Don't Call An Ambulance

[NeverDropYourMooncup]

After yet another thread where a poster has described symptoms that are red flags for cardiac events and YET ANOTHER poster has told them they're an expert and it'll be nothing - which it very well could be, but it might not - I'm beginning to think that it wouldn't be overreacting for MN to add 'Giving dangerous medical advice that could result in harm to a poster or family member' as a reason for banning posters.

I'm aware that this could be deemed a TAAT, but it's a serious matter that isn't confined to just one single occurrence. And I'll likely get mullered on here by the people who are so absolutely certain of their psychic abilities that they can't comprehend that their 'no, that symptom that is indicative of a heart attack/stroke/sepsis/cancer is just anxiety/menopause/a cold/need of moisturiser/a paracetamol' could lead to an unnecessary death or disability.

I think it's important enough to take any flak. MN can achieve great things, but can also be outright dangerous whilst it's seen as acceptable to do this.

If I'm coming on too strong here (obviously, I don't think I am), could MNHQ consider having a standard reply as they do for depression/self harm, don't offer money to sad stories or suchlike and have one for symptoms of chest pain, one for burns, etc?

I've asked many times over the years on a range of issues and mn has been extremely helpful.

We are grown adults and not children, we can triage our own advice thanks!!

You would ask randomers on an Internet forum for medical advice?
Seriously?
Dear god
Well said op

Just to be 100% clear I didn't once ask random people on an Internet forum for MEDICAL ADVICE.
I asked if people had experienced similar, or experienced similar following the Moderna Spikevax booster jab.

That is all.

Totally agree. My response to threads like this (or legal) is usually along the lines of: Please don’t listen to unqualified people on the internet who don’t have access to your medical (or legal files) and are unlikely to be trained. Seek advice from someone who can see you in person.

Sharing symptoms post vaccine is not asking advice
Asking random people on a non medical forum whether particular symptoms constitute a medical emergency is a smidge different and more dangerous

The problem is that you can never be certain of the qualifications or intentions of posters online.

There are those who will delight in scaring you and telling you that a small heat rash is something deadly and there are those who will tell you not to seek medical attention for something that truly is serious.

I wish MN would clamp down on these threads. The only advice should be "see a doctor / pharmacist / call 111 / 999 etc".

Some of the remedies offered for burns and cuts on here are dangerous.

Obviously threads talking about a proper diagnosis and threads seeking support from others who've been through the same thing are different (although even then serve my point re trolls), but posts asking "what is this?" "Should I see a doctor?" really do need warnings.

And as others have pointed out
Actual medical professionals wouldn't post on threads like this for fear of being struck off form their professional bodies
So ask yourself who is actually telling you to ignore your symptoms

With hindsight it would have been easier for the Op to await the ambulance as then hopefully they could have done some tests and left her at home or took her in and she would have been triaged by now.

I hope you get some answers op and feel better soon.

For what it's worth people often feel palpitations more in the evening or when laying down. They are extremely common and mostly benign however they still need investigating just incase. I'm not a medic I'm speaking from experience and what my Dr told me.

In fairness if it wasn’t for various MN’ers correctly saying what they thought might be wrong with Dd on more than one occasion she wouldn’t have had any of her diagnosis of various unusual conditions.

We spent 7 years trudging back and forth to the gp with various ailments , nobody ever joined the dots and looked at the bigger picture.

Twice because of MN I’ve gone and said “I think Dd may have x and I would like a referral “. Both times were correct and the second referral she got 3 diagnosis in one day which has made a massive difference.

Absolutely agree.

111.nhs.uk/
111 online can tell you:
where to get help for your symptoms, if you're not sure what to do
how to find general health information and advice
where to get an emergency supply of your prescribed medicine
how to get a repeat prescription

Check it's not an emergency
Call 999 now if you have any of these symptoms:
signs of a heart attack
pain like a very tight band, heavy weight or squeezing in the centre of your chest
signs of a stroke
face dropping on one side, can’t hold both arms up, difficulty speaking
tried to end your life
by taking something or harming yourself
severe difficulty breathing
not being able to get words out, choking or gasping
heavy bleeding
spraying, pouring or enough to make a puddle
severe injuries
after a serious accident
seizure (fit)
someone is shaking or jerking because of a fit, or is unconscious (can’t be woken up)
sudden, rapid swelling
of the lips, mouth, throat or tongue

I'd go further and ban those sorts of threads entirely. Just remove them with a 'call 111, or 999' replacement message.

Totally different to asking for advice regarding chronic conditions or recovery from illness.

And professionals don't need to fear being struck off, unless they are giving shit advice. It's not unprofessional to give advice, any more so than giving generic advice to a friend or acquaintance would be.

About medical professionals on threads - IME you can usually spot the real ones because they'll talk about the general principle of whatever-it-is rather than attempting to diagnose the individual

As on the one about ICU, where someone shared info about what procedures involve rather than carryoing on about "you MUST demand such and such"

And so on ...

One thing I think MNHQ should do is ban anyone who purports to be a qualified medical/healthcare professional when they 'diagnose' and/or dismiss a poster's symptoms. It's the worst kind of trolling.