Don't take health advice from a non peer reviewed source!

[lsiberian]

I've been amazed how many folks think some .com site selling some program posting some random information gives bad advice on the premise that it's good advice.

I feel for doctors everywhere that live in the age of misinformation, fad diets, and the utter lack of common sense. Unless your advice comes from a reputable place ignore it.

 

[vizionut]

web md

I guess the only .com site(for medical advice) I would trust is webMD,but i would only use it as a reference though.

 

[lsiberian]

I guess the only .com site(for medical advice) I would trust is webMD,but i would only use it as a reference though.

I use mayoclinic.com. The Mayo Clinic is an excellent resource for medical information. But your doctor is probably your best bet for tailored advice.

 

[JerryLove]

I feel for doctors everywhere that live in the age of misinformation, fad diets, and the utter lack of common sense. Unless your advice comes from a reputable place ignore it.

Sadly doctors oft fall prey to exactly the same sort of bad sources. From pharmaceutical companies campaigning, to an inability to just admit when they don't know something (not to mention the training patients have done on them: can't tell you how many times I've watched a doctor tell me I have a virus then proceed to prescribe antibiotics).

The reason there's a push for evidence-based medicine, is because there's such a lack of it even in medical circles.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Sadly doctors oft fall prey to exactly the same sort of bad sources. From pharmaceutical companies campaigning, to an inability to just admit when they don't know something (not to mention the training patients have done on them: can't tell you how many times I've watched a doctor tell me I have a virus then proceed to prescribe antibiotics).

The reason there's a push for evidence-based medicine, is because there's such a lack of it even in medical circles.

I can attest to this Good meaning doctors fall for anecdotes from patients and when they try something with similar results, hey, it works.

Then, I am called a close minded person, or something worse.

 

[T2T]

Sadly doctors oft fall prey to exactly the same sort of bad sources. From pharmaceutical companies campaigning ...

Yes. I call those people the "Prozac pushers". The pharm. companies have their reps make the rounds to all the doctors. They come in with big baskets of treats for the nurses and office staff, lots of free samples for the doctors, note pads with the medicine name on them for the doctors, etc., etc.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Easy.......nothing wrong with us guys making a living...

Yes. I call those people the "Prozac pushers". The pharm. companies have their reps make the rounds to all the doctors. They come in with big baskets of treats for the nurses and office staff, lots of free samples for the doctors, note pads with the medicine name on them for the doctors, etc., etc.

 

[markw]

I've been amazed how many folks think some .com site selling some program posting some random information gives bad advice on the premise that it's good advice.

That's like going into a Bose store expecting impartial information on what stereo to buy...

 

[STRONGBADF1]

I always loved the term "practicing medicine".

 

[jinjuku]

I always loved the term "practicing medicine".

But you have hit the nail on the head. It's called a medical practice for that VERY reason.

These professionals aren't gods. Just highly trained, prone to the occasional error/misdiagnosis, human beings.

Practice means that they may not get it right for your situation the first time around. I use the net as a way of being informed. I self-diagnosed a pilonidal cyst (often referred to as jeeps disease). But I also went into the practice and had my physician diagnose.

 

[jinjuku]

I guess the only .com site(for medical advice) I would trust is webMD,but i would only use it as a reference though.

WebMD is a joke.

 

[STRONGBADF1]

But you have hit the nail on the head. It's called a medical practice for that VERY reason.

These professionals aren't gods. Just highly trained, prone to the occasional error/misdiagnosis, human beings.

Practice means that they may not get it right for your situation the first time around. I use the net as a way of being informed. I self-diagnosed a pilonidal cyst (often referred to as jeeps disease). But I also went into the practice and had my physician diagnose.

Bingo! People think their doctor should know all and be all. When really it's all about the quality of the info you/tests give them plus how good they are at staying up to date and remembering all they have learned...not easy. A patient armed with misinformation can lead a doctor down a wrong path and hide the truth about what is fact. Doctors have to listen carefully to what is being said and not just take what the patients words as absolute but a guide line.

So in short...it's up to you to find a good level headed doctor that's not just about pushing meds but finding the truth...again, not easy...and you not clouding up the issue with misinformation.

 

[JerryLove]

Bingo! People think their doctor should know all and be all. When really it's all about the quality of the info you/tests give them plus how good they are at staying up to date and remembering all they have learned...not easy. A patient armed with misinformation can lead a doctor down a wrong path and hide the truth about what is fact. Doctors have to listen carefully to what is being said and not just take what the patients words as absolute but a guide line.

But it's not all "good doctors mislead". Doctors often think they know more than they do, and they often cruise through when they should pay attention.

I've saved my own life more than once despite my doctor.

Catching when that antibiotic they prescribed was one I was allergic to.
Pushing for a CT scan when my doc didn't want to do one (turns out I had lymphoma. The CT scan and later biopsy found it).

Then there was the time when I called in with the symptoms of appendicitis. I didn't know that at the time. The doctor wanted to give me an appointment in two weeks. I ended up in the ER for the pain. He should have sent me there in the first place.

Serious illness (doesn't everything have "flu-like symptoms"?) are often overlooked. Follow-ups are not done. It's almost never that I've had a doctor say "here's what I expect to happen, and here's what should cause you to come back in in this timeframe".

Don't get me wrong. There are some excellent doctors out there... but I've had to go through a lot of bad ones to find them.

Your health *is* first and foremost your own responsibility. I agree with the OP, that people should be careful of their sources... *all* their sources.

Tens-to-hundreds of thousands die every year from medical mistakes and wrong diagnosis... and yes, many more die every year because they didn't go to a professional in the first place.

PS. My absolute favorite doctor has sentances like "here's what I think it is, here's why, here's what else I think it might be, here's what I want to try , here's why, this is what will happen if I'm right, this is what will happen if I'm wrong, and here's what we should look for / do next if I'm wrong. What would you like to do?"

 

[STRONGBADF1]

Yep, and that's my point, It's a two way street that's for sure. I very much agree that it's the patients responsibility to find the right doctor but also to not mislead the doctor whether intentional or not.

 

[Patrukas777]

But it's not all "good doctors mislead". Doctors often think they know more than they do, and they often cruise through when they should pay attention.

I've saved my own life more than once despite my doctor.

Catching when that antibiotic they prescribed was one I was allergic to.
Pushing for a CT scan when my doc didn't want to do one (turns out I had lymphoma. The CT scan and later biopsy found it).

Then there was the time when I called in with the symptoms of appendicitis. I didn't know that at the time. The doctor wanted to give me an appointment in two weeks. I ended up in the ER for the pain. He should have sent me there in the first place.

Serious illness (doesn't everything have "flu-like symptoms"?) are often overlooked. Follow-ups are not done. It's almost never that I've had a doctor say "here's what I expect to happen, and here's what should cause you to come back in in this timeframe".

Don't get me wrong. There are some excellent doctors out there... but I've had to go through a lot of bad ones to find them.

Your health *is* first and foremost your own responsibility. I agree with the OP, that people should be careful of their sources... *all* their sources.

Tens-to-hundreds of thousands die every year from medical mistakes and wrong diagnosis... and yes, many more die every year because they didn't go to a professional in the first place.

PS. My absolute favorite doctor has sentances like "here's what I think it is, here's why, here's what else I think it might be, here's what I want to try , here's why, this is what will happen if I'm right, this is what will happen if I'm wrong, and here's what we should look for / do next if I'm wrong. What would you like to do?"

Just goes to show how important it is to knowing your own body. Knowing when something is wrong, and not being afraid to push the doc for further examination. Glad things worked out for you...Lymphoma is no joke.

 

[MinusTheBear]

Yep, and that's my point, It's a two way street that's for sure. I very much agree that it's the patients responsibility to find the right doctor but also to not mislead the doctor whether intentional or not.

Everybody lies.

 

[Monkeypimp]

I personally believe that the real problem is that the medical world works backwards. What I mean is that we wait until we are sick to get help and then the doctor prescribes medicine to fix our problems...those medicines then cause other problems that require more doctors and more medicines, etc.... What should be happening is that we should eat healthy, exercise and use our doctors and hospitials for emergency situations such as broken arms, etc.

I know quite a few people that are taking drugs such as Lipitor for high cholesterol....but they still eat saturated fats, sugars, etc.... Drugs like lipitor are not meant for long term use, it destroys the liver, it is meant to be used short term along with a healthy diet and exercise. But patients rarely make the changes in lifestyle which leads doctors to become complacent. In the end the reason people buy into quick fixes like diet fads is because no one really wants to have to do what is necessary...they want to do what they want and pop a pill or drink a juice and be healthy.

GOOD HEALTH IS INTENTIONAL....your doctor is their for trauma and emergencies.

 

[gmichael]

My favorite was when we moved and had to get a new doctor. I walked into his office for the first time. He had a clock with advertisement for Nexium. Then I saw a calandar advertizing Nexium. There were at least a half dozen advertisements for Nexium all around his office. After my check-up, guess what he proscribed.












If you guessed anything other than Nexium then we need to talk.

 

[Seth=L]

My favorite was when we moved and had to get a new doctor. I walked into his office for the first time. He had a clock with advertisement for Nexium. Then I saw a calandar advertizing Nexium. There were at least a half dozen advertisements for Nexium all around his office. After my check-up, guess what he proscribed.












If you guessed anything other than Nexium then we need to talk.

At least he didn't prescribe something that had a huge list of common effects and symptoms the drug may induce, he's just trying to make some money.

 

[yepimonfire]

the material doctors learn in med-school is "researched" mainly by drug companies, since drug companies are in fact companies this means they care about turning a profit, so i do not even trust doctors. the whole medical system is a joke. sure some good things have come out of it likie the ability to save lives in an emergency, but as far as "routine" crap it's just that, crap.