From managing incontinence to temperature changes and sudden muscle weakness, many people living with MS have items they can’t live without. Some PatientsLikeMe members have started carrying an emergency bag with all the essentials to deal with inconvenient MS curveballs. Check out their suggestions: Instant ice packs Mint gum (helps one member “cool down”) Change… Continue reading Putting together an MS emergency bag: What’s on your must-have list?
Tag: multiple sclerosis
Shout out to The Golden Girls: Shows and movies that “get” chronic illness
‘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). When doctors doubted Dorothy A writer for The Mighty who has multiple health condition recently praised The Golden Girls for it’s portrayal… Continue reading Shout out to The Golden Girls: Shows and movies that “get” chronic illness
Creating communities, on and off PatientsLikeMe
More than half a million members, connecting 365 days a year, sharing countless health insights and words of support. Communities like this one are built on communication. And every day, patients like you are finding new ways to connect and enrich your community. From in-person meet-ups to live-streaming support groups and off topic threads, patients… Continue reading Creating communities, on and off PatientsLikeMe
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
From tomatoes to turmeric: Can foods fight inflammation?
Inflammation is a hot topic. What’s it all about? And what’s the scoop on certain diets, foods and supplements, such as turmeric, when it comes to fighting inflammation? What is inflammation? Not all inflammation is “bad.” Acute inflammation is part of the body’s natural way of defending itself from foreign substances like viruses, bacteria, cuts and splinters.… Continue reading From tomatoes to turmeric: Can foods fight inflammation?
Marijuana and MS: Get the scoop
From legality to availability, recreational use and potential use as treatment, marijuana is a hot topic. In the MS forum, members are talking about marijuana and its potential to relieve symptoms of MS like pain, tremor and spasticity. We wanted to know more, so we asked our Health Data Integrity team to take a look… Continue reading Marijuana and MS: Get the scoop
How to be your best health advocate
PatientsLikeMe is pleased to announce a new collaboration with Cathy Chester, a wife, mother, advocate and the voice behind her blog, “An Empowered Spirit: Living a Healthy and Vibrant Life After 50.” You might’ve already seen Cathy’s #MoreThan story about her diagnosis and how she’s much more than MS. Here, Cathy dives into the importance of being your… Continue reading How to be your best health advocate
MS and Biotin: Is there a link?
You’ve probably heard about biotin and reports that it might improve health. Like most things on the internet, the truth isn’t always clear. To clear up some of the swirl, our Health Data Integrity team took a deep dive into the current research. So, what’s biotin and how can it impact health and MS? Take… Continue reading MS and Biotin: Is there a link?
MS and Bowel Incontinence
More than 14,000 members living with MS report bowel problems (difficulty in passing feces including constipation, bowel incontinence [loss of bowel control], and diarrhea). So, what’s the deal with bowel incontinence and MS? What can you do to manage symptoms? We checked in with Meaghan Zisk, RN MPH, a nurse and Health Data and Patient… Continue reading MS and Bowel Incontinence
Ocrevus: You asked, we answered
Last month, we asked the MS community to share their questions about Ocrevus. Now, PatientsLikeMe’s Maria Lowe, Pharm.D., BCPS, sheds more light on what it is, how it works and what patients need to know. Maria’s rundown is meant to give you more context so you can have better conversations with your care team –… Continue reading Ocrevus: You asked, we answered