Would you blog about your illness?

[Tanya Holloway]

I recently read with interest an article in theGuardian which gave a personal account of why people blog about their illness.Not just any normal flu or cold, but serious, chronic or terminalconditions.  The subject of the article,Sue Eckstein, had recently had one leg amputated and had blogged about herfeelings before and after the operation. Her blog is both insightful andhumorous, and gives the impression that people who blog about illness are braveand courageous. They are inviting us into their lives on a regular basis tohelp us understand what they are experiencing.

Upon reading other illness blogs, such as 365 days with Cushing’s disease,DoctorBlue’sBlog, Survive the Journey and The Knock On Effect, it appears thatillness bloggers find much solace in blogging on a regular basis, with manyposting on their blog at any cost – Sue Eckstein, for example, wrote on scrapsof paper or dictated her blog post to others when she did not have access toher laptop. This point is also reiterated in comments on a study being runvia the web about why people blog about illness.

Blogging about an illness also lets a person share theirexperience with others – family, friends and strangers. It helps family andfriends stay up to date with experiences and progress, and helps strangersunderstand more about the disease. I know from personal experience that theInternet does help people monitor loved ones when affected by illness. Thisweek my brother, who lives on the other side of the world, managed to get his handstuck between an electric saw and a piece of wood and the photos being sent viaFacebook and email of him smiling in his hospital bed sent an enormous wave ofrelief through me. This communication via the web surpassed any grainy ordelayed international phone call attempts – if only he started a blog!

Like writing a diary, blogging about an illness seems to bea means to heal. Blogging is more than a diary, however, as it is able to beshared, therefore enhancing the social connection that is so often needed whena patient is bed-ridden or confined to rest at home.

I know of a hospital which recently provided a fantasticInternet service to long stay patients on its spinal ward. Patients on thisward are often in hospital for up to six months. What astounded me is that thiswas only a new development - I could not imagine being in one place for such along time with no decent Internet access. Patient feedback from the first fewmonths of the service demonstrated an increase in psychological wellbeing andthe feeling of being connected with the outside world. In light of the benefitsof blogging about illness, wouldn’t it be great if these hospital patients weregiven a 30 minute introductory lesson on how to write a blog?

Blogging about illness has many benefits, and I know that Iwill now pay more attention to these blogs, as a means to learn and understand.Here’s hoping that more patients in the future are able to take up blogging toshare and document their experience on the web.

[Roberta Main-Millar]

This is indeed an interesting post - I would think I wouldn't blog about my illnerss but can see why a lot of people would from a support point of view - especially for rare conditions or conditions that require a lot of intervention.

[Nicole Franklin]

This is definitely an interesting topic. Much to Cheri's point, it would be interesting to see how detailed and public people would get with their condition.  I would be nervous to blog about health issues but it would be a great outlet of energy. 

[Cheri Keith]

What would be interesting to learn, at some point, is how many people keep it public and share with family and friends, versus those that do it as a personal outlet, more anonymously.

[Ann-Marie Gannon]

Interesting post Tanya with links to some good blogs. I don't think I would blog about my own illness but I do think I would consult someone's personal health blog if I was researching something about my own health.

[Anna Gueldenhaupt]

What great insight. Have you also ever noticed how much easier it is for people to lose weight or those training for a sporting event, to keep track of their progress if their blogging? There are so many opportunities for blogging in healthcare, it's great to see some examples.