As an integrative medicine specialist, I tend to see a lot of patients who have spent years trying to figure out what’s making them sick. With certain conditions like thyroid imbalance, or chronic Lyme, there’s often no easy answer to diagnosis or treatment. And even clear-cut diagnoses like Multiple Sclerosis can’t offer patients a single answer when it comes to the disease’s pace or progression. There are few things more potentially frustrating, or isolating, than chronic illness.

While the internet can sometimes paralyze with information overload, it’s great for patients who want to find others like them to break that isolation and compare notes. I’ve already mentioned that I am starting an online community for thyroid concerns called ThyroidBalance (named after a book I wrote several years ago).  Patients Like Me is another wonderful resource for people who have been diagnosed with an illness and want to share stories and read about the latest treatments.