Have you ever noticed a sudden cough come on that doesn’t seem to want to go away? Or felt strong during exercise one day, then found yourself getting short of breath over the next few weeks? Maybe you notice it’s getting a little harder to breath as the years go on. Chronic cough, shortness of… Continue reading How is Alpha-1 Different from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease?
Category: Rare Diseases
9 Anti-Inflammatory Foods to Fight Chronic Illness
If you’re living with a chronic illness, there’s a good chance your doctor has suggested altering your diet to help reduce or eliminate inflammation in the body. Increasing evidence suggests that there is a link between inflammation and chronic conditions like cancer, autoimmune disease, lung and heart disease, gut disorders, asthma, and diabetes. By choosing the… Continue reading 9 Anti-Inflammatory Foods to Fight Chronic Illness
Team of Advisors member Kimberly’s care team fell apart and she was left with 10 days to build a new one
Kimberly (firefly84) is part of the PatientsLikeMe 2016-2017 Team of Advisors. She’s living with autonomic neuropathy, a rare disease that prematurely ended her career as a registered nurse. In her time as an RN, she was often charged with navigating the ins and outs of insurance companies on behalf of her patients, something she… Continue reading Team of Advisors member Kimberly’s care team fell apart and she was left with 10 days to build a new one
Living with hope – An interview on AKU with Alycia and Nate
We’ve had the pleasure of talking with and featuring many PatientsLikeMe members on the blog over the years, but Nate is the youngest by far. He’s just 5 years old and is living with Alkaptonuria (AKU), a rare metabolic disease, sometimes called Black Bone Disease. Recently, we had the chance to chat with his mom,… Continue reading Living with hope – An interview on AKU with Alycia and Nate
Keith & Sarah’s personal journey with rare lung disease. Part III, “Bonus round”
Over the last few months, Keith and Sarah have been sharing their journey with us. In this final interview of our three-part series, they talk about how he got on a transplant list and their “phones at the dinner table” policy. If you missed our first two interviews with Keith and Sarah, you can find… Continue reading Keith & Sarah’s personal journey with rare lung disease. Part III, “Bonus round”
Keith & Sarah’s personal journey with rare lung disease. Part II, “Lungies”
In this second interview of our three-part series, Keith and Sarah talk about how their daily lives changed and the importance of connecting with others. If you missed our first interview with Keith and Sarah, you can find it here. What were the most noticeable changes you had to make in your daily life? [Keith]… Continue reading Keith & Sarah’s personal journey with rare lung disease. Part II, “Lungies”
“Make memories starting now!” An interview about idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis with Kim Durand
Many of you have seen our “Spotlighted Blogger” series, where we talk with people who are sharing their personal health experiences to help raise awareness of disease and change healthcare for good. Well for the first time on our blog, we’re talking with a “Facebooker.” Kim started her Facebook page, Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness, after her… Continue reading “Make memories starting now!” An interview about idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis with Kim Durand
Keith & Sarah’s personal journey with rare lung disease. Part I, “Fine”
As part of our “Spotlighted Blogger” series, we’re talking with people who are sharing their personal health experiences to help raise awareness of disease and change healthcare for good. For our latest interview, we’re talking with Sarah and Keith. Sarah started writing about her fiancé Keith’s journey with a rare lung disease back in July… Continue reading Keith & Sarah’s personal journey with rare lung disease. Part I, “Fine”
Coping with Changes in Physical Appearance
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
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