Just like us, you’ve probably been there. You feel ill but don’t understand why. You start searching for your symptoms online. And then you start panicking because you think you might have a horrible disease (or two). You get so wrapped up in your fears of the worst-case scenarios that you don’t consider that the alternative can be something else entirely.
That’s not to say that you should ignore your symptoms, but it’s better to speak to a medical professional than to get all in your head. Doctors took to two AskReddit online threads to reveal their top cases of patients Googling their symptoms. Scroll down for their experiences with the biggest self-misdiagnoses their patients made.
#41
Not a doctor, but between coworkers and the internet had to basically self diagnose that I had gall bladder issues.
(Had seen a male doctor first who basically said I had a stomach bug after asking me if I was sure I wasn't pregnant and I need to lose weight. When I went back later and saw a female, she sent me for an ultrasound and turned out I needed the gall bladder removed.).
(Had seen a male doctor first who basically said I had a stomach bug after asking me if I was sure I wasn't pregnant and I need to lose weight. When I went back later and saw a female, she sent me for an ultrasound and turned out I needed the gall bladder removed.).
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12points
#42
I've worked in a pharmacy on and off for the last ten years so I've heard quite a few doctors stories about patients.
One I recall is about a patient who was suffering from severe migraines and was adamant they had a blood clot in the brain. Quite an assumption to make, doctor assured them it wasn't anything so sinister and was most likely sinusitis. Of course the patient didn't believe him because Google told him otherwise so he decides to go private and spend close to £500 on tests and private care only to be told you've got a sinusitis infection...
One I recall is about a patient who was suffering from severe migraines and was adamant they had a blood clot in the brain. Quite an assumption to make, doctor assured them it wasn't anything so sinister and was most likely sinusitis. Of course the patient didn't believe him because Google told him otherwise so he decides to go private and spend close to £500 on tests and private care only to be told you've got a sinusitis infection...
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11points
#43
Obligatory not a doctor but a Massage Therapist. Basically (not at all) the same thing.
I have lost count of the number of people who think they have carpal tunnel syndrome that really just have a minor case of nerve impingement.
I have lost count of the number of people who think they have carpal tunnel syndrome that really just have a minor case of nerve impingement.
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10points
#44
I went to my Dr about a month ago, had a spot on my back end that had me a little worried, moreso since my mother had skin cancer on her hiney. I had also recently been around someone who has shingles. Prior to this, I had pain in my foot and went online and found it to be plantar fasciitis. When I saw my Dr. later that day, I told her what I found on the internet and she said "Yep! That's exactly what it is!!"
Now, I joke when I am nervous and I was plenty nervous due to the incidence of melanoma in the family. So when I went in to see her about my spot, I told her that I had been on the internet and I was pretty sure I found out what it was that I had. She asked me to elaborate and I told her that I was pretty certain I had Shingles Cancer. She just about fell out of her chair laughing! :D.
Now, I joke when I am nervous and I was plenty nervous due to the incidence of melanoma in the family. So when I went in to see her about my spot, I told her that I had been on the internet and I was pretty sure I found out what it was that I had. She asked me to elaborate and I told her that I was pretty certain I had Shingles Cancer. She just about fell out of her chair laughing! :D.
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9points
#45
Not a doctor but I deal with migraines. I would not be surprised if someone experienced a migraine for the first time, googled their symptoms while they still had the clarity to do so, and went to the ER thinking they are having a stroke.
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9points