To All Forum Participants

[Philip1815]

Dear Forum Participants,

We are sorry we have had to dramatically limit the number of questions we allow on a daily basis in this forum due to  limitations of sponsorship funding. If your organization can sponsor this Forum, we and all others that visit here would be more than grateful. Please contact us.  

Unfortunately we must ask...

-Please do not post a question under someone else's question, it will not be answered.

-If you <B> really really </B> need <I>urgent</I> medical help the Web is not the place to be, please call your personal physician or your Emergency Medical Services as soon as possible.

-If you need a second opinion, we cannot recommend a better institution than The Cleveland Clinic Heart Center.

Again, sorry for the cutbacks :(


Regards,
Med Help International

[Doug]

I would think this forum is used enough that why don't you try to get someone to do some advertising on your site?  The advertisers could pay for being on it and you could continue going.

Since this is a heart forum I would think there would be a number of companies that would be interested in advertising their products from exercise equipment to computers.

I'm not saying that those who would like to donate money shouldn't do so, but it seems to me that someone who gets their questions answered once or twice are not likely to support the site.  What people say they will do and what they will actually do are often two different things.

Personally I am interested in visiting the site on occassion to see if there are any new medical advances to deal with a benign but nagging irregular heart problem (PAC's) that I have (not as bad as it used to be).  Generally the answers have been the same.  The problem is that many people are asking the same questions that have been answered numerous times, and they could basically find their answers in the archives.

My suggestion is that you could write extensive articles on the typically asked questions, because your responses have essentially been the same.  For those people who have unusual questions or questions that are more complex I would suggest you respond to them, and then for the typical questions (palpitations) refer them to the articles written on those subjects.  But I would make them extensive and not just a few paragraphs.  Cover the angles in the questions that you get in the forum.  But also from time to time update them if something comes up that is unusual or insightful.

Just a suggestion.

[Phil from Med Help]

Hi Guys,

First let me tell you that your support has been wonderful and that we are NOT closing this forum. We have had to limit the number of questions per day that are allowed. I'm really not at liberty to throw numbers out on the Net but money that would be raised via corporate sponsorship or other means will go back directly into expanding the number of questions per day.

To date there have been a few hundred responses to the Quick Poll I put online and it is interesting that around 80% of the people indicated that they would support a small membership fee.

Grassroots is always a great thing. Our concerns with the grassroots efforts then become that we don't want to get into a legal situation with "patients paying for a doctors advice" especially across state lines.

The intent of these forums are to provide general medical education and we feel that after several years of doing this, we have been very sucessful.

In any event.... I'll keep you guys posted! :)

Regards to All,
Phil

[Larry]

It has been almost one year to the date that I found this site and it gave me the information to make a decision that has changed my life drastically, and without it I might not be around to type this comment.  You see I had a 5.5 assending aortic aneursym and aortic valve that was leaking.  The way my doctor told me it was a very delicate operation and not all surgeons and hospitals were qualified to do this.  I had my option of Cleveland or Rochester being close to Rochester thats what I picked.  But without this forum I would not have the information to make a decision on the type of valve and and where to have the operation.  I thank god everyday for the fine people in Cleveland and at the Mayo Hospitals that helped last Jan 99.  Iam back to work at two jobs my heart is beating as good as it was when I was born.  And my cardiologist doesnt want to see me! The coumadin and the mechanical valve are not have as bad as everyone thinks, you just get use to changing your life style. Its like the first time eating pizza you dont like it till the maybe the third time you eat pizza. Well know I smile every time the little click goes off and someone hears it for I know its working.  Keep up the good work Cleveland get back into the ball game, with either charging or have a insurance sponsor this forum its far to important in everyones life to drop this!

[samantha]

I too, agree that this is a wonderful and informative site, and I
am most certain that you have "saved" many people lives in one way or another. Surely there are drug companies out there just waiting to advertise their newest beta blocker or antiarrhythmic.
The prices we pay for medications and top notch medical specialists leaves little room in my pocket for an annual internet site fee. Ted Turner wants every child in the world to have access to immunizations. Maybe it's a long shot but you could always put our names in the pot. Somebody will come thru.
Don't throw in the towel just yet.

[steve]

To Phil of Med Help,

It is unfortunate that this board may suffer the consequences of no funding. This forum has been a great place to interact with many different people to ascertain opinions and experiences, both first hand and professional. I have found this interaction very helpful, enlightening and thought provoking. It has helped me not only understand more about the problems that I have, but because of what I have read, it has helped me make one of the most important decisions in my life.

I need to have my aortic valve replaced before the March/April timeframe and it is likely that I will have it done in the Cleveland Clinic near the end of Feburary.

I would have no problem signing up for a reasonable fee.

Would you be willing to share what the costs are for running a web page such this? Could you give a brief summation of where the overhead is for this effort?

Thanks and Good Luck resolving this problem.
Steve

[to: H. Parsells]

You sound exactly like me, I am 29 years old and have every symptom you describe..  I also suffer from Panic Attacks/Anxiety.  Please feel free to e-mail me, it really helps talking to people who have the same symptoms that you have.  Its like a great support system.  It seems if others don't have it there is no way to understand it.  My e-mail address is ***@****.  The stress echo was a breeze I had one about 5 months ago.  Good luck to you.