WebMD Pulse

How to View Discussions in Exchanges

noreply@blogger.com (WebMD Blogs) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:16:00 +0000

The WebMD Health Exchange

Ask your questions on the Welcome Exchange

We're live!

The WebMD Heath Exchange is up and growing.

To catch everyone up, WebMD has launched a new dynamic community experience that replaces our message boards with a more robust experience that allows you not only to start and respond to great discussion threads, tips, and resources - you can now create your own group and invite whomever you want to participate. Plus, we now have more than tripled the team of expert health professionals ready to weigh in on your questions and concerns.

People are already testing the waters in our Exchange pool and a common question is popping up, particularly if you were used to our old message board system's thread view: "What is going on with this 'What's Happening Now' area? Why can't I see the discussion posts in-line, the way it used to be on our message board?"

"What's Happening Now" is a stream of activity in the center of every Exchange. Every time an Exchange member creates or replies to a discussion thread, tip, or resource, it shows up in that activity feed .

But what if you only want to see the Discussions on your Exchange? Fear not. You can. In fact there are a few ways you can adjust the way you view information on your Exchange so you can see exactly what you want.

On any Exchange, you will see our navigation controls on the left-hand side of the page - next to the Exchange photo.

The navigation allows you to filter what you see in the center of the page. So if you click Discussions, your page will reload with only the Discussions in the center well, listed by time stamp and by thread header. (And this trick works for Tips and Resources as well, also located in the left navigation column.)

You can also look at these listings in chronological order by the threads with the most replies.

Here's another way to do this. See the Popular Discussions box? On the right-hand side of the page next to the exchange picture?

You click there to again take you to the sorting page. And, the same goes for Tips and Resources as well, in similar boxes below Popular Discussions.

Go forth and sort your Discussions! Meanwhile, here are a few quick links to check out our new awesomeness:

The WebMD Health Exchange Home Page

Message Boards that are Now Exchanges

How to Create An Exchange

Comment on this blog post - was it helpful? - and ask your questions on the Welcome Exchange.

Exchange Home Page

noreply@blogger.com (WebMD Blogs) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:45:00 +0000

The WebMD Health Exchange

Ask your questions on the Welcome Exchange

By now we hope you've read enough to be very curious about our interactive new WebMD Health Exchange, and you want to join in.

Ready to find an Exchange that suits your needs? Maybe get a suggestion or two for good places to start? Then come see our community home page.

Click here to go straight to the live page. Need a sneak peak first? Take a look below. Here is the full shot:

On the Exchange home page, we're giving you a few ways to find what you need.

Starting at the top you'll notice the scroll - a movable visual directory of exchanges. These are suggestions we would like you check out. We'll be updating this selection periodically.

Just below these offerings is an explanation of the two types of communities we offer.

Moderated Exchanges are some of your favorite message boards transformed into places where you will have expert support, member interaction, share tips and resources and more.

Member Exchanges are groups that you and your fellow users create and grow. To start, we've brought over some message boards that were just perfect for this, (we're looking at you, pregnant people and diet clubs) but we hope you're going to make more).

Now, the giant box in the middle of the page is the index, in alphabetical order, of all the Exchanges. This section will update as new Exchanges are added. Browse by condition or wellness topic, or type in what you're looking for in the search box.

And below the Browse box are more areas to explore - you can click to create your own public or private Exchange and a reminder about our awesome expert blogs. Some of the same health professionals you'll interact with in Exchanges have blogs, too. After you've immersed yourself in our Exchanges, blogs should be your next stop.

So there you have it, your new WebMD Health Exchange home page. Get to it!

Comment on this blog post and ask your questions about the New WebMD Health Exchanges on the Welcome Exchange.

Welcome to the WebMD Health Exchange!

noreply@blogger.com (WebMD Blogs) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 15:32:00 +0000

Our blogs have a new look – and an exciting new option for you! After reading a post, you’ll now be able to talk about it with others in our WebMD Health Exchange. Exchange provides a dynamic community experience that allows you to connect with others who have similar interests and concerns. So read what our expert bloggers have to say, then head over to the related Exchange community to comment and ask questions.

How to Create a WebMD Member Exchange

noreply@blogger.com (WebMD Blogs) — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 21:39:00 +0000

WebMD's new community – the WebMD Health Exchange – will debut soon.

One of the best aspects of this exciting new interactive experience is the ability to create your OWN Exchange.

Sure, we have more than 50 moderated Exchanges manned by some of the country's top health and wellness professionals and focused on health and wellness topics that are important to you. But maybe not all the ones you'd like to see. That's why we now offer Member-Created Exchanges.

This is your chance to claim a spot for your group, cause, or interest right here under our banner. What are some reasons you might want create your own community here at WebMD?

You're spearheading a marathon for breast cancer
You need a spot to post news of your new baby
You want to help others get through their journey with a chronic illness or condition like Diabetes, Lupus, or Fibromyalgia
Your coffee klatch of pals are all expecting babies the same month you are

Reasons to create an exchange are as unique as you are. Best of all, your Member Exchange will be here, with us, at WebMD, a place you know you can depend on, with up-to-date health and drug information, and full of caring members just like you. Now you have a piece of us to share with others, either by invitation-only or publicly for all to see.

Creating an Exchange is simple. It's a seven-step process from start to home sweet Exchange. Read on to find out how to create an Exchange or click here to download our our PDF to your computer or smart phone.

On the WebMD Health Exchange main page, you will see this choice:

Click create your own exchange.

STEP ONE: Name Your Exchange

Type in the name you choose. If that name is available your new Exchange URL will show. If it is not, you'll be asked to try another.

STEP TWO: Add Descriptive Keywords

Keywords describe what your Exchange is all about. Think of words you or others would type into Google to find a similar site.

STEP THREE: Select a Category

Pick the category that fits your Exchange topic. Also, you'll see that some top-level categories have two lower tiers, helping to make things a bit more specific. This helps our internal search find your Exchange as well as outside search engines.

STEP FOUR: Add a Short Description

Now, we mean short - 130 characters. Just type what this Exchange of yours is about. The text will appear in the top right corner of your Exchange's main page, once published.

STEP FIVE: Public or Private?

Do you want your Exchange to be open for anyone to join or by invitation only? A public Exchange will be searchable by any search engine. A private one is not searchable either through WebMD site search or through an external search engine like Google or Bing. And only you can invite people to join. The choice is yours.

STEP SIX: National or Local?

If you're creating an Exchange specifically for your local area, then you'll want to indicate that here. For instance, you can start a national moms group or you can create one JUST for the moms in your own neighborhood.

STEP SEVEN: Select an Image

There are a number of graphics here to choose from. Pick one that suits your fancy.

At the end of the page you will these two buttons:

If you don't like what you've created click cancel and start over. Are you happy with your Exchange set up? Click "Create This Exchange." Tada!

A Couple of reminders:

After you create your Exchange, add it to your "My Exchanges" list so you will have a quick link back to it from the left navigation of any other Exchange you happen to be visiting.
You can't just sit there alone. You need people to come to the party. Email, Twitter, and Facebook your new Exchange to your social network, fellow members, or even that dude at Starbucks you see every morning who has the same condition you do.

We hope you'll create your Exchange soon. And invite us, will you please?

Get Ready to Join Us in The WebMD Heath Exchange!

noreply@blogger.com (WebMD Blogs) — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 03:08:00 +0000

Our community has always been an important part of what we do at WebMD. Now, we’re showing you we mean that by giving you more tools and letting you take the reins. We’ve decided to change things around, spruce up the place, and give you new ways to connect with others just like you who want to live better, healthier lives.

So, what is the WebMD Health Exchange?

Simply put, it’s a new dynamic community experience that replaces our older message board system. But it’s so much more than that! The WebMD Health Exchange not only allows you to create discussions, and share tips and resources in the subjects you care about. It gives you hands-on ways to interact with your fellow community members.

You can:

Get help from more than 50 new health experts
’Bookmark’ discussions you’re following or you’ve started
View posts in different ways – chronologically or dynamically
Embed images in your posts and create polls
Vote on the Tips and Resources most helpful to you
Get WebMD news specific to your conditions and topics

But most important, if you don’t see an exchange that fits your needs, you can create your own. Invite anyone to participate, keep it private or make it public – you run the show. If you represent an organization, you can set up your community here with us at WebMD and use our audience to get your message out or further your cause.

Where will I find my favorite message board?

It’s still here and has evolved into something even more useful.

You might like your board just as it is. But, we wanted to give you a system that was more intuitive, easy to enjoy, and much easier to use.

True, the message boards as you know them are going away, but we don’t want you or your words to get lost. Those conversations are an important part of the WebMD community experience.

We’ve imported the threads from boards into their corresponding Exchanges. In the next few days, we’ll share a map you can use that will match your message board to its new home in Exchanges. Until you can change your bookmarks, we’ll redirect your saved links, so that if you click an old board link or bookmark, you will still find the right conversation in the new Exchange home.

You’ll also notice some of the Exchanges are moderated and some are not. That’s on purpose. Wherever you see ‘WebMD-moderated’ exchanges, you’ll find our staff of experienced moderators to help you along and introduce you to our new bevy of Experts – more than 50 of them, covering a range of conditions and more coming every month.

Member-created exchanges are just that – created by you. We’ve brought over some of the most vibrant current board topics that we felt were important to have out of the gate.

The best way to introduce you to the Exchange is to take you through how use them. Keep reading this blog and bookmark it. We’ll cover a lot of ground in the next few weeks as we all settle into our new digs.

Coming Next! We’ll share a sneak peek of the new bright design of the WebMD Health Exchange.

Talk About Swine Flu at WebMD

noreply@blogger.com (Leona_WebMD) — Tue, 05 May 2009 15:20:00 +0000

As the number of cases of Swine Flu (H1N1) continues to escalate in the United States and around the world, our members here at WebMD have shown their concern and asked some GREAT questions.

Are we blowing this "pandemic" out of proportion?

What are the real dangers?

What if I'm already fighting another illness or condition?

How do I protect my kids?

We have a wonderful place here in the WebMD Community where you can talk with others about your thoughts, feelings, and worries, as well as compare notes on what’s going on in the news and in your own area. Grab a cup of coffee or tea and join in the discussion on our General Health message board!

Our medical and editorial staff will also be choosing questions from our members to feature in upcoming stories or on our WebMD News Watch blog.

See you there!

Leona

WebMD Lists FAQ

noreply@blogger.com (Leona_WebMD) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 21:00:00 +0000

WebMD is launching a great new product that we hope our members will enjoy. Following is a series of Frequently Asked Questions that you'll need when you get ready to use the new Lists product.

We'll be posting a notice when the first one is up and ready to use.

Take care,
Leona

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

List 2.0 FAQs

What is a WebMD List?

Who can add comments and ratings?

You ask for my comments. What would you like me to write there?

How do I add comments and ratings?

I'd like to add a new item to the list. How can I do that?

After I add a rating, comment, or additional content, how soon will it show up?

What if I rethink my rating, comment, or content and want to change it?

My review or content was edited or deleted. What comments/content are okay?

How is the optional background information used?

Are real names or email addresses required?

What should I do when I see comments or content that are not appropriate?

What should I do if I or someone I know has experienced an adverse event from taking a drug or medication?

I have additional comments about my experience that don't make sense to put here. Where can I share them?

What is a WebMD List?

WebMD's List product allows our users to provide their personal ratings, reviews, comments, or add their own content for various sponsored or editorial topics. Each list is different and allows different types of member interaction. To get started, visit our WebMD Lists home page.

Back To Top

Who can add comments or ratings?

Any member who feels he or she has knowledge of a subject, disease, condition, etc., pertaining to the list topic, is allowed to comment on or rate that list topic, if commenting and rating are available.

Back To Top

You ask for my comments. What would you like me to write there?

Whatever you think would be useful to others. For example, maybe it's not easy to rate an item just using a star system. There could have been complications with using a medication at first that later disappeared. Or, perhaps your condition progressed in a different way than expected, and you'd like to explain in more detail. Anything that you think would be helpful to other readers; we would love to know about it.

Back To Top

How do I add comments or ratings?

When you open the List, you will see "Rate This" and/or "Post a Comment" linked at the bottom of the page. You click on either of those links, and you will be taken to a page where you can rate and/or add your comments to the list. Once you've input your comments, you can provide a screen name and other optional background information that will help us continue to make the user experience with Lists better or you can choose to remain anonymous. Be sure to review WebMD's Terms and Conditions before posting!

Back To Top

I'd like to add a new item to the List. How can I do that?

Some lists will allow members to add a new item. If so, there will be an additional link at the bottom of the list that says, "Add your own _____ by clicking HERE." Follow the link to add your content to the list. Please remember to review WebMD's Terms and Conditions before posting your content.

Back To Top

After I add a rating, comment, or additional content, how soon will it show up?

If ratings, commenting, and suggestions are available on the List, your additions will show up immediately.

Back To Top

What if I rethink my rating, comment, or content and want to change it?

Once you've posted your ratings, comments, or content to a List that information goes live (so be careful before you click the submit button) within a few minutes. If you change your mind, you will be able to make additional comments as long as the List remains live. Once the List is closed, no more ratings, comments, or content can be added by our users.

Back To Top

My review was edited or deleted. What comments or content is okay?

When adding a comment or content to a WebMD List you must still abide by WebMD's Terms and Conditions, to which you agreed when you joined our site. Some reasons a comment may be deleted are use of profanity, using personally identifying information (such as your real name or email address or phone number or someone else's real information), violating copyright, spam, or personal attacks. For further information on why your comments or content may have been edited or deleted, please also see our Community FAQs. If you have specific questions about your removed comment, please write to our staff at webmdcommunity@webmd.net.

Back To Top

How is the optional background information used?

The more other users know about another user's rating of a topic, the more valuable those ratings become. An 18-year-old college student might have a different experience regarding a medication or condition than a post-menopausal woman of 60. Once we have a good sampling of this data, we'll begin letting you search to cross-reference this information.

Back To Top

Are real names or email addresses required?

You won't need to log-in or enter your real name or email address before using the List product. You're welcome to use your regular WebMD community name or you can create a user name just for this one rating. What we do ask is that you not use a real name or any other personally identifying information features about yourself. We request this for your own privacy. Read our Privacy Policy to understand how we treat your information.

Back To Top

What should I do when I see comments or content that are not appropriate?

Report them right away. Every comment or piece of content on a List has a "report this post" button right below the content. If you see a post that you don't think is appropriate for our site (it might be spam. Or a user harassing another user.), then click that button and the system will send us an automatic email. If we find it violates our Terms & Conditions, then we'll remove it permanently.

Back To Top

What should I do if I or someone I know has experienced an adverse event from taking a drug or medication?

If you think you or someone in your family has experienced a serious reaction to a medical product, let the Food and Drug Administration know. You can report this yourself with the Online Reporting Form or take the reporting form to your doctor. You can find more information at the MedWatch Home page.

Back To Top

I have additional comments about my experience that don't make sense to put here. Where can I share them?

Right here at WebMD! We have scores of support groups online with thousands of users talking about their treatment options, along with top physicians available for questions. Go to our Message Board index to look up the right group for you.

Back To Top

WebMD Registration Changes

noreply@blogger.com (Leona_WebMD) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 14:00:00 +0000

Hello WebMD Members!

Thanks for dropping by the community blog. If you are a registered member of WebMD.com, we have some important information to share with you. Being a registered member means you signed up for an account and have a member nickname that follows you around when you log in.

We are preparing to launch some updates to our registration system that may affect the way you log in to our site. If you have more than one account with us under the same email address, you will want to read the information below closely.

And check out the following FAQs for more information.

Happy Posting!
Leona

What's happening?
WebMD will soon be launching an update to our registration system. These updates will allow us to greatly enrich your WebMD experience.

When will this change occur?
The scheduled date for this registration system update is 12/12/2008 (please note this date has been changed), and is subject to change.

How will I be notified?
You will receive an email about a week before the changes go into effect, reminding you to be on the watch for those changes.

What will change for me?
1. The first time you log in after the registration update, we'll need a few minutes of your time to confirm your account profile and the data already on file.

2. From that point on, when you log in to WebMD you will always use the email address on your account. If you've been logging in with a "User Login" name, you'll need to start using your email address instead. If you've already been logging in with your email address, there will be no change.

You're getting rid of the "User Login" name, but what about my Screen Name?
The Screen Name on your account will stay the same as it was before, and will continue to be displayed when you participate in community areas, such as message boards and chat rooms.

What if I have more than one account, in order to post comments with more than one Screen Name?
You can continue to use and create multiple accounts, but each account will need a different email address. The first time you log in with each additional account, if the email address for that account is not unique, we'll ask you to enter a different one. Each accounts email address will need to be validated through the process noted above.

What will happen to comments I've already posted?
All of the comments you've posted in the past will be unaffected by these system changes.

I'm concerned about my personal information. Are there any privacy issues created by these registration system enhancements?
No. WebMD is committed to your privacy. For more information about our privacy practices, please visit http://www.webmd.com/policies/about-privacy-policy.

If you have any further questions or would like to provide feedback, please use the Contact Us link at the bottom of every page. The WebMD Customer Care Team is ready to serve you Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (EST).

Staff Note: This blog post has been updated to reflect a change in the date that this new registration process will begin.

New Message Boards at WebMD

noreply@blogger.com (Leona_WebMD) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 22:12:00 +0000

I am proud to announce that we've added several new message boards to our offerings in the WebMD community!

Here is the list:

Breastfeeding: Support Group

Could I Be Pregnant: Support Group

Marathon/Walk-a-thon Training: Member to Member

Parenting: 4 & 5-Year-Olds

Postpartum Depression: Support Group

TTC (Trying to Conceive): 12 Months, Still Trying

Urinary & Bladder Problems: Support Group

If these boards aren't your cup of tea, we have more than 150 other health and wellness topics to choose from. Check out our main Message Board list to find the community that's right for you!

Leona

Rock Your WebMD Profile Page!

noreply@blogger.com (Leona_WebMD) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 13:29:00 +0000

If you're a member of the WebMD community, you have a profile page that you can use to tell the rest of us a little bit about you. Amazingly, not everyone takes advantage of this cool tool.

There are two sides to your WebMD profile page. The first is for your friends on the site to see. It's the public you. You can rock it out with your favorite image, talk about why you came to WebMD, share some of your favorite things, and even link up to your personal website or blog. The public page also includes a list of some of your most recent posts so your friends can keep up with what you're saying on the site.

Here's a visual of what one of our board hosts, Kathy_WebMD, has on her public profile:

You'll notice Kathy has a photo of her son "Little Dude" as her image on the page. If you're worried about using personal photos, you can always just use an image or photo that isn't personal, but that you feel represents something about you. Some members use photos of their pets, some who love gardening may have a flower or gardening tools, others choose an image that represents how they may be feeling for the moment. You can change your image at any time.

You can write as much or as little as you want to about yourself in the question section. It's a great way to find out what you have in common with your WebMD board friends.

I have to toss in a note of caution, though. Be sure that you don't include too much personally identifying information in there. It's easy to forget that folks other than just your friends can see your public profile. Also, most content on the web is searchable, so maybe use only your first name or a nickname rather than your real or full name. And you NEVER want to list your address or phone number.

Another great reason to beef up your WebMD profile page is that our staff often spotlights members on our Community Home Page.

We've actually just added a neat new Meet the Community section to the top of that page:

Ideally, we'd like to feature four members each week, so get that profile updated and rockin' just in case we choose YOU! (Don't worry, we won't sneak up on you. We'll alert you first. *wink*)

In addition to your public profile, there is also a private side that only you see. That is the place you can store your favorite boards and threads and your personal tag cloud.

So, if you haven't taken the time to fill out your WebMD member profile, I hope you'll do that soon!

Leona

July 4th Friday Five

noreply@blogger.com (Leona_WebMD) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 21:18:00 +0000

Our lovely Louise always posts a Friday Five on the Health Cafe message board for our members to enjoy. This week's five is all about the July 4th holiday.

Here is the post. We hope you'll drop in and share your answers with us.

Leona

~*~*~*~*

Louise_WebMD_Staff
Fourth of July Friday Five

1. How will you celebrate the Fourth of July?

2. What was the best fireworks show you ever saw?

3. Have you ever been in a Fourth of July parade?

4. Which do you like better-the Declaration of Independence or the U.S. Constitution?

5. Do you wear any special red, white and blue clothes for the holiday?

Post of the Day: Sunscreen & Sunburn

noreply@blogger.com (Leona_WebMD) — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 17:30:00 +0000

Hi WebMD community peeps!

I've not been posting this week because I am actually on vacation! We took our family on a week-long beach excursion to Edisto Island, South Carolina. It's lovely here, but I just had to take a moment to pop in and see how all of our WebMD community members and fans are doing.

Almost everyone loves the beach, but we all know that, though the sun is fun, sunburn is extremely dangerous for our skin. We've been packing on the sunscreen all week, and trying to avoid the lobster look. The kids don't leave the condo without at least SPF 30 slathered all over. (Despite the insistance of my teens that they just DON'T NEED sunscreen that strong!)

So far, we've managed to avoid the burn.

To keep in line with my theme of fun in the sun, I found this post by one of our board moderators - Pam -- on the Skin Care: Share Your Tips board. Take a peek and share your thoughts about sunscreen and sunburn remedies.

Be good to your skin this summer!

Leona

~*~*~*~*~

Pam_WebMD_Staff
Sunscreen? Sunburn Remedy?

The summer sun can be so damaging, and we all know it's important to use a good sunscreen. But there are so many to choose from! From PABA-free to Active Sprays to gels and pastes, I don't think we've ever had this many choices when it comes to UV protection.

I'm fair-skinned, and I live in Florida, so I opt for a high SPF all the time. I use a lotion most of the time, but if I'm working in the yard, or playing at the beach, I prefer a no-run active spray so that it doesn't get in my eyes. My youngest child likes the kind of lotion that goes on purple but dries invisible. It helps him apply it evenly.

What sunscreens work best for you and your family? Do you use different products for different situations?

And what do you do when you experience sunscreen failure and wind up with a burn? I've seen some interesting remedies, from fresh aloe leaves (my own favorite tried and true remedy) to Solarcaine spray or other commercial product, to sponging vinegar onto the burned area.

I pick fresh aloe and slice the spines off. Then I pop the leaves into the fridge for about 15 minutes before I split them open and rub the goop onto the affected area. So very soothing, even if it's not the nicest-looking or -smelling thing ever.

I look forward to hearing what works for you.
Pam_WebMD

Related Topics:

Technorati Tags: sunscreen, sunburn, kids, sunburn remedies

Sun-damaged Skin Slideshow

noreply@blogger.com (Leona_WebMD) — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 20:56:00 +0000

We're doing a little maintenance on our message boards until tomorrow afternoon. So, in lieu of our Post of the Day today, I am featuring one of WebMD's NEW slideshows for your viewing pleasure.

Summer. For most of us, it's the favorite time of year. Time to go to the beach, play outside, cookout...enjoy the warm sunshine. Unfortunately, it's also the time of year for sunburns.

We're pretty rough on our skin, and as we age we need to keep an eye out for any changes that may herald wrinkles, freckles, age spots, and yes, SKIN CANCER.

This Sun-damaged Skin slideshow offers you a visual roadmap that will help you know if something is going on with your skin that may need your doctor's attention.

How many times in your life do you think you've been sunburned?

Have you noticed any of these changes?

What steps have you taken to turn back the clock on skin damage?

Here are some posts from members who are dealing with summer skin problems:

Aerosol Sunscreen

Grandma Forgot the Sunscreen!

Beach & Babes

Brown Spots & Thinning Skin

Best All-Day Sunscreen?

Have a GREAT summer, and remember your hat and sunscreen!

Leona

Related Topics:

Technorati Tags: skin care, WebMD, sunburn, skin cancer

Post of the Day: Tomatoes, Salmonella & You

noreply@blogger.com (Leona_WebMD) — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 20:45:00 +0000

Staff Photo

Not only is our food skyrocketing in price, but now there is yet one more scare from tainted vegetables. Several types of tomatoes are now being yanked from grocery store shelves because they may be harboring a deadly type of salmonella -- Salmonella serotype Saintpaul.

It's bad enough for all of us regular tomato lovers, but what if you were pregnant and CRAVING something with tomatoes? Ugh! That's what happened to WebMD member amee0812 from our Pregnancy: 2nd Trimester board. Check out her post below.

How has this latest "Frankenveggie" episode affected your family? Do you think there is a solution to keep our food safe?

We'd love to hear what you have to say!

Leona

~*~*~*~*~

amee0812
not the same w/o tomatoes

Last night i had a bad craving for a chicago style hotdog but the closest james coney island is 25 min from my house and it was too late to get one. so today for lunch i when straight to james coney island ordered the hotdog then realized that i would have to say no tomatoes. I hoped that it would still satisfy my craving but of course it wasn't the same. I hate this I think i'm just gonna start growing my own vegetables from now on. I just had to let it out, i don't think non preggo people would understand me.

~*~*~*~*~

And, here some links to other message board posts from WebMD members discussing the tomato scare:

Are you feeling better?

Salmonella Question

Tomatoes?

Two for Tuesday

Farmer's Markets

Related Topics:

Technorati Tags: pregnancy, WebMD, tomatoes, salmonella

Post of the Day: Animals Sense Pregnancy?

noreply@blogger.com (Leona_WebMD) — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 02:44:00 +0000

Does your pet know that you're PG? WebMD member Beadlady78 from our Pregnancy: 2nd Trimester message board says her parakeet sensed what was going on in her expanding tummy.

Did your pet seem to know when you were pregnant? What was his reaction?

Read Beadlady78's post and share your own stories.

Leona

~*~*~*~*~*~

Beadlady78
Animals sensing your pg

This is really cute. DH and I have a parakeet. We take her out everyday and talk to her and she sits on us while we watch movies and stuff. Well, on Saturday DH thought it would be funny to have her sit on my baby bump. He put her there and she would not get off! Any time DH tried to take her off, she would bite him and she is not the biting type of bird. While she was on my tummy, she would lean down as far as she could without touching my skin. Is this animal instinct that she knows I am pg or I am just loosing it! I know its just a bird, but she has NEVER acted this way before!

Related Topics:

Technorati Tags: pregnancy, WebMD, pets, pregnant

Be a Fan of WebMD on Facebook!

noreply@blogger.com (Leona_WebMD) — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 02:13:00 +0000

WebMD has recently created a page on Facebook. If you have a Facebook profile, you can become a fan of WebMD and see all the latest feeds from our health news, blogs, and more. You can be one of the first to find out about anything NEW here on your favorite Internet health destination.

Be sure to drop by and leave a note on our wall.

Leona

Related Topics:

Technorati Tags: Facebook, WebMD, healthcare, health news

WebMD's Health Cafe -- Friends & Fun

noreply@blogger.com (Leona_WebMD) — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 14:42:00 +0000

Today instead of featuring a thread from our boards, I am featuring a whole board. Woo Hoo!

The Health Cafe is the forum at WebMD where members from all over our site can meet to talk about the latest health news, what's going on with their families, what's going on with a favorite TV show...you name it. There are no limits. It's a place where members who may have different reasons for belonging to the WebMD Community can meet new friends.

Our moderators and members are always starting stimulating conversations and polls there. Louise, who is the main moderator at the Cafe, posts a wonderful Friday Five poll at the end of each week to lead us into the weekend.

Whether you are already a dedicated member of another WebMD board or you are new to the community, we hope you'll stop by the Health Cafe, grab a cup of your favorite healthy beverage, and get to know us!

See you there!
Leona

Photo: (c)iStockphoto.com/1001nights

Related Topics:

Technorati Tags: message boards, WebMD, Health Cafe, health news

Post of the Day: Too Late to Quit Smoking?

noreply@blogger.com (Leona_WebMD) — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 06:08:00 +0000

Is it ever too late to quit smoking? This is the question WebMD member 40Something1960 ponders on our Smoking Cessation: Support Group board.

Are you considering quitting? Maybe you've already quit? Chime in with some words of wisdom for this member and others.

~*~*~*~*~*~

40Something1960
feeling like it's too late

Do you ever feel that way? and what do you do about it? I know in the quit smoking commercials they all say "it's never too late to quit smoking" but you can't exactly say that to someone who's already on an oxygen tank or already got cancer.

Sometimes I see posts from people who talk about other people who quit many many years ago but ended up with lung cancer anyway.

So what do you do if you feel like giving up because it's possible that it's already too late? Some times I feel like I am going through the torture of quitting for nothing.

Related Topics:

Technorati Tags: Smoking Cessation, Quit Smoking, lung cancer, cigarettes

Post of the Day: Husband & Online Porn

noreply@blogger.com (Leona_WebMD) — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 03:00:00 +0000

When one person in a relationship is addicted to online porn, how does it affect the other partner? What if the online antics appear to be headed offline?

WebMD member ygetmarried doesn't know what to do. Maybe you can offer her some helpful advice...

~*~*~*~*

ygetmarried
on line porn

I have read every concerns about porn. My husband loves to watch porn on line. I am not ok with that, now I notice he has asked one of the pron stars to meet him out of town. I do no understand what a man want with some one who show their body to the world. Can some one please tell me how to handle this problem?

Related Topics:

Technorati Tags: WebMD, support groups

Post of the Day: Baby Vaccinations?

noreply@blogger.com (Leona_WebMD) — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 15:31:00 +0000

SAHM81, a mom on our Parenting: Newborn to 3 Months message board, wants to know how other moms and dads feel about vaccinating their infants.

Check out her post below and let her know what you think about this often controversial topic!

(Reminder: Be sure to respect the opinions of others.)

Leona

~*~*~*~*~*~

SAHM81
poll: alternative immunization

are you doing the traditional AAP recomended immunization schedule or are you using an alternative schedule? Why?

if your using an alternative schedule what is is? why did you choose it?

Post of the Day: Toddler Outdoor Playtime

noreply@blogger.com (Leona_WebMD) — Sat, 31 May 2008 02:33:00 +0000

WebMD member babyblues062802 from our Parenting: 1-Year-Olds message board wants to know how other parents spend outdoor time with their kids.

Here is her post. Follow the links and join in the poll!

~*~*~*~*~

babyblues062802
Poll: Outside Time

How many hours a day do you spend playing outside w/ DC?

What kinds of activities do you do outside w/ you toddler?

Do you ever have a day where you just don't feel like going outside so you just have an indoor day all day?

My answers:

I try to bring DS outside to play everyday at least once if not twice. (probably why nothing ever gets done inside the house) Usually he'll last about an hour and a half and then it's time to go in. He has usually had it by then. So we spend anywhere from 1-3 hours outside almost everyday.

I try to engage my son in activites but he is much more interested in exploring on his own. Yesterday he was pulling all the dead bark of a tree stump for about 30 min. he likes to throw rocks, dirt and sand. He does use his sandbox and enjoys bubbles. He likes to push his ride on toys around rather than ride on them. He likes to put things in his wagon like, leaves, sticks, ect. He also likes to try picking up ants and watching cars go by.

As for indoor days. DS has one of those probably once or twice a week. My DH works a lot and I'm getting really preggo. Can't chase him anymore so places like the park scare me because if he takes off, well then, he's gone. I feel horribly guilty for keeping him in on such nice days though.

~*~*~*~*~

Related Topics:

Technorati Tags: 1-Year-Olds, Toddlers, parenting, polls

What Symptoms Are Common in Your Area Right Now?

noreply@blogger.com (Leona_WebMD) — Thu, 29 May 2008 12:50:00 +0000

Are you curious to know what symptoms other folks around the country, in your state or local area are searching right now? WebMD's new Symptom Checker local map can show you!

Just type in your zip code, your friend's zip code, your mom's, your cousin's, and TADA!

Haven't used our Symptom Checker? Well, now is the time to try it out for yourself. But remember that it's just a tool to help point you in the right direction. There is NO substitute for that one-on-one visit to your own doctor!

Related Topics:

Technorati Tags: Symptom Checker, WebMD, symptoms, maps

WebMD Message Board Post of the Day -- Maintaining Weight Loss

noreply@blogger.com (Leona_WebMD) — Wed, 28 May 2008 15:32:00 +0000

Hello blogging world! This is the first in a daily series of "Posts of the Day" that will be chosen from our more than 150 message boards at WebMD. I'll try to keep them varied and entertaining.

If you come across a post in the WebMD community that you feel deserves to be featured on this blog, please feel free to nominate it in the comments section here or any of the other "Post of the Day" blog threads.

Message Board Post of the Day -- Wednesday, May 28, 2008

power4one
Yo Yo
Posted: May 11, 2008

Any suggestions for those of us that continue to yo-yo? Just can't seem to keep it off and maintain. What are some good ideas to stop the cravings?

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Do you have suggestions for WebMD member power4one? Post them here or join us on the Maintaining Weight Loss: Support Group message board and share your advice (or your own questions) there.

See you on the boards!
Leona

WebMD Wins "People's Voice" Webby

noreply@blogger.com (Leona_WebMD) — Thu, 08 May 2008 19:14:00 +0000

For the second year in a row, we've been awarded the prestigious Webby "People's Voice" award for health sites. This is your award. You voted for us, and all of us here at WebMD know how important that is -- because it is your voice that matters.

Every day we work to ensure you get the best health information - from basic answers and community support to wellness information and the latest health news - so that WebMD can be your daily source of inspiration and better health.

The Webby Awards only go to "the best of the Web." You can rely on us to maintain that standard every day - with you in mind.

Thanks again!
Your WebMD Staff

Let's Twitter at WebMD. Tweet! Tweet!

noreply@blogger.com (Leona_WebMD) — Mon, 05 May 2008 21:59:00 +0000

Do you Twitter? Twitter is a service that allows you to communicate and stay connected with your family, friends, and now with us -- your WebMD family. Tweets are short messages -- 140 characters or less -- making it so easy to read and stay connected.

Our moderator Louise tweets some of the message board threads she starts, as well as threads of interest from a number of WebMD boards, including Crohn's and Colitis, Diabetes Type 1 and Type 2, and Alternative Health.

You can follow her at LouiseWebMD.

Our moderator Kathy, tweets about autism threads on our Autism Support Board, as well as about bits of her life, and other autism stories from around the Web. You can follow her at Kathy_WebMD.

Not only that...get quick and early news about WebMD blog posts by our Health Professionals by following WebMD_Blogs.

Join us in Twittering around the Web! You can Twitter your own favorite WebMD message board posts and threads and blog posts, and have others follow YOU!

Tweet, tweet!
Leona