A know-it-all patient is a doctor's worst nightmare. In today's AI-driven world, many people think they can consult with Google or ChatGPT and know exactly what's wrong. In fact, a 2019 study showed that a whopping 89% of Americans turned to the Internet before they went to the doctor.
Diagnosing oneself is pretty dangerous: we're not as well-informed as doctors, might be biased when we look up our symptoms on the internet, and give ourselves serious health scares when WebMD tells us it's (once again!) cancer.
But sometimes, people surprise even the most seasoned doctors with their accurate self-diagnoses. Bored Panda came across a couple of threads online where someone asked, "What's the most impressive case of Google 'self-diagnosis' that turned out to be true?" And we present to you the most astonishing stories below!
#41
Not a medical professional, but I diagnosed my own skin cancer, despite being dismissed and told it was just a pimple. Luckily slow growing and I'm fine now, but my dermatologist tells her residents about my story when i go for check ups.
Also diagnosed a friend with multiple sclerosis based on his vision symptoms.. I was really hoping to be wrong on that.
Also diagnosed a friend with multiple sclerosis based on his vision symptoms.. I was really hoping to be wrong on that.
Report
8points
#42
When I wanted a referral for my plantar fasciitis to a podiatrist and the PA requested I come in for a check up. 5 minutes in she diagnosed me with plantar fasciitis. So now I got an extra bill. Yay.
Report
8points
#43
PhD, not MD... I correctly diagnosed my child with a very rare genetic disorder. Three different specialists had missed their respective positive tests.
Report
8points
#44
Had a patient come into the ER complaining of unbearable pain and was yelling aloud any time she was touched. Several of the staff were saying before I went in "Oh great, another medicine-seeker is here..." -.-
Well, I took her history and performed an exam. She said I think I have cancer. It has to be bone cancer or something wrong with my bones. (Mind you she said she hadn't completed high school and did not mention looking anything up on in internet) Anyhow, I so much as placed a hand on her or she moved an inkling, the patient would scream out in pain. Turns out she had some lytic bone lesions and was a textbook case of Multiple Myeloma (white blood cell cancer in the bones that leads to horrible bone pain and pathologic fractures- yes she didn't TECHNICALLY have BONE cancer but rather plasma cell cancer). From that day on, I never treat a patient coming in with pain as a patient just malingering but really try to get to the bottom of the source and cause of the pain. Furthermore, people presenting to the healthcare system who practitioners may label as "d**g-seekers" often do have some sort of pain (yes, psychological pain is STILL pain, yet has a different treatment than handing out opiates). Unfortunately, the treatment those patients need is seen as "not my job" or "I don't have time for that" as I have heard it put as the patient's get kicked to the curb or handed a script to get them out of the office or ER. Sadly, the US health system in my area has been failing patients afflicted by mental health IMO.
Well, I took her history and performed an exam. She said I think I have cancer. It has to be bone cancer or something wrong with my bones. (Mind you she said she hadn't completed high school and did not mention looking anything up on in internet) Anyhow, I so much as placed a hand on her or she moved an inkling, the patient would scream out in pain. Turns out she had some lytic bone lesions and was a textbook case of Multiple Myeloma (white blood cell cancer in the bones that leads to horrible bone pain and pathologic fractures- yes she didn't TECHNICALLY have BONE cancer but rather plasma cell cancer). From that day on, I never treat a patient coming in with pain as a patient just malingering but really try to get to the bottom of the source and cause of the pain. Furthermore, people presenting to the healthcare system who practitioners may label as "d**g-seekers" often do have some sort of pain (yes, psychological pain is STILL pain, yet has a different treatment than handing out opiates). Unfortunately, the treatment those patients need is seen as "not my job" or "I don't have time for that" as I have heard it put as the patient's get kicked to the curb or handed a script to get them out of the office or ER. Sadly, the US health system in my area has been failing patients afflicted by mental health IMO.
Report
8points
#45
My sister had a goiter that was very large that turned out to be thyroid cancer. She had surgery and did great. About 6 months later I was putting on moisturizer and felt a lump going from behind my ear to the center of my throat. They did surgery and told me it wasn't cancer, but a follicular variant. Well, after my surgery and about a year later at the ultrasound, they found a growth on my lymph node extremely close to my esophagus. The diagnosis from the biopsy? Cancer. So, i underwent another neck surgery where maybe 25 or so lymph nodes were removed. Further ultrasounds and thyroid numbers have been good.
Report
6points
#46
I have a drop kidney, its where the ligaments that hold my kidneys in place are weakened and my right kidney hangs down about 5 inches too low.
it's a rare condition and it takes a bunch of convincing drs to get the right imaging done.
I also called the fact that I have 4 slipped discs, cervical kyphosis and nerve damage in my lower back causing problems in my pelvis.
All which took years of trying to tell doctors to get the right x-rays and mris.
it's a rare condition and it takes a bunch of convincing drs to get the right imaging done.
I also called the fact that I have 4 slipped discs, cervical kyphosis and nerve damage in my lower back causing problems in my pelvis.
All which took years of trying to tell doctors to get the right x-rays and mris.
Report
6points
#47
Patient came into ER complaining at first of indigestion but causing severe pain. I asked what he ate, he said taco bell, and I made a slightly inappropriate poop joke regarding that.
He laughed and said he was having a heart attack. Obviously he just thought I was super funny.
Turns out I'm not.
He laughed and said he was having a heart attack. Obviously he just thought I was super funny.
Turns out I'm not.
Report
6points
#48
I was the patient. After2 years of walking around hospitals with no real improvement in my health and tons of wrong diagnostics I just walked into my neurologists office and told him I have Myastenia gravis. - I was right.
Report
5points