Is all the health info on the net nescescarry?

[paranoid-viking]

I mean; as the old saying goes; if you feel something is wrong and unusual about your body you should go see your doctor. The Internet is sworming over with extremely frightening information about deadly ilnesses and nightmare stories. I think a lot of us would be better if ot was not that easy available. I mean; do we need to hear such things from other than our doctors. Wors; I noticed that out in the forums and comments fields on the net there is a lot of hatred and anger towards medical personel as if they are responsible for ilnesses and claims that doctors are idiots and that they are not to trust.
This is bad for people with health anixiety. But I mean; people get the information they need from the doctors, we dont need to google and "confrim" our worst fears. I mean; such information should mainly be reserved for health personel. Healthy people should not have their days ruined by tabloid medias scaremongering about "symptoms of the body you must never ignore" or that a normal muscle twist or anxiety is a symtpom of a deadly cancer.

Another thing: I have noticed; gulty as I am in googling horror stories that some cybercondriacs creates profiles on cancer forums just to ask cancer ill members on that forum if some minor conditions they have is a symptom of this and that cancer. Worst thing you can do definetel. Like one story where a guy had a painfu cough after doing mountain biking(an extremely common condition after heavy exercise)and asked on a lung cancer forum if this was a symptom of lung cancer(I am not joking). And everyone on the board gave him confirmation bias and fed his fears. Needles to say, the guy went for a scanning of the lung and came out fine. So what to make out of that? One should never ever visit cancer forums if you are a hypocondriac. It will only feed your health scare more. I am a crazy hypocondriac but I would never go this far.

[ScaredMama]

I've plugged in my symptoms and pretty much diagnosed myself with advanced metastatic cancer that has now spread to my chest wall, stomach, bowel and organs. There is a part of me that believes this may be true from all of the forums I have read on lymphoma, perfectly describing my symptoms. There is another part of me that is trying to be logical and saying, "nobody posts about that time they thought they had cancer, but didnt." My worst fear is death, the nothingness, not being here to watch my son grow up and participate in his life. I need some f&cking answers today!

[axolotl]

I agree with the OP, I genuinely think health sites are a curse, because there's a lot of very specialist information out there which we're simply not qualified to understand - there's a good reason why doctors do 7 years of rigorous training (and still have to refer us to specialists) rather than just Googling symptoms for us. When we're thinking logically, it's actually quite grandiose and arrogant to think we can start diagnosing ourselves of complicated conditions after ten minutes on our laptops, but we're all guilty of it.

The other problem is there's a lot of websites about for the big, scary, headlining stuff, but very little about "this thing that hasn't got a name but is a bit weird and the doctor's not sure what it is but it's nothing to worry about and it'll go off after a few weeks and never happen again...", which is what a huge proportion of the things we worry about end up being!

[paranoid-viking]

I mean, it is good that there is forum catering to cancer patients and victims where they can gove each other support. But I think these forums should be closed group only for those registered and with a cancer diagnosis or close family members with the diagnosis and not possible to view for others with a google search. And perahpas it should also be required that they show evidence of diagnosis before they register.
I am not blaming cancer victims for feeding hypocondriacs with fear as they burst into their forums; after all they are strugling and coping with a painful and traumatic reality that us hypocondriacs only fear. Us hypocondriacs should not bother cancer victims and their families with our fears; that is not nice.

---------- Post added at 15:25 ---------- Previous post was at 15:23 ----------


I agree with the OP, I genuinely think health sites are a curse, because there's a lot of very specialist information out there which we're simply not qualified to understand - there's a good reason why doctors do 7 years of rigorous training (and still have to refer us to specialists) rather than just Googling symptoms for us. When we're thinking logically, it's actually quite grandiose and arrogant to think we can start diagnosing ourselves of complicated conditions after ten minutes on our laptops, but we're all guilty of it.
!


I think media should take the blame too. I have seen quite astonishing claims from some site which I somehow doubt is written by health personals.

[sarahsparkleshine]

Yes. They're tortuous.

[paranoid-viking]

Yes. They're tortuous.

When you are a HAer you dont need to watch a good horror movie to be scared on Halloween. It is enough to go through healt info online. It beats any horror movie I ever watched.

[MyNameIsTerry]

The Internet is just accessible and allows for anecdotal reports. BUT before the Internet we could all quite easily walk to any bookshop or library for a medical book and do the same.

Misuse is the issue not that something is available. That misuse is based on skewed thinking which is something key to work on.

Any support group works on trust. They don't ask to see your medical records first. The reason for this is that everything works based on majority need. Why should they have to cater for a minority of HA sufferers who try to join in with them? (And that is a minority within a minority, as I expect most would understand just how wrong it is)

In the grand scheme of things, this is just one small issue of modern times. There are worse issues with the Internet and media that impact the world. But if all the health sites & forums were taken down tomorrow, what about all books? Would you simply switch to those?

[paranoid-viking]

The Internet is just accessible and allows for anecdotal reports. BUT before the Internet we could all quite easily walk to any bookshop or library for a medical book and do the same.

Misuse is the issue not that something is available. That misuse is based on skewed thinking which is something key to work on.

Any support group works on trust. They don't ask to see your medical records first. The reason for this is that everything works based on majority need. Why should they have to cater for a minority of HA sufferers who try to join in with them? (And that is a minority within a minority, as I expect most would understand just how wrong it is)

In the grand scheme of things, this is just one small issue of modern times. There are worse issues with the Internet and media that impact the world. But if all the health sites & forums were taken down tomorrow, what about all books? Would you simply switch to those?

Yes, but suffering from HA is a horrible mental condition; for me it is at least. And that is why I wished cancer forums were totally unavailable for us. But notice that I also view it the other way around aswell; as I think cancer victims and their families should not be bothered by us.

The anecdotal reports that you call it is one of the worst things about checking up your symptoms online. In the good old days we did not find such things in libraries, just general medical information and that`s it. Nowadays, people(like me)are googling nightmare stories as an obsession as soon as we are close to the laptop and it affects our social life and life quality.

[MyNameIsTerry]

I don't have HA traits in my anxiety but I'm confronted by my triggers daily. My triggers were there before my anxiety because they are part of the world and it is my anxiety that has latched onto them. That doesn't mean they should be somehow removed because of their impact to me. I need to conquer them.

The same can be said for some HA triggers e.g. posters on public view on roads, TV adverts, health campaigns, etc. But medical sites, books, forms, etc are not put in front of us so easily and there are ways of avoiding them (e.g. blocking software) although I don't advocate that long term since that's not recovery.

Why make it harder for cancer sufferers to access support they need to prevent a small minority of HA sufferers joining in? Like you say, it's detrimental to their members but wouldn't it be detrimental to their members to make it hard to access them at such a hard time in their lives? Family members might struggle even being allowed on if they become so closed.

It's a good point about making them closed groups. I'm guessing they take the view that it allows those too scared to join see they are not alone with the hope they join in? Like how we have so many watchers, of whom I was once one for some time. A member on here asked if we could go closed group and it was refused because of things like awareness.

If those groups are happy to operate that way because they feel it gets out to more people, that takes precedence over HA sufferers accessing them to me. Some will cause distress to the cancer forums and many more will be watchers scaring themselves but it's like the health campaigns which are aimed at getting to the small genuine cases. These are often complained about on here but non HA people tend to get sick of such adverts rather than be triggered by them but the doctors are obviously taking the view that is better than losing a life.

So, perhaps the question is why those forums can't be closed groups? But as to professional medical sites, they have their benefits to those of us without HA. The crackpot sites can definitely go, as can the scaremongering media types, but sadly it's just modern life now the can of worms has been opened.

The anecdotes are everywhere, even on here (the Meds board, for instance). Other than banning comment sections, reviews, etc I'm not sure how it can be stoppedin today's online obsessed world? The HA person needs to get a good understanding of what to adapt to, rather than avoid, long term but like all anxiety it's a very hard thing to beat the triggers that jump out at you.

[axolotl]

I realise I may have sounded censorious above, which I'm not. All info should be out there, but there should be better education of how to use it, and respect for medical expertise (and awareness of our lack of it). Plus there will be instances where lives have been saved by people learning about meningitis, or appendicitis, or early signs of cancer or whatever - it works both ways.

I do worry some sites veer into being clickbait for hypochondriacs though - I've noticed sometimes sponsored ads for sites about bowel cancer or whatever sometimes pop up on pages about IBS. That's cynical and harmful.

[paranoid-viking]

The Internet is just accessible and allows for anecdotal reports. BUT before the Internet we could all quite easily walk to any bookshop or library for a medical book and do the same.

Misuse is the issue not that something is available. That misuse is based on skewed thinking which is something key to work on.

Any support group works on trust. They don't ask to see your medical records first. The reason for this is that everything works based on majority need. Why should they have to cater for a minority of HA sufferers who try to join in with them? (And that is a minority within a minority, as I expect most would understand just how wrong it is)

In the grand scheme of things, this is just one small issue of modern times. There are worse issues with the Internet and media that impact the world. But if all the health sites & forums were taken down tomorrow, what about all books? Would you simply switch to those?


I agree completely. You are right.
But I would say that if I were a cancer victim and some hypocondriac(s) were bothering ME with questions of wheter I have their disease or not I think I would reply "I have absolutely no idea. Dont bother me, talk to your doctor".

[Mercime]

Cancer forums should absolutely NOT be closed groups. The same "idea" could be offered about other illnesses which are possibly terminal - should they all be closed too? Moderators would step in if someone is being a nuisance.
These forums are invaluable sources of info for not just those with the disease, but their family and friends too. I second what Terry has said about the HA side of things.

[ktdid2000]

I go to cancer forums all the time, but I usually end up there after doing a google search for one-or-another symptom, which then sends me to someone's story which then makes me think their story will now be ME. In other words, confirmation of my fears.

I think reading personal stories like the ones on the forums are so much scarier than the run of the mill medical information sites because they are so personal, and because for me the more I identify with the story the more easily I can insert myself into the story and think the same thing will happen to ME. Medical information sites are rather bland and generic - its harder to do that there.

I don't advocate closing off groups - but going to forums and/or reading personal blogs about people with cancer (another one of my worst triggers) is pretty much the worst thing you can do if you have HA.

[Mercime]

The cancer forums have info of course, and it's valuable. The forums for different types are more personal. I think that most sufferers could tolerate somebody asking a one off question, but not when people become a nuisance and keep questioning.

[paranoid-viking]

I go to cancer forums all the time, but I usually end up there after doing a google search for one-or-another symptom, which then sends me to someone's story which then makes me think their story will now be ME. In other words, confirmation of my fears.

I think reading personal stories like the ones on the forums are so much scarier than the run of the mill medical information sites because they are so personal, and because for me the more I identify with the story the more easily I can insert myself into the story and think the same thing will happen to ME. Medical information sites are rather bland and generic - its harder to do that there.

I don't advocate closing off groups - but going to forums and/or reading personal blogs about people with cancer (another one of my worst triggers) is pretty much the worst thing you can do if you have HA.

I hope people not mmisunderstood me. I was not advocating closing off or banning of groups but considered the thought that cancer forums could be "invisible" for others than registered members; something that is not unheard of on the web: such groups exists. Otherwise I think these forums should have a zero tolerance for hypocondriacs with mild discomfort fearing they have this or that type of cancer. Not just for the sake of the hypocondriacs but also to show some respect for the cancer victims which of course have a more genuine reason to feel down than those of us who are free of cancer but suffer from healt anxiety.

---------- Post added at 00:28 ---------- Previous post was at 00:19 ----------


The cancer forums have info of course, and it's valuable. The forums for different types are more personal. I think that most sufferers could tolerate somebody asking a one off question, but not when people become a nuisance and keep questioning.

And I witnesed that. On a forum for pancreatic cancer victims someone with symtpoms even milder than what is usual for even chronic pancreatitis patiens kept going on for months and months; a year actually; meanwhile many real PC victims died of course; that he was convinced it was PC although every possible test and scanning found nothing wrong; but no; he insisted and demanded second opinions. even though he even shared that his apetite was normal and that he did not loose weight; and finally when confronted with the fact that this was hypocondriac he of course denided with "nooo my pains are very real"; something that is beside the point. Having HA is not about wheter pain is reel or not; it is going hysteric over changes in the body which probably has a reasonable explenation. Suggesting that upset stomach or muscle pain is a symtpom of the deadliest of cancers is THE definition of health anxiety. And going on and on about that on a forum for people who actually suffers from this deadly disease is showing a lack of respect and consideration for the victims and their families.

Yes, me and everyone else in here; we fear and assume the worst of our health; and none of us of course are imune to the worst thing; but we should at least show consideration for those that we know and who knows themselves that they are mortally ill and dying and not invade their forums with our paranoia.

---------- Post added at 00:45 ---------- Previous post was at 00:28 ----------



I do worry some sites veer into being clickbait for hypochondriacs though - I've noticed sometimes sponsored ads for sites about bowel cancer or whatever sometimes pop up on pages about IBS. That's cynical and harmful.

One of the good reasons to defend my use of AdBlock.

[Mercime]

A couple of points really. The main is that not everyone joins these forums with a diagnosis, some act upon advice given and go to their doc - these are people with symptoms that genuinely point towards a certain issue.

Also, not everybody with a diagnosis want to share their story. They do get comfort from reading about others so should the group be invisible to them too?
Lastly, although you mean well, cancer does not automatically mean terminal disease. Many are not mortally ill, they get better. And the case you mention, of the guy on there for over a year? He should have been banned, as should anyone who really pushes their luck. Really, although it is incredibly difficult, the HA sufferer needs to avoid these forums.

People there may be dying, they may not, but they are all going through a hellish time of trying to overcome this illness. The groups set up to support them to do that should not have to be closed, ever, because of HA sufferers, it would be an impossibility!

[MyNameIsTerry]

Don't worry, paranoid-viking, you are one of many who has raised a thread like this. It's very clear that your heart is in the right place and you are trying to understand a solution for people with HA and with physical ailments such as cancer. No one is going to take offence to that.

[fizzymoon86]

Does anyone else ever have a sneaking feeling that there are people out there who are writing negative comments on various health forums etc just to scare people like us? Scaremongers? I've stopped googling symptoms and haven't for a couple of years now following a very dark period in my life where I couldn't be left alone because I would be constantly googling stomach cancer (I have acid reflux) and having panic attacks every day. I would come across forums where people would write about their relatives who died and only had minor symptoms etc etc. I now feel as though I was sucked into a downward spiral caused by people who get a kick out of trying to scare people.

Maybe it's just me?!

[Mercime]

Does anyone else ever have a sneaking feeling that there are people out there who are writing negative comments on various health forums etc just to scare people like us? Scaremongers? I've stopped googling symptoms and haven't for a couple of years now following a very dark period in my life where I couldn't be left alone because I would be constantly googling stomach cancer (I have acid reflux) and having panic attacks every day. I would come across forums where people would write about their relatives who died and only had minor symptoms etc etc. I now feel as though I was sucked into a downward spiral caused by people who get a kick out of trying to scare people.

Maybe it's just me?!

What kind of health forums? Please tell me you're not referring to cancer forums?

[paranoid-viking]

Does anyone else ever have a sneaking feeling that there are people out there who are writing negative comments on various health forums etc just to scare people like us? Scaremongers? I've stopped googling symptoms and haven't for a couple of years now following a very dark period in my life where I couldn't be left alone because I would be constantly googling stomach cancer (I have acid reflux) and having panic attacks every day. I would come across forums where people would write about their relatives who died and only had minor symptoms etc etc. I now feel as though I was sucked into a downward spiral caused by people who get a kick out of trying to scare people.

Maybe it's just me?!

Absolutely. There are most certainly evil and sadistic trolls showing up in such discusions for the sole purpose of scaring the living hell out of people with health anxiety. For example; I witnesed a thread about someone with IBS like symptoms whos convinced he or she has pancreatic cancer; and most people reply of course that it is unlikely, but of course there is ONE jumping aboard claiming he knows several young people who died of pancreatic cancer which ios absolutely b***shit. It is very unlikely that anyone can know several people who died of this minority-within-a-minority-cancer which rarely affects people under 70 years of age.
I hope moderators here takes immediately action if such scumbag trolls would invade NMP.

---------- Post added at 22:08 ---------- Previous post was at 22:03 ----------


What kind of health forums? Please tell me you're not referring to cancer forums?

Probably not cancer forums. These have a zero tolerance for trolling. But I have seen such things on other forums. Saw one place someone claimed both parents and his brother died from pancreatic cancer. Now; it is not imposible that such things could happen; after all we are 6 billion people on this earth but it is very very unlikely indeed and I smell trolling.

[thomas1998]

I agree entirely, if you feel something is wrong - go to the doctor. If you wasted your time then so be it, at least you can be confident nothing is wrong - and if you're not fine then you can get sorted out.

Diagnosing myself on the internet has given me so much anxiety it's unbelievable. I've had about 15 dfferent illnesses in the last month according to Google.

One thing I couldn't believe the other week was that my local chemist, Boots, is actually partnered with WebMD!!

[dale12345]

My psychiatrist said that she think WEB MD should be outlawed, you type in anything and your dying.

[paranoid-viking]

My psychiatrist said that she think WEB MD should be outlawed, you type in anything and your dying.

WEB MD, unlike Mayo Clinic is considered to be a very unreliable source on health information. Same as with some online doctor sites that is just a scheme to exploit hypocondriacs financially. Yes; there are doctors ascosiated with such web pages; but some docs are cynical; we all know that. I know of one such online doctor site in Norway where people pay money to ask an online doc the most ridicilous question; and I can most certainly say that 99,9% of the people writing to that page are hypocondriacs; paying money to ask if they can get HIV from notes and doorknobs for example. A cynical buisiness idea to cheat money out of people with health anxiety. I could tell these people for free that one does not get HIV that way. I would not demand money for saying something that obvious.

[MyNameIsTerry]

WEB MD, unlike Mayo Clinic is considered to be a very unreliable source on health information. Same as with some online doctor sites that is just a scheme to exploit hypocondriacs financially. Yes; there are doctors ascosiated with such web pages; but some docs are cynical; we all know that. I know of one such online doctor site in Norway where people pay money to ask an online doc the most ridicilous question; and I can most certainly say that 99,9% of the people writing to that page are hypocondriacs; paying money to ask if they can get HIV from notes and doorknobs for example. A cynical buisiness idea to cheat money out of people with health anxiety. I could tell these people for free that one does not get HIV that way. I would not demand money for saying something that obvious.

Not really, as ever it's about looking at things the wrong way with HA. Such sites were for convenience, they were never set up for HA sufferers.

Every time someone visits a doctor, it costs money. The NHS is free. Sadly, no it isn't and everything is charged back through cost codes into reporting ledgers.

That's how all businesses work. Private medical practices will let you walk in, tell them the same things as you raised and hand you a bill. It's not their fault someone comes in asking about such things. They cannot know until they have seen the patient and built up a history to refuse seeing them to avoid charging, if they want to.

Should all private clinics & doctors be banned just because a small % of the population suffer from a transient mental health problem that means they abuse a service? We would be scrapping a lot of the NHS with it...

A question for you. Why can't those people you could tell for free just look at a HIV/AIDS public information site as set up by charities or the government? Why do they need to ask a doctor with far less experience (and qualification) when a huge eminent source says "you ONLY catch it this way"?

I don't have HA elements to my anxiety. If I think I may have HIV, I use sites like that or contact someone I feel appropriate. I have some tests, I get the all clear and I walk away.

If a HA sufferer insists on repeatedly accessing medical professionals to ask questions that are invalid, do you think they should give it to them for free? Why, our NHS charge it internally, it's not free? So, why should a private doctor give it for free?

Doctors will be expected to conduct themselves within the terms of their codes of ethics to maintain their licences. Of course, you get dodgy doctors, but why should an entire system be based on a small % of unethical doctors?

These sites are bad for HA sufferers but for the rest of the world, they are fine. Why should we all lose access because of a small % of people? Should we shut the internet because HA sufferers misuse it to frighten themselves? Then why not the libraries too?

The core issue is within the person. As long as sites are regulated and doctors conduct themselves ethically, that's fine to me. The question of the repeaters is something a site/doctor can try and tackle but sorry, the doctor's time isn't for free regardless.

---------- Post added at 05:42 ---------- Previous post was at 05:37 ----------


Does anyone else ever have a sneaking feeling that there are people out there who are writing negative comments on various health forums etc just to scare people like us? Scaremongers? I've stopped googling symptoms and haven't for a couple of years now following a very dark period in my life where I couldn't be left alone because I would be constantly googling stomach cancer (I have acid reflux) and having panic attacks every day. I would come across forums where people would write about their relatives who died and only had minor symptoms etc etc. I now feel as though I was sucked into a downward spiral caused by people who get a kick out of trying to scare people.

Maybe it's just me?!

Yes, trolls. You get them everywhere. Some people are just twisted and will go to great lengths to scare people. Look at the troll cases we see on TV where a group of trolls target some person for years.

You also get anti-med types too. They will tell you antidepressants are evil, damage you, kill, etc. Some of these people have been through the mill with these drugs and are bitter due to this. Some are even sellers faking it to get you to go the natural route...which means you get redirected to a certain product they sell or are affiliates for. Ask Admin, we get those latter ones on here and they get picked up & banned quickly.

I don't think you can rule out horror stories which are completely fictional (and have never happened to a single person worldwide) when you hear of some of the things people post on the internet.