Welcome to the latest installment of our “Spotlighted Blogger” series. So far, we’ve interviewed patient bloggers living with gastroparesis, type I diabetes, bipolar I disorder, Parkinson’s disease and ALS, and today we introduce Alisha B., who felt alone in her struggles with psoriasis until “coming out” on her blog, Being Me in My Own Skin. Alisha is currently participating in… Continue reading Spotlighted Blogger: Psoriasis Patient Alisha B. of “Being Me in My Own Skin”
ALS Patients Reporting Their Health Status over the Internet Just as Reliable as a Clinician in a Hospital
At PatientsLikeMe we’ve been collecting self-reported data about patients with ALS (PALS) since 2006 – over 5,000 PALS to be exact! ALS is a disease that causes muscle wasting in the arms, legs, head and chest, which leads to problems walking, eating, and even communicating. However, unlike a disease like diabetes where there’s a blood… Continue reading ALS Patients Reporting Their Health Status over the Internet Just as Reliable as a Clinician in a Hospital
Preparing for Life After an Organ Transplant
Last week, we shared our interview with a liver transplant recipient who is living out her dreams post-transplant. Today we’d like to add the insights of 32 organ transplant recipients who took part in an online discussion hosted by PatientsLikeMe. Split equally in gender with ages ranging from 25 to 60 years old, our discussion… Continue reading Preparing for Life After an Organ Transplant
Interview with Jim Atwell, Author of “Wobbling Home: A Spiritual Walk with Parkinson’s”
Continuing our coverage of Parkinson’s Awareness Month, we’d like to introduce you to Jim Atwell, a PatientsLikeMe member who has been living with Parkinson’s disease (PD) since 2007. A retired college professor, late-in-life farmer and weekly columnist for his rural newspaper, Jim recently published his second book, Wobbling Home: A Spiritual Walk with Parkinson’s. This… Continue reading Interview with Jim Atwell, Author of “Wobbling Home: A Spiritual Walk with Parkinson’s”
PATIENTSLIKEME ANNOUNCES NEW COMMUNITY, DOGSLIKEME
Researchers Use Open Medical Network to Analyze Canine Health CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — (April 1, 2012) — PatientsLikeMe (www.patientslikeme.com), the leading online community for people with life-changing conditions, announces the opening of its doors to canines. The initial launch will be open only to dogs (Canis lupus familiaris). Future releases will allow participation of wolves, jackals, coyotes,… Continue reading PATIENTSLIKEME ANNOUNCES NEW COMMUNITY, DOGSLIKEME
Love Your Scars: An Interview with Transplant Recipient Amy Tippins
After five years of dealing with undiagnosed multiple hepatic adenomas (hemorrhaging tumors), PatientsLikeMe member Amy Tippins underwent a liver transplant in 1993. Two years ago, she received a ligament allograft using donor tissue. How does she feel about it all today? Check out our interview with this transplant activist to learn how these experiences led… Continue reading Love Your Scars: An Interview with Transplant Recipient Amy Tippins
What Do You Know About Endometriosis?
March is Endometriosis Awareness Month, which means it’s a good time to brush up on this common women’s health problem. For example, did you know that endometriosis gets its name from endometrium (en-doh-MEE-tree-um), the tissue that lines the uterus? Or that this often painful condition occurs when that tissue begins to grow in other places,… Continue reading What Do You Know About Endometriosis?
Recognizing Multiple System Atrophy (MSA Parkinson)
In observing Rare Disease Day at the end of February, we talked how there are 7,000+ conditions that are categorized as rare diseases due to their lower prevalence (less than 200,000 people in the US). Today we’d like to spotlight one of these lesser-known conditions: multiple system atrophy (MSA), which affects 536 PatientsLikeMe members and… Continue reading Recognizing Multiple System Atrophy (MSA Parkinson)
Interview with Dr. Dee Kite, Author of “The Dumbest Things Smart People Say to Folks with MS” (Part II)
In Part I of our interview, we learned how Dee came to write The Dumbest Things Smart People Say to Folks with MS, how PatientsLikeMe’s MS Community was a critical part of her research and, most importantly, her “top three dumbest things” not to say. Today we find out more about Dee’s personal journey with… Continue reading Interview with Dr. Dee Kite, Author of “The Dumbest Things Smart People Say to Folks with MS” (Part II)
Interview with Dr. Dee Kite, Author of “The Dumbest Things Smart People Say to Folks with MS” (Part I)
Continuing our observance of MS Awareness Week, we’d like to introduce you to longtime PatientsLikeMe member Dr. Dee Kite (“CoachDee”), who has been living with multiple sclerosis (MS) for over 23 years. A life coach who specializes in MS patients, Dee became interested in social awareness, or how best to talk and interact with a… Continue reading Interview with Dr. Dee Kite, Author of “The Dumbest Things Smart People Say to Folks with MS” (Part I)