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Posted 6/9/2016 8:46 PM (GMT -5)
Hi Everyone!

My name is Sophie and I just wanted to introduce myself. I've had chronic pain/chronic illness since I was 11 and got my first migraine, then was diagnosed with depression and anxiety (still on meds for both), and then IBS was added to the list.

Although my pain and chronic illness is definitely milder than some of the users on this forum- I was still exposed to the kind of ignorance and disbelief that I'm sure many of you have experienced. This came from medical professionals as well as my family and it sucked!! While this was happening I was studying social anthropology (an amazing subject by the way!) at the University of Melbourne, Australia. So when the time came to do my research I wanted to do something about Chronic Pain, the stories around it, and how online forums affect the experience of Chronic Pain and Chronic illness.

So here I am :) My project, and social anthropology in general, is not about judging, just listening. I want to hear your stories and I want to, through my research, draw positive attention to this unique community. My project is completely anonymous (unless you want to be named), and obviously completely voluntary.

I'll put more info in this thread, including consent forms (if anyone wants to have a private chat), a statement explaining my research and participation, as well as contact details for the uni and my supervisor if moderators are ok with that :)
Please feel free to talk to me about my project, or respond with any queries or stories about yourself, or the forum!
Posted 6/10/2016 4:04 AM (GMT -5)
Hi Sophie and welcome to the forum. We will be more than happy to help you in your endeavour however you must get administrator permission before we can. You can do so by emailing him via the admin link at the top of this page and clicking the healingwell.com link provided there or through his profile. Once he's provided that let us know and we will jump right in.
Posted 6/10/2016 11:48 PM (GMT -5)
Hi Vickie,
Thank you!! Sorry I forgot to mention that I had already emailed Peter at admin@healingwell.com, and he approved my registration on the forum. :)
Posted 6/11/2016 12:40 AM (GMT -5)
Hi Vickie,
I've just put a link below to my plain language statement detailing my research and what participation would entail:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-zJGA6ShXqa9xt8m6nQdOEjbLZQ1Vb3scvx1GzcG24g/edit?usp=sharing

and here is my online consent form if anyone would like to participate:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/985RMC2

Please let me know if you have any questions :)
Posted 7/5/2016 9:31 PM (GMT -5)
Hi Sophie.

I will help you.
Posted 7/5/2016 9:38 PM (GMT -5)
Thank you Derwood! Can I send you some questions via email? :)
Posted 7/6/2016 3:18 AM (GMT -5)
you can come down the road mate.

I will help ya too. I do some work at deakin with med students on mental health.

will e-mail you.
Posted 7/6/2016 4:21 AM (GMT -5)
Thank you Sophie for your endeavor and naturally your interest in CP. Congratulations for reaching your goals and following through as we all know in this chronic pain journey the road to reaching those personal goals which we set for ourselves is paved with mud and very slow going but it seems you got there!!

Although I can't endorse your research I can urge you guys to reach out to Sophie and assist her in her research. Spreading knowledge especially in this day and time is our one hope. Those of us here already know the value of this forum in our daily struggles and we know that without the friendships and support from HW and the many folks that have crossed our paths our lives as CPers could have been much different. The volume of others experience and the first hand knowledge of others journeys has been a huge deciding factor in my choices in this long and difficult journey and I can't imagine how different those choices may have been or the impact on my life had I not had them.

I received your email Sophie and I will be getting back to you today hopefully. Good luck.
Posted 7/6/2016 4:56 AM (GMT -5)
nicely said mate. :-)
Posted 7/7/2016 1:55 AM (GMT -5)
Thank you so much for your kind response Vickie! It means a lot.
I just got your email Happy Turtle and have responded- thanks for your help.
Derwood- I'll send you the consent form and some questions today :)

Just hanging out with you guys on the forum in the past month or so has been really lovely- to deal with CP day to day yet still have the capacity to listen to and help others is amazing. And I have to say being on this forum I feel a little less alone with the relatively small amount of pain I do have.

If anyone would like to participate in my research, or if you have any questions- please shoot me an email, I've put it up on my profile :)
Posted 7/7/2016 2:39 AM (GMT -5)
done.
Posted 7/7/2016 7:46 AM (GMT -5)
I'll send you an E-mail later today Sophie.Seems like a noble venture you're undertaking.

And a belated welcome to H.W.

Take care.

Rick
Posted 7/9/2016 6:07 AM (GMT -5)
Thank you Rick! I haven't received your email yet - heres my email again: smathison@student.unimelb.edu.au
I would love to hear from you :)
Posted 7/9/2016 7:50 AM (GMT -5)
I sent you an E-mail this morning Sophie.If it didn't make it let me know.

Take care.

Rick
Posted 7/11/2016 8:22 AM (GMT -5)
Ah Rick it still hasn't come through unfortunately! I'll send you an email and see if that works :)
Posted 7/11/2016 11:11 AM (GMT -5)
I got it Sophie.Thanks.

I'll get those back to you in a little while.

Take care.

Rick
Posted 7/13/2016 12:54 AM (GMT -5)
Intriguing! Email sent and auth signed. 😊
Posted 7/14/2016 11:03 AM (GMT -5)
I opened your E-mail this morning.I've been thinking about the Questions and will get back with an E-mail this afternoon.I've got to get motivated.:)

I want to give you answers that cover all the bases but don't drag out.

Take care.

Rick
Posted 7/15/2016 1:04 AM (GMT -5)
Hi Rick,

Thank you- I am happy with any response, so don't worry too much about it.
Also I kind of like dragged out replies- definitely more interesting!! :)
Posted 7/15/2016 7:31 AM (GMT -5)
your like the fly on the wall sophie!!! I imagine some excellent and interesting info.
Posted 7/18/2016 1:20 PM (GMT -5)
I finally sent an E-mail to you Sophie.This morning.Let me know if I can help in any way.

Haven't felt great for a few days.OK today though.

Take care and God Speed.

Rick
Posted 7/19/2016 3:10 PM (GMT -5)
Hello Sophie,
I am a new member to this forum, but the chronic pain has been w/me since a work-related accident that left me 100% permanently disabled in 2003. I believe I can give a unique perspective as I was a Registered Nurse whose specialties were Drug & Alcohol & Psych. I have also worked on a Physical Rehabilitation Floor, on a Critical Care Floor, & in the prison system. I have been a major guinea pig as so many treatments have been tried, only to eventually fail. When I talk to anyone about a certain point in my life I either refer to it as BF or AF (referring to "before my fall" & "after my fall). Anyways, I hope to be an asset to your research & look forward to speaking w/you.

Thank you,
msgams (aka Gaye Metz)
Posted 7/21/2016 12:20 AM (GMT -5)
Thank you Rick- I received your email. I hope you feel better and the tough days pass.

Hi UtahNoni, thanks for you interest in my research- I just replied to your email and am looking forward to your response, it sounds like you've had a wealth of experience with CP and outside of it- like so many on the forum.
Posted 7/21/2016 3:47 AM (GMT -5)
sent something. kinda short and sweet. like me!!!! short anyway. ha!!!
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