Board Redesign - Your wishlist?

[icnmgrjill]

Well it's time again to upgrade our forum software for the security upgrades, etc. etc. We'll be matching the colors but the layout will be abit different. I thought I'd ask you if you'd like any new changes in this forum.

One thing that we probably will be doing is integrating live chat links into the forum... (I'm torn about this... but want the option to have it available)

The new system will also be able to incorporate youtube links YAYYYYY!!! and alot more things!!!

Is there anything you'd like to see??

Jill :)

[amaranthe]

I love the idea of the live chats. Somehow or other, I never seem to be online when we have our scheduled chats here now. But, I DO understand your reluctance. But, if you give it a try and it isn't working out, can't you remove or cancel that option? I mean, I would think there'd have to be some way to disable that feature. (But, admittedly, I don't know much about computers or technology.) But, I think it would be a nice feature to have, particularly when someone wants or needs immediate feedback on something. For example, if someone has a Drs appt in a few hours and doesnt have time to wait for all the replies to a post, and wants to know what to ask about something in particular. That's just one example. Also, since I am a night owl, lots of times I see people on here that are looking for someone else to talk to in the middle of the night. With a chat room, you could just go on there and then "talk" to whoever else is awake.

Anyway, just want to say thanks for all you do here to keep this site up and running. I am sure it must take a tremendous amount of time and skill. But, you sure do a great job with all of it! I shudder to think where most of us would be without this place. (I know that just for me alone, this site was intregal in my getting pain meds since I had no idea pain clinics or pain Drs existed before I came here. Also, even though I was in daily, unremitting pain and had requested pain meds several times from my Dr (and other Drs.), since they always said no and told me that pain meds were not appropriate for treating chronic pain like IC pain, I believed them and thought that there just weren't ANY Drs who would r/x them for IC. Man, were my eyes ever opened when (after 4 yrs of suffering), I found this place and found out that there actually ARE Drs out there who will prescribe pain meds for an IC patient! Finding the ICN and then seeing all the patients here who listed pain meds (along with the doses they are taking) in their signatures was intregal in my realizing that I didnt have to suffer all day, every day, any longer. (At one point, my pain was even so bad that I had attempted suicide to try to end my daily suffering.) At that time, I had been diagnosed and had tried everything else, but even though the DRs were willing to throw every other drug at me, they wouldnt r/x pain meds because ironically, they "didnt want to turn me into a drug addict". Pretty IRONIC, huh? When I finally found the ICN and saw that others weren't suffering all day, every day like I was, or completely bed-ridden (like I was), because other patients with pain that severe were r/xed pain meds....well, I can't tell you what a difference that knowledge made! I immediately requested a consult with a Pain Dr. and the rest, as they say, is history!

So, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I have no doubt that if I hadnt found this place when I did that I wouldn't be alive today. And I am sure I am not the only one. I have talked to numerous other people who were suffering and weren't getting helped until they found the ICN and were guided by others here so they could get the help they so desperately needed.

So thank you from all of us!

With the deepest gratitude,
Amaranthe

[ICNDonna]

I'd like to see a link to the Patient Handbook in a prominent place (maybe next to ICN Shop) at the top of this page. And easier access to the glossary.

:)
Donna

[amaranthe]

I'd like to see a link to the Patient Handbook in a prominent place (maybe next to ICN Shop) at the top of this page. And easier access to the glossary.

:)
Donna That's a great idea too!

[Charisse]

I agree about the patient handbook. Thanks Jill for all your hard work!

[pennstate71]

I love the set up of the forums - with the different topics. Soooo much easier to navigate than most of the other forums on other conditions I've visited. It's not really a layout suggestion, but I love how you've continued to add some of the similar conditions that go along with IC. It's a lot different being able to talk about it with fellow ICers than on a site where folks don't have to deal with the restraints around the IC diet, etc. so any suggestions from folks on other related conditions I would love if you kept em coming!

This is such a great forum to give people hope...and it's very easy to get down, so thanks for all you do!

[icnmgrjill]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. The success of these boards are entirely due to Donna and our wonderful team of supermods and mods! Honestly, we couldn't do it without them and they deserve the lions share of commendations. I spend most of my time on the phone now with patients.

Jill :)

[darlene]

I would love to see inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) added to the IBS thread. I have noticed that quite a few IC patients also have IBD. The combination causes unique problems and this would be the perfect place to talk about them.

[Briza]

I'd like to see a forum where new members can introduce themselves and tell a little bit about themselves and their bladder (or other) issues. We often see 1st posts show up in unlikely places and it is hard to follow them if they are mixed in when someone else's thread.

Also I think it woud be great if we didn't get timed out when taking too long to write a post or pm or maybe we walk away from the computer for 10mins. Once you get timed out then you can't bring up the list of new posts. (I don't know if this still happens, but it used to).

Also would be great if the private message system would hold more than 25 pms! I belong to other forums that save unlimited pms.

A sticky at the top of the General Diet Questions and Recipe forums that has a link to the IC diet AND lists the most common diet triggers.

thanks!

[Briza]

Some sample menus to get people through the first couple weeks of the diet. something that includes breakfast lunch dinner and snack options with suggestions of foods to be tried later on. So basically a startup plan for the elimination diet. New members frequently need an outline and a little more guidance than what the diet list of foods to try or avoid provides. esp if they don't cook or are not used to planning means. Thanks.

[Chellethinques]

Could we add a sub-forum for UTIs? We have one about "antibiotics are controversial", we have one for flares (which sometimes end up being UTIs) and I notice that many other board members are chronic UTI patients, like me. It would be nice to have a place to discuss managing UTIs alongside IC, PFD, etc. I'm sure many of us have been treated for them, and they overlap with IC more often than some of the other sub-forum topics, I think.

[LithEruiel]

I think the sub-forum for UTIs is a great idea...I had a question about them before and didn't know where to put it.

I also didn't know where to put this, but I was wondering if there'd be a new IC clothing design for this year.?

[jennjenn]

I would like to see us have more inbox room for private messages. Please allow more pm inbox room. I have seen other forums with the same layout as this one but they allow up to 125 private messages until the inbox is filled. That is so nice to have.

[Snowden1]

I am a horrible speller and would like to see spell check added. If it is already on here, please forgive me, I have technical difficulties:).

[rubymermaid]

I would like to see an increased PM inbox as well.

Overall, maybe a softer layout? I don't mean anything extravagant, I love simplistic and organized, but think google anything- blogger, calendar, gmail. Very simplistic and organized, but without the boxy feeling- and I think I just mean rounded edges and colors that mean something (to facilitate organization).

[Snowden1]

Hmmm... That is a great idea, color codes for sections. I really like that idea.

[Tuckersmom]

Allow all members to post Avatars. :)

[Snowden1]

You mean not everyone can put up an Avatar? I thought we all could? :confused:

[Tuckersmom]

Our own personal Avatar is what I should have said. :)

[Snowden1]

Oh, like one you can create yourself. I get it. That would be nice.

[Snowden1]

I was thinking about this and I think something should be posted when you first get on (for new people) saying something like: "IC may not be cureable but, most people find treatments to manage it and have a good life." (In BIG letters). I know people are terrified and hopeless when they get the news that this is "incureable" and thinking that we are going to have to live in these horrible conditions forever is very scary. Thanks.

[Dakota]

I agree with Briza about the timed out issue. More then once I sat here and wrote a long post about various issues, and had to leave to attend to something else. When I returned it was all gone, and I could have cried as I put so much effort into it trying to explain things or ask a question in the hopes of a response from someone who had perhaps had the same experience. And I agree a spell check would be a nice feature...lol Sometimes when I'm having a hard time I can't spell to save my life. It causes me anxiety because I also have OCD.

[nanawaggs]

Briza and Dakota, I agree whole heartedly about being timed out. HINT:I've learned that when I'm writing a post, I periodically "copy" it so if I get timed out, I can start over and just "paste"....that was so frustrating to me.

I also agree, it's so annoying when I haven't been on the site for awhile, there may be 4 pages of new posts, but I'm interrupted and when I return....timed out and cannot retreive where I left off. My solution to this problem isn't working too well as I often spend so much time searching down the main page, looking for recent posts but know I'm missing many and then we hear the hurtful phrase that no one replied to their post which may have fallen into that pit.

Oh, I love the idea about a place to briefly intro yourself when new to the site.

Thank you to all for the wonderful job of keeping this site alive. I've never participated in anything like this and especially for a crazy health problem like IC/PFD I'd never even heard of. This has been such a comfort when going through such miserable pain, with so many questions and having a place to go at any hour or when you no longer want to bother your loved ones, friends, etc.

Thanks so much again,
Ginger

[Dakota]

Ginger that's a great idea about copy and paste. I wonder why I never thought of that....so thanks for sharing. And I agree about this being a great site. I've been on a few others regarding other types of health problems too, and they don't compare to this. Thanks to all who make this a safe and comfortable place to turn to. I know we all do appreciate it so much!

[nanawaggs]

Oh, I second the idea about the menus. I know when first hearing all the instructions re: IC it is so overwhelming and to "read" all the details about friendly foods almost impossible to focus on. Having a number of breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack menus would be terrific. I'm in favor for a months worth!!!!

Ginger