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.

Thanks. I passed out and was taken to A&E but the nurses here have been brilliant and have drugged me up and I feel a lot better already.

@AwkwardSquad thanks (don't know why my previous post didn't reply to you).

Not feeling so sorry for myself and glad I came to the hospital now.

You really want to avoid legal.

@PikachuAndMe good that the wait is over, they’re taking care of you and that you’re feeling better

I wouldn't come on here for any advice as you have no clue who is posting

@RockallMalinHebrides

I agree OP - the advice is often shocking and downright dangerous. The voice of sensible HCPs is usually lost amongst the voices of posters who have no idea what they are talking about. I hid the burns thread without opening it but a recent thread about aspirin and pregnancy had me reaching for the gin.

You don't know who is a sensible HCP on here

I think generally posters tend to err on the dramatic side when it comes to medical advice and say call for an ambulance for a stubbed toe ( a friend left hers, got sepsis and died sort of thing)

Obviously any poster would actually contact 111 or their go in real life if they were worried.

YANBU see also legal car and pretty much all advice on here. Some is good but some is so astonishingly bad and flat out incorrect.

Some of the not urgent information and advice is great! It reminds you to check levels, keep an eye on your health. Similarly the organisation and cleaning threads are both good and useful. As with everything take it all with a pinch of salt.

I tend to just post the NICE guidelines for a condition and leave it there. Almost no one ever says, “Oh look, I’ve just read the NICE guidelines that other poster just posted, they’re quite clear that you should do x.” Nope it’s just the usual stream of anectada, some helpful (and correct) and some really, really not.

I’m not anti these threads though, in some cases that can be helpful to motivate posters to seek further medical advice for something long term and/or with mild symptoms. I’ve seen that happen plenty of times with a good outcome.
Anything serious/urgent usually come with a cacophony to go to ED which is generally the wisest thing to do until a HCP has taken a proper history from you.

@EffOrf which is why I agreed with the OP.

I agree to some extent but also remember some threads that have if not quite saved the OPs life, definitely ensured they got help sooner than they would have otherwise. I remember some ages ago where lots of posters suggested the symptoms sounded like an ectopic and they were absolutely correct.

So it can be very useful with "odd" symptoms and always having someone around who has experienced the same or knows about it otherwise. If it's something really obvious like a burn or a rash, then that's a bit different, and needs proper medical attention.

I was having an anxiety attack once and loads of people came on to say I was probably having a heart attack, so that helped. Lesson learned!