An interesting topic came up today:
How much should we rely on google search when experiencing worrisome symptoms?
On one hand, self-diagnosing is often misguided and can be harmful. Self-diagnosis followed by self-treating is even worse.
Unfortunately though, following the proper course of action for feeling ill hinges on the idea that your doctor will believe you, search for you, and order testing or figure out what is going on.
Overall, I STRONGLY ADVISE to avoid searching out your symptoms on the internet. Do not look for what 'disease' you may have based on a few or an entire set of symptoms. Go to your physician. They have the knowledge, the training, and medical understanding to be able to make a guess on what it could be and what to look for. They will know (usually) what symptoms may be related, are obviously related, or are not at all related. As long as your physician is willing to figure it out with you, trust in the process. Exhaust the proper channels before you ever dive in to internet resources.
Once a physician has an idea of what you might be experiencing and tells you what he/she thinks it might be, then take a look online from a reputable source.
My favourite initial source for medical information on a specific illness is the Mayo Clinic. I have found that this site has a very user-friendly guide to explain a specific disease without inducing severe anxiety. It explains the basics of symptoms, treatments, prognosis, complications, risk factors, and potential causes without being overwhelming. Above all, it is concise and easy to understand.
Now, there are situations in which searching out illnesses and symptoms can be beneficial. When your symptoms are so severe that you truly feel in mortal danger, if doctors are 'passing the buck' or not taking you seriously, and you absolutely cannot make any headway in the proper channels, then seeking out information can be important. As above, ENSURE you are searching from reputable sources. Go to the library and seek out proper peer-reviewed journals. Don't believe everything you read, and keep your own detailed diary of everything you feel and everything you do. It will help you in making connections between cause and effect.
These are extreme cases.
Searching symptoms, diseases, and diagnoses online should never be taken lightly. Anecdotal evidence is NOT PROOF and don't get caught up in ordering expensive homeopathic testing or settling for umbrella-term 'syndromes' if you think something else is going on. (This is not to say that they are not real - this is only saying that sometimes these syndromes are diagnosed before properly searching and sometimes used as a way to stop searching).
Exhaust all proper channels before resorting to self-diagnosing via google.
It will save you even more confusion, awkward conversations or even arguments with medical professionals, and severe anxiety.
And an additional warning:
Going in to a physician and approaching it as though he/she is an idiot and that you know better because of a google search will not offer you results. Instead, rely on their knowledge and be passive about mentioning these particular possibilities you may have found online.
Unfortunately, even though you are simply fighting for your own life and your own care, it may result in reduced credibility - which will make everything tougher for yourself going forward.