Advice from Dr. Internet

For the past 25 years, I've always looked online,... or medical books what ever was available at the time before I go to the doctor...

i never wanted to be a hypochondriac I guess. Now, I still do only before it pays to be informed and actually interact with the doctor with the fleeing moment he does have with you.

Our company does have an opportunity for online doctors... but I rather have a face to face for the they can actually see your total body reactions something you can't get from a screen shoot from a camera cam.

Surely there is a charge from the online doctor. Those people don't do things for free. I don't think I could trust an online one. I came close to dying a year and a half ago. The first 3 doctors only made it worse. Finally I went to a hospital and got help. Since then I have been doing a lot of research and writing a health document. I have consulted over 20 medical books and numerous websites. The Mayo Clinic symptom checker may be good, but in general, the Mayo Clinic and Harvard Medical School web sites have advice that is obsolete and not geared to natural healing. There are other sites I trust a lot more. I like to look at a least 4 sites before writing my summary of a condition or supplement.

For my company, it's a $49 co-pay to 'see' an on-line doctor.

Treatment options are one strong point of using the Internet.

For me, when I was diagnosed with a benign brain tumor (acoustic neuroma) 17 years ago, I spent about a week full-time on-line researching treatment options and the statistics of the outcomes. I vetoed two ENT specialists who I'd seen where both recommended microsurgical removal and found a doctor at Johns Hopkins (the late Dr. Jeffrey Williams) who was having good success with Fractionated Stereotactic Radiosurgery. I'm glad I did. I have had no re-growth or increase in size of the tumor and the only long term issue was the loss of hearing in that ear, which was already being compromised by the tumor by the time I realized I was having a problem. It's still there, but basically 'dead'.

I had a co-worker with nearly the same size and location of one of these tumors, and he went with the microsurgery. He had awful neurological problems with post-operative issues that were very well documented in the medical literature. (33% chance of significant issues) I tried to tell him but he placed all his faith in the recommendations of the doctor he was seeing. I listened to my doctors' recommendations, but then chose a different approach based upon my own research of medical papers.

I think Internet diagnoses have a place in raising awareness of the patient, but ultimately, a second opinion from a 'disinterested' party is prudent. Some might claim that 'real' doctors are not always disinterested and that is something the patient needs to keep in mind.

I would never put all my faith in on-line doctors, health advisors, internet guru's or real doctors for that matter. For general knowledge, the internet is fine. It allows you to speak to a real doctor and better understand what he is telling you. Don't forget, the language of the medical professional is foreign to the average layman and that is for a reason; they don't want you to know everything, for if you did, you would not need him. Understanding one's own body and common sense is usually enough to stay healthy. Some people run to a doctor or the emergency room at the sign of cough or sneeze. Ask anyone over 70 who is in good health and they will tell you; stay away from the doctor. Wait a few days and you will feel well again. Hospitals and doctor's offices are the best place to catch a sickness. Stay away and stay healthy. I am 83 and haven't had a cold for at least 2 years. Why? because I stay clear of places where cold germs abound; hospitals, offices, shopping malls, supermarkets, etc.

Washing hands with soap and water never hurts either. If you must be near other humans, or pets, it is best to practice hand washing religiously.

(1) Never pick your nose with dirty fingers.

(2) Don't take medical advice from Larry the Cable Guy.

(3) Don't take self-diagnosis to the extreme that you never seek the help a real professional can offer you when you do not self-heal within a couple of days.

(4) Get your rest. Dress for winter by using layers.