Question:
Why is it People post medical questions,etc that should be addressed to their MD ?

I find that alot of people post some serious medical concerns online and I think it is important that you don't ask for someone's opinion when it comes to your health/recovery,etc. I encourage people to have open communication to their Surgeons, MD's and other professional health care people. Your health and medical care shouldn't be something that you post and wait for someone's answer, but please call the appropriate people to help you get better and answer your medical concerns. There are alot of hospitals that have triage help lines to help answer your questions and you have the right to remain annonymous. Good Luck and God Bless.    — Jena C. (posted on December 4, 2002)


December 4, 2002
Jena, I understand your concern and I share it sometimes. But for some questions -- not the emergency type! -- I've learned a lot from seeing other patients' questions and responses. And unfortunately, some of our docs aren't as knowledgeable as they could be about all aspects of our treatment. Others just aren't good communicators, and still others sometimes act like they don't want to be bothered with patient questions once the surgery is over. (Luckily, I don't feel that way about my bariatric surgeon, but I've had docs like that in the past and it's frustrating.) So long as the questions aren't about emergency matters where the doctor really should be called or paged, or the E.R. visited, I think it can be beneficial for us to share our aches, pains, and symptoms with each other sometimes and to seek advice from those who've been through similar things before. Just my 2c!
   — Suzy C.

December 4, 2002
This is a great post.
   — barbara A.

December 4, 2002
I agree with you but i guess it is good sometimes to just get another opinion to confirm our feelings. I read the posts daily and I have noticed a lot of them are just plain common sense. Like what to take to the hospital and more that are so common sense a child would know the answer and I am like DUHHHHH. Sorry. just my opinion
   — Delores S.

December 4, 2002
Some of us feel a bit of comfort knowing others have delt with the same problems, medical or otherwise.
   — Melody D.

December 4, 2002
Maybe this is just me but sometimes im afraid ill be seen as complaining to much or not taken seriously. Its more my self esteem then anything. I have a wonderful pcp now and I do go to her for many things, but still hold back on some. So to be able to come here and ask about something it sort of legitamizes <sp> my health concern and might push me to go to the doctor faster.
   — TheresaC

December 4, 2002
I'm almost sure that most of my AMOS friends here DO consult with there physician on some of this stuff, however our physicians are not available for questing 24/7 as is this site. That is why there is this Q & A section.
   — Karen W.

December 4, 2002
Some people just want someone in their shoes opinion, MD's are not know all but if you have something to go your knowledge is helpful to him, plus I know sometimes I go to the MD and forget a symptom that was not bothering me at the time (most of the time I write them down before seeing the MD and this is a big help).
   — deniece M.

December 4, 2002
Q&A started out to be a library, but has grown to be much more. Many, and myself included post to get support. To know we are not alone. WLS is scary, and it helps so much to know others have gone thru the same thing. Now and then someones doctor doesnt take a problem seriously enough and we send them back for a second look. Thats great. Tonight someone asked about a fatty liver. Hey thats NORMAL for us MOs. But the poster was obviously concerned just like I was when told the same thing. Doctors are very busy its nice we can help. Anything questionable I always suggest they call their doctor just to be safe.
   — bob-haller

December 4, 2002
Well I have been layed off and have no medical insurane now...So therefore I cannot ask my doctor anything or even see him for follw ups...Plus I have learned more from this board and people that have had this surgery than from my doctor and his staff...I almost died because I fell through their cracks...If I had found this board earlier I would not have been so ill....
   — Suzanne S.

December 4, 2002
while i agree that serious concerns should be addressed to the surgeon or doctor, its also very nice and comforting for people to come here and ask a question this way that person knows fo someone that went through the same thing and it turned out to be nothing or that they really should get to the hospital asap. i have found the q and a section to be very helpful and i am willing to help as well. thanks to all of you! :)
   — carrie M.

December 4, 2002
I'm all for people being on hold with ER while they ask their question. For many of us, insurance has cut easy communication with the right docs. OR we've been led astray SO many times, we're fed up with the nonsense. OR, as so many have said, it's just a matter of being told, "There, there, it's normal to feel that way." And still encourage them to be seen. You may have seen that medical persons here will encourage people to be seen NOW, tonight! vs waiting til next week or so in our typical "fat girl" way. I know I was pretty doc abused by the time I got to WLS. Didn't trust them. Everything that was wrong with me was because I was heavy. Stepping out away from my surgeons, everything that's wrong with me today is because of my surgery. You know? Gets old. So, while none of us (except the medical ones) can actually answer medical questions, we can hold hands, and encourage people to see their doc or a good doc, whichever they can find. Sometimes that's what it takes to get past their fear of rejection.
   — vitalady

December 4, 2002
I personally like a heads up before I get to my appointment. Also, other's comments give me an opportunity to prepare intelligent questions to my dr. that I may not have thought of if not brought up by someone else. However, I do think it is important to remind folks to contact their surgeons/drs and not *play around* with anything relating to this extremely serious/major surgery. -Kim open RNY 7/17/01 -142 lbs
   — KimBo36

December 4, 2002
There are many health professional like nurses on this site that has helped me, about my low blood because I couldn't understand my pcp,he so quick ushering out hisoffice that many times I forget to ask a question or when he explains he still doesn't make it clear enough. When I come here I get many responses that make feel better and also know that others have gone though the same thing. Why don't I change pcp, because Ihave this lousy insurance company that sends you to doctor only on their list, and I hate to start over.
   — Rebe W.

December 4, 2002
There are a multitude of 'side-effects' that come with WLS. The Q&A board has been my resource page in learning all there is to know on WLS. These folks are the experienced ones. The surgeon doesn't always know of all the little things that may occur post surgery. There have been patients that go in to see the doc because they cannot keep anything down, then sent home to wait it out a little longer. People here have a 'clue' as to what is going on, encourage the person posting to *insist* on being seen again for treatment. There are many on this board that are more informed than the doc performing the surgery. There are many reasons, as stated below, that people use this board for medical questions. And I have a comment on the post by Delores. No question is a dumb question. Some may seem a little redundant. But many people are new to the board and don't know that their question has probably already been asked. And the 'what to take to the hospital' is actually a pretty good question. Besides the obvious 'duh' items, I learned from reading a similar question, to take a personal fan, breath strips, and fresh wipes. Things that I wouldn't have thought of initially, but items that I was thankful to have immediately post-op. We shouldn't be critical of others' questions. This is a learning place for all.
   — Cheri M.

December 4, 2002
I agree that emergencies, should be totally addressed to the doctor involved, but so many of us have had to deal with incorrect, missing or just plain wrong information because of some doctor's pre-conceived notion about us because we were fat or because we had WLS. But this message board is a wealth of knowledge just to alleviate fears and help us ask the right questions when we cut through the bureaucracy of an emergency room, a doctor's office bound by our insurance or just plain delays. I've learned so much from the faithful posters to this board that I wouldn't hesitate to post a medical question here--just to find out someone else's experience. I've been in the position many times that I would have gotten a hangnail even blamed on my weight that I double check everything a healthcare professional tells me before I believe it as gospel! I got a couple of strange things that I didn't totally trust from my surgeon's office and bounced them off my PCP this week and she answered "They said what?" to one of them and clarified the other for me. It doesn't hurt to get other perspectives!
   — Cathy S.

December 4, 2002
I agree with you, Jena, especially if it is about you. The healthcare professional taking care of you is the best person to ask when it comes to our health. Sure, we can share our thoughts, opinions or concerns, but the bottom line is that it is the patient's responsibility to empower him/herself by participating in their own care~~quite simply, it's a good idea to direct the questions that you are concerned about with regard to *specifics* to the professionals. I also think sometimes those that post medical questions just want the *views* of our support community, but they can be best addressed in a timely way by "going to the source".
   — yourdivaness

December 5, 2002
I'm the Original Postee of this. I want people to understand that I know that MD's,Surgeons, etc don't know every little detail regarding WLS, and other health care concerns,etc and that it is nice to hear from another person who is at the stage in their WLS journey to help you with what has worked for them,etc. And, I too have talked with many of my friends who have WLS and talked to them about certain things, but when it comes to something serious (remember, I'm saying SERIOUS)I'm consulting a doctor. However, my only concern is from reading some serious medical concerns on here that makes me shake my head. You don' need health insurance to talk to a nurse/doctor when it comes to calling them, at least that is how it is in Minnesota. I too like to know what to expect in all things that I do/persue such as WLS, and information is great/powerful. I wish all of you the very best where ever you are in your journey. God Bless.
   — Jena C.

December 5, 2002
I was wondering the same thing...SCARY....Call the doctor---ask him...if you need more info..THEN post.
   — Jeanne C.




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