When you are diagnosed with a life-changing illness, your doctor may prepare you for how the disease will affect your physical functions. But as our members point out, patients also need to be prepared for the changes in physical appearance they may experience. For example, how do you deal with hair loss, facial swelling, weight… Continue reading Coping with Changes in Physical Appearance
Category: Multiple Sclerosis
A Patient Poem for the Modern Age
Can you be friends with someone you’ve never met in person? The members of our online health community think so. In fact, many of them say they depend on other members for support and encouragement, and for the all-important reminder that they are not alone. As evidence, here is a touching poem written by a… Continue reading A Patient Poem for the Modern Age
How Social Media Is Changing Research (Part II): A Guest Post by MS Clinical Trial Participant and Blogger Jeri Burtchell
Today’s guest post is written by PatientsLikeMe member Jeri Burtchell, who has been living with multiple sclerosis (MS) for 13 years. A tie dye apparel store owner and mother of two, she writes a blog entitled “Gilenya and Me: My Story of Being an MS Patient, a Hypochondriac and a Guinea Pig.” Her patient advocacy… Continue reading How Social Media Is Changing Research (Part II): A Guest Post by MS Clinical Trial Participant and Blogger Jeri Burtchell
How Social Media Is Changing Research (Part I): A Guest Post by MS Clinical Trial Participant and Blogger Jeri Burtchell
Today’s guest post is written by PatientsLikeMe member Jeri Burtchell, who has been living with multiple sclerosis (MS) for 13 years. A tie dye apparel store owner and mother of two, she writes a blog entitled “Gilenya and Me: My Story of Being an MS Patient, a Hypochondriac and a Guinea Pig.” Since the original post,… Continue reading How Social Media Is Changing Research (Part I): A Guest Post by MS Clinical Trial Participant and Blogger Jeri Burtchell
What Part of MS Are You Most Afraid of?
Can facing your fears help you come to terms with them? That’s the idea behind a recent discussion in our multiple sclerosis (MS) forum, in which one member asked, “What part of MS are you most afraid of?” The answers poured in from dozens of MS members who found it cathartic to reveal their true… Continue reading What Part of MS Are You Most Afraid of?
Surviving Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
It’s Men’s Health Week, and we’re featuring the perspectives of – you guessed it – men. Following tiredoftired’s guest post about depression on Monday, we are pleased to present this poignant essay by longtime PatientsLikeMe member and mentor Rick N, who has lived with multiple sclerosis (MS) for 23 years. I am a 58-year-old man… Continue reading Surviving Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Someone Like Me
We are pleased to present a guest post by PatientsLikeMe member Jasmine, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in her mid-twenties. Don’t miss this beautiful essay about the commonalities between all patients who have lost functionality – regardless of how different their conditions might seem. I recently met someone that happened to be just like me… Continue reading Someone Like Me
Competing Against MS: An Interview with MLR
PatientsLikeMe member MLR was an avid BMX (Bicycle Motocross), MTB (Mountain Bike Racing) and Motocross athlete his entire life – until he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) last year. After having to give up the sport he loved, MLR began to suffer from depression. Today, however, he’s happy to report that he’s racing again… Continue reading Competing Against MS: An Interview with MLR