Hi, Everyone,

I haven't been on the boards much lately. This is an interesting topic. My reasons for being here come from my inquisitive nature to learn all I could about OC. While this site has been the best place for me to get info and support, my husband is not interested in joining. It's just not his thing. He doesn't use the computer at all, although he can. He does enjoy it when I relay info to him from this site. Many times he'll ask me what would the folks on OCF have to say about a particular topic.

Anyway, I also wonder...as a caregiver, so many of my darkest times and thoughts that accompany them, are so deeply personal and scary...it is possible that I prefer to be here without my husband. I know he could get a lot out of this site but I also know that some of my posts might upset him. I have written things through a veil of tears, when I was so sad, scared, fearful. As the eternal optimist, how would that have impacted my beloved? Some things are better not shared. Do you know what I mean???

Clark is also very private. He may have felt exposed had he read any of my posts about him. A few months ago, we had a discussion about HPV and asking his surgeon to test his tumor for it. Unfortunately, the nurse, who we both really like, asked him why he wanted to know. WHAT!!! It pissed me off because it felt as if she was dismissing him. She didn't think it mattered. Well, it matters to me, knowledge is power. And when I said that to Clark, he said he didn't want to know, he didn't want to talk about it ever again. So, I backed off. But it isn't the way I would do it.

To summarize...some caregivers may not want their patient on the same site as it might inhibit self expression from one or both.

By the way, it is nice to be back on the boards. I have missed you guys!

Anita