We need a Sticky Called "Ya Gotta Be A Detective"
 

With all the interactions of meds and diet as well as
contributing medical conditions that have PN as a side effect,
or a down-the-road long-term issue-a comprehensive
detective-watch article (with links to necessary threads & sites)
needs to be written.
A summary, all in one place, not broken in little bits
with a zillion searches needed to ferret it out.
I don't have the background or medical knowledge,
but it is really needed, especially for newbies - I believe.

So true.... I'll consider it. http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...gglassgif2.gif

But you know I don't think the stickies get much attention. People are always posting on them asking where the stickies are!

But yes, this is becoming my refrain.... one thing that makes responding to questions here difficult is that people don't always reveal what is the real problem....it is so close to them they don't even consider it! Drugs especially, but food too. Changing either is difficult for some as well.

Maybe a collaborative effort with some others on the site ??
One on foods, one on meds, one on conditions that cause, etc?

Okay, I'll take it to the support team to see if they agree.

First though I'd like to see other posters impressions on this idea.

I think this is a terrific idea. I read this site every day hoping to learn something new in the treatment of PN. For me, I do not wish to take any medication to ease the pain as I have already suffered from the side affects of various drugs. Also, I drive my grandchildren around a lot and need to have my mind unfuzzy while at the wheel. However, I do take the supplements recommended, and feel they offer many benefits. I've also eliminated sugar and potatoes and other night shades in an effort to reduce the pain and sleep better at night.

These hints are invaluable, alongwith topical treatments like menthol lotions, magnets, salon pas, etc. These are a few of my thoughts... Joan

Joan, I have to agree. It would be nice if we could gather these over the counter aids in one place.

I've thought about something similar: little tips like turning your socks inside-out so that the seams don't irritate your toes. I know most everyone knows that one, but things like that. I have a few to share.

Just a thought from the other Joan. :)

Just an update... I will be sending a request today to DocJohn for a subforum here.

We should know in a few days. Typically he picks the titles, but I will include Bob's as a sample we like.

The PN forum here has become very busy lately, and after four years of being here, it is clear that some housekeeping is needed.;)

This is GREAT !
 

When referring the new folks to the PN forum, what would be a good way to KEEP the new sub-forum as an 'informative site' only? In other words, how to keep the sub-forum from getting cluttered up with a bunch of questions that should be asked on the regular PN forum?

I'm seeing that a lot of new folks are somewhat intimidated on not knowing for sure WHERE to post their first question/introduction.

Would this new sub-forum be 'locked' so that it remains an 'information site' only? And if so, would there be a way for a new member/visitor to know this....such as a thread instructing them to go to the regular PN forum for Q's and discussion?

Great idea everyone! Thumbs up!
Rae

I think that it might have a tendency to get cluttered,
that's why my first idea was to ask for it to be a 'sticky'.
But the newbies seem to be intimidated, or at least befuddled- with our 'stickies'.
Catch 22?

exactly!
 

So, is there a way that new posts can't be posted to the sub-forum ?
Unless approved by a moderator as 'another piece of the detective story' ?
Such as informative sites, or pertinent info that would benefit the sub-forum
'informative site'......rather than it just turning into a bunch of 'opinions' and questions.. ?

Cuz, yes, I can see that in no time this subforum would get cluttered .
I

I think allowing conversation within the topic of each thread should be allowed.

But talking about Xmas or vacations, or other topics different from the thread should be discouraged. People ARE going to ask questions, about the topic...be it testing, or like the diet one I put up. The introductory post there should have a good amount of data on it to get started.

I have posts like this on the Vitamin forum. And it works well.
If conversation keeps going the questions are usually good ones and people can learn from those too.

I will watch them, and so will the rest of the team and we will move things if they get out of hand. We move things off Stumble Inn at MS occasionally too. At the MS forum it is the other way around...Their Subforum is conversational and the main forum is medical data. The team moves things off the stickies here occasionally too.

With time we may lock threads. But I don't think that is necessary basically. But we'll have to see how things go.
I know with my B12 thread on the stickies I refer people to it all the time and it "works". Referring people to a thread in the subforum will be similar. (and all new members ARE read first by the team for a short time before they even appear on the board...we will still be doing that).

The thrust of the subforum should be information. I think just restricting posts to the topic of each thread, is enough way to control the flow of information. There will always be people (especially new) who go to the wrong thread. As a moderator I see this every day. We gently move them when that happens. Our Community Feedback forum collects many new posters who post there with medical questions, and that forum is for comments and questions about how the forums work and problems with the site.

If you look at the views of my magnesium thread at Vitamin you can see how this "on topic" thing works.... I have over 30,000 views on that thread alone! They come from Google mostly and some are trolling info bots but many are real people.

I don't think we should "worry" about things, before they happen.
Making a good post on the subforum is no different from making it on the main board. It is just in a different place and easier to find.
If there is nointerest over time with it, it can be dismantled. DocJohn just merges the posts with the main board, and they are then mixed in like they are now. They are not "lost".

I don't know where I should post this, but I did want to thank MrsD for getting the new sub-forum up and running. I read it all tonight, and will go back and read the various web sites when I have more time. My thanks to all who participated. Joan