Do not ask for medical advice on NMP!!

[venusbluejeans]

Just a reminder…………………………………….


There seems to be a lot of people that come on her looking for a medical diagnosis…… 99.9% of people on here are NOT medically trained and CAN NOT give you definitive advice on a medical matters.


There are many people who come post their test results and expect people to tell them what is wrong with them……this is certainly not fair on other members to be under pressure to ‘diagnose’ someone’s symptoms.


Even if we were medically trained, NO diagnosis can be made without knowing medical history and a personal appointment with your GP.


Also remember that no one other than a medical professional can give you a definitive answer on if you can take meds together……


we may all have advice from our past history and experience… but no one knows your personal medical history so please consult someone medical if you are worried.


THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE TO THE ADVICE AND DIAGNOSIS GIVEN TO YOU BY A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL


The NHS is a wonderful resource if used properly….. We may complain about it sometimes but some countries in the world would love what we have in the UK, so use it!


Here is a quick reminder of a few useful websites and telephone numbers for the UK.........


http://www.nhs.uk/servicedirectories/Pages/ServiceSearch.aspx (http://www.nhs.uk/servicedirectories/Pages/ServiceSearch.aspx) - useful site to finding NHS resources in your area….



NHS Direct – 0845 4647

NHS 24 (Scotland) – 0845 4242424


NHS 111 - If you live in County Durham and Darlington, Lancashire (excluding West Lancashire), Lincolnshire, the London boroughs of Croydon and Hillingdon, Luton, North Derbyshire and Nottingham City, or on the Isle of Wight, you can now call 111 when you need medical help fast but it’s not a 999 emergency.

[pearl79]

thankyou for a great post,
but when i put a medical problem im not asking for anyone to diagnose me, just looking for friendly reassurance to snap me out of a panick,
Some people have no one to turn to if its late at night and woken in a panic and NMP is a great sight to turn to to help rid of the panic even if its temperary. Unfortuanately Health anxiety is about medical problems and so this is what we fear and want to talk about. and know fulwell to get professional medical help in the appropriate situation x
but again a very useful post x

[venusbluejeans]

What happens if someone tells someone that thier symptoms are just anxiety which a LOT of people do ..............which then 'reasures' the person but it then turns out the symptoms are 'real' and not just anx as they have been told.

It is those who ask directly if they have some sort of medical problem, or those who tell us thier test results and ask members what is wrong with them. So I am not talking about the people who seek reassurance but the people who directly ask for medical advice/diagnosis.

[Jenwales]

Took ages for the doctor to diagnose me with anxiety( well they said I had stress and I suffered with panic attacks for another few months until gmtv told me what i had)
but this post had to be put on here
if you have symptoms get anything serious ruled out first

[moirascott]

Ermm but Im not a health anxiety person, but the rest of the counties up ...

[KK77]

Agreed. I always try to be careful in what I say, esp if it's chest pain-related, which should always be taken seriously.

Anxiety can be blamed on MANY things but not EVERYTHING.

[nomorepanic]

Bumping up again

[waunder]

I understand the need for support and reassurance and it is a wonderful site to look for answers, It has plenty of info on many topics around mental ,emotional and medical issues when you look at the topics but I always suggest you get the best help with anything you can because we all deserve it and it is for the best. So getting to se a professional is always the best for you. hugs

[Sarahjosephine]

This web-site has helped me immensely and it's mainly because people are reassuring me and telling me it's all in my head...I believe our minds are extremely powerful and if the symptoms disappear which they often do then going back and fourth to the doctor can be quite distressing and that's why its great to have this place to ask questions (I don't agree with people putting their results up) but this is a very resourceful site that has a lot of people willing to help (some who may even be in the medical field) I was sad to read this abrupt and almost rude post as people use this site for reassurance and people with HA will take this as a "no-one here knows anything medical so don't ask" but isn't that what this site is for? People are going to Google it anyway and it's better to ask here, most people recommend going to the doctor but a lot of times, so many people are suffering the same symptoms which is why it's a great place to calm ourselves down and eventually our symptoms disappear and we forget about it....sorry I was just shocked at how this was written and think that some people might take this the wrong way.

[Veronica H]

I am sure that you didn't mean it to sound so abrupt venus, but it does, and so the message gets lost somewhere.
Vx

[nomorepanic]

I don't think it is rude or abrupt and if I did then I would have removed it. Venus was just stating the facts and I had already done a previous post about this issue.


people use this site for reassurance and people with HA will take this as a "no-one here knows anything medical so don't ask" but isn't that what this site is for

How can we reassure someone that they aren't having a heart attack or the pain in their leg isn't a DVT though when we are not qualified to do so? No-one here (apart from a few members that are nurses I believe) are medically trained and I did not want members telling others that they are fine when they may not be.

This site is not for that purpose it is for Panic Attacks and General Anxiety.

If you read the post carefully it says that members cannot diagnose illnesses so do not ask for a diagnosis - that was the main point of it all.

[Veronica H]

I did read it carefully, and agree with you that people should not ask for or expect an answer to such questions. I suppose the feeling that something is written in an abrupt way is subjective, but I wasn't the only one who thought so.

Vx

[nomorepanic]

That is fair enough V - as you say different people read things differently.

[ronski]

This is a very difficult area that you are all discussing, when is reassurance a step to far. To most people we are coming from personal experience, I for example worked for 34 years as a health care professional and I saw a lot of things that the average Gp may only see once in a lifetime as I worked in a specialist centre that was world renowned.
I would suggest that any advice should always come with the caveat seek medical advice from your own doctor as nothin is better than a face to face consultation. A huge amount of information is collected by the history but not so much by a physical but add the two together and that's where accurate diagnosis is made. With health anxiety threads you cannot escape from people asking for advice and interpretation of test results ( its inevitable) and as previously stated don't put everything down to anxiety. Empathy comes from personal experience and that is something thay you certainly want to encourage but with the caveat always seek medical advice from your own doctor.

[cerridwen]

Hi all,

I agree about avoiding giving medical advice. I also don't think I am looking for reassurance when I post on this site, in fact, my GP says that reassurance is not the answer and that, after an appropriate medical evaluation, we need to become more comfortable with living with uncertainty. Ironic really, because the subliminal messages I pick up from our NHS is that EVERYTHING needs checking out!!!!

I am looking for a bit of empathy on these pages (I get a sense of what's it's like for you and how you feel) and sympathy (I know, I've been there, done that, got the t-shirt and know what it's like). And tips on how to cope with the waiting for test results and evaluations when there are symptoms.

Health anxiety has exploded because of the increasing medicalisation of our health. For example, the new, draft DSM V (American Diagnostic and statistical manual vs. 5, which gives medical professionals guidelines for diagnosis of mental health issues) is causing controversy amongst doctors, psychologists and other health professionals internationally because it classifies 'mental health' issues such as bereavement and pre-menstrual syndrome as requiring mental health drug treatment. Good grief!

Cerridwen:)

[venusbluejeans]

Hi all,

I am looking for a bit of empathy on these pages (I get a sense of what's it's like for you and how you feel) and sympathy (I know, I've been there, done that, got the t-shirt and know what it's like). And tips on how to cope with the waiting for test results and evaluations when there are symptoms.

Cerridwen:)

Exactly you have hit the nail on ther head of what NMP and this thread are about.....Reassurance and help for you panic and not for diagnosis.

it is fine to say........'I am panicking because I have this symptom please could you help me by reassuring me with your experiences and help me calm down'

but not... 'I have this symptom/lump/pain etc can you tell me what it is please so I do not worry about it anymore or go to the doctors about it'

:flowers:

[Dizzy_Dave]

If I had listened to my GP in 2005 when I was ill and continued to follow his advice of 'not to worry about a few pains and aches it's probably a virus' I would be DEAD. I had a fast growing tumour and my symptoms mirrored cancer and at the very least required further investigation like a scan. I got my diagnoses through Google searches and DEMANDED a scan in the end - 2 days after scan I was being operated on.

[AuntieMoosie]

I am sorry about that Dave and I'm glad that you're okay now :)

But Venus's post isn't about people obtaining medical advice from their doctors, what happened to you sounds bad, but it's not what Venus is talking about here :)

What Venus has said is for people NOT to ask the members of this forum for medical advice, and there is a very good and valid reason for that too.

None of us here are qualified doctors, therefore, we are in no way qualified to give out medical advice or to be able to diagnose a medical condition.

It would be wholly wrong of us to even attempt to do that, I'm even reluctant at times to hazard a guess, it's just wrong all round.

Venus has said that it's fine for people to talk about their health anxiety and what worries them, but just not to ask us for a medical opinion, which we just can't give :)

The best route for all medical questions is to go direct to a doctor, stay away from Dr Google, he just gives you the bad news and tells you stuff that you don't need to know:winks:

[CeeCeeCee]

"most people recommend going to the doctor but a lot of times, so many people are suffering the same symptoms which is why it's a great place to calm ourselves down and eventually our symptoms disappear and we forget about it"

I agree, I think that reassurance is what we need and coming on here in a bit of a panic, it sometimes calms us down to hear that others have been through similar things too. Most people are very careful of not trying to take a doctors place but simply saying the right thing to make us feel better and calm us down, whilst still advising to be have it checked to be sure.

[skippy66]

"most people recommend going to the doctor but a lot of times, so many people are suffering the same symptoms which is why it's a great place to calm ourselves down and eventually our symptoms disappear and we forget about it"

I agree, I think that reassurance is what we need and coming on here in a bit of a panic, it sometimes calms us down to hear that others have been through similar things too. Most people are very careful of not trying to take a doctors place but simply saying the right thing to make us feel better and calm us down, whilst still advising to be have it checked to be sure.

Unfortunately, although it helps in the short term, reassurance only serves to make things worse because it NEVER lasts and ALWAYS leads to more reassurance-seeking behaviour.

[SarahH]

I am hoping this will be "bumped up" the site for all to read

sarah

[MyNameIsTerry]

Is this still the case? The majority of threads seem to be against this. People discuss medication combinations all the time on the Medications board but then this post is here, not there. The same issue here should also be applied to the Symptoms board so wouldn't it be appropriate to have the rule in the t&c's as well otherwise it appears that there is no issue with the rest of the forum?

I'm not sure what constitutes medical advice is clearly defined because we talk a lot about therapy and no one here is able to professionally practice (maybe one of two but not without Nic's permission) so the same could be said about discussions on CBT.

[SarahH]

Terry,

My reading of this thread was that if people ask say " I have A,B or C symptom...is this cancer/heartfailure etc?" "we" on NMP are not qualified to diagnose. Advice regarding peoples experiences of medications or therapies is a different matter... that's an "opinion" and I think that is clear to most who come on NMP. I suppose there is a danger of members giving incorrect advice on medical matters which really should be discussed with a Dr.

sarah

[MyNameIsTerry]

Hi Sarah,

Its all opinion really. I'm very guilty of advice when it comes to therapy.

I understand what they are trying to say but I don't see anyone paying attention to it so I question whether this needs its profile lifting or the alternative is the write it off as unenforceable. I've raised a similiar question to Nic over the t&c's covering OCD which even the admins have been seen not enforcing so I have questioned whether that is an old rule that needs changing to match the current climate. I wonder if this issue is the same because even when people say something is anxiety, its not following what Venus has said in this thread.

Given its old, was this put here to try to stop the issue when it was developing? Is that why it seems so defunct now as the forum has changed? I know that this board looks no different to me 12 months ago so it must be long before I joined.

On the medication issue, we do have people asking direct questions about combining things but most of it is more about how to use medication to treat which seems more acceptable since the GP has full control in place.

[SarahH]

I think this has been an on going issue on the board since I joined over 2 years ago. It crops up sometimes and then there is a lot of debate and then it dies down again.The board was initially set up for support of anxiety sufferers but has now grown........ personally I ignore the "here's my symptom... have I got cancer questions" as I believe people should see a Dr not ask Dr Google.

Just my opinion of course

Sarah

[cerridwen]

Also there are a lot of people seeking reassurance for symptoms, but when I wanted some positive, proactive support for stopping reassurance seeking i.e. Something that I can do to really tackle health anxiety, I didn't get any replies. If you want support for symptoms, like "I am sure you are ok but go to the doc" etc., you get inundated.

[pulisa]

This is a major problem with the HA board, I'm afraid. People love to compare notes, seek reassurance and unwittingly fuel their HA with loads and loads of emotive information. Anything remotely helpful gets ignored in the sheer volume of posts.

[strongerthananxiety]

The thing about Anxiety is that it has the ability to make us feel in different ways. Not everyone will have the same symptoms. The fight or flight response may make people feel different from others. When I was going through my Anxiety years ago I decided to put all the sensations or symptoms under one category and told myself it would go away when Anxiety would go away. This kept me from over analyzing everything I was feeling. Just a thought for people with health Anxiety.

[MyNameIsTerry]

Also there are a lot of people seeking reassurance for symptoms, but when I wanted some positive, proactive support for stopping reassurance seeking i.e. Something that I can do to really tackle health anxiety, I didn't get any replies. If you want support for symptoms, like "I am sure you are ok but go to the doc" etc., you get inundated.

I know, because I answered your thread. Perhaps you didn't go back to it? (if you mean the thread about how staying off forums didn't help you)

But I know what you mean and I think your question is a less common one. Most of the time it's about how staying away from forums like this helps, but that's only a short term thing anyway as that's avoidance of a possible trigger and this is known to keep people anxious anyway hence why therapists then get people to expose themselves again to triggers to ensure they are free of them.

Sometimes it seems to take a bit of kick starting to get a debate going on here as people are swamped under their symptoms. If you can get some responses, you will probably get a few more but beyond that it can be harder, I think, for newer members.

[paranoid-viking]

One thing I think people should definitely NOT do here; and which is very WRONG is the excample of someone posting pictures of their own eyes etc. There is one such thread here; and it reinforced immediately an obsessive fear I have had for pancreatic cancer for almost a year now. And it happened on a holliday. I mean; it is very inconsiderate to post such things on a forum catering to people with anxiety; I mean; such is triggering anxiety for the worst. There are forums where people are posting pictures of their eyes or even their stools for medical opinion but I dont think that is OK here.

As for reassurance; it depends on what people write. Sometimes people write about symptoms that really could be something and then it should be the docs to give opinion about what it is. But other times; when someone is convinced they have rabies becuase they been breathing in the same room as their non-rabied puppy; yeah; then it is safe to tell people they are OK and will not die a horrible death from rabies. This summer there has been quite a few rabies posts and of course they are based on irrational fear. But I wont comment on someone who discover that their eyes are turning yellow or constant burning pain in chest. Then they should go to the doctor ASAP.

[MyNameIsTerry]

One thing I think people should definitely NOT do here; and which is very WRONG is the excample of someone posting pictures of their own eyes etc. There is one such thread here; and it reinforced immediately an obsessive fear I have had for pancreatic cancer for almost a year now. And it happened on a holliday. I mean; it is very inconsiderate to post such things on a forum catering to people with anxiety; I mean; such is triggering anxiety for the worst. There are forums where people are posting pictures of their eyes or even their stools for medical opinion but I dont think that is OK here.

As for reassurance; it depends on what people write. Sometimes people write about symptoms that really could be something and then it should be the docs to give opinion about what it is. But other times; when someone is convinced they have rabies becuase they been breathing in the same room as their non-rabied puppy; yeah; then it is safe to tell people they are OK and will not die a horrible death from rabies. This summer there has been quite a few rabies posts and of course they are based on irrational fear. But I wont comment on someone who discover that their eyes are turning yellow or constant burning pain in chest. Then they should go to the doctor ASAP.

Poo pictures have been on here but thankfully I didn't see them. I have seen pictures of a penis. One guy posted the tapeworm he had passed, which I gave a swerve.

I think it's even harder to work it out from a picture than a description a lot of times. Best left to someone trained & experienced. And who has no choice but to look at poo by job description.

[Amayatylor]

Thanks for making me aware of this.

[paranoid-viking]

One more thing: I menationed above that it depends on the context of what people ask about. There are numerous rabies threads here these days; and I think it is good that they ask such questions here and save time and resources for the heath systems and doctors. It is better that people ask silly qustions like "can an invisible bat bite me and give me rabies at night" and "is there rabies virus on my bedsheets"on this forum than wasting doctors time. Or the even more extrem questions about brain eating amoebas or the odd questions about HIV from toilet seats and such. Asking such questions here saves time, money and resources in the health system and is a win win situation.

[paranoid-viking]

But I would really wish that people whose allready under the observation of a doctor would stop posting pictures of thir eyes and similar. If the docs allready says that something is disturbing, why should we give reassurance? To give them a false sense of security? Do they really excpect us to say "dont worry, you are fine, your doctor is just hysterical". Would they believe THAT? I think not. Why ask for a third opinion from us? I understand of course, being hysterical in my HA myself, but you can not get reassurance all the time. It is not rational and it worsens the anxiety of others. And would they skip controls with the doc of we give them false hope?

I think such posts may cause others to be "infected" with the same fears. I had never seen eyes pictures here before this summer, and then short after another thread, which I believe is the result of people being triggered by other posts.

[Fishmanpa]

But I would really wish that people whose allready under the observation of a doctor would stop posting pictures of thir eyes and similar.

You would be amazed (I don't know if that's the right word but it's PC) at some of the pics that have been posted here! Some of that stuff you just can't unsee! :ohmy: :roflmao:

Positive thoughts

[paranoid-viking]

You would be amazed (I don't know if that's the right word but it's PC) at some of the pics that have been posted here! Some of that stuff you just can't unsee! :ohmy: :roflmao:

Positive thoughts

Yes, I read that someone is posting stool pictures. Have not seen them and decided not to. *gross*

[Fishmanpa]

Yes, I read that someone is posting stool pictures. Have not seen them and decided not to. *gross*

Various body parts of a sensitive nature as well! :scared15:

Positive thoughts

[MyNameIsTerry]

Yes, I read that someone is posting stool pictures. Have not seen them and decided not to. *gross*

I can remember a guy who posted a pic of the tape worm he had passed. I'm pretty sure there are many pictures on them on the internet, we don't need to see someone's personal little passed friend. :doh:

I agree though, we aren't trained to be able to spot the differences in physical symptoms and looking at them is for the trained. Camera work can make a difference for a start.

I don't think NMP should allow images of this stuff as it encourages breaking this rule.

---------- Post added at 02:04 ---------- Previous post was at 01:59 ----------


One more thing: I menationed above that it depends on the context of what people ask about. There are numerous rabies threads here these days; and I think it is good that they ask such questions here and save time and resources for the heath systems and doctors. It is better that people ask silly qustions like "can an invisible bat bite me and give me rabies at night" and "is there rabies virus on my bedsheets"on this forum than wasting doctors time. Or the even more extrem questions about brain eating amoebas or the odd questions about HIV from toilet seats and such. Asking such questions here saves time, money and resources in the health system and is a win win situation.

Aha! That's medical advice though! :winks: Are we trained to spot something isn't rabies? Are we trained in rabies transmission & prevalence? Think HIV, there is a big difference between being trained to treat it and reading the CDC website.

But you do raise another reason why the medical rule on here can't work. Why would any person, especially outside of anxiety circles, tell someone to ask a doctor whether a breeze of wind in an area where you have bats could mean you have rabies?

SFI is a great example. It's incredibl rare yet insomnia isn't, and especially in those with mental health problems. Strictly speaking only a doctor can say you don't have it but seriously what are the chances of getting it wrong?

And if you are repeated the facts from a credible source like the NHS, CDC, etc then you aren't giving medical advice, meerly repeating medical facts. It's no different than saying that anxiety disorders are mental health issues rather than alien giraffe cakes.

[Lola-Lee]

Stool,why can't we just say shit pictures, I get confused keep thinking it is a chair for my arse to sit on.:wacko:

Dr Feelgood gave me antibiotics for this ghastly flu I don't normally take them but I feel rotten,lemon honey,and all things natural ain't hitting it on the head,any suggestions from any armchair quacks would be much appreciated,thanks.

[MyNameIsTerry]

Stool,why can't we just say shit pictures, I get confused keep thinking it is a chair for my arse to sit on.:wacko:

Dr Feelgood gave me antibiotics for this ghastly flu I don't normally take them but I feel rotten,lemon honey,and all things natural ain't hitting it on the head,any suggestions from any armchair quacks would be much appreciated,thanks.

Vitamin C!!! I've beat a few infections with it when previously I would have needed antibiotics with my asthma.

Space the doses out to keep blood plasma optimum. Large doses are worthles as the body can't hold them anyway so the excess just comes out the back passage. Larger doses that are timed release are ok though.

For treatment of loose stools...

https://www.collinsdictionary.com/images/thumb/screwdriver_209730664_250.jpg

:noangel::roflmao:

[Lola-Lee]

:roflmao:
Thank for your reply,Terry. I have always had vit, C take them daily,this is a bad flu I had a nose bleed last night and another this morning my bed looked like a crime scene.I bit the bullet and started the antibiotics so will see how they go.

[MyNameIsTerry]

I hope you feel better soon, Lola. If a woman is saying it's a bad flu then they would be calling a priest for us blokes if we had it :roflmao:

Antibiotics seem to take a couple of days to kick in but once they do you can notice a change quite quickly. If you get any bum side effects (like loose items of anal supportive furniture) yoghurt can help.

Lemon & honey things can help I believe. Lemon does with throat issues.

[Lola-Lee]

:roflmao:
I have sucked on quite a few lemons :D but too no avail,same with honey soothers,these antibiotics better kick in soon, I need too get back on the job.Oh and I had blueberry yoghurt and jelly for dinner,got a pain in the gut.:mad:

[MyNameIsTerry]

According to the NHS for a very long time now GP's are struggling to cope with the demand of patients as well as the volumes of patients per surgery. My own surgery cancelled the early morning walk-in that had been running as far back as I can remember (I was going to them as a young child) citing the volume, difficulty in finding replacement GP's, etc.

And there has just been an article about doctors suffering from mental health problems due to the stresses of their jobs. Overwork being one of the issues.

Yet it always astounds me that members on NMP keep telling people to see doctors when the OP's have seen doctors already or nurses (I'm not talking about second opinions) and have no medical need to see anyone. Do people not realise they are only contributing to the strain on the NHS for what is an anxiety sufferer who needs reassurance?

I never judge any sufferer who may chase for reassurance from doctors but I do believe it is wrong when other members say to do it when it's obvious some are merely pushing the reassurance issues of repetitive posters onto struggling GP's, walk-ins, etc.

This contributes to why people with heath conditions can't get appointments as they go in the queue if they aren't considered urgent. There are implications to what appear to be free at the point of use visits and whilst the sufferer themselves may be seriously struggling to not do this others shouldn't be so free with a doctor's time in my opinion.

Just because someone is struggling with anxiety does not give us the right to waste the time of doctors because we want to stop it. Some want to help OP's and believe it may help but others should know better when we have histories of members who could go for 500 appointments and still not feel any better. It's irresponsible.

Go and see a doctor about the anxiety though, that is a given.

[xD]

am i late...