“Don’t Google Your Symptoms”
(Unless it you have a tumor in your parotid gland)
That’s what happened a few weeks ago. I’ve had a weird induration behind my ear since November. Didn’t think much of it, seemed like a tense neck.
After different chiropractors couldn’t improve it (it wasn’t hurting), I threw on ChatGPT. Uploaded a pic, shared the background.
Answer: seek an otolaryngologist, not an orthopedist. Two different doctors confirmed the same diagnosis via touching and ultrasound.
Through a friend, I was lucky to land an appointment with a top professor outside of Berlin within only two weeks. (After cold emailing and trying to persuade half a dozen hospitals.)
I’ll be honest: when someone uses the T-word it’s scary. (Though they said there’s a high chance it’s benign.) The other part was the risk factor: the facial nerve with five branches goes over the glad. My tumor was quite deep.
There is a chance that a part of your face gets numb, all the way to your eye and mouth, as well as tasting. (Though it recovers within weeks and months in most cases.)
Last Friday, they took it out. All went well. The professor was pleased. Facial nerves are fine, wound healing is progressing quickly. Yesterday, they confirmed that the tumor was both benign and uniform, so not mixed (= good).
YES!! 💪
Here’s the main kicker: having resolved previous issues (arthritis and fatigue) via googling before––in that case a silent jawbone inflammation––fixed by my biological dentists in Portugal:
You should do your own DD—while you’re seeking professional advice. Doctors know a lot. But they won’t know everything. Especially the more anecdotal cases. That’s where YouTube (comment section!) and Reddit are gold.
Take it with a grain of salt (I’ve tried A LOT of crazy sh’it), but allow yourself to explore it as an avenue that you can then further verify with experts. But that way you come prepared and challenge them.
(Bonus: have a therapist like I do who teaches you not to freak out right away.)
No(body) is the same. My doctors have called me a case study before. Arthritis fixed at a dentist? Libido issue at an orthopedist with a shockwave?
Yes.
Because I became the CEO of my own health.
P.S. If you want to go deeper on my journey (need to update), I shared a video on YouTube a few days ago.
P.P.S. Obviously, this is not medical advice and I’m not a doctor, just a (very) persistent patient. :)
