Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group ** Important KickAS NEWS UPDATE **

Nancy, I know what it is like to feel so vulnerable and be looking for support. I think you will find what you want here if you can focus on the posters who are supportive and let the debaters slide off your back. I for one would love to have your experience and expertise shared here.

Nancy,

Please don't leave. You are just what this site needs. Balance is such an important part of any organization. When my husband and I first joined, we were so confused. The doctors told us information, but it was packed insinde of a 15 minute office visit. There was no way we could absorb it all. Reading all of the posts reminded me of some of the info that I had forgot and it taught me what I didn't have time to absorb in the first place. Even some of the posts I have to re-read to absorb it all. Your educational background would be so helpful to us all. We need to know the info from both sides. This would also help you. We humans need to be needed by others. It combats depression and loneliness. And the best part is that because we are world wide, there is always someone there for us. Yes, there will be some that irritate us, just like any other group even our own families, but we need eachother, we need you. It would be a shame to loose you. Please give us another chance.

God's peace,

Jeanne

Nancy, I am also new here. I came looking for answers. After many years with pain that could not be explained except for a GP who kept saying "some kind of inflammatory arthritis" and looking for answers. Last December I had some lower back x-rays because my pain was getting worse. The x-rays showed I had AS. Now I have a Rheumy and will be starting Humira soon. I am so grateful to have a GP who wouldn't give up.

The people on this message board have been so helpful and caring. I see it every day. They pass on information they find, say prayers for each other and give advice when needed. It truly is like a big family. Like many families, we sometimes have a character or two who seem to enjoy bickering or putting people down. Usually, someone on the board will let them know if they are acting out of line and many will come to the aid of whoever is being bullied. Things like this can happen on any good message board.

If you see anything that distresses you, especially when you are feeling fragile, just click off that thread, and don't let it get to you. Just know that it does not happen very often. If you are feeling bad and need a cyber shoulder to cry on, come here, there seems to be someone here all the time who is caring and will be glad to help.

Please don't go, you can be of help to many of us who are trying to figure out all the in's and out's of this awful disease.

Donna

Hi Nancy. Please don't forget that a few people with differing views can make the loudest impact on a person so it's not this group who are not supportive but only a few.
I think the majority of Kickas members are people who don't have conspiracy theories and absolutely welcome debate and information from the science and research fields. I know I do!
Take care!

Look I am not judging the group. I am also not looking to debate. At all. I came for support. I am not strong enough to "just ignore it".

So this will be my last message. Best to all of you.

Well I'm sorry I don't see what else we can do we have offered support.And that doesnt seem good enough . I don't understand what you expect.

I wish you all the best and hope you find what you're looking for.

Kevin

Sorry you feel that way. Although I recommeded how we could improve welcoming new members I would never suggest that KA members should have to censor their posts. No one is or should be excluded from posting their thoughts, ideas, hopes or fears. I am sorry you were not here long enough to realise this is the greatest AS support group there is, because of our diversity in uncensored ideas. No one is trying to indoctrinate others to a certain way of thinking or forcing others to read posts they do not wish to read. We will never agree on everything and I will always uphold those with opposing views to be able to speak thier mind.

I wish you the best

If any of you have a medical question that you'd like researched please e-mail me. nssanes at mac dot com
wrote it out to avoid spider spam.

I'll try to help

Thats very nice of you thankyou.

Kevin

Hi Nancy:

methinks you may have arrived at a particular time, while a few discussions have been going on, some of which may have seemed tilted towards one direction or the other

It's just us trying to find a balance, there ARE great doctors and researchers out there, and there are also some people and industries trying to take advantage

this is just us trying to sort it all out, we may
never fully suceed

please stick around, I'm sure you will start noticing that we're struggling with the same things you are

and I noticed right away that you have a lot to share with everybody