Why won't WV folks read their OH messages???

I emailed about 40 folks who are members of this forum and listed as being either in my county or one of the surrounding counties about the possibility of a local support group in my area and this was like 6 weeks ago. And I have not gotten even ONE response to all those emails! I did it through the OH system--you know, so it says at the top of the screen that you have an unread message and you can click it to go read the new message... Not one single person read the message than then took the time to even tell me to buzz off! What does it take to get folks to respond these days? LOL Hugs, Lea

LEA, SORRY YOU DIDN'T GET ANY RESPONSES. i KNOW YOU WERE TRYING TO GET ANOTHER SUPPORT GROUP STARTED. I AM STILL PRE-OP AND WORRY BECAUSE I WON'T HAVE ANY SUPPORT BESIDES OH AFTER SURGERY. THERE AREN'T ANY SUPPORT GROUPS NEAR ME. MAYBE IT'S THAT WV IS SO RURAL. I KNOW A FEW PEOPLE HAVE TRIED TO GET THINGS MOVING HERE. I THINK ALOT OF PEOPLE CHECK THE BOARD HERE DAILY BUT EVERYONE IS HESITANT ABOUT POSTING. COME ON MOUNTAINEERS WE'RE BETTER THAN THAT. MICHELLE

I'd think that with WV being soooo rural, and there not being much local socialization for folks in a medical situation like bypass surgery, that the boards here would be all that much more important. You don't have to drive in the snow to get support here! You don't have to drive an hour or longer to get support here! BUT, you don't get much support via the WV board. You generally have to use the main message board to get much of a response. It is a shame that other folks don't make use of these resources... Where do you live? Is there any sort of local support group within say an hour of home for you? Best wishes as you get closer to surgery! Lea

Isnt it sad? I needed some assistance as soon as I came out, post op, and there was no one on this forum or my local forum either. Im very disappointed but my only option was to post to the main board. What's even sadder is the fact that there is a local area message board on Yahoo for my location and no one posts there either. I have to admit, I have gotten to the point where unless I post on the main board, I dont post at all. Its been easier for me to get answers to my questions by just searching old posts from other members. As for your PM's, its my opinion that most members sign up (once) to be able to ask questions, then either dont re-log on again ( Im guilty of that) and just read the messages left. And, perhaps.. in their member options, they dont have the email notifications letting them know that they have a message waiting. Personally, I have made "friends" with several members who never contact me anymore. They are a several years/months out and have moved on with their lives. Im in the early post-op stages ( 6 weeks ). They dont remember everything and now we have nothing in common. I cant speak for anyone but myself and what I said above is just my opinion but its still sad. I wish you luck with getting your group together.

Obesity Help provides us with such a great tool in these state forums. It is truly a shame that folks don't make use of them to their full extent... I'm sorry that you couldn't find support here when you needed it. Where do you live in WV? When you refer to a Yahoo group, so you mean the [email protected] group? If so, YES, it is very quiet lately. From time to time it gets juiced up a bit and you see posts regularly, but in the last 6 mos it has been mostly dead except the day or two before some sort of event locally... If you Don't mean that group, would you share what the other group is? I may be interested in joining! Like you, I mostly resort to posting questions on the main message board here at OH as it is the only place where you can be assured someone will see it and respond. Many of the state forums are dead like the WV one. Perhaps it is just a matter of making OH members better aware that there ARE state forums? Some folks don't even realize that there is a forum for folks who have surgery in a specific month/year and THAT is advertised on their account home page! And, I am still shocked at how many profiles you look at that are just the person's name and when they joined OH.... Again, folks just don't even use the resources they are given for no charge whatsoever. I guess they won't have any reason to complain if they ever have a need for help and have trouble finding it if they aren't even looking around to see what is here! I do enjoy my time at the OH site. I enjoy getting to know some of the folks who are regular posters in the various forums/boards. Some are now very familiar and feel almost like family. Others are like new acquaintences, but I think of them all as friends. And, I try to help whenever/wherever I can. I guess it is like the bit about leading a horse to water.... You can only do so much!! Feel free to IM me if you like and I'll be sure to see it and respond! Hugs, Lea 410/288/175?

Thanks, Lea. I live in Fayette Co. and normally, I don't need "support" (I have always been a stay to my self kind of person) but when I have questions, I like to know there is someone out there to relate to. I understand completely that most people have gone back to their 'regular' lives and dont have time to reply or even check in, but when there isnt anyone posting for weeks at a time, one, such as myself, wonder why have this board of someone isnt going to monitor it? To answer your question, yes, that board you mentioned is the 'local' board. And I dont mean to offend anyone from that board or even this board, but its very rare that anyone posts. I just find it easier now to simply post to the main board. And actually, I find searching with a keyword for the issue I need answers too, works even better. Jen