Originally Posted by SouthPStitches
Another thought (I work for a physician).....The general medical community gets unreasonably testy if a patient admits to searching on the internet for medical info. Really gets their hackles up. Okay to mention you've been doing some research on your own but best not to admit to Googling.
Sorry, I just can't NOT comment to this. If you are seeing a doctor who is intimidated because you look something up on the internet, you may be dealing with a doctor who would prefer you stay "uninformed" about your own health. That way, he continues to seem to be a god to you, and you "swallow" everything he says....hook, line, and sinker. The internet is a wealth of information, and like the encyclopedia's of the past, can and does have some really good information on it. But like all information, you need to do thorough research. One time, I had a serious problem with depleting platelets, did some research, went to the doc, sat down and told him what I had. He said, "What, without a blood test?" I said, "Yep, I know I'm right, but let's do a blood test to confirm." As a result of my informed information and research, done on the internet, my doctor was able to move quickly on a diagnoses as it pointed him a direction to begin testing.....and in the end, in the middle of the night, after the lab called my doc at home with my test results, and he then called my home and woke me up, I was rushed to the hospital......and my life was spared....because the hospital didn't have to spend days trying to figure out what was wrong with me.
And all this because I took the time, while waiting for an appointment, to do some research....ON THE INTERNET. If a doctor is so full of himself that he can't listen to me...when this is about my body....forget him. I will take my business elsewhere. I am an intelligent, thinking woman....and won't be told otherwise by a doctor that refuses to listen to me.
In addition, this same doctor that I told him what I had, also told me years ago....."Medicine is 97% guess work and 3% knowledge." If you're a good guesser, you would probably make a good doctor....if you could handle the hours and pressure!!
My husband always reminds me that half the doctors out there, graduated in the bottom half of their classes.....something to keep in mind next time you are face to face with one.