"Gather ye rose-buds while ye may." Robert Herrick

"Gather ye rose-buds while ye may." Robert Herrick

Hello Friends!

Friends, Romans, countrymen...y'all. Foodies, gardeners, artists and collectors - let's gather together to share and possibly learn a thing or two in the mix.

Donna Baker

Sunday, February 7, 2016

To Know Or Not To Know


Oh good grief!  I have always prided myself in the knowledge of medicine: I used to read medical books for fun, and in fact,  early on, wanted to be an internist. Anyway, cut to the chase.  Do you want to know the answers to medical questions regarding your health?  The queen of anxiety ought to know better.

In regard to my recent heart referral, I thought maybe I should know a little of what's going on in there.  Wrong. The reader in the posts' picture should have her eyes open wide after reading the page; bugged out as mine were last night.

I decided to look up entropy last night and watched a Khan Academy video on the subject.  Too technical though I got the disorder part spiraling into chaos (as I did also after reading all that stuff.)  So, next, I typed in entropy in relation to heart disease which took me to a site with scientific articles I think must have been for the professionals.  Still too much information so I hit on PVC's, which I have, and OMG.  They can lead to cardiomyopathy (no one ever said a word about that), then, I clicked on diabetic cardiomyopathy and shit.....  

I have decided I am of the ilk that doesn't want to know what is going on down in that chaotic closed environment.  Jeez.  It's enough to give me a heart attack.

32 comments:

Jacqueline @ HOME said...

It's always a mistake to Google any medical condition Donna !!!! Different sites contradict each other and all you do is frighten yourself !! I think that it's best just to see what a speialist says about your particular case. don't you ? You will be reassured once you have seen the heart specialist. Don't worry Donna .... they will sort you out !! Much love. XXXX

donna baker said...

Yes Jacqueline. You are absolutely right. I won't, I won't, I won't be researching any medical info regarding the health of myself again. Others perhaps, but not my own.

Joanne Noragon said...

I read a little too. My goodness. Breaking my arm was a very straightforward research project to see what I had done. You are wise to leave your explanations to the medicos.

donna baker said...

You're right Joanne; taking my sister with me as I won't hear a word he says.

Bea said...

I recently looked up a few of the medical issues I've been having lately and it both freaked me out a bit & confused me further. -will probably make another appt. with a doctor this week, go in armed with questions, and see how that shakes out.

La Table De Nana said...

We are twins.
Dr Google here ..
At your service..don't hire me..I will scare the pants off of you.
But sometimes my diagnosis..has been spot on..that scares me more;)

donna baker said...

That was my intention too Bea. And, it did freak me out. I should have known better.

donna baker said...

Me too Monique. After correctly researching/diagnosing my husband's illnesses and a few other instances, I am sticking to others' illnesses. I'm sticking my head in the sand. It is just scary because I have seen doctors in the same specialties offer completely different opinions and treatments. Guess one just has to trust in someone sometimes, a trait not natural in me.

Elephant's Child said...

A little knowledge can be a dangerous (and very, very scary) thing. I do some research, but try and keep it limited. I only look up things which are directly relevant. I can't cope with the perhaps and maybe's. I am a wimp.

elaine said...

Big mistake Donna - this is a no-no. My friend did the same thing when her leg swelled up last week - she convinced she was at deaths' door after Googling her symptoms. Leave it to the experts that's what I say.

Heidi's Wanderings said...

Sometimes too much knowledge is a bad thing. It's good to be educated on a subject, but don't let it be all consuming. Hope you have a great day!

ellen abbott said...

I've had pretty good luck but I guess it depends on what you are looking up. my torn hamstring diagnoses was spot on and I think the other pain I looked up was a gall bladder attack though my sister says it could have been a heart attack (she had one, a heart attack). and when I got bit by the copperhead, I googled that to see if it was going to kill me and I learned I was going to suffer and my leg was going to get pretty ugly but that it wouldn't kill me.

donna baker said...

Me too Child. Me too.

donna baker said...

Thank you Elaine. It is a no-no from now on.

donna baker said...

Well thank you Heidi and nice to meet you.

donna baker said...

My sister did too Elaine. Copperhead? I find they are usually not aggressive unless attacked or stepped on. Did you? It must have swelled up huge as my dogs always did with copperheads. It depends on how frightened they are as to how much venom they inject. They usually just want to get away. Different with water moccasins as they will not just strike and let go. I told my daughter last time at the beach in Galveston not to go in the sand dunes with the kids as there were rattlesnakes. She didn't believe me and googled it. Enough said.

Michelle said...

Stay away from Google! You will worry yourself to death!

donna baker said...

Thanks Michelle.

Val said...

I thought *I* had a medical condition while reading this: I hadn't noticed that the woman in the photo *BLINKS* until I paused and saw the thumbnail in my blog-list again. :) Bwah ha ha ha!

Love to you.

donna baker said...

You too Val. I wish she had blinked with wider eyes. That would have been perfect.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Oh yes Donna, I agree with you. Best to leave it alone and let the doctors deal with it. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing, especially if accompanied by a vivid imagination.

Debbie Nolan said...

Dear Donna - the internet can be a great resource but it also can be very misleading...some things should be left to the professionals - most especially to our Creator. I think He will keep it all under control. Will be "looking up" for you. Hugs!!

Tom Stephenson said...

It is good to have the medical reference of Google as a resource, but remember that whatever symptoms you may read about, you are sure of having them, so treat it with a massive pinch of salt! (unless you have a heart condition, in which case avoid salt altogether). Also, there is a heck of a lot of misinformation on the net.

donna baker said...

Oh Pat, I learned my lesson.

donna baker said...

Thank you Debbie and hugs back.

donna baker said...

You are right Tom. I do tend to have all the symptoms. I've already decided the pipes are hard as pvc pipes and full of lard. Just want them to cut to the chase and go through the femoral and not do all the other tests first. I'm not very good at protocol. And, I've already thought about the diet. Egg whites and kale with no salt or fat - how could one live like that?

ellen abbott said...

stepped on it or right beside it. didn't see it at all, not until after. it was at the back of my property at dusk by the wild part that has grown up between property lines. since I go barefoot it nailed my on the foot. my whole let swelled up all the way to my hip. it was just a warning strike from an adult I guess cause while it was extremely painful for about two or three weeks, it didn't look nearly as bad as some of the pictures I saw on the 'net. took probably 4 months before all the swelling in my foot was gone.

donna baker said...

That is scary as I have stepped over snakes many a time and not seen them until mid step. I hope you went to the doctor. That is amazing that it took so long to recuperate. I didn't know that. Dogs usually are bitten around the head and neck since they attack them with their mouth. There are 4 different poisonous snakes around where I live, but I have found the copperhead to be less aggressive. When they see you, they usually turn around and try to slither away. I only kill the water moccasins since I am afraid they'll bite my little weenies.

Down by the sea said...

Most husband always wants to know all the details of an illness and yes it does scare him silly. I don't want to know all the details in case I find out something I don't want to know! Take care and don't look! Sarah x

donna baker said...

Thank you Sarah.

jerilanders said...

Donna, I have a separate folder on my computer filled with health information sites. Whenever I have a perplexing ailment, I am online researching . And, you are right, sometimes, it makes matters worse and a lot more worrisome. There is much wisdom in the old adage "ignorance is bliss".

donna baker said...

So true Jeri. I learned my lesson. From now on, I'm not reading about my own health concerns. Whatever... Or, que sera, sera.