Stem cell therapy is a popular topic in the MS forum and some members are already tracking and evaluating their experience. How does it work? Are there risks? To find answers to your stem cell therapy questions, we asked our team of in-house health professionals to take a look at the current research What are stem cells?… Continue reading Stem Cell Treatment For MS
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.
Lupus Weight Gain: Q&A with the founder of Making Lupus Look Good
Alyshia Merchant knows first-hand how lupus can affect you inside and out. After her diagnosis in 2012 and struggles with visible symptoms and self-esteem, she launched an organization called Making Lupus Look Good, which provides wigs and “glam sessions” to people with lupus-related hair loss and other symptoms. The organization currently serves people in Alyshia’s home… Continue reading Lupus Weight Gain: Q&A with the founder of Making Lupus Look Good
5 Tips for Life After Lung Cancer Surgery
Your body just went through a significant afront, and returning to regular life at home after lung cancer surgery can be daunting. Hopefully, you have a support network in place to help you adjust. But, if you could use an extra hand on your back as you recover, we are here to remind you that… Continue reading 5 Tips for Life After Lung Cancer Surgery
A possible Parkinson’s disease/melanoma link? Time for a skin check
Now that summer has passed, have you had your skin examined? Studies have shown that people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) may have an increased risk for melanoma, so skin screenings are extra-important. Take a look at recent research and get some tips on monitoring your moles and skin. Studies show… A 2017 Mayo Clinic study found that… Continue reading A possible Parkinson’s disease/melanoma link? Time for a skin check
The Pain Scale 1 to 10 falls short
As Pain Awareness Month (September) comes to a close, we’re exploring how pain is subjective, and expressing it using the classic 1-to-10 or “smiley face” scale can be tricky. What are the shortcomings of these scales? And what can help you communicate better with your doctor? Pain scale problems NPR recently reported about the trouble with… Continue reading The Pain Scale 1 to 10 falls short
What’s the lupus/kidney connection? Our healthcare pros explain lupus nephritis and more
“Kidney” is one of the top terms that PatientsLikeMe members are searching for in the lupus forum (click here to join the site for forum access). Last year’s news of Selena Gomez’s kidney transplant put a spotlight on the lupus/kidney link. Lupus can affect your kidneys in a few different ways, so we asked our Health Data Integrity Team (our in-house… Continue reading What’s the lupus/kidney connection? Our healthcare pros explain lupus nephritis and more
Lupus Hair Loss and Folic Acid Hair Loss: Tips and Treatments
Are you losing some of your locks because of lupus? Hair loss isn’t usually listed among the core symptoms of lupus, but it does affect many people living with SLE (systemic lupus erythematosus) and discoid lupus. It may be caused by lupus itself, certain treatments for lupus, or other illnesses or health issues (such as thyroid… Continue reading Lupus Hair Loss and Folic Acid Hair Loss: Tips and Treatments
Driving with Parkinson’s disease: Safety considerations + turning over the keys
Are you still driving with Parkinson’s disease? Check out some safety considerations and pointers for determining if it’s time to turn over the keys. Plus, explore how others with PD have handled this tricky topic and see some alternate ways of getting around. Considerations for driving with PD + 7 questions to ask yourself “You… Continue reading Driving with Parkinson’s disease: Safety considerations + turning over the keys
“Breaking up” with a doctor after 14 years — Bernadette’s journey to better care
PatientsLikeMe member Bernadette (yellsea), who’s on the 2018 Team of Advisors, has been living with Parkinson’s disease (PD) since 2002. She recently filled us in about switching specialists after more than a decade with the same neurologist, and advocating for herself after enough “red flags” popped up in her interactions with that physician. Out with the… Continue reading “Breaking up” with a doctor after 14 years — Bernadette’s journey to better care
MS & Vertigo: How do you cope?
Ever have a sudden loss of balance or feel like the room is spinning? You’re not alone —it’s a popular topic in the forum, and vertigo might be to blame. See what other members have shared about their experience with this symptom and how they cope. What’s vertigo? Vertigo is the feeling that you, or the… Continue reading MS & Vertigo: How do you cope?