Honoring Family Caregivers Everywhere

Is there a caregiver in your family?  For example, someone who looks out for an elderly parent or grandparent – or who cares for a child or spouse with a debilitating illness? November is National Family Caregivers Month, a time for recognizing the important role of family caregivers in our society as well as the… Continue reading Honoring Family Caregivers Everywhere

What’s Positive About Disease?

It may seem counterintuitive, but according to some of our members, there are actually some good things that can come out of being diagnosed with a serious illness.  In the spirit of Thanksgiving – a time when many people are reminded of all the things they have to be grateful for – we thought we… Continue reading What’s Positive About Disease?

Up Your Awareness of GERD Before Chowing Down This Thanksgiving

GERD Awareness Week, now in its 14th year, takes place November 18-24, 2012.  Yes, the week of Thanksgiving. Given that many Americans celebrate this holiday with big meals (followed by seconds and thirds!), it’s the perfect time to spread the word about gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which can cause chronic heartburn and acid regurgitation as well… Continue reading Up Your Awareness of GERD Before Chowing Down This Thanksgiving

Join the “Now I Know” Video Campaign for National Epilepsy Awareness Month

“Today [my son] Jake is living a wonderful life, an extraordinary life, and now I know that’s possible.  When Jake was first diagnosed, we didn’t know that.  Now I know that…and that we’re not alone.” – Actor Greg Grunberg, father of a 16-year-old with epilepsy When it comes to epilepsy, what do you know now… Continue reading Join the “Now I Know” Video Campaign for National Epilepsy Awareness Month

PatientsLikeMe’s Paul Wicks Is a TED2013 Fellow

We are thrilled to announce that PatientsLikeMe Research & Development Director Dr. Paul Wicks, PhD, has been named a TED2013 Fellow.  He is one of 20 individuals to be selected from more than 1,200 candidates to attend the TED2013 conference in Long Beach, California, participate in a preconference bootcamp and receive mentoring from the TED… Continue reading PatientsLikeMe’s Paul Wicks Is a TED2013 Fellow

Searching for a Diagnosis: An Interview with Lyme Disease Patient Pampe

Getting the right diagnosis can take many years, or in the case of PatientsLikeMe patient Pampe, many decades.  After experiencing her first Lyme disease symptom in 1973, it was not until 2012 that she finally received a diagnosis that explained her many symptoms.  Discover what hindered the process and what’s she learned along the way… Continue reading Searching for a Diagnosis: An Interview with Lyme Disease Patient Pampe

What We’re Reading at PatientsLikeMe

Here are some of the media items that grabbed our attention recently. Four Things I Learned from Living with a Chronic Illness Wise advice from a teenager who had to give up competitive gymnastics and find a new perspective on life after being diagnosed with a disease that causes chronic pain. Access to Doctors’ Notes… Continue reading What We’re Reading at PatientsLikeMe

Building a True Picture of Diabetes During American Diabetes Month

November is American Diabetes Month, and this year, the American Diabetes Association is working to reshape the understanding of diabetes.  The goal is to raise awareness of the fact that diabetes is life-changing disease with a huge societal impact – and not a minor hindrance, as some people think. As part of this mission, the… Continue reading Building a True Picture of Diabetes During American Diabetes Month

The Five Different Types of Psoriasis

On Monday, we recognized World Psoriasis Day on our blog, and today we’d like to dig a little deeper into this lifelong autoimmune condition, which can cause skin lesions on almost any area of the body as well as psoriatic arthritis. Did you know that there are several types of psoriasis, and that they can… Continue reading The Five Different Types of Psoriasis

Leaving a Legacy of Data at PatientsLikeMe

Recently, our ALS community mourned the loss of Persevering, a highly proactive three-star member who was known for his unfailing efforts to support fellow patients, record and share data, report website problems and recruit ALS clinical trial participants.  Offline, he was also a tireless advocate for ALS awareness and research, attending conferences and lobbying on… Continue reading Leaving a Legacy of Data at PatientsLikeMe