edw519, I hesitated for a day before posting this update (and a good couple of weeks before my original post) for exactly that reason. I realize that this is Hacker News, and not a medical web site. So I truly apologize if what I've done is inappropriate. HN is a great place, and I'd never want to abuse it.

In the end I rationalized my decision by thinking that if my post isn't actually appropriate, that it simply wouldn't get voted up. It's a community site, and in the end the community chose to vote it up. I think that's worth something, though I certainly do see your point.

I'd make one correction to your argument though- I'm trying to crowdsource a diagnosis, not my medical care. There is a big difference.