Self-diagnosis does not compare to professional help
A dear friend describes herself as an AAD. She’ll diagnose virus symptoms, rashes, headaches and a multiple of other ailments and tell you that she has an AAD degree. When pressed, she’ll explain that she’s “almost a doctor!”
These articles are researched on the internet. I think you know that. The source of information is disclosed and rarely is only one source used. Several websites are written in language that all of us can understand. WebMD.com, MayoClinic.com, CDC.gov and several others are the main go-to sites for health-centric and reliable information.
Last week’s article caught the eye of a researcher in the United Kingdom who wrote, “The information you referred to about Bell’s palsy is out of date, steroids within 72 hours of onset of the condition dramatically improve the outcome for patients.”
Karen Johnson from an organization called Facial Palsy UK included a URL to a health report printed in The British Journal of General Practice that indeed said that steroids were probably effective in treating Bell’s palsy but that antiviral drugs were not.
“Many people are left with residual problems such as synkinesis even though to everyone else they may looked (sic) recovered,” Johnson added. So, I stand corrected as does KidsHealth.org. And, am terribly flattered that she read my column, although I suspect she reads everything written about facial paralysis.
And, I’m really glad this came up. I am not a medical professional. Nor, am I even an AAD. I do know how to look up symptoms and a little bit about a lot of different ailments, and I have been guilty of going online for a clue as to what may be ailing me. But appendicitis may be misdiagnosed as gastroenteritis, lupus can resemble arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome might actually be endometriosis and the list goes on.
So, the point I want to stress is that there is no substitute for professional healthcare advice. As Johnson pointed out, often new or improved studies make the information on the web obsolete, and we all know that inroads to improved healthcare occur daily.
Your primary care giver, the emergency or immediate care physicians are far better equipped to ascertain what’s wrong with you; the proper diagnostic or screening tests needed, and the best treatment for your condition.
If you’ve fallen and broken a bone, it’s fairly easy to say to your medico that you think you broke your leg, but in the case of a stomach ache, chest pains, any pain that’s not associated with an injury it’s really a better idea to just describe your symptoms. It’s so easy to self-diagnose, and so easy to be so wrong.
Someone has a rash and a fever, who’s never had the measles, what do you think that is? Maybe it’s measles, but maybe it’s roseola, chickenpox, eczema, influenza, viral meningitis or something all-together different. Look it up. You’ll be surprised. If you really have a rash and a fever, call your medical provider.
If you experience light-headedness, chest pains, inability to breath, numbness, severe pain, high fever or uncontrolled bleeding, do not stop to fire up your computer, call 911 immediately. Our highly-trained EMTs can assess your condition and get you to the emergency department safely while beginning treatment for your symptoms. An AAD can’t do that, nor can the Internet!
• Kathy Hubbard is a trustee on Bonner General Hospital Foundation Board. She can be reached at 264-4029 or kathyleehubbard@yahoo.com.