I've been away from the forum quite a bit lately, and just hate coming back to find this kind of discord. It makes me not want to read through the other longer threads besides this one, because I don't want to stumble across more of the same. So, let's put me down as another person who finds dissension of this type to be damaging.
Remember how completely wrong the old childhood adage is - "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me"... Still not true for us as adults, is it?
We have many members who are willing to go out of their way, and invest much of their time contributing to this forum. What motivates a person to do so could stem from reasons as varied as the backgrounds we come from. We also have different fields of interest, varying levels of education, varying levels of tolerance, varying levels of sense of humor, etc. etc. etc.
What IMO matters, is that what we say is expressed in a manner that considers others feelings. This is, after all, first and foremost a support forum.
We don't need to prove how qualified we are, or how much we know, because, again, we're members of a support forum. This is not "Ask the Professional" where members speak from a position of authority. Regardless of our background, here, we are all lay people, and what is needed from all is a genuine desire to befriend those in need of support. When we come on here, we take off whatever credentials we might wear, we express as lay people, what we have experienced, what we know to be true in our own lives, how we feel about something, what we think we would do if we were confronted with certain circumstances, or, what we have done.
I know, for myself, I most appreciate when members advise from personal experience. I might or might not always appreciate the delivery method, but I do learn, and sometimes just file things away mentally for future use. And, I can say that I have learned from so many, many here.
That is not to say that we can't share what we've read, or have been taught, but, what holds the most weight is the personal perspective, the support, and willingness to befriend.
Its also always beneficial to remember that this forum does have a private message function, and it is a wonderful method of communication. There is a greater good that overrides the importance of being perceived as being correct, or knowing the most.
I had to laugh at the "irony" sidebar, only because this past year I have gotten sucked in to watching TV's Castle - a major guilty pleasure for me. I've now watched every episode since the start, and have the DVR set to record new ones. Anyway, the protagonist is a novelist, who in several episodes zeros in on the incorrect use of the word by other characters. Really really funny (to me).
As for one of the questions posed by Andy... I think the prospect of any type or level of anesthesia makes many people uneasy. Its not something people in general are that comfortable with, unless, perhaps they've had it enough times to where its no big deal.
And, even then, if that person was concerned about underlying medical conditions, it would make sense that they would ask about it here. I think, if I were going to be undergoing the procedure he is to have, I would have appreciated all input from those who have undergone the same, or similar procedure. As in saying, yeah I did it, no biggie, or I had this done, and I did have some burning, etc... the same type of advice we receive over on the PALS forum concerning PEG placement; varying experiences, shared collectively.
I too, read, and re-read, and could find nowhere that Andy was advised to conceal medical history.
Andy, I hope it goes well for you, and also hope you get some answers soon. LimboLand is not a happy place to find yourself, especially not for the extended tour. Good luck!
