Do you go online to diagnose your disease?

[Olivia]

Do you go online when feeling bad to diagnose your disease?

How does that usually work out for you?

 

[emily]

nope

too much information out there which could miss lead you

 

[Nebulous]

I have and it makes me think something way worse is going on so I don't bother anymore.

 

[passenger]

If I have some kind of 'mystery roving pain' I'll check around on what I consider to be "reliable" sources to try to find out what the possible causes might be.
Not too long ago I went searching for what I might do "non pharma" to help with leg &/or foot cramps. Found out online that a common cause for this is a mineral deficiency ..... magnesium or potassium. I started taking an OTC magnesium supplement; but wanted to check with my doctor about the potassium since I have heard that too much of that can be poison...it's used as rat poison.
Doc said that my blood tests showed that my potassium level is in a good range.....if the mag. was helping to keep taking it.

 

[tea4me]

I do just to get some sort of clue what *might* be going on, but if the problem persists, I go to the doctor.

 

[Crys]

Nope.

 

[Mad Hatter]

Trust but verify, I have a great doctor. He is from China and practices holistic medicine as much as possible. But I still go online just to make sure that he's got it right.

 

[Juneberry]

I mean, I do look up a lot of health issues... But I don't self-diagnose from it if I can help it. I like learning, but I trust my doctors to give me their input. I just tell them, "Hey, this sounds a lot like what i was going through- what do you think?"

The only time I've really self-diagnosed recently is when I had to look up like 10+ words that came up on my MRI report of my neck. I haven't been able to see an orthopedist yet (only found out for sure I need one on the 4th when I had my follow up- had my MRI last month and got the report before the appointment) but based on everything i had to look up while reading... It definitely sounds a lot like I might have osteoarthritis, which does in fact run in my family. However, most of the damage is very similar to my father's damage from when I was younger- so it's also possible that it's just going to require what he had done. I kinda prefer the osteoarthritis option over having to get a fusion surgery, honestly... But we'll see what they say on the 26th.

 

[MrDawn]

I'd rather see a doctor in person. I think that helps get a more accurate diagnoses if they look at you and do tests.

 

[ExplorerEvan]

As much as I know you should not do it, when I find myself unwell I always Google my symptoms not only to work out what the issue could be but also any remedies that could help with the illness I have.

It's those times you get the answer that it's worse than it is and they you are left worrying.

 

[passenger]

As much as I know you should not do it, when I find myself unwell I always Google my symptoms not only to work out what the issue could be but also any remedies that could help with the illness I have.

Personally I don't see anything wrong with this approach; I hate going to the Dr. for every little ache & pain if I don't really need to; I'd probably spend three or four days a week at the doctor's office. And I do think that there is SOME good, accurate, reliable info on the WEB....trick is just stumbling into it.
I have "diagnosed myself" with leg cramps (pretty obvious what's going on there ) so I found out that potassium and/or magnesium deficiency can cause this. So, I know that potassium is something that you can OD on & cause some serious problems I thought I'd try a magnesium supplement. That magically solved my leg cramping!
And, BTW, I did discuss this with my doctor at the next routine scheduled visit.

 

[EllieCat]

Bunch of false information. So no

 

[Nebulous]

I'd rather see a doctor in person. I think that helps get a more accurate diagnoses if they look at you and do tests.

Doesn't hurt to get a second opinion from a different doctor too. Sometimes they can be mistaken.