Opinion: Are medical opinions given by ailment sufferers are useful?

It's always good to get a personal opinion, but I wouldn't put more weight on advice given by sufferers/survivors than I would on that of a medical professional. After all, where did the survivors get THEIR advice from? It all leads back to someone who's qualified: a doctor.

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Sometimes.

There certainly are people who have a condition or disease and do their research, learning a lot about it. They can add the subjective experiences that can only come from having the disease.

However, many people with a disease do not necessarily understand the pathophysiology behind it, or the sequelae of leaving it untreated, or the different treatment options. A person with a disease sees one case of it, where a doctor who treats it may see hundreds or thousands of cases.

Do you think that someone who drives a car is qualified to fix it? He/she may be able to recommend a good mechanic, but you probably don't want him/her under the hood.