[Atypical_Disaster]

Why do some people list off their medications in their signatures around here?

I'm just curious. Personally I don't see much of a point in it, but that's me. So I'm wondering what the rational is for the people that do take part in this?

[broncogirl]

Originally Posted by Atypical_Disaster

Why do some people list off their medications in their signatures around here?

I'm just curious. Personally I don't see much of a point in it, but that's me. So I'm wondering what the rational is for the people that do take part in this?

I find it helps with if the situation may be similar to mine. (For example, if I am looking into Remeron, and see it in the persons signature I know that may be something to look at. )

The only benefit I can see is that nobody has to ask the question... are you taking meds

[avlady]

I would like to add my meds and mental issues on here too, for relation reasons, but don't know how to do it, any help?I am on 8 different meds and have several issues too.

[H3rmit]

Originally Posted by avlady

I would like to add my meds and mental issues on here too, for relation reasons, but don't know how to do it, any help?I am on 8 different meds and have several issues too.

Go to your profile.
Near top left click "profile".
Look for "edit signature" on left.
You can probably figure out the rest.
On the right, you'll have to tick "show signature" or something like that.
Use ctrl=f to find "signature" on the page easily.

[Atypical_Disaster]

Originally Posted by George H.

The only benefit I can see is that nobody has to ask the question... are you taking meds

Hahahahaha, there is that!

[Cocosurviving]

I list my dx and meds to show I'm
not ashamed and that I take meds.

[RedBarchetta]

Don't really know - but my assumption would be they want people to have info enough to figure some things out, maybe? So just like a persons garbage tells you a lot about how they live - what drugs you use on a regular basis tells you a lot about there health condition(s).

[Odee]

I absolutely love that people do it and that's why I do it myself. That way I can reference what people are talking about to their diagnoses and also pick up on what medications help what people.

I know that we are not our diagnosis, but I still think that a diagnosis can be a bit of a 'cheat sheet' to give a quick, even if simplified, idea of what that person experiences. For example, knowing that someone has ED and depression like you could make you more interested in their post because they mirror you.

I do, however, roll my eyes at people who go a little overboard with it. There are forums I have searched where people attempt to list every single Dx they could possibly remotely have and every single medication they are taking including irrelevant ones. Then they will list past Dx and past Rx and let the list grow. Some people even take one diagnosis and stretch it into three such as listing ADHD, ADD, and Difficulty Concentrating, as though they were all three separate diagnosis that they had! Or saying that you have Bipolar 1, Depression, Dysthymia, Hypomania, Mania, etc, as though they weren't covered under the first item.

[RedBarchetta]

Medications or diagnosis is something you will NEVER see in my sig - and it's even doubtful that you will find more than one or two mentioned in any post...
That's because unless there is a specific reason, I don't feel anyone other than TREATING doctors have any right or reason to know it. I don't even like (and have actively tried to stop) insurance Companies getting such information...Even if you tell my the ones looking at it are doctors - I don't care - they are not MY doctors, and that is the key with me - confidentiality MUST by 100% in 100% of the the cases, or it's not good enough for me - I I mean with ABSOLUTELY no exception for any reason - not even suicidal or homicidal type things - it's still mentioned in confidence, and needs to no go anywhere under any circumstances - and because that don't happen, you already have me not wanting to say much, because if it's taken the wrong way, or just out of context - so again, this tells me it's better to shut up.
That's not limited to mental problems either - I have already refused medical treatment - actually forget the treatment, would not even allow anyone to look at an injury I had - because I know just the way it happened, there is no way a hospital is not calling the police - and I DEFINITELY do not want anyone other than those treating it to know anything about it - so instead I just did what I could with it myself, and hoped - and without 100% guarantees no one other then those specifically asked by me will be involved in any way shape or form - if they are going to be - than I would rather do nothing about it, that's just the way it is.

[ultramar]

Originally Posted by Odee

I absolutely love that people do it and that's why I do it myself. That way I can reference what people are talking about to their diagnoses and also pick up on what medications help what people.

I know that we are not our diagnosis, but I still think that a diagnosis can be a bit of a 'cheat sheet' to give a quick, even if simplified, idea of what that person experiences. For example, knowing that someone has ED and depression like you could make you more interested in their post because they mirror you.

I do, however, roll my eyes at people who go a little overboard with it. There are forums I have searched where people attempt to list every single Dx they could possibly remotely have and every single medication they are taking including irrelevant ones. Then they will list past Dx and past Rx and let the list grow. Some people even take one diagnosis and stretch it into three such as listing ADHD, ADD, and Difficulty Concentrating, as though they were all three separate diagnosis that they had! Or saying that you have Bipolar 1, Depression, Dysthymia, Hypomania, Mania, etc, as though they weren't covered under the first item.

This is actually a pet peeve of mine as well. I have noticed, for example, that some people will list medications for heart conditions, thyroid conditions and the like, in addition to their psych medications (this is not on the health forum) and sometimes it gives me the impression that they feel that the more meds they are on (and some people may not know and get the impression that they are all psych meds) the more messed up they are, or the more 'special' in some way.

I have also noticed what you point out about diagnoses; some overlap, some contradict, some don't even exist, and after getting to know some people on forums, you find that they haven't actually been officially diagnosed with it.

So, in some cases, though I think a minority, lists of meds and diagnoses seem to come to represent a kind of badge of legitimacy, a kind of proof of how 'messed up' one is, etc.

I don't think pain, distress, misery can be measured, can be quantified. Sometimes I feel that these lists are attempting to portray distress by quantifying it in a way. I know there are other reasons, and most people do not do this.

I actually found something similar on a forum I looked at once (not on PC) for chronic back pain sufferers. Many people listed all of their diagnoses, surgeries (with dates, etc.), summaries of MRI reports, and meds. Many would list DDD as a diagnosis, whereas it's actually a kind of non-diagnosis: we all have a kind of degenerative disc disease as we get older, it's very non-specific. But in any case, I think the reasons behind it are not the same, but similar. The more surgeries, the more suffering?

[Odee]

Ultramar:

Exactly!! Aside from the idea of having to "prove" the extent of your illness through the 'badges' of Dx/Rx, there also seems to be a trend of people honoring their selves by beginning each post with the number of years they have struggled and just how treatment resistant they are as though it was a title that goes before their name. I have an issue with this obsessive identification with the diagnosis and medications a person has or takes. Creating a personal identity around being ill is not healthy.

"Badges" is exactly the word I was thinking about when I typed that. But, like I said, this more applies to people who go out of their way to make as extensive of a list as possible. I see this as being common on other forums but not so much here.

[1Buster]

I'm trying to "win" by having the most problems and meds. And don't even try to catch up to me, I'm adding them by the day!

But seriously, there are many different forums here that overlap, so having that down there to reference in a post makes it easier than listing them in the post.

Actually, I just realized I haven't added that in my signature here yet. I'm thinking about my ADD Forums signature. Gotta get to work here!

[1Buster]

There we go. Is that enough?

Also, if you don't like diagnoses/meds in the signature, just don't look. It's not a big deal.

[1Buster]

Originally Posted by ultramar

This is actually a pet peeve of mine as well. I have noticed, for example, that some people will list medications for heart conditions, thyroid conditions and the like, in addition to their psych medications (this is not on the health forum) and sometimes it gives me the impression that they feel that the more meds they are on (and some people may not know and get the impression that they are all psych meds) the more messed up they are, or the more 'special' in some way.

I disagree with a couple of things. This is a health forum, in my opinion. Many (most? all?) the problems discussed here involve our brain chemistry, a physical issue. Also, our other physical conditions are intricately intertwined with our mental health. You specifically mention thyroid conditions. Thyroid conditions are directly linked to Depression, Bipolar, Anxiety, etc., and are connected to other physical conditions that themselves are linked to mental illness - for example my autoimmune disease Lupus (and maybe some others I'm waiting to hear back on).

I think my point is: the signature thing is not really an issue. Some people do it and some don't. I get more annoyed here by really bad spelling and grammar (especially my own!).

Ibuprofen and immodium We don't need to get that detailed do we
I think current meds may be a good idea... saves asking. As far as diagnosis that is pretty obvious from the forum the thread is in.
Past diagnoses and meds I don't see the point. I broke my collarbone at 14 and had an appendectomy at 15 if anyone is curious
I think I was given Darvon for the broken bone... many of my schoolmates were very interested in that

[1Buster]

You didn't mention the Myopia & Eyeglasses! I thought those were my best!

I see both sides of the point. It can be helpful and it can be a little silly. So some of mine is for the "Ha, Ha!"

What about Tic-tacs? I can play that too :P

[Maven]

I don't list my meds, because they change sometimes, and I already keep a list (that needs updating, as a matter of fact) of my meds in my purse. I don't want to have to keep changing lists. I talk about my meds sometimes, and people are free to ask (at least here). My physician wants me to talk to my pdoc about going off a couple of meds that I may not need, anyway. He thinks it will help curb my sugar cravings and help me lose weight. And hopefully, prevent diabetes.

[Odee]

Myopia and Eyeglasses!!! That was a good one!!

[H3rmit]

Originally Posted by RedBarchetta

Medications or diagnosis is something you will NEVER see in my sig - and it's even doubtful that you will find more than one or two mentioned in any post...
That's because unless there is a specific reason, I don't feel anyone other than TREATING doctors have any right or reason to know it.

Good for you. I know many people have benefited from questioning their doctors' diagnoses and treatments, and I concluded that putting these things in a sig simplifies comparing notes and learning from others. I seriously doubt anyone intends them as a badge of illness, even though it may feel that way because of how sigs have been traditionally used as a personal flourish and self-expression.

I turned all sigs off, but it wasn't because of judging anyone's sigs. I just don't want to see repeated text and other flourishes, nor do I personally wish to discuss medications.

Even though I won't ever put my dx or my rx in my signature,
I find it really helps to look at people's signatures with dx and rx in them because if I'm ever having questions about a dx or a medication I know who has had experience with said med or dx.

But yeah, I'm not exactly proud to be taking meds or to have a dx, so I won't ever put it in my signature.

[The_little_didgee]

If you really want to prove yourself, you can always add:

Hx: psychiatric hospitalization dates and duration

[ultramar]

Dx: paper cut on pinkie
Med: Band-aid brand adhesive bandage small 5/8"

[venusss]

Tbh, I don't get it. I like quotes in my sig that show my life stance. Sure, I don't take meds... but is "prozace, lamictal, xanax" really the thing you chose of all things to say in each post... as something that you want to be defined with?

Sure I could go ridic with it too. Dx: more issues than National Geographic. Rx: coffee, beer, wine, vodka-redbull, bach essences, catnip tea in the evening, valerian, guarana when I need a kick, mint, lemon balm, lecitin, omega3...

actually, screw it. It tooks ridic in my actual "medical cabinet" (no, I don't keep my booze there, just herbs and supplements ), it would be even weirder to put it in sig.

I like philosophical, cute or funny sigs. It shows personality. Lists of diagnoses and meds make me O.o. Sure there must be more to the person than that... but it makes me feel of old women who talk about their miserable health, meds and surgeries to strangers on intercity trains... whenever strangers care or not.