Beware the PCOS Chat Room or Email List
Mark Twain once said that we should be wary of medical books because one could die of a misprint. I can only imagine what Twain would have thought about some of the medical advice flying around the internet today.
Sometimes I see “advice” that shocks me, until I remember the cartoon I once saw that showed two dogs talking in front of a computer. One dog said, “On the internet, no one knows you are a dog.” When you see health advice offered, keep in mind that some of those offering advice have ulterior motives such as trying to promote products, some are simply ill-informed, and some are outright malicious.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the fact that the internet has made it so easy to find information about PCOS. When I was first diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome it was nearly impossible for me to find information about PCOS. Most books on women’s health did not mention it. There were not yet any books available about PCOS. The doctors I talked to seemed to know less than I did. The internet was still merely a way for super-techy people to move digital files around. Today, we are surrounded by sources of information and finding support and advice about PCOS is merely a click away. However, these internet sources are sometimes dangerously inaccurate.
I see so much misinformation out there about PCOS. People with no medical background are recommending dosages of medication, advising others to avoid recommended tests or medication, and even suggesting that PCOS sufferers simply refuse medical advice.
Please, please, take anything you see on the internet with a grain of salt – even my stuff. Do some serious research before you stake your life on any advice. While there is a lot of great information out there, there are also many completely ill-informed people out there offering themselves up as self-proclaimed experts. I have seen some really dangerous advice out there about taking or combining meds and herbs, for instance, as well as a lot of other bad advice.
Be careful out there, your health is too important to risk on “someone’s” advice.
