Horses, not zebras... please!

One of the nuggets of advice drilled into medical students as they wade into the potentially treacherous waters of becoming diagnosticians, is that when you hear hoofbeats and winnying, think horses... not zebras. The point being that if a simple answer will fit the symptoms, don't be tempted by a more exotic answer.

Too bad friends don't get this advice as part of their social training.

I've been home for two days with what my family physician feels confident is probably a stomach virus. At first I was leaning more towards food poisoning, but it turns out I didn't go to medical school... so after the second day I was inclined to agree with the pro's diagnosis.

I love my friends, but a few of them are prone to a bit of alarmism which can spill over into 'zebra hunting'.

One of my friends heard that I was home sick with nausea and a few other symptoms which I'll spare you (don't thank me...), and decided it would be a good idea to tell me that this might also point to a parasite.

After spending much of the past 48 hours in the smallest room in my house (thank G-d for the iPad and wifi), I really didn't need to hear that.

So here's a little advice for all you home diagnosticians who have been watching too many medical dramas on TV for your own good: I know you mean well, but please let your friends spend a few days in the stable with their horses before you try taking them zebra hunting on the Serengeti.