates,
there's discussions that you participate in with your teachers as well as the other students
in your classes.
You don't feel lost?
No, I mean there's always somebody there kind of helping you, holding your hand, guiding
you through the process.
And let's talk about the non-traditional student.
I know you went back to school because you did not finish.
Is that correct?
Correct.
Tell me about what happened.
I have been trying to get my Bachelor's for 13 years.
13 years?
13 years.
I had my son when I was very young, and unfortunately at that point I had to stop.
I had to work full-time, make sure that I was taking care of his needs.
And then when I did get married, my husband was in my Army.
So, we moved to Oklahoma, so there was a blip there.
Then, when he got deployed, I was pregnant with my second child.
Oh boy.
So, it was just too much, and I chose family and making sure that my kids were happy over
education.
But now.
We're home, we're back, we're settled, and it's my turn.
It's my time.
You know, everyone in my family has a higher education.
My parents have Master's.
I want mine, too.
It's my turn.
This is it.
And that's a song, by the way, by Diana Ross.
And this online program is really helping you achieve that.
Yes.
Absolutely.
That's what I love hearing.
And even me, I've even though about going back to get my Master's, and I'm always using
the time factor.
But I can't do it, too.
Anybody can do it, right?
Yeah.
I mean, we have students that are in other cities, other states, other countries.
I have a student in Africa, two in Chile.
They're worlds away and they're still connected to the university.
They still have this opportunity to get their Master's.
There are so many of our students that work full-time, they have kids, they're taking
care of their parents.
But you can do it.
You can still do it.
And we also have to really note here that it's not just online.
I mean, FIU, the campus has grown tremendously.
It is huge.
And I do want to tout the fact, I mean you're really on the map, that it is the #1 granting
institution for undergrad and graduate degrees for hispanics.
It's come a long way.
Yeah.
At the end of the day, we want to engage with our students.
We want to educate them and we want to empower them to accomplish the goals that they have.
If her goal is to get her Master's, it's possible.
In about four years, you might be having a little Samantha, who is my daughter, who says
she wants to go to FIU.
So there you go.
There you have it.
Wonderful.
For our viewers out there who'd like more information on FIU, what's the website?
FIUOnline.com Thank you so much.
I appreciate your time, and you're going to do it.
I'm doing it.
What's the degree in?
Interdisciplinary Studies.
Good job.
Alright.
Thank you so much.
You come back and you tell us when you finish.
You got it.
Absolutely.
And for more information on FIU, again the website FIUOnline.com, or go to our website,
TheBalancingAct.com.
(music).
Thanks so much for starting your morning right here with us.
And if you need more information, head to our website.
It's TheBalancingAct.com We're also on Facebook and Twitter.
Until next time…
Remember, find you balance.
So long, everybody.
(music).