Just curious - how did you find this forum?

When I was 1st diagnosed I had a million questions and used Google to search for info. Healing Well was always popping up in the search results. I lurked for about a year before I actually joined. I read the post here about nopal water, did my own research about it and had some questions no one asked here so I joined to ask.

I also found it thru a search. Probably google. It was also when I was first diagnosed and not improving on mesalamine alone.

It was a lifesaver for me! I’ve learned things here that my doctors never told me.

I was googling with questions about UC and treatment options and HW always popped up in the search results. I lurked for a couple of years before making an account.

My gi suggested that I try to find an online support group. He said a good group can be beneficial to some.

I waited a bit & joined the crohns forum back in 2003. Boy, talk about an eye opener, lol. I probably read for 6 months before posting. Keep in mind back in those days crohns & UC was not spoken about like today. My first shock was how open they talked about crapping their pants & speaking about the very same thing I hid from everyone the best I could. I was in denial for a fair amount of time even after having emergency surgery. Reading & talking about things helped me so much.

HW was just getting started & it was really picking up steam because there wasn't many health forums back then.

Straydog,

I remember being diagnosed and being so grateful we finally knew what "it" was. My life had been turned upside down and inside out. No one could relate. They could not understand. I felt so embarrassed and ashamed because I could not control a very basic bodily function. I don't think I've ever felt so alone and defeated.

Then I found HW and started reading on here and I didn't know if I should cry or giggle. The forthcoming of information scared me sometimes, made me realize what could happen, made me laugh when they posted funny coping mechanisms, and yet reassured me that here was a group of people experiencing health issues that were common for IBD.. and they were sharing best practices.... Sharing how tos, and don't dos.... Their shared experiences -helped me cope, improved my QOL, and gave me hope.

Amazing site and group.

Same a Google search as everyone else said. At initial diagnosis we're all googling for all sorts of answers on symptoms, meds, for symptom relief, our fears (like colorectal surgery) and more. When you keep seeing the same site's answers on target to answer your searches then you bookmark to lurk/read a bit, then sign up to ask finer points/clarifications for your questions.

Oh I agree. We are like a family of very close friends... Sometimes bickering and the next moment laughing. I'm so grateful for everyone on here.

I was so thankful that I found other people like me. I thought I was the only one going thru all the gross things my body decided to do.

The shame, isolation and fear is immobilizing.

And the panic. Thank God someone else (UB) had posted about PG. When that big ol spot opened up on my abdomen I thought I wasn't going to survive it until I read about others.