BOYCOTTING WEBMD.com

I've come to the conclusion that sites such as webmd.com do nothing but cause added stress to a situation. I had an issue, looked it up on webmd.com and freaked myself out even more! Everytime I get any kind of symptom, the first thing I do is log on and try to self diagnose myself. BIG MISTAKE!

I am a HUGE fan of the internet and all it's resources, but I have to admitt there may be a bit too much info available to the standard hypocondriac like myself

Anyone agree? Disagree?

Re: BOYCOTTING WEBMD.com

I know what you are saying. I am a real bad hypochondriac and that site has caused me nothing but grief. I do not go on it anymore more. If a problem is severe enough, I see a doctor.

Re: BOYCOTTING WEBMD.com

I agree- don't drive yourself crazy without a confirmed diagnosis by a DOCTOR. And even, then, don't take one persons word for gospel. Get a second opinion if it is available to you!

Re: BOYCOTTING WEBMD.com

honestly...i find it odd that anyone would think that they could just look up some symptoms and self diagnose

Re: BOYCOTTING WEBMD.com

Well, Im in the health field and I find it to be a HUGE source for information and my patients.
For personal use- you have to take everything in strides- if you read what the label you just picked up of your antibiotic - you know the piece of paper that comes with it we all throw away, you'd be surprised and may reconsider taking them after you read the side affects.
I think its a great tool and maybe if you know its going to freak you out dont go on there. Because yes, it gives you a TON of info and if you are not sure of what you are feeling you could convince yourself- yes I have that, and that and that, and the worry itself can make you sick or sicker!

Re: BOYCOTTING WEBMD.com

Posted by girlygrl33

Well, Im in the health field and I find it to be a HUGE source for information and my patients.
For personal use- you have to take everything in strides- if you read what the label you just picked up of your antibiotic - you know the piece of paper that comes with it we all throw away, you'd be surprised and may reconsider taking them after you read the side affects.
I think its a great tool and maybe if you know its going to freak you out dont go on there. Because yes, it gives you a TON of info and if you are not sure of what you are feeling you could convince yourself- yes I have that, and that and that, and the worry itself can make you sick or sicker!

Message edited 10/11/2005 10:59:29 AM.

Re: BOYCOTTING WEBMD.com

Posted by Redhead

honestly...i find it odd that anyone would think that they could just look up some symptoms and self diagnose

Re: BOYCOTTING WEBMD.com

Posted by unbelievable

Posted by Redhead

honestly...i find it odd that anyone would think that they could just look up some symptoms and self diagnose

I know someone like this but they don't even look it up or go to the DR. THEY JUST LIE about having illness!

Re: BOYCOTTING WEBMD.com

Posted by Redhead

honestly...i find it odd that anyone would think that they could just look up some symptoms and self diagnose

Re: BOYCOTTING WEBMD.com

Posted by girlygrl33

Posted by unbelievable

Posted by Redhead

honestly...i find it odd that anyone would think that they could just look up some symptoms and self diagnose

I know someone like this but they don't even look it up or go to the DR. THEY JUST LIE about having illness!

OMG- I wonder if they convinced themselves- YES this is what I have!!!!!!!!

Re: BOYCOTTING WEBMD.com

Posted by Redhead

honestly...i find it odd that anyone would think that they could just look up some symptoms and self diagnose

Re: BOYCOTTING WEBMD.com

Posted by Shopaholic921

Posted by Redhead

honestly...i find it odd that anyone would think that they could just look up some symptoms and self diagnose

You've never had a certain symptom and googled it? That to me is odd... Maybe I am just paranoid, but the second I see something out of the ordinary on my body I want to know what it is. I go straight to the internet to look things up (while I'm waiting for my dr. appointment), and seeing as how anyone can write anything on the internet, it is bound to scare a few people here and there.

I do however look up any medicines I am taking and I do find that to be extremely helpful!!

Re: BOYCOTTING WEBMD.com

Actually, let me better explain.. it wasn't a symptom as much as a visible issue. I had a bubble type thing inside my tongue, and while looking it up, I freaked myself out thinking it was cancer, or some type of cyst or something like that fro everything I was reading. I'm not talking about a cough and trying to self diagnose whether or not I have strep....

Regardless, I went to the dr. and now I feel better..

Re: BOYCOTTING WEBMD.com

I used to be VERY guilty of this ... looking up symptoms to self-diagnose.. but when I started giving myself fatal diseases and the like, I put an abrupt stop to it!

I mean you can type in "headache" and come up with thousands of reasons WHY you have a headache.. in the end, its so not worth the stress until you see a medical professional
(not juding anyone here mind you.. I was guilty of the very same thing.. but its just too hard to diagnose something when the 'net will pop up ANY sort of result it can find for any such symptom"

BUT YES once I am diagnosed w/something or given some test results/medications, then I go back to my googling mania

Message edited 10/11/2005 11:10:47 AM.

Re: BOYCOTTING WEBMD.com

Posted by Redhead

Posted by Shopaholic921

Posted by Redhead

honestly...i find it odd that anyone would think that they could just look up some symptoms and self diagnose

You've never had a certain symptom and googled it? That to me is odd... Maybe I am just paranoid, but the second I see something out of the ordinary on my body I want to know what it is. I go straight to the internet to look things up (while I'm waiting for my dr. appointment), and seeing as how anyone can write anything on the internet, it is bound to scare a few people here and there.

I do however look up any medicines I am taking and I do find that to be extremely helpful!!

NO NEVER but i rarely find myself "sick" that isnt' a cold or something rather common.
Once i had Epstein Bar but i did go to a doctor...didn't look up excessive sleepiness....OH JEEZ God only knows what "illness" i would have had

Re: BOYCOTTING WEBMD.com

Posted by Shopaholic921

Actually, let me better explain.. it wasn't a symptom as much as a visible issue. I had a bubble type thing inside my tongue, and while looking it up, I freaked myself out thinking it was cancer, or some type of cyst or something like that fro everything I was reading. I'm not talking about a cough and trying to self diagnose whether or not I have strep....

Regardless, I went to the dr. and now I feel better..

Re: BOYCOTTING WEBMD.com

Re: BOYCOTTING WEBMD.com

I totally agree! Whenever I would feel sick, I'd look up the symptoms on a site like WebMD and would just get myself incredibly worried, thus making myself feel more sick. I think practically every disease out there involves a headache and fatigue...

Re: BOYCOTTING WEBMD.com

Posted by Redhead

Posted by FeliciaDP

I used to be VERY guilty of this ... looking up symptoms to self-diagnose.. but when I started giving myself fatal diseases and the like, I put an abrupt stop to it!

OMG you are hysterical

Message edited 10/11/2005 11:14:32 AM.

Re: BOYCOTTING WEBMD.com

Posted by FeliciaDP

Posted by Redhead

Posted by FeliciaDP

I used to be VERY guilty of this ... looking up symptoms to self-diagnose.. but when I started giving myself fatal diseases and the like, I put an abrupt stop to it!

OMG you are hysterical

I know, I'm crazy!! But no more!!

Seriously I would come home and say "Anthony, I've been having some tingling in my arms/hands... I searched on line and it could be nerve damage or a pre-cursor to a stroke" and he'd roll his eyes and say "um, its probably carpel tunnel from too much time on the damn computer searching for this" and walk away

Re: BOYCOTTING WEBMD.com

Posted by Shopaholic921

Actually, let me better explain.. it wasn't a symptom as much as a visible issue. I had a bubble type thing inside my tongue, and while looking it up, I freaked myself out thinking it was cancer, or some type of cyst or something like that fro everything I was reading. I'm not talking about a cough and trying to self diagnose whether or not I have strep....

Regardless, I went to the dr. and now I feel better..

Re: BOYCOTTING WEBMD.com

I feel the same way!

To top it off, so many things have the same syptoms.

Re: BOYCOTTING WEBMD.com

Posted by girlygrl33

Posted by Shopaholic921

Actually, let me better explain.. it wasn't a symptom as much as a visible issue. I had a bubble type thing inside my tongue, and while looking it up, I freaked myself out thinking it was cancer, or some type of cyst or something like that fro everything I was reading. I'm not talking about a cough and trying to self diagnose whether or not I have strep....

Regardless, I went to the dr. and now I feel better..

OOO just my field, just taking a few guesses here because I cant see it and dont know the full description but Im guessing a fibroma, an infected taste bud or a blocked saliva gland. and yes if you start looking up oral manifestations in the oral cavity- you will make yourself nuts!!!!! a simple apthous ulcer can be mistaken by the patient themselves to have cancer! Im glad your feeling better, and Im curious what did they give you for it, if they did?

Re: BOYCOTTING WEBMD.com

Posted by Shopaholic921

Posted by girlygrl33

Posted by Shopaholic921

Actually, let me better explain.. it wasn't a symptom as much as a visible issue. I had a bubble type thing inside my tongue, and while looking it up, I freaked myself out thinking it was cancer, or some type of cyst or something like that fro everything I was reading. I'm not talking about a cough and trying to self diagnose whether or not I have strep....

Regardless, I went to the dr. and now I feel better..

OOO just my field, just taking a few guesses here because I cant see it and dont know the full description but Im guessing a fibroma, an infected taste bud or a blocked saliva gland. and yes if you start looking up oral manifestations in the oral cavity- you will make yourself nuts!!!!! a simple apthous ulcer can be mistaken by the patient themselves to have cancer! Im glad your feeling better, and Im curious what did they give you for it, if they did?

Are you a dentist?? it's like a bubble inside my tongue, so it royally freaked me out! it looks blue (dr. said cause there is a blood supply there) and he said it could be a hematoma (I may have bitten it and it's now a bruise in my tongue) or a sack filled with fluid, but not to worry about it. He said if it doesn't go away in a week then I can go back to his office and see the oral surgeon to see if I want to have it drained, or removed or further examined.

Re: BOYCOTTING WEBMD.com

Posted by girlygrl33

Posted by Shopaholic921

Posted by girlygrl33

Posted by Shopaholic921

Actually, let me better explain.. it wasn't a symptom as much as a visible issue. I had a bubble type thing inside my tongue, and while looking it up, I freaked myself out thinking it was cancer, or some type of cyst or something like that fro everything I was reading. I'm not talking about a cough and trying to self diagnose whether or not I have strep....

Regardless, I went to the dr. and now I feel better..

OOO just my field, just taking a few guesses here because I cant see it and dont know the full description but Im guessing a fibroma, an infected taste bud or a blocked saliva gland. and yes if you start looking up oral manifestations in the oral cavity- you will make yourself nuts!!!!! a simple apthous ulcer can be mistaken by the patient themselves to have cancer! Im glad your feeling better, and Im curious what did they give you for it, if they did?

Are you a dentist?? it's like a bubble inside my tongue, so it royally freaked me out! it looks blue (dr. said cause there is a blood supply there) and he said it could be a hematoma (I may have bitten it and it's now a bruise in my tongue) or a sack filled with fluid, but not to worry about it. He said if it doesn't go away in a week then I can go back to his office and see the oral surgeon to see if I want to have it drained, or removed or further examined.

when you say inside your tongue do you mean under it on the floor of the mouth, or the side of the tongue? and the blue- do you see any pink or its completely blue?