My advice: don't self-diagnose using the internet. You'll convince yourself you have some rare terrible disease when it's probably nothing. I did this once and worked myself into a panic over what turned out to be a pulled muscle.

Be careful trusting health advice you find on the internet, including mine. There's a LOT of junk out there — supplement companies and diet gurus trying to sell you something. WebMD is decent for general info but it can't replace an actual doctor.

I had this same concern and went to see a specialist. It turned out to be much less serious than I thought. But getting professional medical advice gave me peace of mind. If you have insurance, use it — that's what it's for.

I work in healthcare and see this question frequently. The short answer is that individual results vary enormously. What works for one person might not work for another. The best approach is to work with your doctor to find what's right for your specific situation.