Cannabis for PD treatment? Member Ian says it’s something to shout about

Member Ian (Selfbuilder) blogs and vlogs about using cannabis products to treat his Parkinson’s disease symptoms, even though marijuana (including medical marijuana) is illegal and stigmatized where he lives in the U.K. Why is he speaking up? “I know that I would not be here now if it wasn’t for the relief provided by my… Continue reading Cannabis for PD treatment? Member Ian says it’s something to shout about

We the Patients: New PatientsLikeMe poll finds a unified voice on a U.S. health care plan

Repeal? Replace? Revise? While politicians have spent months debating the details of a U.S. health care plan, a recent poll of 2,755 PatientsLikeMe members has found that patients are largely aligned about components of a strong plan for the country.   “Despite the partisan divide in Congress about what should be included in a health… Continue reading We the Patients: New PatientsLikeMe poll finds a unified voice on a U.S. health care plan

Bright ideas: Members share 7 head-to-toe tips for sun safety with lupus

With summer just around the bend, we’ve rounded up PatientsLikeMe members’ sun-safety and photosensitivity tips for people living with lupus. Photosensitivity is increased sensitivity to sunlight and other sources of ultraviolet (UV) light, sometimes causing a rash or other skin reaction. On PatientsLikeMe, thousands of people with lupus say they’ve experienced photosensitivity – more than… Continue reading Bright ideas: Members share 7 head-to-toe tips for sun safety with lupus

Living with depression? Grab your mat: 5-minute yoga video with Jamie from PatientsLikeMe

Studies have shown that practicing yoga can have positive effects on people with depression. So we tapped Jamie – a PatientsLikeMe research assistant who is also a certified yoga instructor – to show us some poses with mental health in mind. She put together a 5-minute, beginner-level flow that you can try at home. (As… Continue reading Living with depression? Grab your mat: 5-minute yoga video with Jamie from PatientsLikeMe

Virtual house calls? Dr. Ray Dorsey’s promising research on telemedicine for Parkinson’s disease

What if your next doctor’s appointment involved just booting up your laptop rather than trekking to a clinic or office? Neurologist Ray Dorsey, M.D., M.B.A., is making virtual house calls a reality for people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and believes “telemedicine” is on the brink of transforming healthcare. “There’s a huge demand for more convenient… Continue reading Virtual house calls? Dr. Ray Dorsey’s promising research on telemedicine for Parkinson’s disease

Going global for World MS Day

It’s World MS Day and this year we checked in with the global MS community to see how members around the world are living with MS. Here’s what they had to say:     “MS is very rare in India. I’m from North India, known as Kashmir, a very beautiful place and it’s rightly known as… Continue reading Going global for World MS Day

“Always know that you are not alone.” Member Debbie shares about life with PTSD

As a “happily married mom of three and grandmother to four,” Debbie works each day to remain active and positive, filling her time with the things she loves, like crocheting, baking and helping others to see there is a light at the end of the tunnel.   “I try very hard each day to stay… Continue reading “Always know that you are not alone.” Member Debbie shares about life with PTSD

“Our countries have come together, but our people have not”: PatientsLikeMe’s Margot shares her story

Margot Carlson Delogne is the Vice President of Communications at PatientsLikeMe. She is also the child of an American soldier lost at war. This Memorial Day we wanted to show how she’s working on her own healing process, but also repairing some of the divide left in the aftermath of the Vietnam War. In December… Continue reading “Our countries have come together, but our people have not”: PatientsLikeMe’s Margot shares her story

“It gives me a source of hope”: Gloria’s 9+ years of tracking Parkinson’s disease and making connections on PatientsLikeMe

Member Gloria (sunshine221) has been here almost since the start. The Parkinson’s Disease (PD) community on PatientsLikeMe launched in 2007, and Gloria joined in 2008. We recently caught up with her about her early days with PD, how she has used PatientsLikeMe through the years and what she’s up to now. Early days with PD… Continue reading “It gives me a source of hope”: Gloria’s 9+ years of tracking Parkinson’s disease and making connections on PatientsLikeMe

It’s Clinical Trials Day, and patients are driving change

Today is Clinical Trials Day – celebrated to bring more attention to public health and also to recognize the contribution of the patients and healthcare professionals who make clinical research possible. At PatientsLikeMe, it’s members who are changing the way clinical trials are designed. Bringing the patient voice to clinical trials has long been part… Continue reading It’s Clinical Trials Day, and patients are driving change