Minnesota, USA -July 17, 2011 - For over a decade, most of us jumped on the internet to do a self-diagnosis after repeated failures in discovering the cause of ailments; in addition, some even skipped seeing a doctor and tried to narrow down the diagnosis possibilities prior to seeking any real medical help. Now, instead of turning to diagnosis tools or searching of symptoms on search engines, people are taking their problems to the social networking sites like Facebook.  As the saying goes, 'two heads are better than one" -undoubtedly there are a lot of people on friends lists which could give ideas on what is wrong. As good as this is bad, we are turning to those who may not have any background in the matter; does social networking help the medical professionals or hinder its progression due to 'know-it-all' patients

In the past, I spoke with a private family doctor to discover her biggest pet peeves; she mentioned, "I don't like it when the patient comes in with a list of what he or she thinks is the problem. It makes it difficult to discuss the symptoms because they typically only pinpoint their obvious symptoms to match what they believe to be the problem. Everything else is ignored, so I do not know everything he or she could be experiencing. I could test for something other than what I would originally test."

People who are suffering from common diseases and illnesses to the rarest of these keep opening up groups on Facebook to help others identify the common problems associated with the disorders and discover whether or not they could also be suffering from the same ailment. Yet, it still takes the guidance of the popular 'diagnosis tools' or family and friends to give people a push in the direction of that Group Page. Typically people feel most comfortable opening up with those they know first before they attempt to speak with others about what is happening to them.

Facebook created a supportive atmosphere where users could confide in others who are experiencing the same problems at the same time. In addition, it raised the awareness and understanding of the illnesses/diseases that are both physical and mental. In this way, it gives family and friends the resources they need in order to understand what their loved one is experiencing; it is in a social atmosphere where it is easier to get answers to specific questions from people who know what it is like first-hand. Please be advised that these pages are typically not run by medical professionals so do not follow-through with advice prior to consulting a doctor.

Medical professionals show frustration over the increased communication among patients; however, it proved useful in a few reported cases of rare diseases that could not be diagnosed without the help of others who also suffered from the disease. Sometimes even the professionals need a push in the right direction because they cannot know every single ailment, so they typically do not mind the insight if you have any suspicions to share.

If you have not already, look up any of your ailments in Facebook Groups to get a little support; likewise, open up a Facebook Group if you have any rare illnesses. It is an opportunity to create a community of even the few individuals who suffer from the rarest of illnesses; share you story, connect with those searching for answers, and raise the awareness of the health issues from which you suffer. Your doctor may not like it, but he or she will not stop you from reaching out to others in similar situations.