AIBU - don't come on here for medical advice

[Immaculatemisconception]

On the back of a few threads but not a TAAT; if you're concerned about a medical problem, particularly something a bit urgent, ring 111, go to a Walk-in-Centre, GP or A & E. Don't ask on here.

Frankly, some of the crackpot advice you'll get on here is dangerous.

I think it's fine to ask for advice, take it with a pinch of salt though and do what you think is best anyway. You're not wrong that some of the advice is dangerous, as with any thread really.

I remember at least one childs life being saved by the advice on here though.

Definitely. The advice on a burns thread recently was shocking and actually quite scary in some parts

Oh god yes, couldn't agree more. TBF, though, most threads about illness or injury do end up with the OP being strongly advised to go to A&E.

It's a bit Captain Obvious but YANBU.

I'm not sure why anyone would turn to an anonymous chat forum for actual medical advice.

I can understand why they might want to talk to people who have experienced the same, but that's completely different obviously.

I'm guessing that posters desperate enough to post for medical advice on AIBU have burnt through their other resources pretty quick and also can't afford to wait around too long

I think getting any sort of advice from mumsnet can be dangerous. You're better off just going to Google tbh

Oh and ditto 'legal advice'.

I think its fine while you're e.g. waiting on a call back from 111 or sitting in A&E and you want to hear from others who've experienced similar.

Not so fine when the OP has a seriously ill child and argues with anyone who tells them to seek medical care.

I do agree to some extent. But often the OP just needs reassurance they are not ‘making a fuss’ and that what they are posting about does actually warrant immediate medical attention. 10 posters telling you to go to A&E is often what they need.

But yes, some of the ‘advice’ on the burns thread was dreadful.

It crazy. I’m a HCP and sometimes watch open-mouthed at some of the shit advice. I’m powerless to stop it and have given up trying, as everyone seems to be willing to pitch in despite not having a clue what they are talking or all the pertinent details to make any kind of reasonable guess at a diagnosis. I don’t understand at all.

I don't necessarily agree. My daughter screamed and screamed and screamed as a baby for hour at a time. The various GPs I went to on a weekly babies were less than helpful. HV said to go to the GP.
Mumsnet however WAS helpful. Turned out she had CMPA (and still does now aged 7).
Obviously if you're choking / bleeding / in immediate danger go to A&E.

@FlamesEmbersAshes

I do agree to some extent. But often the OP just needs reassurance they are not ‘making a fuss’ and that what they are posting about does actually warrant immediate medical attention. 10 posters telling you to go to A&E is often what they need.

But yes, some of the ‘advice’ on the burns thread was dreadful.

10 posters telling you to go to A&E is often what they need.

It's not always what they need though.

Some posters are obsessed with the place.

Hours and basis

The internet generally is pretty terrible for medical/health advice, to be fair.

Dr Google tends towards the horrifying -- mainly because it works based on what people are most likely to click on, rather than what's most likely to be wrong (if anything).

I have a serious heart condition and am on a fb support group for others with the same condition.

Even though everyone has the same condition and has experience of medical intervention and the treatments etc that are available, any posts requesting actual medical advice are deleted, and the poster is referred to either the heart failure nurse who works for the charity concerned or told to seek medical help from a medical professional. It’s written in the terms that no medical advice must be sought or given.

No-one should be being saved by posting on mumsnet. If things are that urgent they should either be in hospital or waiting on a 999 ambulance.

Well maybe the advice you get with open wounds is not great

But the 'what could this weird illness' be threads are FANTASTIC - I've seen people find out they've had all sorts of illnesses on here

Plus the 'are these levels ok' threads where people's levels are off enough to cause problems but not off enough to make the nhs do anything - hypothyroidism and vitamin B and D deficiencies are the best example

But my favourite medical threads are the ones where we all go - go and demand HRT, no you don't have to wait for blood tests - yes you will likely be SO much better in a week. I suddenly had this - sudden night heat/sudden anxiety where I've never had anxiety before/aches everywhere- 5 days of HRT all symptoms gone

I think, for people who have had a certain type of cancer, a surgery, a procedure like a colonoscopy or have had MRIs and other scans, it's great to ask for a handhold and insight. For women terminating for medical reasons or terminating a pregnancy for other reasons, again an MN handhold is invaluable.
For things like 'I have a thunderclap headache, just sprayed vomit everywhere, and I think I'm going to faint', I don't understand why you'd lose time posting on ANY forum, let alone MN. But 'Does this look like a bullseye rash?' is totally ok to ask here or anywhere really.

Sorry, I really worded my post poorly.

Couldn't agree more. Like another poster said, some of the advice (I notice this most on burns threads too) is outright dangerous.

I know people will be looking for reassurance but they will not find it on a forum full of unqualified randomers. Unless it's a specific forum for a specific condition, leave it to real life medical professionals.

Depends if it’s a heart attack or rosacea really.

@TheVanguardSix

I think, for people who have had a certain type of cancer, a surgery, a procedure like a colonoscopy or have had MRIs and other scans, it's great to ask for a handhold and insight. For women terminating for medical reasons or terminating a pregnancy for other reasons, again an MN handhold is invaluable. For things like 'I have a thunderclap headache, just sprayed vomit everywhere, and I think I'm going to faint', I don't understand why you'd lose time posting on ANY forum, let alone MN. But 'Does this look like a bullseye rash?' is totally ok to ask here or anywhere really.

Well not really. Because you have no idea how qualified the responses will be, or what their motivations are. MN is full of less than pleasant posters who may well take delight in giving OP the worst possible scenario (or making something up entirely). Even if all you're asking is "does this look like a bullseye rash?". That's what Google is for.

I disagree, OP. I’m a retired doctor and I have advised women on MN before now who thought they had trivial symptoms and didn’t want to bother their GP. They in fact had symptoms which we regard as cancer until proven otherwise, and they needed urgent referral.
Some women are not very assertive, and need encouragement and reassurance that they would not be wasting the GP’s time.

With a few exceptions I wouldn't get medical, employment, legal or relationship advice on here.

Well given some of the terrible and once, life threatening medical advice, I've had from various medical professionals, I'm not sure that SM is comparatively that bad. My last two conditions I've diagnosed myself (and then had confirmed), doctors themselves are often pretty useless ime. Most medicine also seems to have a large element of trial and error. Try this, no not worked, ok let's have a go at this one. Conditions, symptoms and Nice guidelines can all be looked up yourself. Every doctor I've ever seen also always had a different opinion.

I see a select few doctors (who listen and aren't completely incompetent) for advice, but that's all it. I do my own research and advocate for myself. If I am not happy with e we get one doctor says I get a second opinion.

TBF I would never go off what one person on a SM forum has said. I research everything myself and look for good evidence from reliable sources to back things up. However I think thinking that if you are I'll your only refereeing d pony should be your local surgery/hospital etc is naive and I could be dead now had I taken that approach.

lockheart, whatever you say. I don’t argue on Sundays.