Hi all!
This is just little note about requesting medical information via these message boards, be it directly on the boards or by personal message.
We are lucky enough to have a number of doctors who regularly post here (indeed, three of them are moderators), and in addition to this a lot of the more regular members are an excellent source of medical information - having ""been there and done that""!
But - this board (or any message board) can NEVER be a substitute for a face-to-face consultation with an asthma nurse, doctor, consultant or other health professional. Not only are respiratory problems impossible to accurately diagnose when you can't see or hear the person in question, it is also important to note that, because all people are different, what has worked for one person in the past may not work for another - and in some cases it can be dangerous to follow the treatment plan of another person due to interactivity between medications and the general inappropriateness of the treatment. Therefore, if one of our health professional members (or, indeed, any other member) suggests you need to seek medical advice, please don't ignore them! Aside from being dangerous, it also makes people less inclined to offer help if you've shown that you ignore it!!
You should also think before asking for medical information via personal message; if you're not asking anything particularly private, a post directly on the message board is usually more appropriate - this allows the post to be answered by more than just the member you PMed. Please do not ""bombard"" users with requests for information of this nature - that is not what these boards are for.
Of course, medical enquiries are always welcome on the boards - and will always receive knowledgeable answers - but please don't rely on this board or use it as a substitute for a face-to-face consultation.
Cheers all,
Steve
(Moderator)
PS: This message is about requesting NON-emergency information; requesting EMERGENCY medical information is strictly against the board terms and conditions.
Gentle Reminder: Requesting urgent medical advice
