ibs tales hope awards

The IBS Tales Hope Awards 2007 are currently being presented to websites that offer positive support and encouragement to anyone suffering from a chronic medical problem. In particular, the awards recognise websites that:

offer accurate information and resources for patients
encourage sufferers to search for new treatments and hope
refuse to accept inadequate medical advice or doctors who tell us to "learn to live with it"!

The awards were created because of demand from visitors to our own website, IBS Tales. Many visitors want to recommend websites that they have found very useful when dealing with any of the medical conditions that they suffer from.

We therefore decided to set up the Hope Awards to reward websites that support people through all kinds of different illnesses and long-term medical issues.

how to display the award

To display the Hope Award on your site, simply add the following code to your web page:

Code for the big logo:

Code for the small logo:

Or, if you prefer, just right-click one of the logos, choose "Save target as", upload it to your site, and then link it to http://www.ibstales.com or the Hope Awards page: http://www.ibstales.com/hope-awards.htm.

If you have any problems displaying the award please do get in touch.

further nominations

If you have any other suggestions for websites that might qualify for the IBS Tales Hope Award please get in touch. Sites should be easy to navigate, with good and original content - but most of all they should offer positive support and encouragement for people who are suffering.

When you are nominating a site please include the URL (web address) of the site and a brief (no more than 100 words) description of why the site is worthwhile.

current award holders

The awards are currently being judged and awarded. Winners so far include:

Allergies

Food Allergies Survivors Together (FAST): www.angelfire.com/mi/FAST
An online support group for people with food allergies in the family, friends of those with food allergies, and individuals with food allergies.

Allergizer: www.allergizer.com
Don't let yourself be backed down by allergies.

Please Don't Pass the Nuts: http://allergicgirl.blogspot.com
A guide to living and eating fish-free, tree-nut-free, gluten-free, soy-free, and sugar-free in NYC. And beyond.

Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome

APS Foundation of America: www.apsfa.org
Support and information for people with APS, which is also known as Hughes Syndrome or Sticky Blood.

Anxiety and Phobias

National Phobics' Society: www.phobics-society.org.uk
The anxiety disorders charity - a user-led organisation which believes firmly that those who have personal experience of anxiety are often best-placed to support others similarly affected.

Anxiety, Addiction and Depression Treatments: http://www.treatmentonline.com/treatments.php
Reporting and commenting on the most important news in medication, treatment, psychotherapy, clinical research and other areas of mental health.

Anxiety Insights: http://www.anxietyinsights.info
News and information on anxiety and related conditions.

Anxious Living: www.anxiousliving.com
An exploration into social anxiety.

Back pain

Spine Health: www.spine-health.com
Spine-health.com empowers individuals to take control of their pain by providing premium quality doctor-approved articles and videos, patient forums that are so active they're almost chat rooms, a doctor directory, and more.

Celiac Disease and Gluten-free Living

Clan Thompson's Celiac Site: www.clanthompson.com/index.php3
Providing news and support for the celiac community.

Gluten A Go-Go: http://glutenagogo.blogspot.com
Gluten-free eating and gluten-free cooking.

Gluten-free Bay: http://glutenfreebay.blogspot.com
Cooking, eating and thriving without gluten.

Karina's Kitchen - Recipes from a Gluten-free Goddess: http://glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com
Smart ways to live gluten-free, including loads of great recipes.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ME

FM-CFS Canada: www.fm-cfs.ca
FM-CFS Canada (formerly known as Compassion in Action) is dedicated to advancing Fibromyalgia (FM) and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) education, research and treatment.

The National CFIDS Foundation: www.ncf-net.org
Funding research to find a cause, expedite treatments and eventually a cure, as well as providing information, education, and support to people who have CFIDS.

National ME/FM Action Network: www.mefmaction.net
Information and support network for myalgic encephalomyelitis, chronic fatigue syndrome, and fibromyalgia.

CFIDS and Fibromyalgia Self-Help: www.cfidsselfhelp.org
Practical tools for managing chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.

Wisconsin Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Association: www.wicfs-me.org
Serving those with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

Counseling

Online Counseling with Licensed Internet Counselors: www.asktheinternettherapist.com
Description: Online Counseling for family, individuals and groups by experienced, licensed counselors for mental health and other health issues. Chat, email, video and phone counseling. Hypnosis tapes, hypnosis CDs, mental health educational videos, mental health DVDs, and self-improvement books by Jef Gazley.

Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome

Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome Association: www.cvsaonline.org
The CVSA raises awareness and provides education and support to those affected by cyclic vomiting, abdominal migraine and related disorders while advocating for and funding research.

Depression

Online PPD Support Group: www.ppdsupportpage.com
Support for women suffering from post-partum depression.

Diabetes

Diabetes New Zealand: www.diabetes.org.nz
The first port of call for New Zealanders with diabetes, those at risk and their families.

Diabetties: www.diabetties.org
This site is dedicated to all the "Betties" of the world who have diabetes and who are strong enough to keep it from hindering their active lifestyles.

Six Until Me: www.sixuntilme.com
Diabetes doesn't define me, but it helps explain me.

Lemonade Life: www.lemonade-life.com
Living with type 1 diabetes - when life hands you lemons, make lemonade!

Disability

International Center for Disability Resources on the Internet: www.icdri.org
International organization with a huge amount of information on disability and accessibility issues.

Ultimate Disability Guide: www.ultimatedisabilityguide.com
Help for people who are contemplating applying for Social Security Disability or Supplemental Security Income and for people who have already applied for disability benefits.

Dystonia

Care4Dystonia: http://care4dystonia.org
Dedicated to improving patient care, creating awareness of dystonia, collaborating with other nonprofits and biopharma companies and educating the dystonia community and public at large about the diagnosis and treatment of dystonia.

Eating Disorders

ANRED: www.anred.com
Information and resources on anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder and other less well-known eating disorders.

Eating Disorders: www.mirror-mirror.org/eatdis.htm
Dedicated to raising awareness and providing information on eating disorders. Definitions, signs and symptoms, getting help, relapse warning signs, approaching a loved one, and more.

Endometriosis

Endometriosis Research Center: www.endocenter.org
Dedicated to research, awareness, education and support for endometriosis sufferers.

Endometriosis in the UK: www.endometriosis.org.uk
The idea behind this site is to bring together women suffering from endometriosis and to offer free support to endometriosis sufferers and their partners.

Endometriosis.org: www.endometriosis.org
The global forum for up to date news and information on endometriosis with links to support groups across the world.

Fibromyalgia

National Fibromyalgia Association: www.nfra.net
Dedicated to education, treatment and finding a cure for fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia Information: http://fibromyalgia.ncf.ca
A wide range of articles, news and support resources make this site very useful to any sufferers.

Fibrohugs: www.fibrohugs.com
The mission of Fibrohugs is to offer a place where people with fibromyalgia can find understanding, knowledge, and support in their daily battle with this painful disease.

Friends with Fibro: www.friendswithfibro.org
Support for fibro and chronic fatigue syndrome sufferers - come sit, listen and enjoy the company of others who understand.

Living with Fibromyalgia: www.livingwithfm.com
A documentary about what it really means to live with fibromyalgia. An honest, hopeful and highly practical resource for fibromyalgia patients and their families.

Fibromyalgia Support Northern Ireland: www.fmsni.org.uk
A very comprehensive and useful site supporting fibromyalgia sufferers in Northern Ireland.

Nottingham and East Midlands Fibromyalgia Support Group: www.fibrofocus.org.uk
Fibromyalgia support for people in the Nottingham region.

Fibromyalgia Support Group for Surrey and Sussex: www.fms-sas.co.uk
This website provides information about the Fibromyalgia Support Group for Surrey and Sussex and also offers links to many other sites offering related information.

National Fibromyalgia Partnership: www.fmpartnership.org
The National Fibromyalgia Partnership offers high quality, medically-accurate information on fibromyalgia (FM) symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and research.

General

InfoMIN: www2.rpa.net/~lrandall/index.html
Medical Information Network for chronic pain, CFS, FMS and other medical conditions.

National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week: www.invisibleillness.com
Living with invisible illness is a rollercoaster - help a friend hold on!

Keep Working Girlfriend: www.keepworkinggirlfriend.com
Musings and inspirations from two women, coaches, who live and work with chronic illness. And are passionate to help others do so, too!

But You Don't Look Sick: www.butyoudontlooksick.com
But You Don't Look Sick magazine is about living life to the fullest with any disability, invisible disease, or chronic pain and hopes to provide answers to the endless questions of: But you don't look sick?

A Gaggle of Girls: www.ourgaggleofgirls.com/agog
A blog about life with various chronic illnesses, including fibromyalgia, lyme disease, celiac disease and food allergies.

Dr Donnica: www.drdonnica.com
The first name in women's health.

Grave's Disease

Elaine Moore's Grave Disease Education Site: www.elaine-moore.com/gravesdisease/index.htm
Elaine Moore's personal website, which is intended for the support and education of patients with Graves' Disease and other autoimmune thyroid disorders.

Incontinence

The Simon Foundation for Continence: www.simonfoundation.org
Dedicated to bringing the topic of incontinence out of the closet, removing the stigma surrounding it, and providing help and hope for people with incontinence, their families, and the health professionals who provide their care.

Interstitial Cystitis

Interstitial Cystitis Network: www.ic-network.com
Practical information to improve your bladder discomfort.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

IBS Self-help Group: www.ibsgroup.org
The largest IBS community on the internet with forums covering all aspects of IBS.

Irritable Bowel.Net: www.irritable-bowel.net
Books on IBS by Dr Barbara Bradley Bolen, including IBS Chat and Breaking the Bonds of IBS.

Lyme Disease

Lyme Disease Network: www.lymenet.org
A non-profit foundation dedicated to public education of the prevention and treatment of Lyme Disease and other tick-borne illnesses.

Men's Health

Andrology: www.andrology.com
Information on a range of men's health problems, including infertility and impotence.

Migraines and Cluster Headaches

Somebody Heal Me: http://somebodyhealme.dianalee.net
The musings of a chronic migraineur.

The Daily Headache: www.thedailyheadache.com
A candid look at managing and living with headaches and migraines.

Cluster Busters: www.clusterbusters.com
The ClusterBusters are a small, international group of cluster headache sufferers actively investigating the use of indole-ring hallucinogens to treat their disease.

Weathering Migraine Storms: http://deborah-weatheringmigrainestorms.blogspot.com
Have fun with the Queen-Bee while she tries, mostly unsuccessfully, to master Migraines, Marriage, Motherhood and a myriad of other things possible.

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity

MCS Homepage: http://www.nettally.com/prusty/mcs.htm
Information and support for people suffering from multiple chemical sensitivity.

Pain

National Pain Foundation: www.nationalpainfoundation.org
An online educational and support community for persons in pain, their families and physicians. Your source for treatment options and pain information that is peer reviewed by leading pain specialists.

American Pain Foundation: www.painfoundation.org
APF strives to improve the quality of life of people with pain by raising public awareness, providing practical information, promoting research, and advocating to remove barriers and increase access to effective pain management.

Pain Treatment Topics: http://pain-topics.org
The mission of Pain Treatment Topics is to serve as a non-commercial resource for healthcare professionals and patients, providing clinical news, information, research, and education for a better understanding of evidence-based pain-management practices. Access is free; no registration required.

Paruresis

International Paruresis Association: www.paruresis.org
A resource for people who find it difficult or impossible to urinate in the presence of others, either in their own home or in public facilities.

Reflux

Living with Reflux: www.livingwithreflux.org
The UK support group for gastroesophageal reflux and associated conditions, offering support and information to families dealing with and living with infant and adult acid reflux.

Self-help

Self-help Magazine: www.selfhelpmagazine.com
One of the world's first mental health websites, with articles, discussion forums, meditation information and many more resources.

Sleep Apnea

American Sleep Apnea Association: www.sleepapnea.org
The ASAA is a non-profit organization dedicated to reducing injury, disability, and death from sleep apnea and to enhancing the well-being of those affected by this common disorder.

Spondyloarthropathies

Reiter's Information and Support Group: www.risg.org
Information and support for Spondyloarthropathies sufferers, including information about Reiter's Syndrome, ankylosing spondylitis, and psoriatic arthritis.

TemporoMandibular Joint Disorder

Jaw Joints and Allied Musculo-Skeletal Disorders Foundation: www.tmjoints.org
Self-help, education, support and prevention for people with TMJD and associated disorders.

Tinnitus

Tinnitus and Hyperacusis Center: http://www.tinnitus-pjj.com
Information on tinnitus, hyperacusis, and tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT).

Vulvodynia

Vulvodynia Support: www.vulvodyniasupport.com
A support site and blog for women suffering from vulvodynia.

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