is the board dead?

[Confused]

There seems to be no action taken on the board.  Is the board dead???  I see questions with no answers and chat is gone.  Are we to find a different.

[sixty]

I hope not.  I think it's just slow right now.  There are times I check it out and there's been no activity, and times there has been.

[Confused]

I am concerned that the board is somehow closed.  I have never seen this board this quiet.  I had been non chat before Thanksgiving and the chat was to be on for a bit but it never came back on.
Could you pm me?  I would like to see if that works. 

[meirish]

The board has slowed down in the recent years. I am of the opinion that the world is so wound up and busy with all the stuff that is going on. People are frustrated and exhausted and troubled over many of the issues our society is going through.

Also, the holidays have been exhausting this year with the weather and airlines, etc. Heck, people are still trying to find their luggage after the holiday issues with cancelled flights and weather.

I come just about every day and check things out and not much is going on right now but the weather continues to plagues the whole USW and many of the other countries. All I can say is that if anyone has any ideas on things that they need more info on or subjects that might be interesting just start a post and see where it goes.

So many of you have been so faithful over the years and it has been interesting and I have enjoyed meeting you all on this forum. Also, I hate to admit it, but a lot of us are getting quite up in years and have other health issues besides the autoimmune stuff. Thank you so much for inquiring and being concerned.

I certainly wish there was some more younger people around but I am not really sure how they are handling their autoimmune diseases and how much help they are getting from society. Thanks again to all of you who have been concerned. Please check in when you have time or something that you might need to discuss. Remember we have a lot of information available by using the search option. Happy New Year. meirish

[Nomad]

I have noticed this phenomenon with other sites ... very different topics. It might be that some folks like to use Facebook. I'm not sure.

Can we still pm/private message folks on this site?

Over a year ago, a poster said a little something that made me realize she was not only from my state, but probably from my general area.

I private messaged her. Nice lady. More later...

[Linda196]

Chat was on a break over the Holidays for two weeks, but has been consistently available on Thursday evening other than that. I've checked the links, and they are working.

As for the forum, there are a few active threads ongoing right now, but it does get quiet, and then picks up a bit. Forum use has dropped over the past few years, possibly because other sites, for example several Facebook pages and groups, have become available, and with more research available through established medical sites, many people have are doing their own personal research.

[meirish]

For many years we had a lot of social interaction going also between the members and that was always nice. There is still some of that going on and that is something that is a positive for a site like ours. meirish

[sixty]

I do have to add one thing.  I have surfed for years looking for any site relating to Sjogrens so that I can glean any and all information. The other sites out there are quite limited in activity & membership. This site is by far the most used of all of them and that also means there is more saved history referring to any question a person might have about Sjogrens. 

[meirish]

You are right about the shaved history. Using the search option will bring up a lot of info about many different subjects. Really a good source of information for people. Thanks, meirish

[AlienDog]

Confused, I don't get on the forum often, but peek in ever so often.  As you can see by the number of posts in response to your post, the forums are not dead.  It's just slow, and has been this way for a few years.  The holidays also make things slower here. 

Chat was only closed the Thursday for Thanksgiving, and then we came back until the Thursday right before Christmas, and the next week, before New Year. i don't know why you think we were gone all that time. We never do that. Linda, Cheryl, and I have wondered where you have been. We have all missed seeing you in chat! Hope to see you next week!

AD

[Carolina]

Dear Confused,

This board is alive and well, just much less 'busy' and quieter than when I began, in 2010.

I think one of the major reasons is that doctors are now diagnosing and treating Sjogren's syndrome much earlier.  In earlier times doctors didn't know anything about Sjogren's and it took ages to get help.  So people were desperate and stumbled around until they found our forum.

I also think that 'Doctor Google' provides people with a good deal of information, for better or worse!

I am eternally grateful for the compassion, information, humor, and wonderful people that I found on this forum.  I still believe that the people here know more about Immune Disorders than you will find anywhere else online.  Or in most doctors' offices.

And most of those who have stayed in the forum for years have the somewhat unusual complications and progressions of our Immune Disorder.  My disorder attacks my Central Nervous System, causing many problems. This is not common with Sjogren's, so once folks know what to do, how to do deal with methotrexate for example, or help with dryness, or ask for the medications for dryness they may only return if new problems arise.

Ask any questions or make any comments, Confused.  We do listen.

Love, Elaine