I would never just rely on a doctor for a chronic or complicated health matter. I rely on myself somewhat, the knowledge I have about my own body, and the knowledge I have attained thus far regarding health and medicine. If a doctor agrees with what I already kind of surmised, I tend to go with it. If they disagree, I get a second opinion. If I had no idea at all what was going on with me and a doctor says something that makes sense, I will try their treatment recommendations and see if it works within reason. I don’t hunt for a doctor to agree with me, but I am not going to just accept a doctors diagnosis and treatment if it makes little sense to me. I have been through several medical difficulties and in the end I am almost always right. Not that I am always right or all knowing about a diagosis or treatment, sometimes I am right just knowing what the doctor said made no sense and will not be helpful, or they are not understanding me.
I also utilize fluther, we have some great doctors here, and a little google sometimes, but websites sometimes have misinformation of course. Oh, but pubmed is good for studies. There have been times I have looked up information in medical texts and journals like JAMA.
Also, girlfriends. Sharing with them many times leads to some help.