Guidelines

Forum Rules

Welcome to our support community. This forum exists to share experiences, offer support, and learn from patient experiences. To keep it safe and helpful for everyone, the forum has a set of rules that must be followed. Upon posting an introduction thread, new users will be linked to these rules. Continuing to post on this forum is allowed on the basis that you agree to follow these rules:

1. Be Kind and Respectful
Treat all members with empathy and respect.
Harassment, hate speech, or abusive language is not allowed.

2. Protect Privacy
Do not share personal or identifying information—yours or anyone else’s.
Avoid posting medical records or private communications.

3. Avoid Unverified Information & Medical Advice
Do not deliberately spread false or misleading information.
Do not provide medical advice. All advice given here is the personal opinion of individual posters. Members are encouraged to state what their opinions are based on.
Do not post information presented as being scientific without providing evidence.

4. Copyright & Content Ownership
Do not post copyrighted material (articles, images, documents, or media) without permission.
When sharing external resources, provide links or proper attribution instead.

5. No Spam or Promotion
Advertising, fundraising, or self-promotion is not allowed without permission.
This is a community-based forum for harmed patients- promotion of money-making material is unethical and unwelcome.

6. Explicit Content

Nobody will be banned for the occasional rude word. Descriptions of a graphic nature are against our rules to protect our members. This is at the discretion of moderators, but as a general guideline, naming symptoms that are intimate, sexual or graphic in nature in general, not overly descriptive nor specific terms for the purposes of discussing the symptoms is acceptable.

Going overboard in terms of describing the finer details of your intimate bodily functions is not.

As an example "I have sexual dysfunction/difficulty urinating/numbness in this part of my body" are all acceptable if it's for the purposes of discussing the symptoms you're experiencing and getting support. If there is any doubt, see the final rules on moderation and reporting.

7. Harmful Content

Please keep in mind that many users of this forum are struggling with various degrees of medical harm, which can also cause significant psychological symptoms. Discussion of these symptoms objectively and factually is acceptable, but please refrain from detailed and graphic descriptions of a harmful nature that could significantly negatively influence other members.

There is a balance to be struck in terms of mature discussion of such topics. As an example, stating that you are struggling with suicidal thoughts and asking for support is acceptable. Going into detail about specifics of these thoughts is crossing the line. If there is any doubt, see the final rules on moderation and reporting.

8. Moderation
Moderators may remove content that violates these rules.
Repeated or serious violations may result in suspension or removal.
The admin team has complete discretion to rule on any grey areas and remove harmful, unverified or misleading content to protect users and the quality of information provided.

9. Report Concerns
If you see harmful or inappropriate content, please report it to the moderators.

Disclaimer and Basis of Forum Use

This forum is provided for general informational and peer-support purposes only. Content shared by members reflects personal experiences and opinions and should not be considered medical advice, professional guidance, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations.

This forum should not be used in emergencies. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, severe symptoms, or believe you may be at immediate risk, contact local emergency services or seek urgent medical care immediately.

Please be advised that this is a community-run, volunteer-supported forum. Users should exercise patience, as responses to questions or requests for advice may not be as quick as they would like, and many of the volunteers running this site are themselves managing their own health challenges.

Users should exercise caution and should not suddenly stop taking prescribed medications or rapidly alter doses based on information seen on this forum. Doing so without consulting a qualified healthcare professional can be harmful. Always seek professional medical advice before making any changes to treatment.

Participation in this community does not create a doctor–patient, clinician–patient, or any other professional relationship between users, moderators, administrators, or the forum owners. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare professional regarding any medical condition, symptoms, or treatment options.

While we encourage supportive and accurate discussion, we do not guarantee the completeness, accuracy, or reliability of any information shared on this forum.

The forum, its owners, administrators, and moderators are not responsible for any actions taken based on information shared within this community, nor for any outcomes, losses, or damages resulting from participation in discussions or reliance on posted content.

By using this forum, you acknowledge and agree that you participate at your own risk and that you remain solely responsible for your health-related decisions.