PatientsLikeMe members have a lot in common beyond their experiences with their health conditions. For example: a love of creativity and visual arts. For the second year in a row, PatientsLikeMe members have contributed to an online community art show, hosted in our Mental Health and Behavior forum but open to all members. With their… Continue reading See our members’ online art show!
Category: Patient Experiences
Meet our 2019 Team of Advisors!
We’re excited to announce the nine members who have been selected to join the 2019 Team of Advisors! This group of active members will be collaborating with PatientsLikeMe in the next year to offer feedback on new research and product development, to advocate on behalf of patients, and provide real-world perspectives to us and our… Continue reading Meet our 2019 Team of Advisors!
Supplement safety smarts
It’s easy to see the temptation of taking dietary supplements. Getting vitamins, minerals and herbs or other “health foods” in pill form sounds simple. And some of the products’ claims — “Live longer!” or “Have more energy!” — may seem enticing. But even though most supplements don’t require a prescription, it’s best to check with… Continue reading Supplement safety smarts
Advocacy 101: See our new guide!
Interested in getting into advocacy for your health condition community this year? Raising your voice to boost awareness about your condition or the reality of being a patient takes courage. Yet it’s pretty simple to get started with advocacy, so together with members of our Team of Advisors (a team of highly active members and… Continue reading Advocacy 101: See our new guide!
Lupus Diagnosis and Lupus Self Test: Member Hetlena’s Pointers For Her Old (Newbie with SLE) Self
What would someone who has lived with lupus (SLE) for decades tell her younger, newly diagnosed self? PatientsLikeMe member Hetlena (@TheLupusLiar), who was diagnosed with lupus in 1993, recently answered that question for us in the following personal essay reflecting on what she’s learned through the years… Tips For A Newly Diagnosed SLE Patient “This… Continue reading Lupus Diagnosis and Lupus Self Test: Member Hetlena’s Pointers For Her Old (Newbie with SLE) Self
5 must-watch TED Talks Mental Health
Ever watch TED Talks? TED is a nonprofit “devoted to spreading ideas, usually in the form of short, powerful talks (18 minutes or less).” We’ve rounded up some of the top health-related videos from the TED series (1,700+ talks and counting) that might resonate or give you food for thought. Phil Hansen – “Embrace the shake” Hansen developed… Continue reading 5 must-watch TED Talks Mental Health
Healthcare = hot election topic. Check out some Election Day basics
Ready to cast your ballot? Election Day is almost here and recent polls show that healthcare is one of the top issues on voters’ minds. Here’s some quick election-related info for you. Election Day and voting basics – Tomorrow (November 6, 2018) is a general election for most states, except Louisiana (where November 6 is a primary and December 8… Continue reading Healthcare = hot election topic. Check out some Election Day basics
“In Claire fashion”: Claire Wineland + organ donation with a health condition
Claire Wineland — an author, inspirational speaker and social media star with cystic fibrosis — died last month at age 21 following a lung transplant. “In Claire fashion, she is an organ donor,” her family shared, noting that her kidneys helped save two people. Learn more about Claire and organ donation with a health condition.… Continue reading “In Claire fashion”: Claire Wineland + organ donation with a health condition
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