Things I Wish My Doctor Would Do

You have been experiencing a mix of symptoms for a while, fatigue, headaches, muscle soreness, and shortness of breath. Wondering if it’s something like stress or a more serious condition, you visit your doctor with the hopes of getting some answers. But instead, your doctor gives you a quizzical look and sends you on your way with more questions… Continue reading Things I Wish My Doctor Would Do

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!

“This’ll make you feel better!î About Depression Advice from people who don’t have depression

Martha Mills, a writer for The Guardian, candidly wrote a piece called “’Just go for a run’: testing everyday advice for depression,” where she reviews tips that people unfamiliar with depression have offered her to “keep the blues away.” Check out her assessment of different kinds of advice, plus hear what the PatientsLikeMe community has said about mental health–related tips… Continue reading “This’ll make you feel better!î About Depression Advice from people who don’t have depression

Probiotics for MS? The latest research

Wondering if a probiotic could help treat your MS? With 10 forum threads on the topic, you’re not the only one. From conflicting information online to recommendations from friends and new research making headlines, separating fact from fiction can be tricky. Here’s a recap of the latest research on probiotics and MS from our in-house team of health professionals.… Continue reading Probiotics for MS? The latest research

Can ketamine help when antidepressants don’t? A closer look at the off-label drug that’s in the spotlight

You may have seen ketamine making headlines recently as a promising drug therapy for treatment-resistant depression, or “TRD.” (What’s TRD? Health care professionals define it as receiving at least two different antidepressants– for at least six weeks in a row, and at an adequate dosage – but experiencing less than a 50% improvement in depressive symptoms.) So,… Continue reading Can ketamine help when antidepressants don’t? A closer look at the off-label drug that’s in the spotlight

Pre-diagnosis limbo: “I knew something was wrong”

Before you were diagnosed with your condition, how long did you live in “limbo” with your symptoms and what was that like? Living with the unknown is a common part of the patient experience — PatientsLikeMe data shows that people with a wide range of health conditions live with their symptoms for several months or… Continue reading Pre-diagnosis limbo: “I knew something was wrong”

10+ ways to make your wheelchair work better for you

Wheelchairs aren’t always built with the best patient experience in mind. But many PatientsLikeMe members are sharing about the creative hacks and useful accessories they’ve used to make their wheelchairs better suit their needs. Here are some suggestions — how many have you tried? Making it more comfortable: Egg crate cushions, it’s really important to… Continue reading 10+ ways to make your wheelchair work better for you

Behind the scenes at PatientsLikeMe! Take a peek at user research (aka usability testing)

Have you noticed changes on PatientsLikeMe in the past year? (We’re guessing you’ve spotted quite a few.) Did you know that we involve members in testing out various features or updates to the site before rolling them out? We do! Member Barbara’s user research session with Kris Engdahl, principal user researcher (left), and Nicole Barron,… Continue reading Behind the scenes at PatientsLikeMe! Take a peek at user research (aka usability testing)

“We are all connected”: Check out this new video starring the 2018 Team of Advisors

Have you had a chance to meet the 13 members selected to join the 2018 Team of Advisors? Get a glimpse of the dynamic group in this new 2-minute video, and keep an eye on the PatientsLikeMe newsfeed and Facebook page for their individual videos and stories. This group will be collaborating with us in the next year to offer… Continue reading “We are all connected”: Check out this new video starring the 2018 Team of Advisors

Lupus flares: Stats and infographics based on the PatientsLikeMe community’s experiences

Lupus flares are hard to define. In fact, there wasn’t a clear clinical definition of flares until 2010 (and even that definition is pretty broad). If you’re living with lupus, how would you define a flare? What do you experience during one? To gain a deeper understanding of flares from the patient perspective, the PatientsLikeMe research team… Continue reading Lupus flares: Stats and infographics based on the PatientsLikeMe community’s experiences