© 2010 – 2011, Unmasked Communications™. All rights reserved.

The medical industrial complex, which fears health care reform efforts, is using my book and a seminar I gave last year to fight the natural care industry. I refuse to be used that way.

My next book will be available in 2010. Stay informed by subscribing to blog updates by email or RSS feed.

© 2009 – 2010, Unmasked Communications™. All rights reserved.

© 2009, Unmasked Communications™. All rights reserved.

With 75 percent of internet users using the internet for health information (Pew Internet Project, 8/08) and many of them seeking support, thousands of bloggers now post daily journals about the emotional challenges they face with daily chronic pain.

National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week, September 14-20, 2009, invites bloggers to have a significant role in their awareness campaign. For example, part of their outreach has been featuring guest bloggers on their own web site invisibleillnessweek.com , as well as inviting bloggers around the globe to commit to blogging about invisible illness issues. To help spread the word they have also created a meme, “30 Things About My Invisible Illness You May Not Know” that people have posted on Facebook, blogs and other social networks.

Lisa Copen, who founded National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week in 2002 says, “Though our illnesses and symptoms may vary, we still have a great deal in common. We can learn from one another about coping and finding the balance of taking care of ourselves yet living life to the fullest.” Copen says patient blogs aren’t depressing like healthy people may assume. “Illness bloggers don’t typically dwell on the logistics of symptoms, lab tests, or hospital stays. Instead, they write on everyday topics and how their illness impacts their families, finances, careers. They may discuss patient advocacy issues, but they also write about vacationing with an illness or dating when you have a chronic illness.”

Invisible Illness Week was recently the host of Grand Rounds, the largest medical blog carnival on the internet.

Over 300 people have officially committed to blogging for Invisible Illness Week so far and many are sharing on their Facebook notes page or other social network. Copen encourages those who do not have a blog to shares something about their illness with Facebook friends, a few Twitter posts, or even in the comments section of the invisibleillnessweek.com web site.
If you would like to join this unique opportunity to blog for awareness about invisible illnesses, see www.invisibleillnessweek.com for details. Invisible

Illness Week’s highlight is a 5-day virtual conference with 20 speakers that can be heard online for free on a topics such as marriage with illness, applying for disability, setting boundaries, and when your child is ill.

Copen is also the founder of Rest Ministries which sponsors the event and IllnessTwitters.ning.com for anyone who “tweets” on health or medical conditions.

© 2009 – 2010, Unmasked Communications™. All rights reserved.

Last week HealthCentral.com announced it had purchased Wellsphere.com. With over 35 websites, HealthCentral is the leading collection of online consumer health and wellness experiences focused on specific conditions. The two sites draw about 10 million unique visitors each month.

Wellsphere’s technology, which allows consumers to find information that is not specific to a particular disease, will allow HealthCentral to provide a richer mix of information. Contributors include medical professionals, patients, and caregivers.

HealthCentral also includes content from Harvard Health Publications and the Physician’s Desk Reference (PDR). An onsite symptom checker helps visitors pinpoint what might be wrong.

HealthCentral’s content is provided by people who have dealt with serious and chronic conditions. Founder and CEO Chris Schroeder created the site when loved ones who faced serious illnesses needed information that addressed the whole person.

Schroeder has years of experience with online publications. Before founding HealthCentral, he was CEO and publisher of washingtonpost.newsweek interactive and host of washingtonpost.com and newsweek.msnbc.com. He is also co-founder and past chairman of the Online Publishers Association.

I have no idea where these developments will lead. I’m just excited about the opportunity to help more people. Stay tuned to this blog to stay abreast of upcoming changes.

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Jacqueline Laurette Jones is author of Unmasking a Diagnosis: How to get Help for a Confusing Chronic Illness Without Filing for Bankruptcy.

© 2009, Unmasked Communications™. All rights reserved.

I have no idea how to blog. My experience is in print, so I’m winging it while I learn how to write for the Web.

These awards give me incentive to try even harder. Thanks to everyone who voted for me.

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Jacqueline Laurette Jones is author of Unmasking a Diagnosis: How to get Help for a Confusing Chronic Illness Without Filing for Bankruptcy.

© 2009, Unmasked Communications™. All rights reserved.

If you click the “Vote Now” button in the badge at the end of this post, you will be taken to Wellsphere.com, where you can vote or find a code to display a badge on your blog, website, or social networking profile. Only one vote per person counts, so the best way to help me is to spread the word. Thanks.

for Jacqueline Jones http://jacquelineljones.com/category/health-issues-unmasked%E2%84%A2

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Jacqueline Laurette Jones is author of Unmasking a Diagnosis: How to get Help for a Confusing Chronic Illness Without Filing for Bankruptcy.

© 2009, Unmasked Communications™. All rights reserved.

If you click the “Help Me Win” badge at the end of this post, you will be taken to Wellsphere.com, where you can vote or find a code to display a badge on your blog, website, or social networking profile. Only one vote per person counts, so the best way to help me is to spread the word. Thanks.

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Jacqueline Laurette Jones is author of Unmasking a Diagnosis: How to get Help for a Confusing Chronic Illness Without Filing for Bankruptcy.

© 2009 – 2011, Unmasked Communications™. All rights reserved.

Invite them to display my badge on their blogs, websites, or social networking profiles. The code is located on the right side of my Wellsphere profile just under the voting box. Only one vote per person counts, so the best way to help me is to spread the word. Thanks.

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Jacqueline Laurette Jones is author of Unmasking a Diagnosis: How to get Help for a Confusing Chronic Illness Without Filing for Bankruptcy.

© 2009, Unmasked Communications™. All rights reserved.

Have a blessed Christmas and a safe New Year.

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Jacqueline Laurette Jones is author of Unmasking a Diagnosis: How to get Help for a Confusing Chronic Illness Without Filing for Bankruptcy.

© 2008 – 2009, Unmasked Communications™. All rights reserved.