IANAD. I have four in my immediate family, however, including my two parents. My mother and uncle’s patients are all geriatrics, so the internet pretty much never comes up. My father’s are middle aged, and it occasionally comes up, and they sometimes have the right diagnosis, but they only want medication, never lifestyle change. So it’s almost tougher he’s said, because of the built in resistance.
I always go in armed with information; usually once the PA (physician’s assistant) or the doc expresses concern for my knowledge, I let them know my background and such. I’ve actually never been wrong (yet). The worst was when I saw an orthopedic surgeon for my patellar tendinitis. I told him what I had and he lectured me on how WebMD makes everyone a genius, how patients should never diagnose their own symptoms, which made no sense, because relating your symptoms is a form of diagnosis. He went pale when I told him about working in a physician’s office for years and my own immediate family. Whatever, I just needed him for verification and a physical therapy prescription - which I had to remind him I probably needed.
The most receptive people I feel are dermatologists, mainly because so many problems (not cancer, but other stuff) are pretty easy to diagnose, and so much treatment is elective and about quality of life. My dermo PA has actually mailed me scientific journal articles to browse about a new laser treatment for vitiligo, and I really appreciate that. I’m not going to drop big bucks on a treatment just because the company pamphlet has shocking before and after photos. I’m far more skeptical than the average patient, but I think he appreciates it because he knows he has a very compliant patient who will provide accurate feedback on various prescriptions and therapies.
I think it differs by how much of a hypochondriac one is and by how intelligent the person is. My SO is a very bright guy, but a recovering hypochondriac. He almost shit himself when I suggested he get an annual skin cancer screening, like I was suggesting he had skin cancer right then and there. I dunno if you do dude, but you should get one annually if you have any moles or are fair skinned, no need to jump out of your skin!