Connect
You’ve joined Mayo Clinic Connect. Now what?
Here are a few tips on how to be a contributing member of a community that works — a safe space where members support one another and together we help improve our health and well-being.
Share your experiences
A community thrives on members sharing their experiences.
- Let your vulnerabilities show. By sharing openly and honestly, you give others the courage to share the hard stuff, too.
- Recognize your knowledge. While you may have questions, you also have experience and knowledge to share.
- Don't tell others what to do. It helps to use phrases like: “In my experience...” or “What worked for me was…” or “In my situation...”
Think conversation
While most of the sharing in the community is done by writing messages, imagine a conversation. Imagine yourself speaking directly to the person to whom you’re responding or that you’re sitting around the kitchen table with a group of friends having coffee.
- Listen (read) carefully to what the other person is saying and perhaps what is left unsaid.
- Share your thoughts while imagining their situation.
- Ask a question at the end of your reply to get more clarity and to keep the conversation going.
Be clear
There are things you can do to help make sure your message comes across as you intend it.
- Make the title descriptive: If you start a new discussion, use a title that clearly states what you want to talk about. For example: “Looking for tips to improve my sleep” “Just diagnosed with bladder cancer: What’s next?”
- Spell out abbreviations and acronyms the first time you use them.
- Proofread and check spelling before posting your reply. You have a 30-minute window to edit it after posting.
- Got a long message to share? Add paragraph breaks to make it easier to read. Or consider sharing the main points and writing more as the conversation develops.
Learn more about how to use Mayo Clinic Connect
Once you get the hang of posting a message and replying, you may want to learn about the other things you can do in the community.
- See the Get Started guide for instructions about the basics.
- Follow the About Connect blog for advanced tips. Sort by Tips and How to Use.
Be safe
It’s a good idea to follow good online safety practices when participating in an online community or social network. We have guidelines for keeping Connect safe, welcoming, respectful and inclusive.
- See the Community Guidelines.
- Know how you can use Connect safely.
- Report spam or commercial posts or if you’re concerned for someone’s safety.
Get to know fellow members
The community works best as you get to know fellow members. After you’ve introduced yourself and connected with others, come back to see how people are doing.
- Login regularly (daily, weekly, whatever works for you).
- Check in on members. You might simply ask “How are you doing?”
As they say, “sharing is caring.” What are your tips for contributing to a thriving, supportive community online?
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I'm trying to find out if someone knows anything about experiencing pain, after taking penicillin tablets, I think it is related to having covid 19 in February 2021, could you tell me where to start? Thank you
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1 Reaction@normanchester I’m so sorry you’ve found yourself is this fix! Your very best bet is to talk to your physician about this whole thing. They know your history and can help you figure out what caused the pain. Also, explain to your doctor about the pain you’ve been having. Can you do that, Norman?
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2 ReactionsMy doctor don't have no answers!! That's why I came here! My resources are limited, my income is very limited, I don't even have a car driver's license or transportation, 911 takes me to the emergency room occasionally
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2 ReactionsHello,
My experience is when using Gabapentin, my hands and fingers twitch. If I am holding a pen or something it falls out of my hands at times. Hope that's helpful to you😊
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2 Reactions@normanchester I’ve been thinking about you today and wondering what avenues of help there might be. Do you live in a town or city or in a rural area? I can see that you have a computer, so that will help. Can you look up Aging Services or the Area Agency on Aging. They frequently have people who can help with chores, or go grocery shopping and such. Why don’t you find out how they could help you. And that’s just a start; they have many programs which might help you.
See you tomorrow, Norman!
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3 ReactionsThank you, I'm 12 miles out of town, the community help place will be taking me to the heart doctor at the end of June, that's the best they can do
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3 ReactionsThank you very much Colleen
Hi I am Jodi this is my first post , I am a bit scared, well a lot scared!! I have never done anything like this before. But I need answers and if anyone has any I would appreciate it. I don’t usually share stuff with anyone let alone on here. I have a doctor that is not sharing anything with me . In 4 week I have loses over 25 pounds, I am not sure how it even started. But it did. Everyone kept telling me kept telling me to go into the hospital, because my doctor wasn’t getting me any were I am now down to 95.2 pds. I don’t think I weighed that when I was born . Kidding I usually way between one 20/25 , which is a good weight for me. I don’t drink, or do drugs. I smoke occasionally.. both my my husband and I are trying to to quit all the way. I only smoke about 3 to 5 cigarettes a day when I do smoke he well he can go all day at work then comes home and domes a half of pack or more I tell him I don’t under stand that!!! Anyways, well two days be before I was to go in for one of my test I was just losing so much weight could not heatedly eat same way now, they put me though all these tests in the hospital and and found nothing, oh lesions my stomach and two ulcers, and then some of the polys were cancerous that they removed the kind that were like mushrooms that hard to find because so flat, well at least they were found in the second colonoscopy, kind of scary. If they had not done the second one. But the one thing in my blood work what came out very high and should only be 0/100 was 704 and when I asked the nurse about it she was chomping on her gum which I found to be very rid! Well and ways it was called Gastrin and it was at 704 now I have read in here where ppl have been worried about it being 154? And mine was 704 that is a big difference! I have not had a chance to look it all up as there was other blood work that was off but that one was the one that really stuck out at me. My Dr. said he wants to assess me on the 25th. I am nothing but bones. And still losing weight. I do have 5 other doctors that I have that are supposed to be very good. So after this office call I am done with him. I just need to see him one last time. I thought the world of me before I got sick. Not so much there are more that the blood work came back off on. With and red seem to be fine. But I have been telling him for 3,years I have had blood in my yarn. And now that the hospital found it he found it as will. He kinda makes me sick !!!! But I have been going on and on if any one knows about the Gastrin blood test, I would be forever grateful!!!
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my chapter , I do appreciate at! Sincerely, Jodi
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1 ReactionWhat are they saying is wrong with your heart? I dealt with heart attacks and two major heart surgeries with my Mom. Also my brother had open heat surgery and I was at lot older and I took care of him after his surgery.
God bless you❤️
Momma chaser I think I wrote it in the wrong place! !
God bless you I wrote it below mine.