I learned a new term this past weekend -- cyberchondriac. I read an article in the newspaper titled, "'Cyberchondriacs' panic over Internet self-diagnosis". Coincidentally, I happened to read this article while sick.
I had/have a really bad cold. Last Tuesday I felt like crap and my throat was sore. Wednesday I had really bad sinus congestion and a sore throat. Thursday I had a slight fever, really bad congestion and a sore throat on and off. Friday -- same thing, minus the fever. Saturday and Sunday and Monday and Tuesday -- lather, rinse, repeat. I had both a sore throat and incredible congestion for eight straight days. I've had to take Sudafed every day since last Tuesday to keep the sinus congestion under some sort of control, with varying degrees of success. This was different from any other cold I have had, or at least remember having. I started getting nervous when the incredible congestion did not let up at all after a few days. On Friday I quickly contemplated going to the doctor to see if I might have a sinus infection. I didn't want to be stuck suffering over the weekend if I could get an antibiotic and be feeling better by Monday. I didn't go though, because I knew it wasn't a sinus infection. I knew what signs to look for. The incredible amount of fluid coming out of my nose was mostly all clear, and not yellow or green and thick. I didn't look it up this weekend, but I have in the past. Then a few days later I was getting worried that I had the sore throat for so many consecutive days. Usually I get a sore throat for a day or two at the beginning of a cold and that's about it. It was still sore for a few hours earlier today, but I still haven't gone to the doctor. I know it's not strep. I only had a slight fever that one day, the sore throat now comes and goes and only last a few hours a day, and I don't have any of those tell-tale white spots on the back of my throat.
The article I read this past weekend said that 2 percent of all web searches are health-related, and doctors are seeing more patients that have self-diagnosed themselves with something fatal. When someone searches on their common symptoms they read both the common causes as well as the much more rare and serious conditions. People naturally worry about and concentrate on the more serious potential causes.
So I guess there are both positive and negative effects of the general population having so much medical information at their fingertips. For me, it was useful in determining that in this case I did not need to go to the doctor. I also think it can be extremely useful in looking up more information on conditions that you have already been diagnosed with -- in my case, Turner Syndrome.
What are your thoughts? Are you, or have you been, a cyberchondriac?
I found your blog because I have TS on google alert. My 19yo daughter has TS -- she isn't too interested in the TS right now, too busy snowboarding.
Therefore, the cyberchondria is my responsibility!
lol I believe it though I myself still prefer to go to my Dr (mostly because he listens to me and almost always gives me samples if I can't afford the prescription for something).
Reggy, I think that's great that you found a doctor that you really like and trust. I have too (finally), and I think that's really important.
I'm sorry but I thought this was hilarious, "doctors are seeing more patients that have self-diagnosed themselves with something fatal". The first rule nowadays of being sick is "don't Google your symptoms"! Because invariably you'll end up lying awake all night convinced you have some rare and terrible disease. Let the professionals do their job and save google for finding the local mall or whatever, lol.
Carole, I think that is a very good rule of thumb. It's definitely a tricky balancing act, you want to be informed about things (doctors are human after all, and make mistakes) but it is incredibly easy to get carried away and let your imagination get the better of you!