What does this forum mean to you?

joanlawson

Hi everyone

I joined this forum just over a year ago, after discovering it purely by accident. At that time, I didn't realise that such forums existed as I hadn't used a computer very much.

Now, one year on, I have been thinking about what this forum has meant to me.

It has been a constant source of entertainment and fun, provided by the many witty and amusing posts which people dream up. This is something we all need in our lives, and is a wonderful remedy if we ever feel a bit down.

Most of all, it has given me the support and friendship of so many wonderful people whom I would never have met in any other way.

I am grateful to everyone who posts on here, and also to A. Care for the forum.

Joan

quietwaters

joanlawson wrote:

Hi everyone

I joined this forum just over a year ago, after discovering it purely by accident. At that time, I didn't realise that such forums existed as I hadn't used a computer very much.

Now, one year on, I have been thinking about what this forum has meant to me.

It has been a constant source of entertainment and fun, provided by the many witty and amusing posts which people dream up. This is something we all need in our lives, and is a wonderful remedy if we ever feel a bit down.

Most of all, it has given me the support and friendship of so many wonderful people whom I would never have met in any other way.

I am grateful to everyone who posts on here, and also to A. Care for the forum.

Joan

I agree, I find it amazing that people who are suffering severe pain still take the time to answer posts and give their help and advice to others. Its great.

quietwaters

I feel like I'm a stalker now, jumping from post to post, so I'm off to bed.
night night x

annie_mial

I love this forum although it isn't the first I have posted on. This one has the light touch needed for those of us in constant pain who just want a little something to take their minds off the daily grind.

We can be as imaginative as we like, as silly as we wish and as enquiring as we want...........and all those things help so much.

To be able to say what you feel and know that others out there will understand exactly is such a bonus......no desperate trying to explain that today is different from yesterday and tomorrow will very likely be different again.

I thank AC for the forum very much.........it's found a place in my life.

Annie

joanlawson

quietwaters wrote:

I feel like I'm a stalker now, jumping from post to post, so I'm off to bed.
night night x

Hi quietwaters

Jumping from post to post is one of the pleasures of the forum, so you are not a stalker at all.

joanlawson

To be able to say what you feel and know that others out there will understand exactly is such a bonus......no desperate trying to explain that today is different from yesterday and tomorrow will very likely be different again.

I agree entirely with this, Annie. It is good to know people who understand.

skezier

Hi Joan,

I agree with Annie and also for me it became a real life line for a bit. I also thank AC and Jean123, the Mods and the Helpline folk cus well I remember what it was like to feel very alone and scared. x

joanlawson

Hi Cris

You came to my rescue in my hour of need, so thank you very much. I won't forget your kindness and concern, and it really did help me.

skezier

Your welcome Joan and its what makes the forum so good, we all help each other as best we can but hell I hate arthritis for what it does to us all.... me included x

ninakang

As much as we all hate arthur, it's what's brought this unlikely bunch of people together online :-)

This forum for me is a distraction and break from work and the kids. Something to turn to when I want answers and to have a laugh. I don't always reply to post, depends on how busy I am, but I do come on most days for my "fix" and read what you're all up to. I miss it when I go away and can't log on.

Nina X

snowball

I've not been on this forum for long but its a real comfort for me to have other people understand what i'm going through. I have a supportive family but sometimes don't understand what i am going through, so thankyou ac.
Julie xx

pheebs

Hi everyone,

I think everyone on here is great - considerate, kind, always willing to help and give advice. Loads more I could say but you know what I mean.

I don't post very often but do "check in" on a daily basis just to see what's going on. Never been brave enough to go on one of the cruises - get seasick!! And haven't ventured into the cafe - must make a point of doing that real soon.

Pheebs x

joanlawson

ninakang wrote:

As much as we all hate arthur, it's what's brought this unlikely bunch of people together online :-)

This forum for me is a distraction and break from work and the kids. Something to turn to when I want answers and to have a laugh. I don't always reply to post, depends on how busy I am, but I do come on most days for my "fix" and read what you're all up to. I miss it when I go away and can't log on.

Nina X

Hi Nina

I wouldn't have met you and your lovely girls if it hadn't been for the forum, so that is a very big plus for me.

joanlawson

Hi Julie

You might not have been on the forum for long, but you have already made many friends, including me, I hope.

Hi Pheebs

It's a shame you haven't ventured on the cruise or into the cafe as yet. You would be very welcome in both places, and don't worry about sea-sickness. Th ship is protected by a magic bubble which prevents it happening.

snowball

joanlawson wrote:

Hi Julie

You might not have been on the forum for long, but you have already made many friends, including me, I hope.

Hi Pheebs

It's a shame you haven't ventured on the cruise or into the cafe as yet. You would be very welcome in both places, and don't worry about sea-sickness. Th ship is protected by a magic bubble which prevents it happening.

Thankyou Joan yes i do ((((hug)))) from me xx

valval

well this is not the only forum i post on. but it is more fun and more people come on. you can have a moan and a laugh or find out what is what when things are not going as you had hoped. there is always some one on when things are bad in the middle of the night . it is posible to say how things r with out any one feeling you r putting it on as they have been through most of it and we do not always want family to know how bad things are as they worry about us so much. i like being able to post personal messages to people who you become good friends with thanks for this site it does so much good

bertyboy

this forum for me has the lot , you lot
a very varied topic base , a supportive word an abundance of cyber hugs, the cheapest cruses around and the best coffee shop around , its the people that make it so welcoming xxxx

snowball

valval wrote:

well this is not the only forum i post on. but it is more fun and more people come on. you can have a moan and a laugh or find out what is what when things are not going as you had hoped. there is always some one on when things are bad in the middle of the night . it is posible to say how things r with out any one feeling you r putting it on as they have been through most of it and we do not always want family to know how bad things are as they worry about us so much. i like being able to post personal messages to people who you become good friends with thanks for this site it does so much good

I couldn't have put it better myself xx

trisher

I love this Forum. I found it last May.

I had found a place I could come to and meet people who were suffering just as I was. No one understood, but on here they did. They gave you tips, they gave you a lifeline.

I have made many friends on here, friends I hope will be in my life for many years.

I found support, not just on my arthur but peeps who became good friends.
They helped me through a very long time in my life when I thought I would never see my home again.

Some peeps on here stayed up a bit later then they would have been.
Others kept me company in the night. That is how Night Owl was started.

I will never for get those 3 long months and the people who helped keep my spirits up.

So there is more than just having arthur on this Forum, we have become a group of people who support you no matter what the problem is. It might not be Arthur related, but their support is still there for you.

I like to think that I have tried to help peeps as well.

I cannot think of anywhere where I could be as happy as I am than on here.

Aslo, the Helpline Team do a fantastic job, where else could we go to get a personel reply if we needed to?

The Mods, keep this site a safe and a happy place for all of us to post.

What other Forum has a Val's Cafe. We can all meet up there and it is such a nice friendly place even for new peeps I think they like the Cafe. They can relax there.

minky67

I found this forum in August 08 when i first got dx with OA.
I relied on this site for help & support & it has never let me down.
Ive rang the helpline & they were brillaint, so supportive & i got loads of information sent to me through the post.
Ive posted many times & have always got a good response as someone is also going through the same or been through the same thing.
After i got dx with Fibromyalgia i struggled to come to terms with that as well as the OA & again the support was here & i was in a very, very dark place then.
Now im going through OT at the hospital & this site has come up trumps again for me & im hoping ive also helped a few going through the same process.
I cant see my life without this site now, ive made friends on here, ive met a few people & now are friends for life(i hope)
I now worry when a regular poster isnt here.
I sometimes just lurk around in the shadows as i cant face posting for one reason or another. but i log on every night in the hope that i can help when i dont need the support.
To me its a lifeline that i couldnt do with out.
debs

skezier

Hi Debs,

You have helped me Through here I made some very, very good friends and you one of them ((( ))) xx

Hi Trish,

Your a good soul and you helped me when I had to make the horriblest decision of my life..... well one of them. This forum and the people conected to it got me through that and it was such a bad thing for me, I drowned for a bit and I will never forget the support you people gave me, you very much helped me. A ((((( ))))) xx

trisher

Cris

You have supported me as well and I like to think that we will be life long friends. I will always support you Cris, just ask ((((())))) xxx

I could not imagine life without this Forum either. There are so many good people on here.

chile168

I have found the people in this forum to be supportive, honest and a good laugh.

I have been having problems working out who AC is - and it finally dawned on me derrrrrrrr.

Frogmonton (Toni) was the first person to rescue me on here and will always be grateful for that. ((( Toni )))) x

I also want to say thank you to JEAN 123 - she is always on and must get tired. Jean thank you for you kind words to me and for your support.

Eve

jean123

Hi Eve, thank you. I absolutely agree with you about the qualities of the people on the forum - I think we must have collected the nicest, most caring, and most fun loving crowd in the UK - who can forget the cruises, and rehab's bunker babes!!

Hope all is still well with you and your family.

Jean

only49

hello the forum is brilliant one thing i discovered and thats we all in the same situation and suffer a lot of pain, and so we can support and understand how another person is feeling, me for one would miss it if it was not availble to us.

sylvia