Table 9.

Reasons of recommending blogging.

Themes identified	Quotes
Theme 7.1: Gaining understanding/perspective	“Great way to work things out. Forces you to think about what the impact of the illness is (or is not!) on your life.”
	“It takes stress away and avoids an endless story repetition to those interested.”
Theme 7.2: Emotional release	“It’s a good release of emotions and you can set the level of privacy on each post so you can choose who sees what!”
	“It helps to write down your feelings and what you are going through.”
	“I think, if nothing else, it is a good outlet and a healthy way to share your feelings.”
Theme 7.3: Decreased isolation	“Certainly to people who enjoy writing, though, and to people who are socially isolated, although never blog *just* about illness.”
	“Yes, eases sense of isolation helps in staying on top of treatment changes, enables conversations that the healthy do not want to have.”
Theme 7.4: Communication with self or others	“It can help to connect with others in a similar situation and also help you understand yourself and your illness more.”
	“Healthy communication of pain is never wrong.”
	“I think it can have an impact on helping others to ‘get it.’”
Theme 7.5: Would recommend blogging with caveat	“If they are comfortable doing it. Privacy concerns are the 800-lb gorilla in the room.”
	“Only if they want to, because it can be really demanding. But I would recommend it because it will help them to become more empowered, informed and confident.”
	“Maybe a private blog? Or a blog within an online fibromyalgia community to feel safer.”