I know that hearing about other people's experiences helps me to deliberate on and assess my responses to drugs more carefully. With the trazadone -- I still TOOK it, but I was not surprised I had the reaction I did, and was able to give it 4 days and say "No, this drug is not one I want to put in my body. There is no benefit opposed to the cost."

Which is why I still chime in even though it makes me twitchy.

(Unlike Tramadol and Erin)

The bit about not being surprised by reactions is always really helpful. I have to take a lot of meds, and doctors persistently fail to warn me about some of their effects. Half the time I'm not sure most doctors are even aware. Which is not surprising if it's a GP, with all the different types of things they have to prescribe. But my rheumatologist didn't believe me for quite some weeks that a pain med was making me vomit. Turned out it makes a lot of people react like that, but he didn't know that.

So if a friend, or a contributor to a forum, has experience of the effects of something, I feel like I can be forewarned and forearmed. I'm much less likely to freak out and think I've gone entirely crazy (or got a brain-eating virus or tapeworm).

I find Pharmacists (Elena B -- HOLLAH!) to be particularly helpful with side-effects and weird-interactions discussions. In some ways, they're in a better position than physicians to see those scenarios play out.

they're in a better position than physicians to see those scenarios play out.

Our pharmacists have often pointed out to Hubby that he's taking multiple versions of the same drug from various doctors and that he's in danger of ODing on stuff. God bless the pharmacists.

ITA, Trudy. My pharmacist answers a ton of questions. I'm more consistent with pharmacists than doctors, actually.

Hee, Amish Paradise always, always makes me laugh.

Our pharmacists have often pointed out to Hubby that he's taking multiple versions of the same drug from various doctors and that he's in danger of ODing on stuff. God bless the pharmacists.

Heh. Yes, I mostly get that kind of thing from them.

Our pharmacists have often pointed out to Hubby that he's taking multiple versions of the same drug from various doctors and that he's in danger of ODing on stuff. God bless the pharmacists.

This is why it is an excellent idea to have one pharmacy no matter how many doctors you have.

WS, is your friend connected to any of the colleges there? My nephew is at ETSU in Johnson City, so I have an idea of the limitations.

I think she is a recent grad.

There's a Dr. Kerry Holland (female) there who specializes in women's and GLBT issues. I can send you contact info if you want it.

Kenkitty, please and thank you on the contact info. Shir, thank you for your good wishes.

I think people are trying to help, Tep. I get that they might not be, though. Although what, I, as a blonde woman with a disability whom people(very occasionally) see as cute might know about Help That's Not, I don't know. I have a good imagination though./snark Health -ma to Jilli's mom. So far it looks like my mom's tests look very good although there is one we don't know about yet so the health-ma is slightly used, but I think it worked. Seska, I totally feel you. A few years back, we made a list of every attendant thing my mom does for me. Which is like a zillion things, from helping in the shower to changing my printer cartridge. That sure keeps the self-worth pumping. But so far, I'm just pathetic enough...yay me.

I think people are trying to help, Tep. I get that they might not be, though.

I'll only say this one more time, and then I'm stepping away.

Most people on this board vent about their jobs from time to time. When they do, they don't get offered links to job openings in other cities. They get sympathy or invocations of smiting, or practical suggestions to deal with the immediate situation.

When I vent about my job, which I am increasingly deciding not to do on this board, I am the only person offered links to job openings in other cities. I'm obviously not going to move to another city -- I've never even said that I want to move to another city -- since I'm settled here with family, a home, and a relationship. So the links? Don't help.

They make me feel like everyone else's "irritation posts" are legitimate and deserving of support/smiting/sympathy but mine are deserving of jokes.

Stepping away now.

Jilli, I'm holding you and your mother in my thoughts.

They make me feel like everyone else's "irritation posts" are legitimate and deserving of support/smiting/sympathy but mine are deserving of jokes.

I always interpreted the links as signs of affection, attempts to recruit you closer to them. A sympathetic gesture with a little wink that it would be nicer if you weren't so far away.

I never saw it as dismissive of your work frustrations at all.