A Plea for Board Drama to End

[Guest guest]

Hello Everyone,

I've been avoiding this debate for a reason, but this board has grown so

radioactive of late that I don't think I can keep my silence any longer.

There's always been some of this sort of thing going on, but usually it's

never called out into the open. Recently, however, it seems to have gotten

worse. First, let me say that I appreciate and have appreciated the help

that many have provided me here. I myself am entering the fifth month of

treatment, and I recognize that health is still a long ways off. Throughout

every step of an already exhausting process, I've consistently received

quality guidance and suggestions that have aided the PCP and Endocrinologist

currently treating me. I may not always agree with it completely, but I can

still use the information told to me when doing my own research. This is

the precise reason why I post here.

I suppose what I don't understand is the willingness of some to ask for

suggestions, then directly refute and reject all of them. If you don't want

help, then why ask for it? Some may just want to be right or want to have

someone else agree with them. Some many want to vent, but I think there are

better avenues for venting than here. At times the topic of a lack of

maturity or a lack of masculinity has been raised. Every man I know is a

bit different, so questioning another man's masculinity, as though there was

one standard, has never seemed all that fair to me. Maturity also depends

on the person, not the age in question. I think what we mean to say is why

some can't seem to be civil and reasonable.

Posting here is not a contest for who knows the most medical terminology or

who has the most obscure diagnosis. Nor is it a contest for who has the

worst documented case ever or the weirdest side effect. I myself try not to

post here more than every week, because then I can put together a combined

list of my symptoms, side effects, and treatment regimen. I could probably

post every day, but I'd get everything confused after a time. I thought the

point of this board is that we're all sick, or at least have been in the

past, and as such we help each other through the process. As for me, my

hormonal balance right now is completely out of wack and will be for a

while, so while I might grow a little testy at times, I've still made the

effort to stay polite, appreciative of those with suggestions, and generally

even-keeled.

People in pain are sometimes short tempered or difficult. That has

certainly been my experience too, though I've tried to keep that side of

myself away from here. I wish we'd all cut ourselves a break. None of this

bickering really accomplishes much except for distracting us from the

primary reason we're here, which is to get better. I've seen this other

places before, and it always gets to me.

Friends, I hope we can agree to disagree and to help each other when we

can.

.

--

If ever I said, in grief or pride,

I tired of honest things, I lied: