Does getting out of bed in the morning ever seem like an overwhelming task? You’re not alone. PatientsLikeMe members are talking about it a lot in the mental health forum. Read on to learn what’s worked for others on difficult mornings. Give yourself no more than an hour Elyse Raffery, contributor to The Mighty, shared… Continue reading Getting out of bed: The “One hour rule” and other tips
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Is seasonal affective disorder real? Some call it “folk psychology”— others say it’s legit
Mental health experts first recognized seasonal affective disorder (SAD) — or depression that follows a seasonal pattern — in 1987. Some recent research has called SAD into question. What’s with the clashing theories? What do U.S. healthcare experts say, as of today? And how do people treat SAD? Read on. Questioning SAD Both culturally and… Continue reading Is seasonal affective disorder real? Some call it “folk psychology”— others say it’s legit
Lupus and vitamin D deficiency – get the lowdown
Vitamin D is nicknamed “the sunshine vitamin” because catching some rays on bare skin triggers your body to produce it naturally. But what if lupus-related sun sensitivity (not to mention the winter weather) restricts your sun exposure? Take a peek at some key info on vitamin D deficiency, plus learn some dietary sources of this… Continue reading Lupus and vitamin D deficiency – get the lowdown
The lowdown on generic MS medications
From FDA approvals to availability and safety, generic drugs are a popular topic in the PatientsLikeMe MS forum (more than 15 threads!). To help you stay in the loop about what generics are and what’s out there for MS, we checked in with our team of in-house health professionals. Here’s the scoop… Let’s start with… Continue reading The lowdown on generic MS medications
“You’re the only expert of your own life and your own body.” Author Nilofer Merchant shares why she featured PatientsLikeMe in her new book
“Onlyness. It’s not a word in the English dictionary, but it should be.” We sat down with author, TED Talk speaker and innovator Nilofer Merchant to talk about her new book The Power of Onlyness, and the role that the PatientsLikeMe story plays in it. Advocating for “Onlyness” Nilofer has been championing the idea of “Onlyness”… Continue reading “You’re the only expert of your own life and your own body.” Author Nilofer Merchant shares why she featured PatientsLikeMe in her new book
Why these 5 Olympians with health conditions are #1 in our hearts
The 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Games have come to a close. Did you happen to catch any of these 5 Olympians with health conditions (recently highlighted in The Mighty)? Their performances were inspiring — but their perspective on living with illness is what’s really golden. U.S. pairs figure skater Alexa Scimeca-Knierim developed a rare, life-threatening gastrointestinal disorder that caused episodes… Continue reading Why these 5 Olympians with health conditions are #1 in our hearts
MS research: What’s the latest?
Keeping tabs on the latest MS research isn’t always easy. So, our team of in-house health professionals took a closer look into some of the treatments in the research pipeline for people living with MS. Most of these treatments are in the final phase of clinical development — phase III clinical trials. In this phase,… Continue reading MS research: What’s the latest?
What products help people live better with Parkinson’s disease? A room-by-room round-up
Over the years, PatientsLikeMe members living with Parkinson’s disease have discussed a lot of products and ideas for living better with PD. From kitchen knives and eating utensils to shoe horns and shoelaces, we’ve compiled a list of tools you’ve talked about for (almost) every room in the house and many different aspects of life.… Continue reading What products help people live better with Parkinson’s disease? A room-by-room round-up
10+ ways to make your wheelchair work better for you
Wheelchairs aren’t always built with the best patient experience in mind. But many PatientsLikeMe members are sharing about the creative hacks and useful accessories they’ve used to make their wheelchairs better suit their needs. Here are some suggestions — how many have you tried? Making it more comfortable: Making life easier: How have you modified… Continue reading 10+ ways to make your wheelchair work better for you
Putting together an MS emergency bag: What’s on your must-have list?
From managing incontinence to temperature changes and sudden muscle weakness, many people living with MS have items they can’t live without. Some PatientsLikeMe members have started carrying an emergency bag with all the essentials to deal with inconvenient MS curveballs. Check out their suggestions: Instant ice packs Mint gum (helps one member “cool down”) Change… Continue reading Putting together an MS emergency bag: What’s on your must-have list?