Think before you hit the send key, 'Are you helping'

[NikonCameraman]

I recently posted this response in these difficult times for many I merely offer it up as appropriate at this time. 'How about people on this site who are offering opinions, putting their professional qualifications to make those assumptions next to their submission. That will allow people, like me, to distinguish between the knowledgable and those armchair professional virologists who use social media sites too opine about things they know bugger all about. I'm happy to listen to the former and absolutely not waste my time on the latter. Perhaps the administrators of the site have a responsibility regarding this in what is a national crisis'.

[Hidden]

I can understand the point you are making but to be honest, we are all armchair boffins, all with varying degrees of knowledge and understanding about AF, primarily as it affects us. It therefore seems reasonable that if we think we can offer some useful advise that certainly in my case comes from attending a huge number of AF talks made by recognised medical experts in their field, we should do just that. Those of us who contribute regularly make the point that we are not medically trained and that any specific information they need regarding their condition or medication must be obtained from their doctor. Over the years, there have been a number of contributors who have been, as some might say, over zealous in their replies and when the administrators are aware, they deal with it very professionally. This site is not not and probably never will be moderated 24/7. The charity which provides that function is quite small and does not have the numbers of staff which would enable that to happen.

Fortunately, there are a large number of regular contributors all with their own range of knowledge and expertise and from the feedback the forum receives, their efforts are well received and appreciated.

So in short, none of us possess the qualifications you would be seeking which suggests that if you have had a problem in the past you do what we do, click on the report box at the bottom of the offending post or reply. As you say you are only interested in the views of contributors with the appropriate qualifications, then maybe you should consider only communicating with qualified members of the medical profession.

Although we are very limited in what we can say to help those with personal issues relating to the Coronavirus, we try to be as supportive as we can but as has been made clear by the administrators, this is a Forum for dealing with issues relating to AF.

If I have misunderstood the points you are making, then I apologise......

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Well said FlapJack, well said.

John

[Surreychica_1 in reply to Hidden]

Do not know what I would do with this site. Professional or not I am grateful for the feed back from non professionals alike.

[jeanjeannie50]

None of us are experts regarding AF on this forum, other than by experience of having the condition and all that it entails, ablations, cardioversions, etc.

It sounds like this isn't the forum for you if you only want to read reports from professionals on this topic. None on here I'm afraid.

The members here have given myself and others great support at times when we were full of despair and needing hope that one day our AF could possibly be a lot better.

I remember a time after one of my 3 ablations, getting up in the night and having pain in my chest for about 2 minutes. How reassuring it was to hear of others here who had the same experience right after their ablations.

A few words of comfort from someone showing they care that you are not feeling too great, means the world to most people. This is what we are about, not giving professional advice.

Jean

[jeanjeannie50]

These short videos made by Dr Sanjay Cupta, a cardiologist specialising in AF, may answer some of your queries in the professional manner which you would prefer:

youtube.com/user/YorkCardio...

[NikonCameraman]

I appear to have stirred many into action and I had no intention of offending anyone however my response was merely asking for people not to use data to suggest doom, gloom and death from Covid 19 to people who have AF or other heart issues by stating 'facts' from statistical data without the level of interpretation applied by a professional.

Looking at a statistic in isolation e.g ( x)amount of the dead from Covid 19 have AF, without applying the understanding from the rest of the available statistics which impacts on the level of risk, to those who have AF, can have the effect of raising concerns for their wellbeing in persons with AF more than necessary at a time of national crisis.

I have the view that such interpretation should be left to the professionals, I'm happy for others to disagree but I do believe I have the right to hold such an opinion and I will not, as some have suggested, 'go elsewhere'.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to NikonCameraman]

I think that we and Admin have made it clear that this forum is not the place for the C word as a new HUL site has been started for comfort and support.

[doodle68 in reply to NikonCameraman]

Hi NC I think I know where you are coming from . I moderate on a large non health related site and am exasterated with numerious threads that don't offer any hope to anyone they are just sensationalist for the sake of it and silly 'cures' for C19 that can be easily checked out as fake on Snopes.

Remember we all have AF here and getting angry and exaperated does it no good at all.

Repeat after me, ''I will be calm''....and ignore the BS

[Hidden in reply to NikonCameraman]

I don’t think there are many here on this forum, or the British Heart Foundation where you got a similar response from the same post, are that bothered about what you think on this subject. However, if you tell us which particular post you are referring to I will be happy to make Admin aware of your concerns. I think most of us here are wise enough to know that any statistics given here should always be taken with a large pinch of salt unless they can be supported by a direct link to the source.

No matter how well intentioned your plea is, methinks it is unlikely to change anything.......,

[Shcldavies in reply to NikonCameraman]

I am afraid that the interpretation from our professionals can also be very misleading. Take the current figures on C-19 deaths vis 510000, 250000, 8000 these are all inclusive of those that would have died anyway (without C-19 being around), whereas the flu deaths number of 8000 excludes those that would have died anyway. I am afraid that statistics are often used to depict what the originator want to depict (remember all the statistics used in Brexit by both sides - few were wrong but most were not in context). However in this case no matter which way you look at it C-19 is not good (but perhaps not as bad as perceived through the statistics offered).

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to NikonCameraman]

That's not what your original post implied. It was about unqualified people giving opinions and didn't mention COVID19.

[Buffafly]

I don't think your point has been quite understood, I'm assuming you didn't mean it to be taken literally or aim it at people who try to be reassuring?

I have been appalled by some of the replies in threads where people - very often ones whose names I have never noticed before - get on their hobbyhorse or expound theories, quote statistics (you know what they say about them) and don't give a thought for people who are anxious. Some of it is just showing off 😠

My mother used to quote Thumper's mum, 'If you can't say something nice don't say nuffin at all' which I accept is a bit ridiculous but if everybody kept in mind to ask themselves 'Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?' before they write something constructive might come out.

[Finvola]

I agree with your main sentiment but would disagree about this forum. The vast majority of posters here do not give medical advice and postulate wild theories - in fact we usually temper our posts with caveats saying we are not medical experts.

This is the most supportive - and sensible - forum I have ever encountered and when we do get a cowboy come rootin’ tootin’ he is usually deflated politely - or not as the case may be.

My qualifications wouldn’t even permit me to comment on the common cold but I try to pass on my AF experience, comments from my own doctors and generally try to be supportive of others. Not sure that there is doom and gloom in responses regarding the current situation but we do try to reassure where possible those AF sufferers who are worried. It’s what this forum is for.

[CDreamer]

I am wondering what has bothered you so much? Fear makes people do unusual things and sometimes express it by panic searching and posting - if you don’t want to read that type of post - ignore it - bit like the telly - there is an off switch. The subject matter is normally in the heading.

We often don’t agree on this forum and the great thing about is we are allowed to all have different opinions, without offence being taken.

If you want information from an informed source on the latest on the virus then go to a professional site.

As has been already said, we are here to support each other and any post that is thought to misinformed, you always have the option to report.

Best wishes CD

[Buffafly in reply to CDreamer]

It was Mirtilla's post on 'Coronavirus, AF and death probability', much of which I see has now been deleted, maybe responses to NikonC's comment repeated above. I also found some of it disturbing and unhelpful.

[CDreamer in reply to Buffafly]

I suspected as much & posts of this sort of report unhelpful st this time. They are really only designed for epidemiologists.

Trouble with statistics is they are both true & not true and certainly reading those reports only heighten fears for the likes of us. Avoid!

[bassets]

I can't imagine a forum with kinder people posting on it. Although I don't contribute much I tend to read everything and understand that not many of us have medical qualifications but we are all qualified in experiencing Afib and can reassure each other. I assume that's what this forum is all about and I have benefitted from it. Thanks all.

[Flyer2820]

All people on this site have, or have had af. Although you didn't mention the C word, the implication was there as you mentioned," These difficult times" I don't recall anyone on the site giving qualified advice about the virus, only reassurance, which is what some with af want. As you say, we are not qualified in medicine, but we all have one thing in common, that dreadful thing, af. Please all keep reassuring one another. It's all we can do. Stay safe.

Regards Flyer.

Now a recovering af,er after a successful ablation.

[Auriculaire]

It is not certain that professional virologists would all be in total agreement about the nature of this virus. With something that has just newly emerged that is natural . There does not seem to be for instance absolute consensus for how long the virus can live on various surfaces. The medical professionals in countries who are further ahead than the UK in dealing with the virus ( because it has been there longer and they have a lot more confirmed cases and deaths) are not exclusively professional virolgists either . But what they say about the way the epidemic is progressing from a public health perspective needs to be taken into account when people individually determine their own response to this crisis.

[seasider18]

It's a patient Forum and I don't expect expert or professional clinical advice. I and others mostly just use it to share personal experiences some of which may be helpful and to hear what medical advice they have been given although it is likely their condition is not the same as ours.

It is also interesting to hear of waiting times in different parts of the country and good and bad views on hospitals.

[Mity3]

Not sure what you mean other than you believe in censorship? Just because someone has an MD, PhD, is famous (Gates), in no way tells you their conflicts of interest in even saying something in the first place. Even people who have the credentials and mean well can be wrong or disagree. The coronavirus is a great case in point. Who gets to decide who speaks and who doesnt? Be careful what you wish for!

[LindaDaisy]

I find this forum great for sharing experiences, offering advice eg recommendations for EPs or just being supportive. If anyone starts jumping on their soapbox or quoting figures I just scroll past but you don’t get that many post like that.

But on the other hand some people gather info from searching the internet and I know as a researcher you can always find “facts” to support your views but as my daughter has on a mug “Don’t confuse your Google search with my medical degree”

[Khatpi]

Amen. Totally agree. And the caveat is to always consult with your physician. I hope and believe people mean well but this is not meant to be anything but a forum.