Living with a health condition? On the PatientsLikeMe blog, find helpful health information and patient stories about being diagnosed, trying different treatments, and living day-to-day with a chronic condition.
Have you ever noticed a sudden cough come on that doesn’t seem to want to go away? Or felt strong during exercise one day, then found yourself getting short of breath over the next few weeks? Maybe you notice it’s getting a little harder to breath as the years go on. Chronic cough, shortness of […]
How is Alpha-1 Different from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease? Read More »
Stiffness, pain, and swelling are just a few common symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and are often some of the most difficult to manage. The progression of these three symptoms is usually a sign that the disease is getting worse. Visibly swollen or tender joints, symmetrical pain, and increased stiffness are all signs of progression to later
8 Easy Ways to Improve Your Diet to Help Manage Rheumatoid Arthritis Read More »
After a long wait on the transplant list, you finally get your transplantation surgery. You immediately start to feel better, but suddenly you notice some tenderness over the transplant site. You may even begin to experience flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, and body aches. While this could be an infection, it could also be
4 Tips for Preventing Organ Transplant Rejection Read More »
You’ve probably noticed that after a rough night of sleep, you don’t quite feel yourself. You may be a little slower to get out of bed in the morning, go for an extra cup of coffee, or even opt for a mid-afternoon nap. The physical effects of sleep deprivation are usually pretty clear, but the
What Happens to Your Mental Health If You Don’t Get Adequate Sleep? Read More »
Multiple sclerosis is a progressive autoimmune disease that affects nearly 1 million people in the United States. In MS, the immune system attacks myelin, the protective sheath that surrounds the nerves in the brain and spinal cord. Damage to these cells causes symptoms like pain, fatigue, impaired coordination, and vision loss. It can also cause
Here’s What You Need to Know About Epstein Barr and Multiple Sclerosis Read More »
If you’ve been living with multiple sclerosis, you might have noticed that you don’t feel as sharp as usual. Maybe you’re having trouble remembering information or concentrating on certain tasks. You may even feel like your brain is constantly in a fog. If any of this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Although many of the
5 Signs of Cognitive Impairment in MS Read More »
There are over 100 autoimmune conditions, like rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis, but experts still aren’t sure what causes them. Autoimmune conditions occur when your immune system mistakenly attacks the body instead of protecting it. Certain factors increase your risk of getting an autoimmune condition, such as smoking or having a family member with an
What is the Impact of Obesity on Autoimmune Conditions? Read More »
If you’ve been having unexplained symptoms like numbness, fatigue, or cognitive changes, you might suspect a neurological disease like multiple sclerosis. However, getting a definitive multiple sclerosis diagnosis can be difficult and can often take years. Because MS is often confused with other conditions like lupus and Lyme disease, your doctor will have to rule out
How Is Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosed? Read More »
It’s normal to feel down sometimes. It’s even normal to feel hopeless or in despair about a particular situation or circumstance. These feelings are temporary. They may last anywhere from a few hours to a few days and cause minimal disturbance in your day-to-day activities. But, when these feelings become constant, more intense, and lasts
What is Clinical Depression? Read More »
If you’ve been living with rheumatoid arthritis, you know that the symptoms can be unpredictable. You may feel good one day and have a flare-up the next. It’s not possible to eliminate RA symptoms, but several treatment options are available that can help you manage them. The first line of treatment for rheumatoid arthritis
6 Treatment Options for Rheumatoid Arthritis Read More »
