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> Her response was "just take the pills." There's a fairly big camp of people both online and in real life that is strongly against questioning medical authori

by ythn 9y ago

> Her response was "just take the pills." There's a fairly big camp of people both online and in real life that is strongly against questioning medical authority. I've encountered it before. For example (and I know this is purely anecdotal), after doing a few hours of extensive research and photography comparisons online I came to the conclusion that my sister had shingles. I mentioned this to the doctor when I took her and he dismissed it and said that it is unlikely since she is so old. I mentioned this on a subreddit that I frequent and a bunch of people jumped on me and told me to stop doing my own research and to let medical authorities do their job without me pestering them. However, after taking her to a different doctor, he immediately recognized it as shingles and prescribed her the appropriate medicine. On the one hand, I get why doctors don't want the "ignorant masses" doing their own research and coming op with cockamamie theories, but on the other hand, doctors can only hold so much information in their heads whereas the internet has vastly more information available and I can become an expert in one tiny little niche fairly quickly.

DanBC 9y ago
A useful approach is to ask "could this be shingles?", and then "why not?", and then "if i isn't shingles what else could it be, and why is it that and not shingles?" the UK has had a campaign recently around sepsis where people are being trained to ask these questions.
pasbesoin 9y ago
After a number of years with a different diagnosis, I convinced an ultrasound technician to go beyond their exam script -- enough to discover that, in fact, I did indeed have a minor hernia. If the doctor hadn't been so sure of his diagnosis, this would have been caught years earlier. I'd specifically asked, more than once, about the possibility. A lot of scrambling on their part, that day, to get me a same-day appointment for consult with a well-regarded surgeon.
ramses0 9y ago
I always like to come to a Dr's appointment with a "sealed envelope" ... what I think the problem is, but not to mention it until they get through with their diagnosis. Yes doctor, no doctor, I don't think so doctor, yes doctor also my left foot. => He thinks I have a sprained ankle, I think I'm not sleeping well (or whatever) and I'll mention what my guess is at the end (not before) and ask him why my guess is (presumably) wrong. Of course if you think there's something unusual or your symptoms are severe then of course go to the doctor without delay, but it's also helpful to get a bit of a personal education when you've got time with a specialist.
bayesian_horse 9y ago
It's a fine line. Most of the time, the patient is actually wrong, and that can make it pretty annoying, especially if the medical professional in question is having a stressful day (and aren't they all...). I have a lot of medical knowledge and I try not to be a wise ass with my doctors. Sometimes though, it pays to pay attention.

by ythn 9y ago

DanBC 9y ago

A useful approach is to ask "could this be shingles?", and then "why not?", and then "if i isn't shingles what else could it be, and why is it that and not shingles?" the UK has had a campaign recently around sepsis where people are being trained to ask these questions.

pasbesoin 9y ago

After a number of years with a different diagnosis, I convinced an ultrasound technician to go beyond their exam script -- enough to discover that, in fact, I did indeed have a minor hernia. If the doctor hadn't been so sure of his diagnosis, this would have been caught years earlier. I'd specifically asked, more than once, about the possibility. A lot of scrambling on their part, that day, to get me a same-day appointment for consult with a well-regarded surgeon.

ramses0 9y ago

I always like to come to a Dr's appointment with a "sealed envelope" ... what I think the problem is, but not to mention it until they get through with their diagnosis. Yes doctor, no doctor, I don't think so doctor, yes doctor also my left foot. => He thinks I have a sprained ankle, I think I'm not sleeping well (or whatever) and I'll mention what my guess is at the end (not before) and ask him why my guess is (presumably) wrong. Of course if you think there's something unusual or your symptoms are severe then of course go to the doctor without delay, but it's also helpful to get a bit of a personal education when you've got time with a specialist.

bayesian_horse 9y ago

It's a fine line. Most of the time, the patient is actually wrong, and that can make it pretty annoying, especially if the medical professional in question is having a stressful day (and aren't they all...). I have a lot of medical knowledge and I try not to be a wise ass with my doctors. Sometimes though, it pays to pay attention.