Does it amaze you how many people ask questions that the should be asking a doctor?

Question

It amazes me! I can't believe people put their health at risk by asking unqualified people serious health question. Fair enough to ask for advice but not about things that could be damaging to you. What's the most unbelievable thing you've heard on here?

By the way I'm in the UK so seeing a doctor IS free!

Answer 1

No ,there have always been problem pages with the usual medical questions ,but it amazes me how many people give answers when they havent got a clue,they should not do this,someone yesterday told a 20week pregnant woman that it was normal to bleed when having sex,well it isnt normal at all and can indicate things are going really wrong,

Answer 2

It is amazing. I've seen a couple of actual medical emergencies that were the subject of internet threads. When someone writes and says "I have crushing chest pains, difficulty breathing, and feel nauseous, will an antacid help?" , there is a problem. It happens. Even off the net, it happens. A lot.

It is actually a little better than them just deciding that it will go away eventually. I've seen that too. Typically responsible anwerers will tell them to get to the hospital or see a doctor.

A lot of folks don't trust doctors, don't want to bother them with something minor, or perhaps don't want to have a "real" diagnosis of the problem. Perhaps if bad news comes from a layperson it has less finality than if it comes from a doctor. There are a bunch of dead folks out there who decided that going to the doctor wasn't so necessary.

I'll bet there are a lot of pharmacists who have stories about folks coming in for otc meds while they really needed immediate serious medical care.

The flip side of this is I see a lot of folks giving rather poor advice for medical care. Occasionally, this has been fatal. The doctors are more regulated, so they tend to do a little better but one still has to be careful. Misinformation is rampant.

It isn't unusual to find someone peddling virgin coconut oil as a thyroid cure (no, it isn't), or some other snake oil. Tracing the claims back usually gets to a vendor that happens to want to increase their market. I also see a lot of damaging diets, improper dosing, and general misunderstanding of how the body and chemistry works.

Answer 3

I'm a pre-med major. So the funniest thing I have to say is when I told someone that I was studying to be a doctor, and then they turn around, pull up their shirt a little and say, "Oh, okay, so I have this rash right here...." GAAAHHH!!! I think I showered 2-3 times that day from feeling dirty.

And then people will ask me, "So my baby's been having this high fever and really mucus-y cough" to which I would reply "Go see a doctor." And then they would say, "But are you SURE? The fever's only 103.1..." to which I would SCREAM, "Go...SEE...a doctor!!!"

Geez. I think people in America are honestly afraid of going to the doctors. And I can kind of understand, it's a big pain in the rear here to go see a doctor. Where I live, you wait half an hour on the phone just to schedule your damn appointment, only to wait an hour in the waiting room, only to wait in the examination room for half an hour, because your doctor is running late doing god-knows-what, and finally, when your doctor shows up, they see you for 2 minutes and prescribe you 5 different medications to which you have no idea how to use.

Moral of the story: I'm moving to England with those free doctors and I'm never telling anyone that I'm pre-med. Ever.

Answer 4

I'm pretty new to the site and I do have to say that I am constantly amazed at some of the questions about health that people post here. But then, people can be strange. I had one guy go on and on in faily bad english about his problems that included his anus, his penis, a rash and a few other things. I'm not really sure if it was a serious question or a joke. But when I finished reading it I was amazed he would come here with it and not a hospital.

Answer 5

No not "amazed" by it but I think that peeps ask these Qs to see what a Dr. might say possibly say. I've asked a health-related Q but I planned on going to see the Dr. of course, which I'm sure everyone else on here does. I hope so anywayz ! As for most unbelievable thing, I'm not sure. I forget all the health-related Qs that I've seen on here pretty much.

Answer 6

I think it's mostly that people just want to know if there are others out there who are experiencing or have experienced what they are going through, as well as mistrust in a doctors opinion or diagnosis. Still others perhaps don't have the luxury of health insurance, so they ask people to help them self-diagnose. What really amazes me more than the number of people who ask those types of questions here, is the incredible number of people who misspell. I mean, there is a spell check people!
(Note: This was not in response to misspelling in this question, rather in response to the "Does it amaze you..." part of the question.)

Answer 7

Well it doesn't "amaze me", I have asked a medical question on here before. As long as you don't take the advice fool hearted meaning, just because someone told you to do something doesn't mean you actually do it. So therefor I see no eminent or potential risk although it does depend on the person.

Answer 8

Yes! But some people find the confidence to approach their physician after using a format like this! Breaking down the barriers of Doubt,Fear,Ignorance is ALWAYS a Good thing!!

Answer 9

Asking a doctor costs money. It's free here!. Not necessary to accept any answers.

Answer 10

Yes it does. But I have come across a few questions that states they do have a doctors appointment, but just curious about what it could be or if anyone else has experienced whatever they are.