The internet is it  a good or a bad thing?......

We all do it or have done it.......The doctor tells us something is wrong with us or someone we know  tells us something is wrong with them and we go home and google it.... What better way to find things out hey?........This also has its downfalls but too.......

When I had my brain tumour removed I came home and decided to do this.... There was some great information on the net but there was also some very scary stuff..... The advice went from "this tumour is the best type of tumour to have if you do get one" to "this tumour is a recurring one that will cause you nothing but greif and is hard to get all of and causes death in more cases than not" Wow what a wide spectrum that was so which advice and diagnosis was right???    Another time I felt the need to google about something was when Deb(blackwidowkate) told me of Jalan's Cystic Fibrosis......again varying outcomes from living a fairly normal life even though shorter than some to a death sentence for her very young........ It was scary...

When it comes to illnesses my advice to you when searching the net for information is....Look for a reputable web site one with doctors who have revised any information.......sure read all the info you can of course we all want to know as much as we can about something that effects us or one of a loved ones and friends........But do not use the internet alone to get your information........There is alot of sites that are just full of scare tactics and are completely wrong in what they say about illnesses.......Talk to a doctor or specialist if you find something you want confirmed.....There were things I needed to know about my tumour and wrote a list to ask my specialist...... He is the professional taking after my case after all....There was also alot of questions on Cystic fibrosis I had as well so what Deb could not answer she asked Jalans specialists too...... Please do not try to sort all the contradicting information on the net out in your own head or to self diagnose......It will send you crazy and can be dangerous....

Another thing alot of people use the net for is researching things that they have been told that are bad for them or thier children like products or medicaton........ This too can be not such a great idea on its own........Sure we all want to know if we are using something to harm our kids or giving them medication to hurt them but do so with an open mind... This is what I do for products I use and am told are bad for me......I usually find the company that makes the product or medication and get their number and ask them for all the relevent information about their product so I can research my self as well........Most companies are quiet happy to do this...... That is my experience with my approach anyway.........I then google it myself and read which site says what on that product..... I get the information jot it doan and talk to as many other people about it as I can....... You know the saying "two heads are better than one".....Then I make an informed decision that is what I believe.....I make this decsion with no doubt in my mind that I am doing the right thing because I have made myself fully informed.....

When Aidan was diagnosed and we were told he would have to take medication for his mental illness....We researched it really well....and we decided what medication from the three we had been given a choice of that we thought was best for him....We did this through the net.......Then with his psychiatrist and our family doctor.......Armed with all the pros and cons on the three medications........Once again who better to help us with any questions about medication than the actual specialists treating him.....

What I am trying to say is google away people find the information you are looking for as well as the things you are not....... BUT if you are getting lots of contradicting things go to someone who specilizes in the subject..........Research something yourself......Come to MINTI and search through advice and talk to other parents who have had experience with things be it illnesses, medication or products you are not sure about.......Ask questions!!!!! The only silly question is the one that is never asked......... Everyone here I have come across is friendly enough to help you out with just about anything they can......Being parents we want to know everything we do is the right thing for us and we have all the information needed......SO people you have the tools.........Use them all and not just rely on one sites opinion or one persons either.......

Just my thoughts that I thought I would share.........

Have  a fantastic day
Cheers
Angie