I havent got Ebola fever!

They're probably checking up on what they think you might have been googling Flickety

Yes; need to get his diagnosis out of the way before they proceed to consult Dr Google themselves.

I think that's just a starting point for the doctor. I would tell him what I was thinking it might be. What would be the point in seeing the doctor if you are not going to be upfront about it?

I think it is an excellent question. A great way of getting the patient to open up.
Sometimes the answer would be something like "I've got thrush/cystitis/blocked sinuses again" which would save a lot of time.
Or the answer might be "I've got a lump in my neck and I'm worried about cancer" which would get the worst worry out in the open straight away, so that it could be addressed.

My DD1 had a flat mate who checked herself into hospital insisting she had necrotising fasciitis when it first became talked about, 20 odd years ago.of course she hadn't She is now a high powered lawyer.

Yes but .......you are all assuming that the patient would respond according to instructions. The reason for my query is that I totally failed to realise the significance of the question so I just found it irritating and offputting and I felt they were pushing their job onto me, which was ridiculous and it certainly undermined my confidence in the doctor. I am sure I am not alone in my reaction

Also, if you were a non-smoker, actual or passive, and had had a bad cough for sometime and were convinced you had lung cancer, if the doctor said to you, after you had described your symptoms, what you thought you had, would you admit you were convinced you had cancer when the chances of you having it are so small? I do not think I would.

Patients are very various. By asking an open question the doctor may find out all kinds of things. Big improvements on "war seems to be the problem" or "what can i do for you" . I think you should cut your doctor a wee bit of slack. Its probably what they tell them to ask in GP school.

I'm with you, FlicketyB. I don't want my doctor to be asking me what I think is wrong with me.

I want him/her to ask me what symptoms I have and then to do the appropriate examinations/tests etc. and give me their diagnosis!

Is this just your doctor I wonder, as mine doesn't say that?My doctor says 'what can I help you with?' The last time I almost said 'could you come round tonight and help me shift a wardrobe'? but sanity then kicked in.

Went with DH to the doctor and she said "you know what you've got, don't you!" And he saId "yes, my wife has already diagnosed it"

It was easy to diagnose (but unpleasant) - shingles.

Is this a new manifestation of NHS cutbacks then? Diagnose yourself (via Google) and just go to the doc's (if and when you can get an appointment) for the appropriate prescription?

I think our doctors tend to ask "What seems to be the trouble" which is reasonable enough and gives you an opening to ask about what's really worrying you.

It has happened a couple of times with young doctors. I go into the surgery, I describe the symptoms that have led me to seek medical advice and then the doctor says, 'What do you think you have?' My unspoken response is; I have described my symptoms and I am waiting for you to tell what the problem is, if any. If I knew what the problem was I probably wouldn't be here. My spoken response is generally, to repeat the list of symptoms, now I know that the doctor wants me to tell them that I think have Ebola fever or leprosy or TB, I will google before I go to the surgery to find some arcane medical problem I think I have, that they will not have heard of.

Although I do quite well with that when I give a medical history because I had a bowel condition as a child that most GPs do not seem to have heard of.

This must be very annoying for you FlicketyB and I think I would say ' I don't know what it is, but those are the symptoms, what do you think'?In fact asking you is idiotic really, so I wonder why they do it?GP's years ago used to say 'what seems to be the trouble?' as Deedaa has stated.It probably can't be improved on really.

Of course we are now all 'customers' and not 'patients' though you need to be VERY patient to get an appointment now, at my surgery.

www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2014/04/13/camerons-reform-to-gp-services-would-be-dangerous/

Why not answer bluntly, flickety, with something like "I've no idea and I don't have your training in medical diagnosis; that's why I'm here" ?

My experience of GPs is that they don't like you to say what you think you have. I've always got a better response from the doctor if I just describe the symptoms/problem and leave diagnosis to them. It doesn't mean they always got the diagnosis right first time but they are more likely to get it right than I am. Plus they have resources for diagnosis that I don't have.

The last time I saw a consultant she outlined two possible medications and asked me what my thoughts were. I replied that as I had no scientific training whatsoever and no access to any of the research and as she was the professional I would leave it to her. She then told me why option one was her recommendation.