‘Tis the season for binge-watching — but the media often flops in its portrayal of people with health conditions. So we’ve gathered patient perspectives on Hollywood depictions of illness and who’s gotten it right (thanks, Bea Arthur). Golden Girls – When doctors doubted Dorothy A writer for The Mighty who has multiple health condition recently praised The Golden… Continue reading Shows and Movies That “Get” Chronic Illness
Category: Patient Experiences
“You get out of life what you make it”: Member Anna shares her experience living with IPF
Meet PatientsLikeMe member Anna, who’s been living with IPF since 2011. Below, see what she shared with us about her diagnosis, how she fills her days with the things she loves, and how she’s learned to tackle daily tasks like shopping and cleaning while living with a chronic condition. She also touched on how PatientsLikeMe helped… Continue reading “You get out of life what you make it”: Member Anna shares her experience living with IPF
PTSD Nightmares: Why they’re happening and what you can do
More than 1,600 members of the PTSD community on have reported experiencing severe nightmares, and there are dozens of forum threads tagged with topic. So, we took a deeper dive into PTSD nightmares and some of the research-backed approaches you can try to help manage them. How common are nightmares after trauma? The quick answer: Very common. According… Continue reading PTSD Nightmares: Why they’re happening and what you can do
Life-changing second opinion stories: “I decided to get a second and third opinion…”
Stories showing the importance of second opinions have been popping up in the media and on PatientsLikeMe. Check out the recent news headlines, hear a remarkable story of a PatientsLikeMe member who received a life-saving lung transplant after getting a second (and third) opinion, and share your own experience of piecing together your health puzzle.… Continue reading Life-changing second opinion stories: “I decided to get a second and third opinion…”
Weed 101: How and why patients use medical marijuana
Medical marijuana is a hot topic in the news (and here in the PatientsLikeMe community). So we took a closer look into what it is, how it works, and what members are saying about it. Take a look: Do you use medical marijuana? Head to PatientsLikeMe to join the conversation and share your experience. Share this… Continue reading Weed 101: How and why patients use medical marijuana
Treat yourself: 6 self-care tips for the hectic holiday season
The holidays are stressful enough for people living without illness. When you have a health condition, or care for someone who does, the hustle and bustle of this time of year – plus the sky-high expectations for a magical time – can be physically and emotionally draining. We’ve rounded up self-care tips to help you… Continue reading Treat yourself: 6 self-care tips for the hectic holiday season
How Many Kinds of Diabetes Are There? Lots. Explore Type 1, Type 2, LADA And More
Confused about the different types of diabetes? Never heard of other forms of diabetes beyond “1” and “2”? You’re not alone. As American Diabetes Month comes to a close, we’re shedding some light on this topic. Overall, more than 30 million Americans (9.4 percent of the U.S. population) have diabetes. Here’s a guide to help you and… Continue reading How Many Kinds of Diabetes Are There? Lots. Explore Type 1, Type 2, LADA And More
“What do you mean I can’t bring my service animal in?” Member Craig talks life with fibromyalgia and service dogs.
Craig Braquet (woofhound) is living with fibromyalgia and severe degenerative disc disease, the result of a multi-car accident in 1979. We first introduced Craig when he joined the 2015-2016 PatientsLikeMe Team of Advisors, but today we introduce his dogs, Luna, Oliver and Dakota. See what Craig has to say about training his own service dogs, taking… Continue reading “What do you mean I can’t bring my service animal in?” Member Craig talks life with fibromyalgia and service dogs.
Breaking the silence on incontinence
A guest blog by member Shannon MS gives me a lot to write about, which is a wonderful coping mechanism when certain aspects of the disease are difficult to talk about. Initially, I wrote about stress and the heavy toll it’s played in my life, and on my body, in the last month. But, as often happens… Continue reading Breaking the silence on incontinence
Psychotherapy and PTSD symptoms: Your questions answered
Recently, a number of PatientsLikeMe members shared some of the questions they had about psychotherapy and remission from PTSD symptoms, so we asked Meaghan Zisk, R.N. M.P.H., a nurse and Health Data and Patient Safety Clinical Specialist, to investigate. She took a deep dive into variations of PTSD, psychotherapy types, how they work and resources to help… Continue reading Psychotherapy and PTSD symptoms: Your questions answered