This section really scares me. A lot of people sound like they have serious symptoms but they haven't seen a doctor. Instead they are asking strangers to diagnose them online.
What is wrong with this picture?
2007-09-01 01:40:01 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Other - General Health Care
You see, this is nuts. Someone is bragging that we are better than Guatemala. Is that what we've come to?
2007-09-01 09:46:19 · update #1
I hadn't considered the Troll angle. Hmmmmm...
2007-09-01 09:46:49 · update #2
1st of all, America does NOT have the best health care in the world.
2nd, aside from seeing a heath care professional, people still have the need of sharing their concern with other people. For example, this morning I went to the Dr for physical check up but then in the evening i still sit down and talk to my family about my health.
However, your question has some truth in it. I've noticed a lot of people asking questions that are too technical or too serious that require attention of a heath care provider, instead of random opinion people from the web.
2007-09-01 01:45:14 · answer #1 · answered by The Answer 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I was diagnosed with a rare brain disease 3 yrs ago, and have gone through 3 major brain surgerys. The specialist that I need is in New York, it is the only place in the world, that treats, the disease that I have. My insurance doesn't pay, out of state coverage. So my first surgery was done, in my state, because of my insurance situation, and the surgeon messed me up, leaving even more complications. Because of almost dying, the specialist in NY took me and did my last 2 surgerys, a couple of days apart. I have no way to pay the surgeon's ( specialist in NY ) the hospital in NY, back for what they did. Now I need a 4th surgery done, and the only people that can do it are the specialist in NY again. But I have no way of paying for it. Due to complications from having these surgery's, I am living off of milk, because I cannot swollow food anymore, and numerous other problems and I am in constant pain on a daily basis. Everyday, I am scared and wonder how long I can survive like this.I was suppose to have the surgery done last year at this time. But since I have no way to pay for it, it hasn't been done. So no, I don't think America has the best health care, it was scary enough being diagnosed with this disease. Now I need surgery for it, that I can't get, and that is even scarier. To live in this fear, at times is unbearable and it makes me sad, I no longer have an active life, like I use to. And to know that I could have my life back, if I could get the surgery that I need.
2007-09-01 09:41:08 · answer #2 · answered by Total_Power_4_Me 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think such worries as yours are overblown. Asking "opinions" of people is way different than getting and acting upon a diagnosis. It's no different than discussing a health issue with your spouse, Mom, friend, etc. It is part of the decision process...that's all.
And as a nurse, I can tell you that WAY too many people go to doctors for ridiculous reasons...things they could have easily been taken care of at home if they had gotten any kind of reasonable advice...such as online.
On the other hand, I have also seen people wait too long to act...and if you really look at a lot of the advice given here...especially to particularly worrisome symptoms, you will see that VERY often the answerers are advising...see a doctor. So they could very easily be pushing the ones avoiding a doctor to take action sooner.
The idiotic answers are pretty easy to spot and discount out of hand.
Finally, remember not everyone asking advice on Y/A are from America. Access to ANY kind of quality health care can be very problematic in many countries.
2007-09-01 08:53:56 · answer #3 · answered by kathy_is_a_nurse 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
I think a lot of people just want second opinions. Even if they want a "stranger to diagnose them online," that stranger still isn't going to treat them. I can't ask someone on here to write me a prescription. No one on here is going to run diagnostic tests.
And I've also noticed a lot of people ask health related questions that don't require medical treatment. If someone is sore from playing softball or running or whatever, what's cheaper? Asking us what helps best for sore, achy muscles, or running to the doctor and getting a bill for $100 only to get the same result? Alternate heat and ice and take some advil. It's a lot cheaper to hear it from me than it is from your doctor.
There are a lot of people who work in the health field on here (myself included). They probably have better advice as to what needs urgent treatment (get to the ER now) or can wait (go to your doctor tomorrow/next week/next month) than someone whose family knows little or nothing about medicine.
2007-09-01 08:53:19 · answer #4 · answered by LolaC☼ 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I agree with you, but the truth is that people just don't like to go to the doctor for various reasons. People also don't want to deal with the fact that something serious might be wrong. I, myself, have sometimes thought something bad might be wrong, but have put off going to the doctor in the hopes that it would go away or wasn't as serious as I thought. So far I've been lucky in that even though I work at a hospital and should know better.
2007-09-01 08:46:14 · answer #5 · answered by Some Guy 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They think Yahoo Answers will save them some money. If I was having a problem; I'd at least call the doctor and tell the nurse what's going on. In case it was important.
You are right. Some strangers on here would tell you anything.
2007-09-01 09:17:32 · answer #6 · answered by Barbra 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are not asking for a diagnosis, they are asking for opinions. These opinions might help ease minds, but most everyone will not take the answers as concrete truth.
Also medical care in America is very expensive, so if there is a cheap over the counter remedy, all the better.
2007-09-01 08:44:09 · answer #7 · answered by kmicheli24 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I wouldn't knock the American system of things. I THOUGHT I HAD a gripe until I made friends with a Guatemalan man. His BROTHER had to wait in LINE for Heart By-Pass, and DIED while WAITING to have surgery, because there aren't enough Cardiologists to DO all the surgery there!
2007-09-01 08:47:04 · answer #8 · answered by thewordofgodisjesus 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't forget the troll angle also. There are some jokers out there that sometimes exceed the limits of what's funny.
Many good answers here, good question.
2007-09-01 08:50:32 · answer #9 · answered by andyg77 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
the thing is doctors are expensive and people think you can get the same amount of research and diagnosis and treatments from the interent rather than a doctor. like if you find your a solution or diagnosis to your problem on the internent why would you waste your gas and time. its just cause asking on the interent is cheaper.
2007-09-01 08:45:43 · answer #10 · answered by bunnygrl43 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋