It’s been said in another post that requests for help from new members to the forum are often ignored except by the forum’s “three old faithfuls”.
I was surprised to read this as I reply wherever I can to requests from new and old posters alike, as do, so far as I can tell, several other “new faithfuls”.
As good-hearted, kindly and often vital as “old faithfuls” are, I think this forum isn’t like that at all.
I was wondering what others think.
Steve
Just for clarification Steve, I was referring to a particular post. Fortunately, the vast majority of members do everything they can to help fellow AF patients, whether they are old or new and god bless them for their efforts. I hope that clarifies the situation.
I did notice that a lot of the people on that post had hardly posted previously and some controversially but it's good to get others' perspective.
i do not think this is the case. Also some members may not feel they have enough experience or knowledge to comment.Those that can offer what useful advice they feelmay be of use and also information.
You are right, it isn’t. As the author of the post, I think it’s fair for me to say that it needs to be read carefully and in context with the thread that prompted it......
Sometimes other members have given such good answers to new posts, that I feel there is nothing more I can say, but I do click 'Like' on the posts that I think are particularly helpful.
Jean
That’s what I do Jean !!....especially as I am relatively new on my AFib journey.
I know you do 😉
I feel exactly the same, I click like if I see an answer I find particularly good and don’t feel I need to add. However I do sometimes when it comes to feelings and if someone s emotions resonate with me I will answer.
There are lots of people here who have much greater knowledge about afib than I do and a far longer and often more fraught experience of coping with it. Usually if I respond to newbies it is to say how much these "oldies" have helped me especially in helping to overcome my anxiety about the condition .
I dont know to which post you refer Steve and thanks for pointing it out, but i am disappointed that anyone should have suggested that a member or members here have not responded to someone, be they first time posters, newly diagnosed or long term members. I have always found a plethora of responses which have heartened and encouraged others.
Clearly not everyone responds to every post and hopefully people respond when they have a particular level of support, experience, or relevant information which helps, sometimes that can be no more than offering empathy and pointers which is also so valuable. Personally i havent had an ablation so i can not reply to someone asking about that experience but instead can offer support or point them to relevant info when appropriate only.
I have been a member of this forum for eight years and have always found it an exceptionally kind, supportive, active forum where i have received amazing personal support, made friends and connections and hopefully have reciprocated in kind.
I will add though that recently there has been, shall i say an “edge” to some responses where there has been disagreements of opinion with someone actually calling a fellow member an “idiot” which is most certainly not in the letter or the spirit of this wonderful forum. I was appalled that a new member may come across and read such a response and be put off this forum permanently.
Just out of interest i will have a root through posts to see what it says about there being “three old faithfuls” who respond when others dont which is clearly not a fact, in order to see what was said in the overall context.
Everyone of us here has value and no one i am sure would want to think otherwise. Perhaps some posts are off message AF wise and stray into peripheral topics, is that acceptable, it doesn't bother me personally and can hold an interest for some, for others not so much. Perhaps that is a debate for another time. Have a good day everyone.
To save you a bit of time, I was the author of the post and you will easily find the context in which it was written.😉
To quote an excellent colleague of mine from the past 'I'm not here to be liked'.
I don’t know if you would agree but to me a forum is a means of providing help, information and support to anyone, whoever they may be and to do it graciously, willingly and unconditionally without seeking recognition or gratitude. Of course, it’s nice to know your efforts are appreciated and when people see you have made an effort, 9.9 times out of 10, that’s exactly what they do.
My halo fell off a long time ago ...
Good thing. Virtue signalling is most unattractive
I don’t think so Badger, you always seem willing to offer helpful advice...
Badger, I would be interested in your view about using a DOAC as a PiP.
Ah, Shere Khan...
I sense a trap for poor old Baloo, the sloth bear
Interesting response to a simple question which speaks volumes.....
Canny things bears
Why don’t you start a new thread about it as it’s off topic . It’s an interesting and current issue
Not from the information I have seen but be that as it may, have you seen this post from CDreamer around a week ago which I think you will find helpful and possibly more likely to be accepted by the powers that be.....
healthunlocked.com/afassoci....
I did see that thanks. It’s not the same thing . Used as a PIP it’s full strength . I assumed you had an interest as you randomly asked Badger about it in the middle of a completely unrelated thread . Cant think why you would have asked otherwise ?
Flapjack said
"Apart from 3 “old faithful’s”, rarely does anyone who relishes in this type of discussion bother to lift a finger to help any newly diagnosed members"
I'm still waiting with bated breath to find out who the 3 old faithfuls are...
I often wonder if some, maybe very new, ever read other questions and answers as the same questions are asked over and over.
I think it takes a bit of time for new members to get their heads around how new webpages and forum’s work. We need to bear in mind that AF tends to affect the older population, therefore computer skills will vary. I often encourage new members to use the search box and also to take a look at the similar posts but remember, all this information only appears after they have actually posted. I also produced a “pinned post” which provides easy and rapid access to information which is likely to be helpful to new members and give them the confidence to explore the information that’s available.
I think we just have to accept that some recently diagnosed new members are perhaps feeling vulnerable and less confident and need a bit of help to nudge them in the right direction. That said, it can be tedious reproducing the same information but there are ways of simplifying the process 😉
Yeah I did that. " magnesium for afib?" And someone kindly pointed out that I should have searched...but I also got some answers as well. I think it would be helpful for tech illiterates life myself if when you type a question it showed similast questions ...like it does on amazon. Because I honestly don't use any forums and hadn't a clue how this thing worked...it actually took me ages to figure out a lot of things and I'm only 40 so if its a health website I'm gonna guess a lot of people are over forty and if they're anything like me or heaven forbid in their seventees like my mom they will be having issues sending text messages let alone posting on forums. So I think a lot of people might be as ignorant as I am of how all this tech works and just be like shouting into the void hoping for a human being to reply. ..and I did feel kinda crao being told to scroll through the old similar questions...I think a lot of people just want to hear another human on the end of the line and not scroll through the transcript of someone else's conversation. I mean there's an element of samaritanship to all this. Nobody owes you any help and a thanks would be nice but I think a question even if its a repeat of an old one is someone who wants someone to respond to their questions. sure we could just google the answer or look it up in a book. But its the human support and response which I think is the definining element of a forum like this. Even if the information is repeated or subjective there are so many people out there who barely get looked in the face by their consultant, who spend years confused and worried and forgetting to ask about some silly thing at the end of a doctor visit... And just want to talk about their magnesium tablets to someone who's in the same boat. I mean I didn't end up looking at other answers to my question in the end. I could have trawled old threads and perhaps got better info but I guess I was happy that a few people responded to me kindly and patiently and with a personal experience that felt like human comradery and empathy...the person who said " look up old questions" was right in a way and that was helpful. But it is also like being handed the info booklet ..its efficient, but its also a bit cold. And especially for afib where people are prone to panic and may just need to connect with a person to feel less worries. I dunno. I just feel like that's underrated in our society more and more as things become more "efficient" (and I'd argue that its actually far less efficient) and less and less human.
Sometimes people will refer on to previous threads because they know there are some really valuable experiences on there and maybe the people who relayed them may not be around to share anymore . No substitute for the kindness of strangers I agree. But when I was in the throes of bad beta blocker withdrawal I was searching desperately for people who had had similar problems . It’s the luck of the draw because you might get a string of people along who are delighted to tell you that they didn’t have any problems doing the same thing when what you need is someone who did . If that makes sense .
Ah yes, not garaunteed to have the right person when you need them. Definitely very useful to look through the old posts. I mean I'd say I posted my symptoms for six months before I found this site and lucky that john6 spotted and had the balls to suggest I look at aflutter instead of afib. If not for his suggestion I'd still be looking for answers. And 8 years on since it started on and off I had never even heard of a flutter ....at least having that word in my vocabulary meant I could " self diagnose" not ideal but needs must....and self medicate...not ideal either but have been I'd say its been nearly a week and not a flibber blubber or judder or drop ...I can go to sleep now listening to my pulse throb like a normal person...I can feel my feet and my brain even seems to be recovering from the absolute blankness I was getting. I'm very hopeful. And so grateful. I could have born lucky and come across it mentioned in a book or overheard a conversation at a bus stop even... How information gets to the right place at the right time is one of the modern problems we have since we have sososososososo much information its hard to know where to find the needle in the haystack. Especially when you don't know what anything is called. No more googling " heart flubbing about" or " purring noise in chest" lol!! I hope you found your peeps in the end for your beta blocker issue. Nothing worst than dangling alone in the dark not even knowing what to ask!💙!!
I did I have had magnificent support ( you know who you are) . And there is nothing to beat someone who has already been through it . Am so glad you are sorted , it sounds like you have been through a terrible time, and struggling with the wrong diagnosis making everything worse .
You do learn that you have to undertake research on your own behalf and am glad you struck lucky with John
Ah thats good ! Well No diagnosis to be honest. Except "anxiety" and maybe I'd like to try some lexipro. My doctor was terrible all round. But I've managed to move (almost ...I'm moved but my stuff is still at the old house) so I can now have some options for doctors. We lived in a small village with only one practice and on medical card so you're not allowed go outside of 5km. There's about 20 doctors in a 5km radius to where I am now so hopefully I'll find a nice one here!! Or just one that believes in the existence of the inner ear at least lol! 🤣
Believing in the existence of the inner ear is not a lot to ask I feel . Regarding the anxiety, before going on the pills which are not without their drawbacks, I really recommend “The Dare Response “ and “Badass” two books you can get from Amazon . Their approach is simple ( but not easy ) . At first it seems too simple to work but it does if you stick at it and go through the discomfort . It aims to “cure” anxiety, rather than “manage” anxiety with pills and props . I had terrible anxiety withdrawing from Bisoprolol. Good luck which ever route you decide to follow, and your little village sounds lovely 😊
Thanks so much, I will look at those just out of curiosity. I actually don't have anxiety at all. I did have anxiety every time I'd go to the doctor because she was just so frustrating. I never even condiered taking the lexirpo. She gave me asthma medication one time for an itchy ear and balance issues (i do NOT have asthma!) which I suggested might be inner ear issue, which is when she informed me "the inner ear doesn't exist" and that I shouldn't look at the internet.... 🤯 like no wonder I had anxiety even thinking about going to her! 😱🤣😂😜
It would be comical if it wasn’t so serious ! She would give anyone anxiety ! And we are at the mercy of these people . Glad you don’t have anxiety it’s a horrible thing . But the Dare Response would give you tools to tackle things like medical visits to mad doctors etc because we ALL feel anxiety in certain situations and it’s good to have a system to tackle them . I do SO hope you have more luck with your new doctor, though my opinion of GPS isn’t great to be honest 😯
Oh yes I need those skills. I would often just not go to her because I couldn't quite figure out how to not punch her lol. Defo would be helpful to have more calm in the face of incompetence. I did have horrific anxiety after taking flouraquinalone (banned but still handed to me for that " ear infection") Christ. I believe some people have the symptoms for a long time and actually it can cause the walls of your heart to just collapse and erode as well as tendons just snap all of a sudden even months after taking it. Thankfully I just had a month of sheer terror and found an amazing Chinese traditional doctor who had experience with it. It totally buggers with your mitochondria. Its a chemo drug or last resort. nOT to be handed out for suspected ear infections. Grrr... So that didn't help my love of doctors. And that when I went back and said hey these pills made Me feel rather odd and the male doctor at the practice e literally pushed me out the door and slammed it in my face while I was crying. Like at least the woman although idiotic wasn't viscious. Anyway. Tangents aside. I will defo take a look ...it might help me find a doctor without losing my mind !!!!!
We all aren't available constantly, and as said before not all posts come up in email tags to answer or flag an interest. But as Jean said some questions are so well answered by others, then a like is enough to acknowledge the question. My halo is still getting the ice melted off by the devil from winter, it's far too cold to be angelic at the moment ...
I’m with you john6, but cash donations remain welcome...
I'm sure I read somewhere that only the speed of a joke can go faster than the speed of light! 
I can only say I'm a fairly newbie to the AF journey and the people on here have given me lots of support and advice for which I am truly grateful. I do notice that fairly regularly the same queries come up when a simple search would give a multitude of information and help. I do not generally comment on posters if I have no experience or helpful information. I am also very grateful for the 'regulars' who spend time and effort giving such good advice. Thank you to those who have helped me and I'm sure will continue to do so where necessary. 💞
I agree with you. I’m fairly new as well, and don’t know enough yet to make any useful comment. If someone wants to know something I do know about ( not much, I admit), then l’m only too happy to help, and l have been very grateful for the help I’ve received from people on this site. 👏
HelloI reply whenever I think I have a little knowledge on the subject or more often post with questions for help or advice. As above I will tick "like" too. I think John that the majority of people who don't reply is not out of indifference but truly because they don't feel they have the experience or relevant knowledge on the subject posted to be of any help. For example I have never had a stent or an ablation ( yet!) So read and learn with the excellent posts but " keep my mouth shut" 😊
Keep up the good work "old" and "new" faithfuls! And stay safe.
Xx
Steve said “I was wondering what others think”
Well I have thought from your first post onwards, you are amongst the most affable and charming fellows I haven’t met...
Awe Steve , I think flap jack was talking about a certain thing that had just been posted that was causing quite a stir yesterday wasn’t it, and I agreed with him, he didn’t mean it in general I think yes you’re correct of course we are a merry band of folk and everyone mucks in as and when they think they can add something. I think experience and longevity with AFib also means some have experienced more than others. Sue
I've tried to see how I misinterpreted it, and it's been quoted above and is a pretty clear statement that seems general not specific but emailing isn't an easy thing to "read between the lines". It seems to have disappeared now or doesn't show on a search.
But... you're right in your sentiments, for sure. As for a "merry band", I was looking in the mirror yesterday as my hair is far too long but in the wrong places. I think I'll be taking the role of Friar Tuck. 
Steve
I my case, I tend to respond from the once a day email I get detailing recent posts. As such, any experiences I can share that are relevant, may be quite late. This may not be ideal for those urgently seeking advice but neither do I want to be bombarded as and when each entry or reply is submitted. Looking forward, one possible solution is for the forum to support an 'urgent reply requested ' button that could allow those to be sent out outside the normal subscribed schedule....of course this would only work if the option was respected and not overly used.
I reply if I feel I can add to what has already been posted. Often feel like a bit of a newbie myself as I've only had one ablation (so far) so I might wait a bit to see if those with more experience comment before I put my bit in. With regard to new posters asking things that have been asked many times, I think it's important to remind ourselves how shocking and horrifying and terrifying it is when we first find ourselves to be afibbers. I don't think that pointing these newbies to previous posts should be the first response to them as a personalised answer is much more reassuring. I know how scared I was at the start and the wonderful people here helped me enormously, with informative answers to my probably daft questions. There's no substitute for experience but what we go through to get it is grim, let's not forget that.
Hello ppman , I have a point to raise concerning the post concerning being ignored or not, I always felt the forum has extremely helpful to me on many occasions. Have also replied if I felt I had some input.However some time back there was a post saying they thought this forum was for a fib, but that we were talking about anything but. I did feel guilty as I asked about problems with my ankles and feet, thought it was aligned to heart problems, it’s circulation!
Perhaps I and others went off piste sometimes however it made me feel as I had done the wrong thing, so I have read the daily inputs but feel uncomfortable putting my replies, there are occasions when an enquiry is relative to Afib so can a person resolve this problem
As an addendum I think the forum is blooming marvellous.
I do have a similar feeling about posting off-topic but if I'm feeling especially stressed about a health issue (which is quite often these days) I tend to ask anyway. Thankfully, I've had some good help concerning various other ailments, Even at the youthful age of 67, I often feel that I'm slowly beginning to fall apart! ).
You are lucky. I often think I'm rapidly falling apart! I will be only 69 next month.
I did once work from my toe to my head and mentally list the things that aren’t working at their best... 😳
Let's see- ears , neck , shoulders ,ribs, heart oh dear only a third of the way down!
Not just me then? 😉 I don’t know, oh to be young again! Although I suppose that I only have one thing that - if it were changed - would solve the rest: being a worrier. 🙄
I would always respond, except that I frequent the forum at random periods, and if there are already >10 replies, I will pass on unless there is a particular feature that I have some personal knowledge of.
I am constantly amazed at how helpful this forum is, especially for new members and especially from 'old faithfulls' so I cannot relate to this post at all.
To be honest no. I only reply to questions that I have experience of dealing with or have heard how others - not on this forum deal with. I have not had an ablation so can't comment much on that just wish those people well and the same goes for paroxysmal AF as I have persistent when in AF. The same goes for medication - I didn't have a good experience with beta blockers, calcium channel blockers etc so only comment when someone else is also having a less than good experience. Only ever been on Eliquis. So my replies are limited and I leave it to those with greater experience to answer the other questions. So there may be days when I don't comment doesn't mean to say I am not reading as at some time in the future I may need the replies given and just about remember that this has been covered here.
All in all I think we have a great forum here.
I really hope that this is not the case but thank you for highlighting a potential problem. It has not been that long ago I remember writing my first post and being a bit self conscious on what type of response I would get - boy am I glad that the good people on here provided their informed views and I have been hooked every since.
Any new readers please remember by continuing on here you will get an awful lot of good advice (this site has been invaluable for me) and if your not responded to then it will not be because your being ignored, rather there is no one reading your post at the time with anything useful to say. When your new it can be difficult to write what you mean to say, but it will come and you will learn that the information you get can be far better as it comes from people with experience (and little medical knowledge) where the Doctor specialist information comes from knowledge (and little experience) - you need both to understand your condition.
Good to read that from you Mr. Davies. 😊 I hope all is well.
Yes all well, I see you still get bouts of tachycardia, I get them sometimes after overexertion and too much sugar but they don't last long. I have had around 8 in a year most lasting under 10 seconds one lasting around 30 seconds, they are getting better as I can do more now without them starting. Last one in November 2020 so hopefully improving situation. I am convinced that our heart are still improving as long as we look after them, I hardly get ectopics any more, or at least ectopics I feel (2 years post ablation). I am on a maintenance dose of 1.25 Bisoprolol to keep my MAT at bay, What about you? Regards Steve
That's good to read. I had to look up what "MAF" was, though!
My occasional bouts of tachycardia (and a good many ectopic beats) seem to be sparked off by something stomach related, or at least "diaphragm" related, under my left rib. On some days, any kind of exercise sends the heart rate up too high for comfort. I've had a bout of it this morning. It's not pleasant as it makes me feel somehow "weak". I've been told to take a bisoprolol as needed, but they take a while to do their trick.
Such is life. I had a "Zoom" consultation with a GI specialist last week. What a third-class and frustrating form of medicine that is.
Steve
Interesting many of my tachycardia episodes have started when there has been some pressure on my left side, about 4" down from my armpit, there must be something there that can trigger it (vagus nerve ?). Yes Bisoprolol does take at least 30 minutes and around 2 hrs before it reaches its peak then deteriorates over the next 24 hrs by which time there is little left (it takers a few days to dissipate completely). Zoom has its place but far from ideal. All the best and keep us informed of your progress.
That’s very upsetting but although I really only know about Anticoagulant medicines I do try to put some input into questions from people as I’ve asked questions which have been answered.
I only joined a few weeks ago and have had a huge amount of helpful advice sharing of peoples stories and direct replies to questions. I don't know if through members are new or old ones since I'm new. I also joined osteo part of the forum for my aunt and have just as much helpful sharing from people there. And if I've got an email that asked something I had any experience of I've shared my limited experience in case it might be of some help to anyone. Maybe some new people like myself have made the mistake of asking a qeustion which has already ample reply and discussion. If people get the " help I've just found out I've a fib and I'm having a panic attack what should i do!!?" Question ten times in a row I know I'd be inclined to ignore it if I've already given a detailed answer in another thread. And as a newbie I did this before someone pointed out I could search before posting a question. So I'd imagine its something along those lines. There's only so many times you're going to explain how much magnesium. Or what kind. (That was the question I asked and even though it was a repeat I got suggested to search and got replies as well. So pretty generous community I would say.
May as well make it a wiki then and not have people talk to each other at all. All the information on ablation afib etc all illness is already available in a book or website so just have this website say ' get a library card' or " google it dummy" and don't bother having conversations about health between actual people. I mean I think most people appreciate not just "googling it" but actually hearing from real people. I mean everything that ever could be said has been said about every topic from philosophy to politics but people still want to talk to people about those things and weirdly about their health as well. So what if someone already asked a question ...that just shuts down all conversation about it ever again? I mean my comments and questions have lead to things I could never have asked ...things I didn't know to ask except that the conversation starting with a basic question asked a thousand times before ran on in a direction that lead to me learning things. I mean any thread depending on the person will lead in an infinite number or directions. Its kinda like saying nobody can say hello because "hello" has already been said before. Its a shut down to conversation to help to discussion...and for what? To save on paper?? To save data in the cloud from being used up? God forbid we waste our time on each other reiterating things anyone could just ask the wiki for. I mean by all means don't respond to someone if you don't feel you want to repeat yourself. I've already gone past messages where I just wasn't bothered to tell my story again. If there was a bottom where I could " repeat the story about the time I had x happen" I'd have clicked it. Or "repeat argument xyz.".. But I still feel like whoever answered me when I first asked I'll answer the next guy and he will answer the next one and that's how people get talking about their health. Not just by question + answer = outcome but by people initiating a dicussion about their health maybe starting with a basic generic question. Anyway that's my 60$ lol.
If you have Vagal AF should you be identified when they join the forum?
Attention - How Precious is it?
Is the BMI REALLY a good indicator of good health? Many are now questioning…. WARNING….could be controversial but please hear me out.
Cryo-balloon ablation completed Nov. 5
A love letter from and for the heart 💜
