New? Here's How to "Introduce Yourself"

First of all, welcome to the forum and I hope you will find a supportive home here for your FM needs. If you are like me, I didn't have alot of experience with forums when I first started this one, so it seemed overwhelming at first, (and frankly, sometimes still does! ) Don't be afraid to make a mistake! Believe me, the world will not stop spinning if you do and noone will call you out for it. If anyone understands how FM can turn your brain into a mushroom it is me...some days I cannot concentrate enough to even answer my emails, much less maintain a website, forum and blog. We are all challenged by FM. Sometimes even the simplist of tasks are overwhelming and those of us who deal with it understand that. If you are unsure about how to do something, just drop me a PM and I will get right back to you, hopefully with an answer that will help. No biggie!

So, you are new and would like to inroduce yourself. Great! If this is your first experience with this type of forum, allow me to briefly describe how the darn thing works...
Even though the "board" is called a "Forum", each category topic that you see such as, "Introduce Yourself", "Living With Fibromyalgia", "Treatment Protocols", or "Prayer Requests" is actually an individual "forum" (I know, it is confusing but that is the way the developers wrote the software.) When you want to make a post, you can either read a topic that someone else has written, then reply on that topic or you may start your own topic. (There are buttons for each.) Please do not feel obligated to just "reply" to someone else's topic. You are most welcome to start your own.
...back to introducing yourself...When you click on the "Introduce Yourself" forum, the page renews and you will see all of the posts in the "Introduce Yourself" Forum. In the upper left hand side of the page is a button, "New Topic". Click on that button and when the page renews, you will have your form to write your introduction. Don't be shy. Tell us all about you, especially any special needs you may have that you are searching for help for. (Someone on the forum may be able to offer helpful information.) We are all ill here so don't be embarrassed... , really- I promise that noone here will pass judgement on you! The little buttons on the top of your message screen will guide you in regards to fonts, alignment, adding links, videos,emoticons, etc so experiment with them and have a little fun! HTML and BBCode is ON so if you are familiar with these, feel free to use them. When you are finished writing your post you can review it, make changes and then send it. Your message will then be posted on the forum. If you need to you can even go back and edit it later so if you see a mistake don't freak out! LOL! It's all good.

So, you have introduced yourself! See how easy that was? Now you are ready to browse through the other categories, read other posts, reply and start new topics. You can manage your forum activities through your "Profile" by clicking on the "Profile" link at the top of the page. You can make changes, add an Avatar, etc. (My avatar is the Little Green Dude you see with all of my posts.) These little pictures are like references to your personality and make your posts more recognizable. If you have any questions PM me or Peach State and we will be happy to assist you.

I hope that this helps you in getting started on the forum. Have fun!

hey all, my name is doreen and i am from long island, new york. i was diagnoised with fm 2 years ago and was able to work until early 2007. i have tried to keep workn but alas, was unable. i am tryn for disability and in the meantime about to lose my house. i have an 18 year old son who has seen the best and worst of me. poor kid, mom can't get out of bed somedays because of the pain. i also have lupus so the two of these chronic wraths of "H E double toothpicks" have brought me to my knees. my friends and family could not and some still do not understand the effects of these two diseases. have to go to doctor now will finish when i come back. glad to be here,dori