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A new website enables people who are coping with disease or injury to contact others in the same situation. The site, www.thirdaid.com, is believed to be the first website of its kind in the world.
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"The emotional problems and the pain were things that only a fellow sufferer could truly understand" |
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Sarah Frost |
The idea is that people can seek out others who have the same problem so that they can help each other by sharing information and personal experiences.
The website covers over 400 diseases and conditions. However, it does not provide medical advice.
It has been set up by Sarah Frost, who dreamed up the idea following a serious skiing accident.
She suffered compressed vertebrae in her spine, and was left bed-bound and immobile.
Lack of empathy
She said she felt depressed and isolated and, despite the help of doctors, wanted to speak to people who had been through the same experience.
"Although I was surrounded by people who cared and tried to help, I felt I needed to share my problems with people who understood what I was going through.
"The emotional problems and the pain were things that only a fellow sufferer could truly understand.
"I had time on my hands because I was completely bed-bound for several months, and that's how it got going.
"When you are bed-bound it's a fantastic thing to be able to apply your mind to something other than your pain."
Career change
Miss Frost, who previously worked in graphics for an advertising company, said she could not return to her previous career as she still cannot drive or sit in one position for long periods in case her spine goes into a shock spasm.
She is running the website alone and said she hoped fellow sufferers would be able to learn from her experience and that of others.
"Doctors are great for the diagnosis and treatment initially, but I hope thirdaid.com could be a second port of call for people needing emotional support and help.
"It's designed in the same kind of way as the Friends Reunited-type sites. I wanted people to be able to have the option of contacting each other directly but anonymously so that there was no chance of abusing the system.
"The confidentiality aspect was my top priority, but once that was overcome there were so many advantages to using the internet.
"It can be used all over the world and if you are bed-bound or feeling self-conscious you don't even have to leave the house to access it.
Positive response
"The feedback's been great, it's very emotional when you talk to people who feel exactly the same as I did about communicating with other people. It's given me a lot of joy.
"I do view life in a completely different way to before the accident, and I've had to readjust my life in many ways, but it was one of those things and if it helps other people in the long run, then that is wonderful."
People wanting to use the site have to register their age, medical condition and other details - although these are kept confidential - and can then contact others with the same condition.
Their e-mail addresses are kept private to prevent the system from being abused and Miss Frost said was designed to let users benefit from sharing experiences, ideas for alternative therapies, reputable medical information and links to other sites. [News BBC Online]
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Last Revised at December 10, 2007 by Lusine Kazoyan, M.D.
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