Cyberchondria

Now, who would have "thunk"! I just finished reading an article about five new brain issues that have come about since the use of all the tech devices. Number 4 Jumped out at me...Cyberchondria! It appears that this has become a problem.

I have mentioned quite often on this forum not to use Dr. Google because much of the information out there isn't accurate. Plus it frightens people and anxiety starts and that causes a myriad of other symptoms. I know all about this. Back in the late 1970's I was starting to manifest more symptoms. I didn't know what was going on. Now this was before personal computers and the World Wide Web...thank goodness! But I had a Medical book at home and dug into it and was amazed at how many "illnesses" fit my "symptoms"...bad illnesses! This brought in anxiety issues which caused shortness of breath (I must have a heart problem") and other symptoms that you wouldn't imagine anxiety could cause. Our bodies are quite willing to take on symptoms because our brains are strong, too. I was a mess.

When I thought I had jaundice and was running to check the whites of my eyes every five minutes, I finally realized this was just flat out crazy behavior and decided to throw out that medical book. I did but almost went out to retrieve it again".

I started feeling better once I did throw the book out and stopped constantly thinking about how I was feeling. I instead started focusing on other things and moving to start enjoying the life I have. This made a tremendous difference in my life. I was no longer having health issues in the center of my life and pretty much dictating my life. I was getting out and being with other people and talking about numerous other things and I felt better too.

Well, this type of behavior has gotten worse with the Internet searches and so on. I only go to sites like the Mayo Clinic, the National Institutes of Health and a few other ones that I know to be accurate. This way, I don't frighten myself and, with the information I have gotten in good sites, I have improved quite a bit. I do share with you things that have helped me and other members do the same. That's why this forum is so good! Of course I make sure I have excellent doctors and see them on a regular basis. I also pass everything by them before I take anything...including supplements.

Below is a paragraph of the new brain disorder called cyberchondria. I do NOT feel our situation is hypochondria though because our pain is very real but also hard to diagnose. Most blood work comes back normal. But the paragraph below still describes what I and other people have gone through in trying to find answers.

4. Cyberchondria

Hypochondria is not a new disorder, but the internet has taken it to the next level. In the broadest definition, cyberchondria refers to people who research and diagnose their own illnesses online. Sure, we've probably all done that — in fact, one in three American adults say they have used the internet to self-diagnose. But for some people who might already be prone to hypochondria, this can be detrimental. They get neurotic, and go down a Google wormhole, frantically reading about every dreaded disease that matches their symptoms. A search for abdominal pain brings up diagnoses that include everything from food poisoning to stomach cancer, and soon, the Googler is convinced they're dying.

This is a huge problem considering that online symptom checkers are wrought with inconsistencies and inaccuracies. More than half the time, the top diagnoses matching a symptom search will be wrong, one study found.

"For a number of reasons, most medical professionals aren't too happy about the self-diagnosis trend," writes psychologist Mary Aiken at Quartz. "It isn't simply a matter of loss of control or an undermining of their authority through online medical searches — it can mess with the diagnostic process, because the results can suggest rare or morbid conditions to patients, which in turn can prompt the appearance of new 'symptoms.'"

Sherrine

Your quote about medical professionals not being too happy about the self-diagnosis trend is telling. There are two main reasons for this. First, is the high cost of health care that forces many individuals to look for answers other than having to spend money. The second reason is the very poor care many receive from doctors, and failure to diagnose problems adequately. The majority of the time, patients are sent out the door after only seeing their doctor less than five minutes, with either a Band-Aid prescription to cover up symptoms, or an order for expensive tests.

I can say that, in my case, I would not have reached a correct diagnosis of ME/CFIDS without becoming my own advocate, and doing my own research. Nor, would I have discovered a treatment that successfully got me back on my feet. Previously, I had driven thousands of miles on my car, seeing nearly twenty doctors across the southeast over a period of five years. None of these doctors even suggested the possibilities that I eventually concluded.

So, while I agree in principle with the dangers of "cyberchondria," I encourage everyone suffering, and not able to find a competent physician, to learn what they can while avoiding the caveats of the internet -- or making the symptoms/disease fit the patient instead of the other way around.

IMHO, this is a problem created by the shortcomings of the medical profession.

Bruce

The other thing that can happen is you can inadvertently try to 'lead' a health professional in one direction or another toward a certain diagnosis by what symptoms you tell him/her about and how you emphasize those symptoms. You're not doing anybody any favors. I'm afraid I may have done that myself a couple times in the past and regret it.