Should You Read Info On An Illness

[emmie]

you think you might have, have you ever looked up something which may or may not give a clue to how you are feeling. I am beginning to wonder is it a good thing, to be better informed, even if you are not sure. And the doctor isn't sure of what you are talking about, feeling...

[EvianBaby]

It depends, lots of illnesses have many common symptoms. You do risk picking out the symptoms you have, bypassing the rest and convincing yourself you're about to pop you clogs. When diagnosed with something I always read up on it though, I've found it actually helps calm my fears because you get a better idea of treatment, etc.

[AlwaysConfused]

I think that doctors become quite pissed off with self diagnosis! Better off going to your GP with your symptoms and allowing him/her to tell you what is wrong and what medication etc you may need. You are spoiling their fun if you go straight in with 'this is what is wrong and this is what I need'

[emmie]

i was diagnosed some years back with fibromyalgia, where i couldn't walk two yards without feeling out of sorts, severe muscle pains, unwell much of the time, and would lie on the floor in agony with the pain, I am back in a place that i don't understand.

[RATTER15]

I think it is good to do the research but always be aware that you may not get it right and will still need to get a check over by a GP.

[emmie]

i have seen them, and i don't go in their with an idea of what it is, i just say what doesn't feel right, and see what they say.

[daisya]

Em it depends on the person you are, if you can be objective and not label yourself with certain things you read. I look up things that's for sure and have been successful in finding out what I needed to know. In fact was able to mention something to my GP that he didn't know about so it can be helpful. I prefer to be well informed but that's my choice.

I notice some GP's and consultants use Google to find out things regarding health problems, but as I say it really is down to how you handle information about health conditions. If you're nervous of actually knowing what the outcome could be, IMO one shouldn't look.

[emmie]

this is now affecting me on a daily basis. Hard to walk with out foot pain, underneath and top, lower back has been hurting for 5 weeks, with no relief from pain meds, it's why i looked up the symptoms of what i was diagnosed with years ago fibromyalgia. Have to have the hot water in the shower to tepid as it's like stinging on the skin if remotely hot.
I can't do an MRI scan, as i have terrible claustrophobia, if there is someway else then would do it.

[emmie]

i would rather know for sure, i don't like uncertainty, at least then you know what you are up against and can get on with things.

[Sqad]

My feelings are well know on this topic.

If one has one's diagnosis confirmed by medical evaluation, then the internet gives valuable information.....and i am all for patient information.

However, in my experience the above is a small proportion of questions sought by patients on the internet and are mainly on doubtful and poorly understood data..............and i am against the internet fro theses situations.

Many links given are either completely mystifying and shrouded in "gobblygook" that they are of little value and completely useless.

In my opinion many NHS sites are verbose, confusing and just a list of symptoms and diseases from which you "take your pick."
Dangerous, worrying and in many cases unhelpful and inappropriate.

The professions are particularly bad at converting highly technical data to simple understood concepts to the clients and i include the Law in my comment. The websites have not helped in my opinion and can lead to misleading conclusions.

Well.....got that off my chest...;-)

[Nibble]

sqad: "The professions are particularly bad at converting highly technical data to simple understood concepts to the clients"

hear, hear!

[Robinia]

I know just how you feel em, I have fibro too. I've really been struggling recently, some days almost to the point of despair and it often crosses my mind that there might be something else going on and I start googling....not always a good idea! However I've found a lot of useful info on the net (I wish I'd had it years ago when I was very ill with another disease) and it helps to know that others with fm feel the same. A (hospital) doctor did once tell me to continue doing my own research. I don't know how many times I've said to my sister 'I wish they'd stick me a big scanner and look at everything once and for all' :) I used to be very claustophobic but I've improved over the years....I still wouldn't want to be trapped anywhere though!
Stress plays a big part in the way we feel and I know it's responsible for some of my recent problems. Hope you feel better soon.

[EvianBaby]

There are scanners that can be used by claustrophobic patients (I'm not sure exactly how, I guess they're just massive) but they are few and far between in this country.

I know this as my sister was telling me last week how one of their patients went to the papers as he hadn't been treated but that was because he was claustrophobic but needed a scan and after all other attempts the medical staff agreed to send him to another hospital for one of these scans but he refused to pay for his travel there.

[sara3]

if you have a diagnosis it's okay to google.. but be aware that you may read the best or worse case scenario.

there's no point in googling "why have I got a headache?" if you're likely to be convinced you have a brain tumour!

[emmie]

problem being is a ten minute talk, consultation with a doctor doesn't help.
i would if i could use a stand up type scanner, mri isn't an option.

[bednobs]

as far as i know FMS is not diagnosed by MRI scan anyway

[mrs_overall]

Sqad will hate me for saying this, but I am a graduate of the Google School of Medicine.
I think if you have an illness/injury/medical condition, learning as much as you can about it is a good thing.

[Sqad]

Mrs_O...you didn't read my post............particularly the second paragraph.

Knowing the diagnosis and thinking that you know the diagnosis are two different things.

[mrs_overall]

Sqadlet, I did read your reply.

I have been guilty of forming my own diagnosis on occasion and whether by luck, chance or due to my superior skills, I have always been right ;-)

[Sqad]

LOL..

[nescio]

If any of you have read Jerome K. Jerome's Three Men in a Boat, you will understand the dangers of researching an illness. :-)

Basically, the character was in a library and started leafing through a medical dictionary. Eventually, after reading it from cover to cover and based on the symptoms described therein, he realised that he was afflicted with every known medical condition, with the exception of housemaid's knee.