Reading this? You may be a cyberchondriac

MSNBC.com ^ | August 1, 2007 | Unattributed

[gpapa]

NEW YORK - Worried about that niggling pain in your arm? Concerned about those persistent headaches? If you’ve searched online for information about medical woes you’re not alone.

The number of so-called cyberchondriacs seeking health information on the Web has soared to about 160 million in 2006 — a 37 percent rise over two years, according a new poll.

“Cyberchondriacs now represent 84 percent of all online adults, up from last year’s 80 percent, and 72 percent in 2005,” Harris Interactive, the market research firm that conducted the survey, said in a statement.

[LukeL]

I have hypochondria/cyberchondria. I have learned the best thing to do is not look up information period.

[Red Badger]

niggling? I thought they buried that word........

[snarks_when_bored]

I’m not reading this.

[Mr. Jeeves]

niggling? I thought they buried that word........

The niggles haven't issued a formal statement yet. ;)

[Revolting cat!]

I’m not logged in, so I must be OK!

[LibKill]

Hypochondria makes you stronger!

[kalee]

My lupus diagnosis came about after I received a mailing soliciting donations from the Lupus Foundation. The mailing contained a sheet listing the symptoms and advising you to see a Dr if you have 3 or more of the symptoms. I had 10 of the 15 listed. In the past my doctors had treated me for the different problems but no one ever tied them all together. When I showed my primary care Dr the list and we reviewed my history she sent me to a rheumatologist, who made the final diagnosis. I had these symptoms for 11 years before I received a diagnosis. My primary care doctor is a very good doctor and I trust her, but she is not infallible. I’m glad I received the solicitation from the Lupus Foundation. It led me to look for answers to a puzzle I had been living with for many years.

Because of this I am a better advocate for myself in terms of my health. I no longer expect that my Dr will know everything. I keep an eye on research and new data on my illness and I often take things in to show her. She and I are a team.

[Jaysun]

I have hypochondria/cyberchondria. I have learned the best thing to do is not look up information period.

Being a hypochondriac just means that you're alert and proactive about your health. I think it's perfectly fine.

I can't find anything useful on the net concerning my twitching toe. It's been twitching for about 12 seconds now. I'm guessing it's cancer or mad cow or maybe I caught the bird flu when I fished my keys out of the bird bath this morning.

[LukeL]

I vist a website where Doctors from the Cleveland Clinic answer questions and you would not beleive the number of people who think they have ALS because of an occasional twitch.

[Jaysun]

Something similar happened with my brother. We were playing golf and he said that he'd "been feeling like sh*t for the last couple of days". I saw a round red spot on his leg and recognized it as a tick bite. He had Lyme disease. He went to the doctor and my amateur diagnosis was confirmed. He's now perfectly fine because we managed to catch it early. He wouldn't have gone to the doctor without my urging so I'm glad I saw it.

I think I learned about Lyme disease and the symptoms from a Reader's Digest article some years ago.

[Jaysun]

I vist a website where Doctors from the Cleveland Clinic answer questions and you would not beleive the number of people who think they have ALS because of an occasional twitch.

I don't doubt it. But the net is useful "health care tool" in that it allows people to research and dismiss (or confirm) symptoms. My Great Grandmother had Lou Gehrig's disease. I was only 15 years old when she died but I saw how fast she went down hill. It was horrible.

[LurkedLongEnough]

Now you did it. I’m worried about worrying about cyberchondria.

I’ll bet that government-funded health care will resolve this, though. /s/s/s/s

[Recovering Hermit]

I have learned the best thing to do is not look up information period.

Damn straight on that one.

Scaring yourself shitless is likely worse for your overall health than whatever the affliction is that you are looking up.

[LukeL]

I was essentially a nervous wreck who was afraid to even get out of bed, thinking I could drop down dead. This went on for 2-3 months. All because of the internet.