ADEM Patient Support is an online support group for patients, friends and families affected by ADEM (Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis). This online patient support community is powered by BensFriends.org, a network of patient support communities for rare diseases. Our mission at Ben’s Friends is to ensure that patients living with rare diseases or chronic illnesses, as well as their caregivers, family, and friends, have a safe and supportive place to connect with others like them.
The National Institute of Health describes Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis as being characterized by a brief but widespread attack of inflammation in the brain and spinal cord that damages myelin – the protective covering of nerve fibers. ADEM often follows viral or bacterial infections, or less often, vaccination for measles, mumps, or rubella. The symptoms of Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis appear rapidly, beginning with encephalitis-like symptoms such as fever, fatigue, headache, nausea and vomiting, and in the most severe cases, seizures and coma. ADEM typically damages white matter (brain tissue that takes its name from the white color of myelin), leading to neurological symptoms such as visual loss (due to inflammation of the optic nerve) in one or both eyes, weakness even to the point of paralysis, and difficulty coordinating voluntary muscle movements (such as those used in walking).
Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis is sometimes misdiagnosed as a severe first attack of multiple sclerosis (MS), since the symptoms and the appearance of the white matter injury on brain imaging may be similar. However, ADEM has several features which differentiate it from MS. First, unlike MS patients, persons with Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis will have rapid onset of fever, a history of recent infection or immunization, and some degree of impairment of consciousness, perhaps even coma; these features are not typically seen in MS. Children are more likely than adults to have ADEM, whereas MS is a rare diagnosis in children. In addition, ADEM usually consists of a single episode or attack of widespread myelin damage, while MS features many attacks over the course of time.
Doctors will often use imaging techniques, such as MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), to search for old and new lesions (areas of damage) on the brain. The presence of older brain lesions on MRI suggest that the condition may be MS rather than Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis, since MS can cause brain lesions before symptoms become obvious. In rare situations, a brain biopsy may be necessary to differentiate between ADEM and some other diseases that involve inflammation and damage to myelin. (NIH retrieved November 2021.)
AcuteDisseminatedEncephalomyelitis.org is a virtual community intended to be a safe place for patients and family members as young as age 12, to visit for information, discussion, venting and mutual support. Members come from many backgrounds. Some have a strong religious faith, and others no faith; some are children and others adults, rich and poor, graduate educated or taught by life. Our common denominators are that we share a life journey, and we try to help each other.
Though we get occasional visits from medical doctors, the site is not routinely supported by medical professionals. Nobody here can diagnose you or tell you what your treatment choices “should” be. We might inform your choices by sharing individual experiences and information developed by study as lay people. But AcuteDisseminatedEncephalomyelitis.org is not intended to replace the advice or treatment of licensed medical professionals. Readers should validate any information they take away from here, against the experience of a licensed medical doctor. Site owners and moderators are not legally responsible for the accuracy of information shared on the site.
How is Ben’s Friends Different from Social Media and Other Support Sites?
Our mission at Ben’s Friends is to ensure that patients living with rare diseases or chronic illnesses, as well as their caregivers, family, and friends, have a safe and supportive place to connect with others like them.
We’re interested in you as a person, and in your struggles as a rare disease patient. But we don’t want to know your name or where you live. We won’t even allow you to use your real name when you register for one of our communities. Because when it comes to medical things, anonymity is important in our googly universe. Your information is never shared, and your activity never tracked by adware.
When Ben’s Friends asks for the country and region you live in, that’s in case your fellow members can recommend local resources and help, and so everyone knows what kind of medical system there is where you live. That’s important when it comes to giving and getting support. Because we are all about support, and we’re all in this together..
Ben’s Friends: Safe and Supportive.
And anonymous to keep it that way.
Why create an account?
Posts on the different Ben’s Friends communities can be read by anyone on the internet. You can browse through the different topics and find most of the information you’re looking for but there are many things you won’t be able to do unless you create an account. These include:
Making your own posts. Although you’re able to find useful information just by reading other members’ posts, you might still have a lot of questions in your mind. Either you want to start a new topic to talk about them in detail or you want to reply to a comment on a thread. These won’t be possible unless you create a new user account.
Viewing other members’ profiles. Member profiles include information about the country or region they are from, whether they are a patient or a caregiver, and details about their disease and treatments. Maybe you came across an interesting post and you want to learn more about the member. Or maybe you’re looking for members who are from the same country as you. Having a user account allows you to see other member profiles and find information that may be relevant.
Sending private messages. Aside from being able to post publicly and commenting on a thread, having a user account also allows you to send private messages both to other members and moderators. In case you want to discuss a topic only with a specific person, this is possible by sending private messages when you have created your account.
Click here to create an account and join.
Latest Discussions
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As we approach the end of our year-end campaign, I wanted to share a powerful reminder of the impact your support makes. A Message from the Heart: We’ve just received an incredibly moving video from Jaz, one of our community members. In just a few moments, she captures the essence of why your support for Ben’s Friends is so crucial. Watch Jaz’s Powerful Message Now Jaz’s words remind us […]
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I hope this message finds you well. As we approach the end of the year, I wanted to share an exciting update on our “Friends Helping Friends” campaign and a special opportunity to double your impact. Campaign Progress: Thanks to the incredible generosity of supporters like you, we’ve raised almost $11,000 towards our $50,000 goal. This is a fantastic start, but with just three weeks left, […]
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I hope this message finds you well. Today, I want to share a powerful story that illustrates how our Ben’s Friends community is making a real difference in people’s lives. This story highlights why your support, whether through fundraising or direct donations, is so crucial to our mission. Meet John: John was born with severe type 1 Von Willebrand’s Disease (VWD) and later discovered he […]
- Become a Champion for Our Rare Disease Communityby Modsupport on November 19, 2024
Thank you for being an essential part of our Ben’s Friends community. Today, I want to invite you to take your support a step further by becoming a fundraiser for our “Friends Helping Friends” campaign. What does it mean to be a fundraiser? As a fundraiser, you create your own personal fundraising page and share it with your network. It’s a powerful way to amplify our message and reach […]
Feature Article
The Ripple Effect: How ADEM Impacts Patients and their Loved Ones
Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis has a significant and multifaceted impact on patients, affecting various aspects of their lives. The physical consequences, such as paralysis, vision issues, and cognitive impairments, can severely limit their daily functioning and independence. The emotional challenges they face, including frustration, anger, depression, and aggression, further compound the complexity of their experience.
Additionally, families of individuals with Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM) encounter substantial challenges, including financial burdens stemming from medical expenses and potential disruptions to their routines. The emotional toll on caregivers and family members is profound and necessitates support and understanding.
By fostering awareness and understanding of these effects, we can cultivate empathy, provide better support, and improve the overall care and quality of life for those impacted by ADEM.
Ben’s Friends has a free and safe online support community for patients affected by ADEM as well as their caregivers and family. Join our ADEM Patient Support Community so you can get in touch with people who truly understand what you’re going through.
