Hello @donnalee1977,

Sharing our own experiences can help form connections and help members walk through treatments and ask better questions of their providers. We have to be careful, however, to not use our own experiences to offer medical advice or alternative treatment recommendations that don't include another member's provider. Statements such as "xxxx should be avoided at all costs" goes against the Community Guidelines:

- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/about-connect/tab/community-guidelines/

1. Be careful about giving out medical advice
- Sharing your own experience is fine, but don't tell other members what they should do.
- Experiences and information shared by members on the Mayo Clinic Connect are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
- Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the community.
Medical tips or information may be removed if a member:
- Tells another member what to do
- Attempts to provide a diagnosis for another member
- Makes a medical statement that cannot be verified clearly as coming from their own personal experience
- States information as fact or makes a claim that is not properly referenced
- References information that is not evidence-based and/or does not come from a verified medical expert source.