There is a wealth of information available nowadays. The Physicians Desk Reference is available in bookstores, as are drug references both for professionals and lay people. Looking for ways to read about your symptoms, and the possible causes thereof is a very short expedition. And finding potential diagnoses is very easy. Understanding them, however, is another story entirely. The books written for doctors are for doctors meaning they expect a certain level of knowledge and write to that expectation. The information compiled in books written towards laypeople may not be complete, because they are not able to convey as much without using more technical language.

There is a reason why you need professionals in your life whom you trust completely. With them there, you are able to go to them when you need something or have a question, as opposed to looking for the answers yourself. When you start looking on your own, you are more likely to come up with a worst case scenario first, not necessarily seeing the more common and less troubling reality. Or you might blow your symptoms out of proportion, putting more emphasis on a more minor problem. It is very easy to see things that are not there, and look for ways to find symptoms for diseases. You can convince yourself that the worst is happening, when in reality you are fine. Its an easy temptation to look for what is wrong with you. But by doing that, you can just get yourself in more trouble, and that doesnt help anyone.