Some time ago I wrote an article about using Google to look up health issues and symptoms.  I bring up this topic once again because I ran into this article about a girl who figured out her own diagnosis after years of doctors struggling over it. She apparently was in AP high school science class and put a tissue sample of her intestine under a microscope and came upon the problem. Way to go, Jessica!

I bring this up not only because the article interested me, but also to make the point that doctors are as human as we are. Sometimes they do all they can but there are limits. They are in many cases heroes but they aren’t superheroes and they definitely are not gods (small “g”). I do have to mention that they are professionals who have been extensively trained to diagnose and hopefully treat illness, etc. A good read is this article about the dangers of self-diagnosis and the importance of consulting a doctor in some cases.  In fact, it lists two dangers of self-diagnosis so check it out.

There are, on the other hand, many places to go on the Internet to find help diagnosing simple or minor ailments and can help you when to decide to see a doctor. I feel the need to state it again because of the importance, SEE a doctor if you have ANY question of the seriousness of the illness or disease especially in light of any preexisting conditions. These sites, as I would explain it, should be used as supplemental tools to add to your health-arsenal. They may even help you find out when to seek professional assistance. Here’s a list of sites I’ve come across:

1. WrongDiagnosis.com
2. yourdiagnosis.com
3. ECureMe.com
4. Symptom Flowchart on FamilyDoctor.org

Although there are dangers associated with self-diagnosis, I believe it is very important to be proactive in knowing what’s going on with your own health. Some of the listed sites can also help you know some good questions to ask your doctor during your next appointment.