Posted by Shar on April 27, 2002, at 0:56:15
In reply to Re: Suggestion for old-timers..pls read » jay, posted by allisonm on April 26, 2002, at 21:54:40
I was thinking, when I read Jay's post, finally something I can't be accused of! If there is less support on PB now, it's not because I'm suddenly absent. I quit going there months ago, doing only the occasional spot check now and then. I think my last time there, there were about 6 threads on the very same topic (starting to take xyz, or weaning off of xyz, etc.).
Like you, Ali, I always did a lot of research on the internet and had my favorite places to go (where I could understand what they were talking about), so by the time I got to PB I had a basic understanding of my meds and potential side-effects, etc. Now, *IT SEEMS* that people come to PB without doing much research, or reading the documentation that comes with their meds, nor do they seem to use the information sources here at this site, nor do they seem to search the archives for info. It's sometimes like "I'm starting xyz, what should I know about it?"
I'm not saying anybody SHOULD do searches, etc., people can and will do what they want. I'm saying that I might be a more frequent visitor to PB if people seemed to research/go as far as they could, and THEN asked questions. In fact, when I was very newbie here, most of my questions were answered by semi-newbies, and the most knowledgeable people, it seemed, took on the more complicated questions. A sensible way to operate.
So, I wonder if this 'drastic' drop in support on PB is a direct result of the 2000 board (which doesn't make much sense to me, as we aren't all that numerous or active over there...) or if it is the normal ebb and flow of members, combined with the energy that's been stirred up by the everlasting debate over the 2000 board....that undoubtedly has an effect on posters, especially newbies, I would think, even if they are not involved in the discussion.
Shar
> Hi Jay,
>
> I agree with your observations that less OTs are contributing on the PB board. It IS good to give and receive. I do give, but not as often.
>
> I have taken Remeron, Wellbutrin, Lithium, Zoloft, Effexor XR, Celexa, Serzone, and Neurontin. I am/was on Remeron, Wellbutrin and Serzone for the longest time, so am most inclined to comment on those drugs because I feel I have a fair amount of experience with them. For the others, my experiences were short-lived. I basically couldn't tolerate them and eventually got off 'em.
>
> If I see a thread on Rem, WB, or Serzone, I usually read it. If someone already has said what I was going to say, I don't bother. If I have a different opinion, I share it. But when I see a thread that says something to the effect of "Any side-effects on ----," I do read them, but I also feel a little frustrated.
>
> When I came to PB, Remeron was so new that only 1 or 2 people had had experience. They helped as much as they could. Now there are what feels like thousands of threads.
>
> I usually do a fair amount of research on new drugs that my pdoc gives me. When I do that, I search the web and PB archives first to see whether my questions have been answered before. I get the feeling that no one does that anymore, or else they don't know to look, or they don't want to spend the time.
>
> A couple of summers ago, I spent many hours compiling a page devoted Remeron and a page for Wellbutrin. There are links for them at the top of the PB page. They are fairly chock-full of information. I even did my own searches through the archives and added all of the threads I could find on the 2 drugs. Heck, I even categorized them in subjects such as "side-effects" or "use with other drugs" then listed each drug reference in a separate folder.
>
> I did a spot check a few minutes ago, and find that most of the links still are good. There are some threads that come up 404, tho. I don't know why that is. I had planned to keep adding new threads on Rem and WB as they appeared. For some reason, I thought they would be added (my mistake). However, the threads that I did have were updated with new posts as they came in.
>
> I don't have time anymore to go through and add the new threads to the pages, but I believe the basic information that most folks want is there.
>
> I also feel frustrated because I don't think anyone visits those pages. They just ask the same questions over and over and over again.
>
> So yes, I understand and agree with you. I do contribute when I can and when it might help...it's just hard sometimes when it's the 20th time and I know there is a lot of information already there that no one is bothering to look at.
poster:Shar
thread:4613
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20020420/msgs/4686.html