Conditions Archives

Meet Doug from the PatientsLikeMe Team of Advisors

We’d like to introduce you to Doug, another member of your 2015-2016 Team of Advisors. Doug is an actor, teacher and writer living with major depressive disorder (MDD). He’s been tracking his health on PatientsLikeMe since 2008. Doug feels there is a lot of stigma surrounding the term “mental illness,” and shares that one of… Continue reading Meet Doug from the PatientsLikeMe Team of Advisors

Touched with fire: A meaning behind the suffering

We’ve been talking with new PatientsLikeMe member Paul, whose debut feature-film, Touched with Fire – inspired by his experiences living with bipolar – opened last week in select theaters. For Paul, the road to diagnosis was more like being on a rollercoaster. Years of using marijuana seemed to stimulate his creativity at film school, but… Continue reading Touched with fire: A meaning behind the suffering

National Donor Day: Changing lives on both sides

“Be Mine.” It’s the mantra of Valentine’s Day, but today we’re honoring those who’ve said, “Have mine.” February 14 is also National Donor Day, and it’s all about recognizing the most precious valentine of all: the gift of life. For every organ, tissue, marrow, platelet and blood donation, there are two sides to the story.… Continue reading National Donor Day: Changing lives on both sides

ALS Blog: “Hope makes us strong.” – An interview with ALS caregiver Cathy

Meet Cathy (Catrin), who became a caregiver for her husband after he was diagnosed with bulbar onset ALS in January of 2015. As she learns to manage the dual roles of wife and caregiver, she has turned to the PatientsLikeMe community for help, encouragement and hope. We took time to connect with her recently and… Continue reading ALS Blog: “Hope makes us strong.” – An interview with ALS caregiver Cathy

Meet Paul, an artist “touched with fire”

“I’m a filmmaker, husband of my NYU film school classmate, father of two children and bipolar. Of these labels, the one I’m certain stands out in your mind is bipolar – and not in a good way.” Being bipolar is not something that new PatientsLikeMe member Paul has ever tried to hide. On the contrary,… Continue reading Meet Paul, an artist “touched with fire”

Meet Peggy from the PatientsLikeMe Team of Advisors

Say hello to Peggy, another member of your 2015-2016 PatientsLikeMe Team of Advisors. A survivor of both kidney cancer and Stage II breast cancer, Peggy believes that most of us are “ill-prepared to be ill,” and that better health education can lead to better outcomes. After years of teaching and volunteering, patient advocacy has come… Continue reading Meet Peggy from the PatientsLikeMe Team of Advisors

A Q&A with Mara Gaudette, MS, CGC, Teratogen Information Specialist, MotherToBaby

MotherToBaby, a service of the non-profit Organization of Teratology Information Specialists (OTIS), is dedicated to providing evidence-based information to mothers, healthcare professionals and the general public about medications and other exposures during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. Check out our Q&A with Mara Gaudette, a certified genetic counselor with MotherToBaby in California. Mara also counsels women who… Continue reading A Q&A with Mara Gaudette, MS, CGC, Teratogen Information Specialist, MotherToBaby

We can. I can. Start talking about cancer.

Every February 4, all corners of the world unite in the fight against cancer on World Cancer Day (WCD). What’s the purpose? To get as many people around the globe talking about a disease that continues to claim 8.2 million lives every year.[1] How can you get involved? Every action counts and the more people… Continue reading We can. I can. Start talking about cancer.

Meet David from the PatientsLikeMe Team of Advisors

We’d like to introduce you to David, another member of your 2015-2016 PatientsLikeMe Team of Advisors. David has been living with Stage IV lung cancer for four years and hopes to be an inspiration to other cancer patients. He has worked to raise awareness for his condition as a political advocate for the NGO Lung… Continue reading Meet David from the PatientsLikeMe Team of Advisors

Rheumatoid Awareness Day: 7 things you might not know about RA

Today is Rheumatoid Awareness Day, and we’re spreading the word about the condition that affects over 9,000 PatientsLikeMe members. Rheumatoid disease can manifest in many different ways – fatigue, joint pain, stiffness and fever, to name a few — so it can be hard to understand the full scope of this condition. To show the… Continue reading Rheumatoid Awareness Day: 7 things you might not know about RA