Cautionary tale of using ChatGPT instead of a clinician

[Chronicworrier123]

I'm posting this because I've seen plenty of posters using ChatGPT as a replacement if many things, including medical professionals.

As a bit of context, I suffer from chronic constipation. I actually posted about this in February, and ended up in AE and was prescribed Resolor in case it ever happened again.

Fast forward and now I'm on HRT, the progesterone has made super uncomfortable and bloated and extremely constipated.

So I ask ChatGPT if taking Resolor is a good idea. Or said yes it was.

Well now I'm in bed with horrendous pain, and have lost at least a litre of fluid (if not more) via liquid stool.

I'm nauseous and feeling like fainting.

It would have been best to just suck it up (@!_ tell my GP about the progesterone intolerance).

Seconded 👍

Slower passage/bloat is a fairly well documented side effect of progesterone. I've linked the studies too.

It is possible to have diarrhoea when constipated or if you have mixed IBS. It's called "paradoxical" or "overflow diarrhoea".

If you have impacted stool blocking the passage of solid waste, softer stool can leak around it.

Explanation here:

https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/coping/physically/bowel-problems/types/chronic-constipation

I am not medically qualified and post this for information only.

A haematologist is not a gastroenterologist.
You need to see a bowel specialist. Presume you means UCHL (London)?

There are many brilliant gastros and specialised clinics for this in London and you should see one of those. Privately if you can afford the one-off fee.

I'm.aware of that, but the words "massive poo" doesn't, to me, sound like that sort of thing at all.

Me too. It helps me tremendously when I need a listening ear . I am also seeing my GP and a therapist, but it’s really useful to have ChatGPT available at other times

Struggling to feel even an ounce of sympathy tbh. Mostly though, somewhat incredulous anyone would consult ChatGPT instead of an actual doctor. Hell, even a pharmacist would have been better had you not been able to get an appointment with a doctor.

chat gp is not a doctor fed uyp of hearing about what ai has told them

https://onewelbeck.com/digestive-health/

@Chronicworrier123 This is the sort of place you should be looking at.

Most specialists work within the NHS too but waiting lists might be long.

For my iron disorder (and I've seen a gastroenterologist) I was told it was a hematology issue. So that kind of closed that case/door. It took 13 years to diagnose too, so I was happy with the result

Last time the pharmacist (although nice and very helpful in his own way) told me to go to AE which was a massive wast of time.

Why are you happy now 13 years later when you are suffering? There are advances in medicine and you are not sorted.

The door is very much open but you need to take control and see someone.

Look at the lists of gastros in that link and you will see many deal with chronic constipation. IBS etc.

You need another opinion. If it's bothering you that much surely you want to get more advice rather than use ChatGPT?

ChatGCP can be used to gather info very quickly and well, but never let it actually tell you what to do OP. It saves me hours in online research (eg for things like holidays, ideas for what to read, gifts for other people). It can be great if used correctly and with caution.

For the millionth time, it wasn't prescribed if it happened again, I got it prescribed to take it continuously for 28 days.

I think the problem some people are having in comprehending this, is that you have in fact taken it because it happened again and didn't take it as prescribed. Which is entirely on you and if you ignore actual medical advice but take AI advice, then it's no big surprise that you end up in trouble. I know the point of your threat is notionally to warn people not to do what you did, but generally everyone is saying they'd not do something so foolish and it's you who's racking up the instances of ignoring medical advice and relying on ChatGPT.

I hope you're taking diarolyte today @Chronicworrier123 it'll both help you feel better and return your stool to normal

The flip side of this is I went to the GP last summer saying I was constantly fatigued, getting breathless doing things like walking up stairs when I'm relatively fit, palpitations, headaches and dizziness all the time, amongst other things. They told me it was vitamin deficiencies and to take supplements.

I got hospitalised recently because actually those symptoms are linked to a heart condition I didn't know I had. Over 3 visits my GP didn't even take my blood pressure or heartrate. I kept chasing and following up even six months after to say I still felt awful and was refused a f2f appointment and told to persevere with supplements.

If I put all of symptoms into chat gpt it mentions vitamin deficiencies but says to get heart rate and blood pressure checked urgently and highlights the visiting I have been diagnosed with alongside another similarly presenting heart irregularity. AI can't replace doctors but if I'd seen that before I would've pushed further with the GP.

Sounds like it isn't being managed properly then.

And if you didn't include your rare genetic condition in either your posts here or your ChatGPT input, don't be surprised when the answers you get don't fit.

I certainly don't understand it but it has become standard on here, if an OP posts about a medical issue, for at least one poster to say "I put your symptoms into Chat GPT and it says..." I honestly don't get it myself but that's what some people do.

OP, you can shop around with the HRT. I was on patches which gave me what felt like constant awful PMT. Now on gel + oral progesterone which I only take for 12 days and it's much better.

Are you sure you didn’t take too much? Only thing you can do is drink plenty and leave it to work it’s way out.💩💩💩

Agree with the prunes . I get really constipated but a tin of prunes moves things. Not in a heavens opening type of way but the day after I have then things are what if class as notmal.

Yes it's well documented that progesterone causes digestive issues. I had unbelievable bloating (looked end of term pregnancy), pain, heartburn and constipation from micronised progesterone and had to stop taking it. FWIW OP I was swapped to patches with no side effects at all so if you want to continue with HRT speak to your GP. She said it was really common and patches were much better if you suffer like this as it's a slow release of hormones instead of one massive hit from the tablet and gel. I hope you feel better soon.

I have no experience of chronic constipation but it would never occur to me to ask ChatGPT about a medical issue. It has, on occasion, given very incorrect information, so I never trust it 100% anyway. I assume it has to sift through a lot of online information and can't always detect that some of it is wrong.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/370314255_ChatGPT_as_a_medical_doctor_A_diagnostic_accuracy_study_on_common_and_rare_diseases

ChatGPT4 has a good diagnostic rate if given all the information, but you sometimes need to have an understanding of medicine/physiology in order to be able to interpret the results. The more complex the case, the more understanding you would need. It's good at straightforward diagnosis though.

OP I take iron tablets on prescription, which can cause significant constipation. I was recommended something called Califig. It’s a liquid - Californian syrup of figs. It’s really good and won’t cause cramps. I take about a dessert spoon full stirred into a glass of orange juice, as and when needed and it works well. You can buy it in Sainsburys.

She literally said she'd been to A&E & her GP.