Wikipedia helps UK student diagnose his rare heart illness
April 1st, 2011 - 7:55 pm ICT by ANILondon, April 1 (ANI): A UK student, who was fobbed off by 10 doctors, has finally diagnosed his rare heart illness himself - thanks to Wikipedia.
Edward Green, 26, spent eight years being told his symptoms were harmless even though he was once rushed to hospital after collapsing at his home, reports the Sun.
Finally he typed “high heart rate” and “chronic fatigue” in Google and hit on a Wikipedia article about Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia.
Computing student Green, of Worcester, showed his GP, who had never heard of the illness but referred him to a specialist who confirmed he had it.
If left untreated, the condition - which leads to a racing heart and causes dizzy spells - can cause serious coronary damage.
“I was certain something was wrong. No one would listen,” said Green, now on pills.
Since having his fears confirmed his GP has even struck him off, citing an “irretrievable breakdown in the doctor-patient relationship”.
“He’s been ill since he was 18 but was fobbed off by doctor after doctor,” said his mother Annette. (ANI)
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Tags: april 1, chronic fatigue, dizzy spells, doctor patient relationship, doctors, fears, google, gp, heart illness, high heart rate, irretrievable breakdown, london, orthostatic tachycardia, pills, racing heart, sun, wikipedia