Newsflash: “Social Interaction Is Critical for Mental and Physical Health,” as The New York Times recently reported. Decades of research support the theory that social connections can have a positive effect on your health. Having social ties may help prevent illness and is still a boon to your health when you’re sick or living with… Continue reading 75k [virtual] hugs on PatientsLikeMe – and how social connections are good for your health
Category: Conditions
Living with a health condition? On the PatientsLikeMe blog, find helpful health information and patient stories about being diagnosed, trying different treatments, and living day-to-day with a chronic condition.
Want to know more about Radicava (edaravone)? Here’s a snapshot:
With the recent FDA approval of Radicava (edaravone), we wanted to know more about how it works and what it means for patients living with ALS. We asked Maria Lowe, Pharm.D., BCPS, and our Health Data Integrity team, to give us a snapshot of the drug, how it’s used and what you should know. Maria’s rundown… Continue reading Want to know more about Radicava (edaravone)? Here’s a snapshot:
5 tips for practicing self-care when your chronic illness is trying to take over
As a woman with bipolar disorder I and PTSD, I can pretty safely say that no two days are the same. There are days when the world is sunshine and roses; life is grand! Then there are days when the inside of my brain is trying to run the show without me, and it’s leaving… Continue reading 5 tips for practicing self-care when your chronic illness is trying to take over
New graphic: See (and add to) the power of 60+ #MoreThan stories
What are all the roles you play in life beyond “patient”? When we kicked off the #MoreThan campaign – asking our members about all the ways they’re more than their diagnoses – we didn’t know just how many stories we’d hear. This new graphic captures what the PatientsLikeMe community has shared so far – about… Continue reading New graphic: See (and add to) the power of 60+ #MoreThan stories
Ocrevus: You asked, we answered
Last month, we asked the MS community to share their questions about Ocrevus. Now, PatientsLikeMe’s Maria Lowe, Pharm.D., BCPS, sheds more light on what it is, how it works and what patients need to know. Maria’s rundown is meant to give you more context so you can have better conversations with your care team –… Continue reading Ocrevus: You asked, we answered
The “chicken-and-egg” relationship between pain and depression
Fifty percent of people with chronic pain also have depression, pain management experts say. And more than 75 percent of patients with depression report pain-related symptoms (such as headaches, stomach pain, neck and back pain), according to the World Health Organization. The pain/depression connection raises a lot of questions for some people who experience both:… Continue reading The “chicken-and-egg” relationship between pain and depression
From “What happened to you?” to “You’re so inspirational”: 5 ways Anne navigates stigma as a wheelchair user
Member Anne Thomas (AnneBT), a civil rights attorney turned professional storyteller, has shared her stories with everyone from elementary schoolers and medical students to corporate leaders and World Bank officials. Anne sustained a spinal cord injury in a car accident at age 18. Her wheelchair is often the first thing people notice about her, so… Continue reading From “What happened to you?” to “You’re so inspirational”: 5 ways Anne navigates stigma as a wheelchair user
“I promise not to look upon myself with the scornful eyes of my past” – PatientsLikeMe’s Becca shares her promise
Becca Getto is an Associate Product Manager at PatientsLikeMe, and is recovering from an eating disorder. During her time in Monte Nedo Laurel Hill treatment program, she wrote a poetic and moving promise to herself, and in it she shares her past struggles and hopes for the future. Becca is more than her condition: she’s… Continue reading “I promise not to look upon myself with the scornful eyes of my past” – PatientsLikeMe’s Becca shares her promise
10 hot weather and sun-safety pointers for people with lung cancer
On PatientsLikeMe, nearly 7,000 members are sharing their experiences with lung cancer. The dog days of summer have arrived, so we’ve rounded up some tips for handling the weather’s impact on breathing troubles and the side effects of chemo, radiation and surgery. Hot weather tips for people with breathing issues The American Lung Association reminds… Continue reading 10 hot weather and sun-safety pointers for people with lung cancer
“Everyone needs a “Me too!” moment” – Member Shannon on exposing her truth
“With every part of me that becomes less than what it used to be, a different part of me usually becomes more than what it used to be. In fact, maybe that’s the point, but it doesn’t make it any less difficult.” Shannon (Sna2164) is a wife, mother, animal lover and writer, living in southern California. She was officially… Continue reading “Everyone needs a “Me too!” moment” – Member Shannon on exposing her truth