I'm not a doctor
By hotsummer
@hotsummer (13837)
Philippines
August 30, 2012 11:54pm CST
Some one called us today asking about some health questions because she has difficulty with breathing. She is not a close fried but some kind of acquaintance only. Anyway I gave her some advice as I have bit some knowledge on some medicines to make you airways to open and breathe better as we used that before but I said I am not a doctor and so she should check on a real doctor. I said what was given to me before may not be appropriate for her condition as she might have other conditions. So I asked her to consult a real doctor immediately as there is government clinic near her.
2 people like this
3 responses
@janevi (888)
• Philippines
31 Aug 12
Sometimes there are people who really prefer to ask some friends for advice even i they know that you are not a medical doctor. But it is simply, they feel comfortable and at ease in seeking a friend;s advice. In moments like this just answer them based on your experience and refer them to the right persons so that they can get the best advice.
I'm not a doctor either but many of my friends and classmates are asking medical advice from me . Maybe because they know that I am an medical allied graduate and practiced it from more than 15 years. I simply reply them in the best way I could but would advice them to go to the doctor for better management. :-)
@hotsummer (13837)
• Philippines
31 Aug 12
Indeed we are hoping our friends would be a lot of help. So that we would not pay for doctor's fee or not be bothered consulting a doctor
@janevi (888)
• Philippines
3 Sep 12
That's right but it is quite risky especially if the symptoms are different from the ones we have experience. Consulting/asking a friend would mean savings if the the symptoms are simple that could be remedied by water therapy or paracetamol.
There are some cases that friends' advice are not good because I have this new friend who is now suffering a kidney problem because of a friends advice to take diet pills. She ended up in the hospital and now she in and out of the hospital because of the complications from taking that diet pills from a friend's advice.
It is always good to be careful in seeking out friends' advice especially when it is on the health aspect.
@rsa101 (38148)
• Philippines
31 Aug 12
Well that was a good advice to have her consult a doctor since the meds you recommended might not be appropriate for her.
There are many causes of difficulty of breathing, could be asthma, and others diseases like simple cough to pneumonia. Others could be related to the heart and everything.
@hotsummer (13837)
• Philippines
3 Sep 12
Indeed we should not play the role of an expert. We should still consult the doctors for serious and even simple health problems.
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
31 Aug 12
That is definitely the best way to go because it could be very dire in emergency and she really should go visit the doctor now. Better to be safe then to be sorry. It could be that she doesn't need medicine at all but she won't know that until she goes.
@hotsummer (13837)
• Philippines
31 Aug 12
Indeed maybe she just have to follow some advice from a doctor and won't be needing any medicine at all. As it's much better if we can get better by doing what the doctor said that prescribing our own medicine.
