I'm very sorry that this happened to you, but this should serve as a lesson to us all. One should never post sensitive information on a public message board. These boards are open to anybody who is capable of using Google, and discretion must be used in divulging anything that you wouldn't feel comfortable with the general public (or specific members of that public) accessing.

Personally, I welcome neurologists and other health professionals viewing sites such as this. Reading MS boards would give professionals a window into the thoughts and feelings of their patients that they wouldn't otherwise be able to get.

Doctors are universally taught that patients often lie in the office setting. This isn't because patients are inherently dishonest, but because people are often intimidated by their doctors, and are uncomfortable or unwilling to discuss sensitive issues with them. They might lie about embarrassing symptoms, their ability to self medicate, or many other potentially disquieting subjects. Sites such as these might give doctors a better understanding of the true feelings and problems of the patients they treat, and thus lead to better patient care.

That said, any professional that would use information gleaned from a public message board against one of their patients should be looked at with utter disdain. We are people dealing with a chronic, debilitating illness, and as such are vulnerable enough without having those whom we entrust with our care tearing us down.

There is nothing wrong with seeking support, information, or little handholding from public message boards. But posting information that could be potentially damaging or embarrassing to the poster is pure folly. There are private, members only message boards that a much more suited to that purpose...