Where do you get your health advice from?

Sterling_geezer

Where do you go for health advice? I'm a GP and I am always curious to find out where patients get their health info from. Sometimes people come out with some very odd theories about their health and it would be nice to know who to blame (joking!).
I know its not strictly moneysaving but I guess if you consult a recognised source for your health info then perhaps time (and therefore money) could be saved?

poe.tuesday

I research the internet as twice now my gp has not diagnoised a symptom

the first one was geographical toungue which my daughter had very bad when she was younger, first of all it was an infection, then thrush etc, he gave us this vile stuff to put on her toungue that was like a wax .. after 2 years of this mess I looked for myself, this was after 3 doctors had seen her, then when I mentioned it to the one of them they said that it was geographical toungue and I could not do anything about it

the other issue I had was that I felt that I had something stuck in my throat, a really terrible sensation, I saw my doctor, I saw a specialist - both came up with nothing, the specialist said something about my nasal passage being dry and told me to eat bananas ??? after about 2 years of this condition I started to find out what it was, it turns out that I have tonsil stones which give me that feeling, quite how they missed these when they looked in my mouth I don't know as I saw them straight away

I rarely go to the doctors and if I have any symptoms that I am concerned about, I search the net, or ask my mum who was a nurse many moons ago but still has great knowledge

aurora_borealis_2

GP/Healthcare professional

My colleagues ... doctors

Errata

I blame the parents!!!!!!!! Old wives tales get handed down through families and become health advice.
Personally .......... I ask friends, who are mostly nurses and docs, take it all with a large pinch of salt to allow for observer bias and muddle through.
If I suspect a specific illness/disease/problem I do some research on the net which gives me a clue about whether a doc's appt is needed. This saves time for me and the doc and consequently money.
I would never consult my local pharmacist or NHS Direct by phone.
HTH
ps I'm a marvel for my age !!

Emmylou_2

Other

Yes, my GP (and also because I have MH problems, my wonderful CPN). I'm also a great user of NHS Direct (usually online) and even use this in my work (I'm a legal secretary dealing with personal injury cases). I also go on websites connected with my MH issues and find the people on there a great help. Plus, I read the newspapers and magazines and clip things out when I find them (I really am turning into my mother!).

I don't tend to use the internet to diagnose things, it comes up with some really random answers, but I do use it to get more information, particularly about the medication I've been prescribed etc.

wishiwasarichgirl

Books/Journals

When I was younger mum (who's a nurse) had a few medical books/encyclopaedia of family health etc which I used to read from cover to cover, convincing myself that I had symptoms of every condition in them. Then I got to "H" and realised I was just a hypochondriac

Never had any symptoms that have lasted more than a few days though so I don't think I've ever seen a doctor or sought medical/health information.

Sterling_geezer

what do you think of NHS direct? Good/bad?
From my point of view its a bit naff as they always say see the GP at the end of it, or worse still go to A+E (or even call an ambulance!!)
Mind you maybe I only see the duff cases and maybe it filters out all the other things (I doubt it though)

The internet is a double edged sword i fear.
Sometimes its nice to see what the patient thinks is wrong or what they are concerned about and work together to address that. Other times though they come up with some very odd ideas. One of the problems is that people use American websites which suggest every test under the sun. I then have to politely tell the patient thats not how things work in the UK and we have to be a bit more pragmatic (i.e. cheap!). Not always easy.

Great replies so far (only been 30mins!), keen to hear as many experiences as possible (the good, the bad and the ugly!)

aurora_borealis_2

GP/Healthcare professional

NHS Direct is not very impressive.

By the time they've worked through their flow chart you've either collapsed or else been sent to OOH or A&E unnecessarily - just in case.

Little_Miss_Winner

Sterling_geezer wrote: »

what do you think of NHS direct? Good/bad?

Nhs Direct are a total waste of everybodys time. I work in an Accident & Emergency Dept, and we also have Gp OOH based in with us.

The calls that patients make to NHS Direct, can take up to two hours to filter through to the OOH Gp.
In the two hours that have elapsed the patient could have been given an appt, been treated, had their Px dispensed, and been back home tucked up in bed!

divadee

Books/Journals

i normally ask my cousin whos a nurse and hubby is a doctor.

if there not around then i type the symptoms into google and see what pops up!! obviously not very scientific but it has been correct 9/10 then if it suggests seeing the gp for it i go to the gp, if not i just leave it alone.

to be honest typing into google probably saved my life as that is how i found out that a lump i had could be lymphoma after asking on here as well made me get it checkd asap, and it was right it was !!

daphne_descends

Website

I've used NHS direct twice since becoming pregnant and found them very helpful and reassuring. Saved me two visits to my GP.