Home Community Chat Transcripts-02/26/01

Open Forum - Online Resources

InsightHostKJ> Ok...tonight's Topic is Online Resources

Lucy> ok
Lucy> topic is a good idea

Aaron> i'm an online resource does that count kj?

InsightHostKJ> There are thousands of arthritis web sites out there
InsightHostKJ> which ones do you use? ('sides us of course)

IndyRon> (but we are the best)

TRANSAM> Im online and easy

InsightHostKJ> LOL aaron

swimmer> nah KJ..there is only 1. :)

InsightHostKJ> LOL Thanks swimmer

tigger> kckckckckc
tigger> where you been?

poohbear> TIggs

InsightHostKJ> Ron, what sites do you use?

IndyRon> besides this one...

tigger> sorry, i was i.m.'ing presario.

InsightHostKJ> yes silly

TRANSAM> There is enough info out there to scare a person

InsightHostKJ> Thats true Trans!

IndyRon> I prolly use the Mayo site as much as any either that or docs on line

poohbear> RAwatch

tigger> you been at rawatch???

TRANSAM> I just use this one

InsightHostKJ> I use dr docs alot for medical info
InsightHostKJ> RA Watch is a good one pooh

poohbear> hehe

tigger> did i tell you that's where i'd be?

IndyRon> More technical than some but good info

tigger> I guess i was confused. hehehe

InsightHostKJ> Dipped...what sites do you use?

Lucy> hi cookie

tigger> no it was probably me. i get a little confused sometimes.

bedipped> I knew you were going to ask me...I'm eating...lol...this one only...can't find better info than here!!

InsightHostKJ> tigger and pooh....let's keep the conversation on topic please

Aaron> I use webmd alot and about.com

poohbear> ok

InsightHostKJ> LOL Dipped

tigger> sorry.

InsightHostKJ> Those are both good ones aaron

poohbear> AI is my favorite though

InsightHostKJ> So what makes a site good?

Aaron> yep I know

Lucy> what other web recources do u suggest?

TRANSAM> Anyways, night guys. Im gonna get my melon head outa here. Sweet dreams

Lucy> that would be good for info

Aaron> one other one I use is Drkoop

Lucy> i do to

IndyRon> That is easy, good accurate information and ease of use

IndyRon> at least that is it for me

Lucy> right, some are a little bit more confusing and long winded to me

InsightHostKJ> true lucy...some are too "medical"

InsightHostKJ> you shouldn't have to be a doctor to understand

poohbear> I like the Arthritis Foundation too

DonnaM> I use medicine net also

Aaron> all health is a good one also

InsightHostKJ> me too pooh

Lucy> right, i dont need to know every cell, just want to understand in easy view, and get a grip on the situation

InsightHostKJ> I use medicinenet alot too donna

Lucy> ahh that one i will try

InsightHostKJ> what makes you not want to return to a website?

Aaron> bad navagtion and slow load time

DonnaM> getting the information I am looking for in an easily accesible way

IndyRon> circular logic....one that sends you round and round only to come back where you started

Cee> You have to be careful...some information out there just dosen't line up with the facts!

Kimmy> flash intros that won't let you in till you watch them...too many pop up ads...

Lucy> message boards can be a little unerving too. and

InsightHostKJ> slow load time ugh! and pop ups!

DonnaM> sry misread what you wanted KJ

InsightHostKJ> true Cee...but how do we know what to beleive?

swimmer> no connection

InsightHostKJ> LOL Donna tis okay

Lucy> amen ron

swimmer> common sense helps a lot

Cee> Read & educate yourself..

InsightHostKJ> got that right swimmer
InsightHostKJ> Hi Di..we are discussing online resources

Di> thanks was just going to ask

InsightHostKJ> do you beleive everything you read on the internet?

Lucy> I am inpatient rather then lack of common sense, I like a quick fix,lol

Di> other then this sight

Lucy> so i have to easy does it and read what i need

Di> how is everybody tonight?

Lucy> NO kj

Lucy> not really

InsightHostKJ> How do you guys find websites? How did you find Arthritis Insight?

Lucy> gotta know what site u are relying on for info

DonnaM> you told me KJ

InsightHostKJ> LOL Donna

Kimmy> LOL..

Lucy> some times gotta be careful

Aaron> someone told me about arthritis insight

IndyRon> lol

swimmer> I was searching for information on ankle fusion surgery

Di> I typed in RA and found you guys:)

InsightHostKJ> very true lucy

swimmer> came across your original website KJ

Lucy> yeah

swimmer> I think as a link from About.com

Lucy> I typed arthritis support on my internet exp
Lucy> that how i found u

Aaron> top two search engine's I use is Yahoo and looksmart

IndyRon> I have been around so long I have forgotten how I found the original site

InsightHostKJ> LOL Ron..

Di> the best thing that ever happen was finding this sight I tell everyone they listen to you.

Lucy> sometimes when looking for more info on any disease, gotta be careful of reading to much from just patients, because we may think we know what a symtom comes from, but not always

InsightHostKJ> i use google alot aaron

Lucy> and hosp some are not as notable

Aaron> well google is not yahoo or is ran by yahoo

IndyRon> i like google too KJ
IndyRon> also like hotbot

Di> whats google?

Lucy> I never heard of that
Lucy> its a site

InsightHostKJ> true lucy....you have to treat advice from others as exactly that....advice from another patient NOT a doctor

Lucy> ?

Aaron> google is another seach engine

Lucy> right,

InsightHostKJ> its a search engine

Lucy> ohhhhhh

InsightHostKJ> what terms do you guys use when searching for arthritis info? what do you type in the search box?

Di> RA

IndyRon> depends on just what I am looking for

Aaron> arthritis, Rheumatoid, Juvenile Arthritis, Arthritis support I can go on and on and on

Di> SAME HERE aAron
Di> Aaron

Aaron> But then I cheat KJ I have the meta tags on a print out of all the major keywords for arthritis insight it's a big help LOL

InsightHostKJ> What about siet sponsors? do they influence your feeling about a site?

IndyRon> It is easy to get sidetracked though if your search is too general

Lucy> if looking for a certain thing i type a sentence and see what comes up, like, rheumatoid arthritis and heart disease a connection,
Lucy> like hat
Lucy> and see what comes up
Lucy> amen ron

InsightHostKJ> Hi Ann...we're discussing online resources

swimmer> not as much of the site itself. If I felt the info was in favor of the sponsors though, that would bother me

IndyRon> Like Kimmy I hate pop-ups....they are a pain in the a**

InsightHostKJ> sometimes it is tough to decide if a sponsor has had input on the information presented

Di> yes swimmer that is so true

IndyRon> I also dislike a site that is one click thru after another

InsightHostKJ> when it takes 10 clicks to read one article ron?

Aaron> As long as the sponsers are related to the content of the website they are fine, And it always helps if you are looking for stuff and if there is a sponser that has something that you are looking for is on the site that is that much better then you don't have to do to much more surfing

IndyRon> Partly that...

Lucy> i hate when i have to click for more info on the site
Lucy> and dont know if there is a conn
Lucy> anymore
Lucy> lol

IndyRon> Was thinking more of the sites that have nothing but click thru sponsors and one line of text

IndyRon> wouldn't call any names but sounds like a creaky old rocker

DonnaM> Kj, going back to sites I first found KJ as a host on AOL Arthritis, then she had her owm site,Arthritisnet, and then the one in combination with CAlifornia, and now here, see how long she has been working

InsightHostKJ> How do you feel about sites like RA watch that are totally paid for by one single drug company...do you think their info is biased then?
Di> yes

DonnaM> yes I do

swimmer> I would wonder

InsightHostKJ> seems like forever donna!

DonnaM> I bet.

IndyRon> The info on those sites almost has to be oriented in one direction

InsightHostKJ> i would think so Ron

InsightHostKJ> Not picking on RA watch....it's just the one I am the most familar with...if you go there it says it is from Aventis...but unless you know Aventis makes some of the arthritis drugs you wouldn't realize there may be a bias
InsightHostKJ> Is that fair?

IndyRon> but also, if you go in knowing the possible bias, there is some good info on some of them...

Kimmy> you do need to watch when it says "brought to you by..."

InsightHostKJ> I agree Ron

Ann> yes there is some good info on some

Aaron> arthritis.com isn't so bad it is ran by planetrx.com

Ann> I really haven't gone to too many sites though

InsightHostKJ> You just need to keep you eyes open when you surf

Ann> yes thanks

InsightHostKJ> what ones do you use ann?

Ann> sites?

IndyRon> yes ann

Ann> this one and arthritis.com

Ann> new to this surfing

InsightHostKJ> do you think they meet your needs ann?

Ann> a little

IndyRon> How about if you want to know about a med that you are supposed to start...where can youget reliable info on it...

InsightHostKJ> I ususally go to rxlist.com for that ron

Ann> I work in a long term care and we have med books there that I use

Melanie> I've started going to the maker of the drug first to get info.

Ann> thanks for the info

InsightHostKJ> you can usually get prescribing info for any drug by typing the name and .com
swimmer> I take it first, ask questions later LOL
InsightHostKJ> arava.com remicade.com etc

Melanie> lol

Ann> lol

InsightHostKJ> LOL swimmer...now thats not being an informed patient!

swimmer> I am willing to try it all LOL
swimmer> and I do have trust in my doctor also

Aaron> LOL swimmer

InsightHostKJ> gotta have that swimmer

IndyRon> How about when you want information on some non traditional treatment. Is there any one good place to start...

InsightHostKJ> Hmm...good question Ron...any answers? Kimmy?

Kimmy> I'm a google girl....I plug in the name of the the treatment I'm looking for and then I hit as many sites as I can...then I start comparing information from different sites...
swimmer> I bet you could get some real interesting sites for that Ron

Melanie> I don't know about that, Ron. AOL has a separate heading I've used before to look them up.

IndyRon> K, how about if you are looking for studies to support or not support some treatment...where do you start..
IndyRon> yes you can swimmer

InsightHostKJ> Kimmy....do you use " " around a phrase when you search?

Kimmy> LOL...I ask Tina...

InsightHostKJ> LOL Kimmy

Kimmy> nope...just type in what I'm looking for....keeping it down to one or two key words..

InsightHostKJ> medline is the first place i go to for studies and medical journal info

IndyRon> I use the quotes

bedipped> I use AND alot too

Kimmy> alot of the search engines add "and" without having to type it now...

InsightHostKJ> we should do a comparision....using the same search engine...type in "arthritis medications", arthritis medications, and arthritis AND medications and see what we get

Kimmy> okay..

IndyRon> Put it on the list KJ

Melanie> I use the + sign when searching.

InsightHostKJ> LMAO Ron

Melanie> Who is our webrarian on site, KJ?

InsightHostKJ> Kimmy is Melanie

IndyRon> KIMMY

Kimmy> WHAT?

Melanie> lol I was going to say my hardest questions have been answered by the webrarian.

InsightHostKJ> LOL
InsightHostKJ> she is good with a search engine!

bedipped> there's a big difference...lol

bedipped> just checked...lol

Melanie> I agree. You do a great job, Kimmy. Helped me decide on my foot surgery.

InsightHostKJ> lol Dipped

InsightHostKJ> which engine did you use dipped?

bedipped> 4309 to 11000 sites that's pretty different...lol

Kimmy> thanks...glad I could help..

bedipped> google.com

InsightHostKJ> wow! BIG difference

swimmer> see now...it would bug me, I would feel like I needed to check all those sites, just to make sure I didn't miss something

InsightHostKJ> Whats the most important thing that makes you return to a site?

InsightHostKJ> ROFL Swimmer

bedipped> lol swim...your not the only one...

Melanie> LOL swimmer

Melanie> facts, KJ, in an easy to read format with understandable language. lol

swimmer> I need to feel some type of connection...chat room, message boards, personal interest

InsightHostKJ> facts and personal connection...anything else?

bedipped> me too swim...data is data..I need it presented to me with mush I guess...not the best way to say it but....

swimmer> or, if I write to, like to have a response

InsightHostKJ> Hi Pearl, we are discussing online resources

bedipped> hi pearl

InsightHostKJ> LOL dipped

Pearl> Hi sorry I am late

bedipped> I don't know quite what word to use...lol

swimmer> chat room trips to meet people in person :)

InsightHostKJ> thats okay Pearl! What websites do you use for arthritis information?
InsightHostKJ> LOL Swimmer...those are MOST important!

swimmer> how about heart or sincerity

bedipped> yeah...that's it...a personal interest

Pearl> Mostly this one I love it the message boards and especially the chat room

InsightHostKJ> good answer Pearl! LOL

swimmer> a new motto..come for information, stay for the chats...LOL

Guest38> Resources for chocolate?

Melanie> I agree with Pearl. The other sites I go to are just to gather info.

InsightHostKJ> come for the information....stay for the friendship?

Pearl> I would love to know the address of a site for the back problems I am having
swimmer> yeah

Kimmy> Knowledge is power...chat is essential...

Melanie> I found this place and stayed with it through moves from going to KJ's original site, looking for that personal connection.

InsightHostKJ> LMAO Mel

InsightHostKJ> I mean Kimmy

Pearl> love the motto swimmer

swimmer> good one kimmy

InsightHostKJ> no more moving Mel....we are here to stay

Kimmy> thank goodness...forget where I'm some days...

InsightHostKJ> LOL Kimmy

Kimmy> where I'm at - that is..

InsightHostKJ> though I do miss my trips to California

Melanie> It doesn't matter, KJ. The underground would find you. lol

Pearl> Does anyone have a site for the back

InsightHostKJ> LOL Mel

Melanie> Don't know of one site, Pearl. I put in herniated disc and did search to get definition and some pictures from medical sites, but don't know what they were now.

InsightHostKJ> Pearl...we have some listed here: /feature/backs/links.html

Pearl> I know that my back is caused form RA

Di> is there a sight for certain areas like the hands and wrists?

Pearl> Thanks KJ

InsightHostKJ> http://www.eatonhand.com/ is my favorite hand surgery site

Di> thanks KJ

InsightHostKJ> my head is a jumble of urls! LOL

Melanie> lol

Kimmy> <ducking>....it's a jumble of sumthin' alright.... ;o)

Pearl> I have visited the RAwatch but I have not found anyone there

InsightHostKJ> Hey!

bedipped> lol Kimmy

Melanie> LOL

InsightHostKJ> just come here pearl...there's usually someone..lol

Melanie> Me either, Pearl, and info is too vague or non-specific.

bedipped> hi marcia

Pearl> I think so too Melanie and I do always come here

Melanie> Hi Marcia

Marcia> How is everyone tonight?

InsightHostKJ> Anyone have any more on topic comments before we turn it back to regualr chat?

Pearl> Hi Marcia and Aaron where are you

Aaron> alot of the people that are at RAwatch go there to chat because they say we talk to fast here

InsightHostKJ> we just got fast fingers!

swimmer> nah..they just read too slow

Melanie> There were several sites listed in the arthritis Today magazine, but they don't mention AI. We need to send them info on our site.

InsightHostKJ> LMAO Swimmer

Di> had a problem trying to get in tried it last night

Melanie> lol

InsightHostKJ> Melanie...write them a letter.....

InsightHostKJ> they know about us but decided not to include us for whatever reason

Melanie> I will, KJ. I was kind of annoyed that it wasn't even mentioned.

InsightHostKJ> me too..lol

swimmer> how dare they!

Melanie> lol

Pearl> Aaron I ask about you you speak I AM MAGIC

Aaron> maybe I should go to Alanta and kick some AF booty

InsightHostKJ> tell 'em swimmer! lol

Aaron> LOL Pearl

Melanie> lol Pearl

Marcia> Come on down Aaron...lol

Pearl> I am mad now I did not notice that before

InsightHostKJ> Do you guys relaize we stayed on topic for a whole hour?

Marcia> Kimmy from survivor...lol I will break the ice...lol

swimmer> your the taskmaster KJ

Melanie> My best learning site about RA was the drdoc site in New Zealand, I think. Great info. Before I knew about yall.

Aaron> IT'S AMAZING kj LOL

InsightHostKJ> LMAO
InsightHostKJ> A first!