Self-Diagnosing Via the Internet is BAD

by Kym on May 19, 2009

Even worse, is diagnosing your children that way. I am having quite the crummy-mummy moment this morning.

Emma has had an Adam’s Apple-esque lump on her throat for quite some time now. According to various online articles, such lumps are enlarged vocal chords that the child has yet to grow into. Given Emma’s rather extreme propensity to loud volumes, this seemed a quite fitting diagnosis and Neil and I were both content with it.

It also happened to be completely wrong. As I found out at the doctor today when I mentioned it. It’s actually a thyroglossal cyst and will have to be surgically removed or else it may become infected and cause serious complications.

Cue the panic. Someone is going to have to cut open my child’s throat and . . . right, apparently the shock is wearing off because I’m shaking a bit now and feeling . . . yes, here comes the weepiness . . .

And really, it’s not so horrible a thing that we didn’t have this seen to earlier. No harm done. Everything will be okay. But what if it hadn’t been? I feel mildly paranoid now, and while I know that feeling will pass, right now I want to scour every inch of my girls, looking for worrisome signs of impending trouble.

Instincts trump the Internet every time. I need to remember that. I need to remember that Google is not a doctor, or a mother for that matter. And while I will continue to research any topic that causes me the slightest bit of worry (because that is who I am and what I do), I will strive to remember that sometimes we need to seek out real, live help.

Like my mum. I really need to talk to my mum right now.

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25 comments

I definitely think one should do their own research but get the opinion of a professional as well, or vice versa.

I’m SO sorry they’re going to have to do surgery on her. That would freak me out as well.

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by Summer on May 19, 2009 at 12:13 pm. #

All we can do is our best! You are a great mom, Kim. You do your best, and look!?! It worked out great. You caught everything in time.

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by JustRandi on May 19, 2009 at 12:22 pm. #

I’m glad you did talk to the doctor about it and that she’ll be okay (I’m sure the surgery will go fine! Though yes, that’s pretty nervewracking).

I would have done the same as you. There are so many things to worry about with kids that I totally understand why you’d just do a bit of Googling and not making anything of it after that; I always feel foolish bringing up what turns out to be non-issues with doctors. (I should get over it, I guess.)

by Beth on May 19, 2009 at 1:38 pm. #

Things will be okay. It doesn’t make the going through it much easier to hear that, but you WILL get through it.

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by Heffalump on May 19, 2009 at 2:16 pm. #

I’m notorious for self diagnosing… thanks for the reminder that we’re not all doctors :)
I hope Emma is fairing well and the surgery will be fine!!!! Thinking of you,
A

by Abra on May 19, 2009 at 3:00 pm. #

I’m a constant symptom Googler too. Sometimes it’s been good, other times, not so much. Way to listen to your instincts. Glad she’ll be okay!

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by Annette on May 19, 2009 at 3:21 pm. #

I’m sorry! I’m so glad you looked into it!

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by Tirzah on May 19, 2009 at 5:44 pm. #

Sorry to hear that! The only experience with a protruding lump on the throat was on my daughter. When I took her to the dr. he said that it was strep that had settled weird. So antibiotics (thankfully) cured it.

by Heather on May 19, 2009 at 8:21 pm. #

Oh but I am so glad you found out and CAN get it taken care of. I found a grouping of lumps on my sons head once when I was cutting his hair. I took him to the doc the next day and had to wait 48 hours for them to tell me it what it was. Worst 48 hours of my life. It wasn’t serious and after four months the lumps went away on their own, but wow, those types of things are not good for mommies. Good luck!

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by julie wright on May 19, 2009 at 9:10 pm. #

Oh, that’s no good. I mean that it will have to be removed. I’m sure it’s a simple procedure, but we don’t much love our children coming too close to very sharp objects. Or hospitals. I’m glad you’ll soon not have to worry about it anymore.

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by LisAway on May 19, 2009 at 9:41 pm. #

At least you mentioned it in the end. :) Surgery doesn’t sound fun, but at least it will make Emma better!

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by Nancy on May 20, 2009 at 3:13 am. #

Well, you know I’ve been there, thinking absolutely nothing was wrong with Asher when there most obviously WAS. I thought his big head just ran in the family (and it does), but yeah…the mom guilt. But I told myself I couldn’t think on that, just had to move forward and be a comfort to him through the surgery. Cause that’s my job.

And I find that google/internet usually just gives me MISinformation or exaggerated and dramatic information. Yes, the real life doctor answers are most times the very best. We live and learn.

And you are an amazing mom. Just sayin’

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by Heather of the EO on May 20, 2009 at 5:30 am. #

Don’t worry, you’ll be an awesome mom to help her out every step of the way. You should only feel guilty if you have a medical degree as an ENT and missed the obvious symptoms you were trained to recognize. Otherwise, you’ve done the best you can and you’re getting her the care she needs. :)

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by Steph @ Diapers and Divinity on May 20, 2009 at 5:49 am. #

Oh, I know the feeling! There are those times when I wonder how any of us make it into adulthood with all of the things that could possibly go wrong. Somehow, most of us do, though. Good catch on the lump!

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by Heidi Ashworth on May 20, 2009 at 6:30 am. #

Lol….I wrote a similar post on my blog http://supplyanddemands.blogspot.com/2009/02/dr-googleanyone-else-googling-symptoms.html. I’m afraid I, too, am guilty of relying on the advice of “Dr Google”. Here’s hoping everything worked out OK for you and Emma? x

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by katherine on May 20, 2009 at 7:04 am. #

I said something to my children’s pediatrician about looking something up online, and I could see him attempting NOT to roll his eyes.

I’m so sorry for your daughter! I hope and pray all will be well.

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by Erin on May 20, 2009 at 8:37 am. #

Don’t beat yourself up; rejoice in the lesson learned. The gut; it’s all about the gut.

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by Novembrance on May 20, 2009 at 9:26 am. #

I’m so glad you went to your doc. The internet just can’t compete with good old eyes and ears. You’re a great mom to catch something like this. I’ll be saying prayers for your sweetie girl. Keep us updated.

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by Cathy on May 20, 2009 at 2:24 pm. #

Oh, Kim. Be kind to yourself. All mommies do their best. Children don’t come with manuals (despite my dad joking that they do and we have unreliable mail delivery.) There’s nothing wrong with trying to solve a problem by yourself. Sometimes, we all just need a little help. No man is an island and that’s why God made causeways.
I’m glad you trusted your instincts and got it checked out. Don’t worry about what might have been. Just hold your little girl, have your Hubby give her a blessing, and be happy to take advantage of the miracle of modern technology. It will be all right. I’m praying for your little Emma. Love you, Kim. *Hugs and Kisses*

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by L.T. Elliot on May 20, 2009 at 3:37 pm. #

Instincts over internet… I like that. So true. I am glad you found the lump when you did. Nice mommying. Best of luck.

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by Kazzy on May 20, 2009 at 9:22 pm. #

Sweetie we believe what doctor’s tell us. That’s not wrong. You did nothing wrong ok? And she will be ok. I know it will be scary and I wish it didn’t have to happen, but she will be ok and you will be ok. Hugs. Thinking of you. xx

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by Jo Beaufoix on May 21, 2009 at 2:09 pm. #

You are a great mom! We all have moments like this (please refer to the time I put ointment on my son’s sunburn and it burned his skin even WORSE). At least you’ve caught it and now it can be taken care of. HUGS!!

Melissa´s last blog post..

by Melissa on May 21, 2009 at 9:24 pm. #

Oh, so sorry! That’s hard on a mommy- not only because it’s your child but because you were wrong. (This coming from a chronic Googler who has had similar experiences.)

by Jaime Theler on May 22, 2009 at 10:33 am. #

The good news is that she went to the doctor and they are going to fix her all up. Please don’t feel bad. This darn internet is just to helpful sometimes.

by Tonya on May 22, 2009 at 10:55 am. #