Is that it?............

First of all the reason why you don't get the expert advice on places
like sci.med is not IMO so much the legal, etc. implications but
rather that it takes a long time to give comprehensive advice and the
"expert" isn't being paid for it. Further, all of these groups have
lurking amateurs (in the French sense of the word; like Hirohito was
an amateur (a real expert without a degree) on marine biology) who
will quickly jump on any erroneous statements and humiliate the
"expert". Who needs the agro?

Having said that there are web-based services to provide exactly what
you want. Unfortunately most want money and those that are free have a
pre-programmed button "See your doctor" or so it seems. I'd worry
about the value for money on the paying ones too; there's no shortage
of charlatans in the medical business.

You say that "eventually [you'll take a] ... trip to a specialist".
Sounds like "eventually" is in a short time and if so you've probably
left it too late. It requires lots of work over many months to bring
oneself up to speed in all but the simplest of areas. You mention a
specialist. Have you considered visiting the specialist NG's? They
usually have the word "support" in the name and are mainly populated
by fellow sufferers who while not experts can recount their
experiences. That's unlike on sci.med where, when you eliminate the
arguments over autism, iron, vaccination, mercury, and the political
ranting, you have little actual medical information, no practical
knowledge, and little expertise.

As to what you can do yourself, Google is your friend. Think
skeptically and don't even believe places like the nih when there's
any political correctness involved. I would also suggest Medscape or
WebMD (same thing) where they might not answer questions but they have
enough online literature (up to date too) that you can at least obtain
a basic knowledge of the problem.

Good luck.