Understanding Forum Lingo
Do you want to participate in our online forums ? You might find that some of the abbreviations (particularly in our Tics and Tourettes and PANDAS / PANS forums) to be confusing.
Forums are meant to be comfortable places to share and discuss problems and ideas. But because folks writing are often busy, and they need to be able to communicate quickly, a shorthand of sorts has been developed.
The first set below is how people refer to family members (like ds for dear son).
The second set is for common internet terms like IMHO (in my humble opinion).
The last set is more specific to forums on the ACN Latitudes site; you may want to check on some of these terms depending on the condition you are exploring.
The good news is that you don’t have to use any of these yourself, if you don’t want to! But you can keep the list handy as a reference when you want to understand what others are saying.
Family
A number may be added for age, such as: dd8
bil – brother in law
dd – dear daughter
dh – dear husband
ds – dear son
dw – dear wife
fil – father in law
mil – mother in law
sil – sister in law (or son in law)
SO – significant other
Internet terms
BTW – by the way
IM – instant message
IMHO – in my humble opinion
IMO – in my opinion
LMK – let me know
ITM – in the meantime
LOL – laugh out loud
LYK – let you know
PM – a private message sent on forum
Other
abx – antibiotics
ad – antidepressant
AED – anti epileptic drug
amox – amoxiccillin
AN – Anorexia Nervosa
AS – Aspergers syndrome
ASO – antistreptolysin O
BID – 2 times a day
BP – bipolar (can also mean blood pressure)
CaMK or CaM – CaM Kinase II
CFS – chronic fatigue syndrome
CR – controlled release medication
DAN – Defeat Autism Now! movement
DAN doctor – practitioner using protocols from the DAN movement
dx – diagnosis
EBV – Epstein Barr virus
ER – extended release medication
fibro – fibromyalgia
FMS – fibromyalgia
GABHS – Group A Beta-Hemolytic Streptococci throat culture
GAS – group A streptococcus bacterium
gp – general practitioner
GS – gluten sensitivity
h/o – history of
hx – history
IBS – irritable bowel syndrome
IR – immediate release medication
IVIG – intravenous immunoglobulin therapy
MS – multiple sclerosis
Neuro – neurologist
NP – naturopath
LLMD – Lyme literate MD (doctor)
MTHFR – Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (a gene related to methylation)
OCD – obsessive compulsive disorder
ODD – oppositional defiance disorder
OTC – available over the counter (no prescription needed)
PANDAS – Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal infections
PCP – primary care physician
PDD NOS – Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified
pen – penicillin
pen VK – penicillin VK
PEX – plasma exchange therapy
PITAND – Pediatric Infection-triggered Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders
Pm – pain management (or pain monster, or private message)
PN – peripheral neuropathy
PRN – taken as needed, for medication
pt – patient
PT – physical therapy
q4h – medication to be taken every 4 hours; adjusted for 6, 8, 12 hours etc.
QID – 4 times a day
RF – rheumatic fever
rx prescription
SC – Sydenham chorea; also called St Vitus Dance
SID – sensory integration dysfunction
SR – sustained release
SSRI – selective-serotonin reuptake inhibitor; type of antidepressant drug
Sx – symptoms
TID – 3 times a day
TS – Tourette syndrome
tx – treatment
ULN – upper limits of normal
URI – upper respiratory infection
UTI – urinary tract infection
zith – zithromax antibiotic
