[MR] Please remembe ALWAYS talk to your doctor!!!

[Becky McEllistrem]

I posted a message about poison ivy and past messages and when I do it's because I've checked with my doctor first although my post is not always clear in stating that initially.  I make suggestions about what to do and often someone somewhere says "I have tons of experience use this..."

I'm all about first hand experience and live for it so I appreciate the info but always remember most of us our not doctors so ALWAYS go with what your doctor says.  The key is getting to the doctor early.  I will try the natural or over the counter stuff but if it does NOT help within 48 hours I will ALWAYS call my doctor's office.

If I am trying natural stuff even if suggested from first hand experience I will ALWAYS tell my doctor and ask their opinion.  I'm convinced that my medical conditions don't get as severe as they do because I DO call my doctor 48 hours into the experience.  The medication I'm on now was only $9.00.  I'm convinced it would have been something else much more expensive had I waited.

And I've had people dead certain they're right about treatments only to be contradicted by doctors.  So even though we get well meaning advice when suffering (including from me), always remember to check with your doctor, nurse or even a pharmacist as 99% of us are NOT.  I always take information received here, collect it and validate it with the next time I call my nurse.  I've had some great advice from here.  I've also had some really just truly wrong advice from people who have decided they're experts from one reason or another.

Sometimes doctors make mistakes but they're pretty unusual.  It doesn't usually cost much just to call your doctor's office!  

Rebecca