Welcome!

[matt]

If you’ve just arrived as a Pioneer member this is where it all begins. HealthUnlocked is a social network for health advocates like yourself to start an online movement. It’s about reaching other people and pooling together a mixture of information, support and experience to empower and change the lives of others. Most people with similar health interests also have something unique in their own experience that can help others. Everything here is designed to help you unlock the power of the crowd.

Back in 2007 I was a resident surgeon in a leading UK hospital. Our government was launching a series of changes to the way specialist doctors like myself were being accredited, and 99% of us felt it was a damaging step for the nation’s health, harmful both to us and future generations of patients we’d be treating. Big health institutions weren’t interested, so myself and a handful of doctors got together online. We started bringing more and more doctors into the group through the web. At first many thought we were crazy but quickly we became grassroots advocates for a generation of UK doctors, and in a couple of months we had a movement of 15,000 that provided support, inspiration and information to each other. We organized the biggest medical rally in UK history, an ongoing media campaign and, eventually, a high profile legal action. We got the health reforms radically changed for the better. See the article: bit.ly/R3tCM4

I learnt a lot about the immense power of togetherness, so when I joined forces with Jorge (our CEO) to dream up HealthUnlocked one of the main goals we shared was to make creating an online movement easier for inspired health advocates like you. From my own experience the importance of the group pioneers is the key.

That’s why you being here and reading this today is an important moment. In my experience if you can summon up the persistence to connect with other pioneers, create some activity, and trigger the spirit of a community, there’s no end to what you will go on to achieve together.

This 3 minute TED lecture speaks volumes about it

youtu.be/RXMnDG3QzxE(Not working as expected?)

[fab53]

great, inspiring post. Thank you.

[PastMeBest]

Hi matt, what a fantastic post.

I am in the UK and a member of the British Lung Foundation community. I was doing a search for COPD information when I found this community and didn't realise at first that it was meant for Americans living with COPD. There are many Americans that use the British Lung Foundation community that may not know this community exists so I have put a post on there to let them know about this community. I hope it generates some new members and support for you.

I wish every success for COPD Friends.

Regards John

[122853]

I want to do that I am in stage 4

[lynn57]

Hi everyone. I am single, 58, and live by myself. Was told I had stage 1 2012. Wasn't worried. Now I am stage 2 and worried. I am on spariva. Need to work to survive. I feel ok, but my energy level is low and I get depressed easy. Just had my 3rd back surgery 5 months ago. That went very well. Just hate not having someone to help me at home. When I come home from work, too tired to do housework or anything. Kids won't help and take advantage of me. Sad.

[Linda47715 in reply to lynn57]

My heart goes out to you. You have enough problems but to be without help to keep up around the house etc. must be sooooo hard. Prayers for you and hope your life gets easier. hope your family starts to see how much you need their help.