Dear EFers,

I think there was a thread similar to this one but I really can not find it, maybe a nice mod can put them together under one title.

I am a bit surprised by the amount of people asking for medical advice here, true some of us just want a recommendation about a specialist, to know if a certain doctor is good or to gain information about a center etc. I applaud these efforts, as well as those to get oneself informed about different diseases that we could suffer and because of no medical background we want to know more about. This is really a good way of finding out more.

What worries me is the amount of uninformed and plain wrong and silly spreading of "pseudo-information" among certain members that just scares me. Now, my opinion not only as a scientist but also as a fellow-EF member is that the people are in no way trained to give advice to please refrain from doing it, I do not mean to say that opinions can not be expressed, about treatments and such, but for me it is evident that sometimes this line between being helpful and being nosy (and missinforming) is being crossed carelessly.

Many of us think differently, I could be a person who is a vegan and does not support the commercialization of milk for instance, but that does not mean I will start saying that milk is bad, that it is the cow's pus and that it has been shown that it kills (because it is NOT true) and is based on beliefs not based in science or evidence. In the same way, we could have ideas about certain treatments, and we can express them but please do NOT place false statements and whenever possible cite a source (and I do not mean a link to the national enquirer or the dailymail).


Sorry rant over...

A good point, I think that everyone should also be aware that "advice" from a forum is only just that - advice, not necessarily expert opinion. It does no harm to inform yourself but I for one wouldn't take anything just at face value, expert opinion is what matters, forum opinion may add colour or anecdotal information but shouldn't form the back-bone of an opinion.

I recently posted a question regarding knee arthroscopy and the feedback was very useful (both on the forum and via PM), nevertheless, I will also seek expert medical opinion - the reason behind my question was to solicit the anecdotal background - not an armchair distance diagnosis :-)

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Mens sana in campari soda

This is exactly what I mean Loui-Wu, it is good to share experiences but the bottom line is that a specialist should always be sought.

As you seem prone to worry, you should take a mix of Prozac and Xanax immediately.

Was there a specific thread that triggered you? I haven't been in the forum for very long, but other than the little pregnancy tips and the possible autistic 30+ woman, I haven't noticed anything really flagrant...

I guess I just need to marinate a little bit longer in EF

....and the same goes for legal advice with regards to landlords, jobs...divorces...visas..permits.....blah blah blah blah blah....

Hey! This is my thread get your own

But seriously - thats my point. This is a forum where opinions and ideas flow freely - especially EF - where we are such an opinionated bunch.

Everyone and anyone should have half the brain to realise that if you want professional help, you should consult the specialists.

I admit that whilst its comforting to get opinions from those in similar situations - health wise, parenting tips for teething etc, legal situations etc, you simply need to exercise caution and common sense when it comes to following tips, and not take everything as Holy.

Oh I will not contest this, still not all of us have the same way of dealing and facing problems...some of us need a little push (some a big one) to get moving...some of us are also more "impressionable" (???) and can be lead to believe anything we read...

Opinions are like kittens: Always given them away... and nobody likes a cat lady

I am with you on this, but honestly, just in my personal way of selecting junk from valuable info.

In every chat situation, debate or discussion, be in on a tram stop, in a cafe with friends or at a uni hall, you will hear a bunch of opinions. Nobody will wrap it up with disclaimers. In real life, and honestly, since people know everyone here pretty much. it gets pretty real here, you would be so boring requesting sources and expecting that everyone takes everything super seriously, without ever thinking of face value.

Have some trust in people. If you talk to somebody, nobody will jump in saying "don't copy this please without any critical thinking". This is not a textbook, or school edu, where responsibility has to be applied, and disclaimers provided. This is not a scientific lab, either. Here people chitchat, some of more deep levels than others, even threads are super mixed, a scientific facts, with opinions, with experiences, with hersay...I don't believe people do not apply common sense and a bit of intelligence. Docs advice is important, so is asking here before we have a chance to see a doc, to get ready, to gain perspective, to have questions ready...free info flow. Censorship won't help it, nor policing those who simply offer what they think and constant discplaimers are offensive, too.

I think if people want to sound as if there were super sure of their opinion and say milk is useless, why not. Why shouldn't they..It's when people start personal insults because they can't stand other people's opinion that bugs me. But why flame people who might for short time be obsessed by some lifestyle? They will shortly move on, when they notice their dental health deteriorate and their nails stop growing, I know this from personal vegan experiences, so no link, dear. Besides, there are links for everything these days. I don't trust so many of them.

Milk is good, former vegan says so. Plurality of views is also precious. If people feel like messing with links, sure. If they don't, take it as they serve it, nothing else than their own personal belief. Don't sweat over it.

I don't think because somebody said milk is bad, 65 000 members will quit drinking it, mob mentality style. But if one member wants to express in a slightly un kosher way his believes over dairy, why not. I might think it's un kosher since I have personal experiences with it, you might also shrug it off since you have an insight, but others might want to believe in it. What can you do...

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"L'homme ne peut pas remplacer son coeur avec sa tete, ni sa tete avec ses mains." J.H. Pestalozzi

“The only difference between a rut and a grave is a matter of depth.” S.P. Cadman

"Imagination is more important than knowledge." A. Einstein

It’s not just silly to ask for medical advice on the Forum but searching the internet is also not a good idea.


I was diagnosed with a condition 5 years ago and the specialist gave me a look talk about it and a fact sheet in English. He warned me not to take notice of articles I might find on the net as these were often wrong or out-of-date.


So, I did have a look at the net and found just what he had warned about. One site was from a very well known American clinic and the information there was about 10 years out-of-date !


If you need medical advice ask a doctor or specialist.

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I reserve the right, to declare right, anything I care to write.

You shouldn't recommend these corporate addictive toxins, but instead point her towards homeopathic remedies. The body is a natural organism and needs only natural substances to cure any ailment.

I was dehydrated during the hot weather last week and feeling a little weak. I was prescribed a bottle of homepathic Eritrean Daisy. I felt much better as soon as I took the medicine.

You cannot argue with facts like that.

OMG MusicChick you took my thread completely out of context, the milk example was an example I made up! I have never read that here and if I had I would have haughed it off.
My point is that an opinion is an opinion not a scientific statement when not backed up by a source. Now, I always look for sources becaue that is my job, that is what I am good at, and I know I can be a bit intolerant when it comes to silly comments about medicine, but please read my OP first, the milk thing was an example I made up!

If I can add something, I consider that "medical advicing" is something very cultural and education-related.

It means that, if for instance, you saw that your mum usually recommended and spoke long and accepted medical advice from other friends, when you grow up you tend to do the same.
In some cultures scientific-based health knowledge is basically nonexistent and usually mum and dad tell you what to do for what, based on what grandma and grandad told them, and also on some mythst beliefs. This can sound like too far for a western country, but still has some vestiges and this behaviour keeps somehow.

Also accepting those advicies. I remember the case of a friend who was given some pills for a caught by her mum. Of course, she took those pills. She got terribly ill due to them, even today she carries some problems for that. The doctor concluded it was due to the wrong pills that she took, just coz her mum told her that they worked great for her last caught.

So, better be careful with the advices, not because of the intention of the person who advices but because somethin which worked for someone can be quite bad for another one.

But how I worked with it illustrates exactly what I meant.

I don't believe that people would brainfart so much they would value annonymous few posts more than a face to face consultation with a specialist, who has trained for years and probably have ton of up to date info. On the other hand I wish I had certain info before I believed a few specialists who turned out to be quite poor in their profession.

Sometimes it is super good to get info here (or other boards I am on) before you actually see a specialist. But the fact people discuss things here certain way (or they say they do things certain way) does not mean anything, it does not mean they do it or believe in it, just that they typed things up. Words. And, my opinion is, adults here take them as they are. Opinions, some links people posted because they gelled with their opinions, a few jokes, etc.

It feels a little primary school to actually say, this is my opinion, sure you go and do whatever you want and most of all, consult your GP.

But I am not naive, people who will want to do things their way, say homeopathy, will do things their way no matter what we post here. They will certainly believe a person giving tips on homeopathy. They might not check with their GP. They migh in fact look for some kind of overrated and expensive guru here instead. While I think homeopathy is nonsense and smart way to strip folks of cash, I think they should be allowed to post, and without too many disclaimers

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"L'homme ne peut pas remplacer son coeur avec sa tete, ni sa tete avec ses mains." J.H. Pestalozzi

“The only difference between a rut and a grave is a matter of depth.” S.P. Cadman

"Imagination is more important than knowledge." A. Einstein

I think I will have to respectfully disagree with you, my experience says people do brain fart and often...And I have nothing againts opinions but about "brain farts" given as science. And you extrapolation of my example for me was the WTF of the day...see? that is an opinion not a fact

Yeah, but life does not run like a scientific project.. You might want it to be that way, but thankfully, it won't. Even common sense is super subjective. I do get your thinking, though, since I get surprised, too.

I used the "don't drink milk" example since you provided it, so don't be suprised, and since I actually was vegan, without the "let's hate milk" attitude. A simple analogy, though it's fun if it made anyone's wtf of the day, cool.

People will take as much as they want, not as much as you filter for them. Plus you might mention all disclaimers you want, some people will still take what's written here for their new religion.

I actually did some studying on instructionalism which basically is a total waste of time. You inspect how well the instructions are given (here the mode of advice, ayit) in order to ensure max efficiency. The human factor is too big in order to focus on the mode. Let's not focus on the mode, nor messangers, but on the message.

When all docs are 100% ace, people will trust them, and only them. Although some won't

Simples. Or maybe not so much.

Now, my tooth broke and I have no immediate cash for dentist, what should I do?

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"L'homme ne peut pas remplacer son coeur avec sa tete, ni sa tete avec ses mains." J.H. Pestalozzi

“The only difference between a rut and a grave is a matter of depth.” S.P. Cadman

"Imagination is more important than knowledge." A. Einstein

Go to the OB/GYN?