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I want to remove subcutaneous fat that isn't going away. what can I do?
Hello,
I've been trying for a while to get rid of my abominal fat and it just isn't going away. I hate it and I feel miserable because of it. I've been thinking almost every single day about just cutting it open with a knife and surgically removing it from myself. However, I don't know if that would kill me or not. I should also mention I'm somewhat broke and cannot afford a weight loss plan or a change in lifestyle, or an expensive surgery.
Can I operate on myself to remove belly fat? If so, what do I need to do that, and what steps should I take in the process? Most importantly, will it kill me? And if it's just a terrible idea all around, what should I do?
Thank you
| 4.5
|
**Physician - Anesthesiology**: This is basically a terrible idea. Not only will this be really painful, but you will almost certainly get an infection from the bacteria on your skin, which will at minimum require an ER visit to treat. Even if you take steps like washing your skin beforehand etc, surgeons use a sterile wash on the skin, use sterile equipment, and give IV antibiotics during surgery, and will still sometimes have surgical site infections despite these precautions, so your chances of an infection are extremely high.
I can empathize with your situation though. There are plenty of people who were born into privileged lives who could afford a personal dietician or plastic surgeon.
Unfortunately, that is not your situation, and you will have to deal with the situation you're in. Like with almost any patient, the recommendation for this would be diet and exercise. You can also discuss with your PCP (if you have one) for any suggestions they would have for you specifically.
But trying to perform surgery on yourself is definitely not the answer. It will almost certainly end up costing you more in the long run.
**Physician**: You couldn't possibly have truly expected to be told it's a good idea.
It's a terrible idea. For so many reasons. Yes, attempting what you described can kill you. Please drop this idea forever.
You gave no details about what you've tried, so my advice will be basic: weight loss is about more energy going out than coming in. Adjust your diet and incorporate exercise into your routine. Look up online resources from reputable sources, I'm sure weight loss is a topic that's been covered in abundance.
**Clinical Counselor**: Please take the money you do have and invest in therapy. These are not ok thoughts and may be obsessive.
**Physician**: No. Just no
**Paramedic**: DO NOT DO THIS. THIS IS NOT SAFE.
You will permanently scar yourself, the chances of injuring yourself more than just “superficially” is incredibly high, your chances of infection are likely near 100%, not to mention, necrotizing fasciitis is a real possibility as well. The risks of doing this yourself significantly outweigh any potential/possible/anticipated benefits.
|
How Quit Vape 101
22F, 5ft 3in. I am half Chinese and Half Italian & Irish. I have been vaping for 4 years straight. About 250mg of nicotine per week or so.
General question, why does it feel like I can take deeper breaths when I smoke my vape? Like when I take a hit of my vape (50mg of nicotine per hit) it feels like I can take a deeper breath as opposed to if I just take a normal deep breath. I plan on going cold turkey by July 1st, but the not being able to breathe as good is scary to me. Isn’t it supposed to be opposite? Aren’t I supposed to breathe better withOUT vape? I just wanted to know how it affects me the way I’m describing, like, this is what’s happening to your body when you vape and this is why you think you can breathe better. Just really curious is all before I take the plunge. Thank you to all healthcare workers!
| 5
|
**B.S., Medical Lab Sciences**: I would suggest using different concentrations of vape juice over time instead of qutting cold turkey. this really helps with the cravings.
Since switching to vaping last christmas I've gone down from 20 mg/ml to 10 mg/ml to 6 and now I'm at 3. I use about 20 ml a week. When my stash is out, I'm going to switch to nic-free juice. Every time I switch down, I notice a small uptick in how much I vape in a day, but as I continue this goes down to 'normal' levels.
Some say you'll start self-titrating and vape more juice in a day to keep your nicotine levels up, but if you keep a certain routine (no vaping in the house, only vape during certain times, that sort of thing) it will be easier to get yourself used to a lower concentration.
|
I need HELP! chromic asprin overdose?
After the vaccine I developed really bad nausea and
a burning lower abdomen that wouldn't go down no
matter how much i tried.
For about 2 months i drank 1 alka seltzer extra
strength tablet a day so that i could be able to fall
asleep with no nausea. During this time i was also
drinking a lot of alkaline water. But 1 tablet of alka
seltzer has 324 mg of aspirin.
No my stomach has been burning for a month and a
half and i have acid reflux/heartburn on the daily.
Can anyone help? Could that be the case? Is this
normal? Can anyone shed light on this issue?
Age:26
Weight: 138(have lost 20 lbs already)
Sex:male
Height 5’7
No preexisting conditions, before this i would have. The occasional beer once a 2 weeks, dont smoke and dont do recreational drugs ever. I was generally very active person before this. I used to go to the gym every other day on average.
I am on a strict diet now to keep symptoms in check. Just fruits, vegetables, chicken, salmon, probiotic yogurt. And vitamins like l glutamine, magnesium citrate, vitamin c, a vitamin b blend, and also omega 3 supplements. I stop eating after 6 pm to give me time to digest.
A holistic doctor I went to also said he found candida albicans in my blood through blood smear that he took. So Ive been taking fluconazole that i bought from someone else. The strict die and fluconazole has only been going on for a week btw.
Also for about a month ive had severely dry mouth, no its just a dry mount after ive been brushing the heck out of my tongue and teeth daily. I still wake up with a dry throat and a dry mouth.
| 5
|
**Physician - Gastroenterology**: 1) stop the fluconazole
2) stop seeing the holistic quack
3) stop seeing the holistic quack
4) stop seeing the holistic quack
5) start taking a PPI once daily. If breakthrough symptoms, take it twice daily. (30 minutes before breakfast and/or dinner)
|
Sick for 7th time this year
20F, 5'6, 135lbs, white, worried about being sick so many times in one year. no smoking, occasional drinking, no medications, no rec drugs, medical history appendicitis in 2019.
Hi, I don't want to make this long or anything I would just like an opinion on what I should do.
Since the beginning of 2022, I have been getting sick once and sometimes twice a month. The sickness being a fever, a cold, and the most recently
strep.
I have had no other medical conditions in the past other than appendicitis in 2019 and getting the flu once a year max.
On Wednesday the 27th I woke up with a headache on the right side of my head and started to get a fever that night. Took an Advil and felt somewhat
better. Since then I have been waking up with a headache and a rising temperature everyday, going away with Advil, then returning when the Advil
wears off.
Is this something to be concerned about? I am considering a visit to the ER but in no means do I want to waste their time and leave it for people that are in need. I'm just not sure what to do right now.
Any opinion is greatly appreciated, thank you!
| 4
|
**Physician - Pediatrics**: The ED is not the place to go for 7 mild illnesses in 7 months. It's not an immunology clinic. You'll be offered a COVID test and told to go home and take NSAIDs if you want.
If you have concerns about immunodeficiency or something along those lines, call your PCP to schedule an appointment and discuss it.
|
when do you go to ER for a herniated disc
21f. i have been in pain for 24 hours and can barely move at this point. it’s terrible. extreme shocking sensations in back, extreme aching and pain. walking is painful. getting to the toilet and sitting down is excruciating. laying in bed is painful. i don’t know what to do. i’ve gotten out of bed 4x in the last 24 hours, only for the bathroom. i have bladder control still which is good but weird sensations in legs.
my reservation is that i don’t wanna be the annoying person that goes to the ER for something they can’t treat. in my mind, they just wanna make sure i’m not dying or at risk of like serious injury and if i’m not, they’ll send me home. what could they even do for me right now? i also don’t want to be treated like a drug seeker. oof.
| 1
|
**Registered Nurse**: Severe acute pain that is preventing you from functioning is a great reason to go to the ER. Go get some help.
**Physician**: Do you know it’s a herniated disc or just suspect? And why/how?
Have you been taking regular simple analgesia? That is the mainstay, at my department we’d load you up with IM ketorolac and send you home if everything else seems normal. But as the other poster says, really severe pain is a reason to go. No one is going to give you any of the fun stuff anyway
|
Please help!
This is a lot to read but I would really really REALLY appreciate it if someone could help.
For reference: I am 22 years old, female, average weight.
For the past four months, I have been feeling persistent dizzy, lightheaded, faint, brain fogged, derealization/depersonalization, I've had trouble with memory and concentrating on things. Every single day, all day long. It's significantly affected my ability to socialize or do really anything, like work. I'm afraid I'm going to lose my job because of this to be honest.
I was first diagnosed with BPPV due to fluid in my ears, but that was a misdiagnosis as I went to an ENT and they told me I have no fluid in my ears and the dizziness is not BPPV. In the process of finding out what's wrong with me, my anxiety reached an all time high (I have diagnosed anxiety disorder, OCD, depression & PTSD). I was having panic attacks every single day and even landed in the hospital due to one of them. The anxiety made my dizziness way worse, so I started to just blame my symptoms on my severe mental disorders.
​
I got a blood test done on March 2nd and they tested for Lyme disease. The results were sent to me, and this is what they said:
**Lyme Disease Antibodies (IgG/IgM)**
*Your value:*
Positive
​
So another blood test result was sent to me after. This is what it said:
**Reflex only - Lyme Disease Antibody Confirmation Western Blot**
*IgG Immunoblot:* Negative
*IgG detected against:* None kDa
*IgM Immunoblot:* Negative
*IgM detected against:* None kDA
​
That is all it says. The blood lab is having trouble sending results to my primary care doctor for some reason so I haven't been able to discuss this with her yet. What do you think? I can't find much online about it. But what I do know is that I live in an area with a lot of ticks year round, and high lyme disease. I am constantly pulling ticks off my dog and I have found ticks on me before that were just walking on me, but never that were bitten.
My symptoms are very similar to those who suffer from late stage lyme disease. I have absolutely no memory of having a tick on me and quite frankly, I feel like I would have known if a tick was on me since I am so hyperaware of everything that goes on in my body and on my body. But also, I'm pretty sure a lot of people who end up having lyme feel that way. And I do not have any rashes (that I've seen) that have a bullseye look to them, though I do have little red, dry skin circles that almost look like ringworm that pop up all over my body randomly, and have been for the past 2 years.
What do you guys think? I am still planning on discussing this with my doctor, though I am just freaking myself out right now in the process of waiting. Please help if you know or if you have a similar experience, I would really appreciate it.
| 6
|
**Physician - Pediatrics**: Those are not classic symptoms of Lyme disease, and it probably shouldn't have been tested for.
It looks like you have a positive ELISA, but a negative Western blot. The ELISA is a screening test. The Western blot is confirmatory and more specific.
The overall interpretation is "negative," in a patient that doesn't really have Lyme disease symptoms and probably shouldn't have been tested at all.
You don't have Lyme, and don't need antibiotics.
What state do you live in?
If you're currently reading about Lyme disease, you should know that "chronic Lyme" is not a real thing.
|
Stomach cancer
35 year old male who had a clean abdominal ct scan. I am having symptoms of what could be stomach cancer. How possible is it for me to have stomach cancer? A lot of burping and I feel bloated but psychically there’s no tightness no pressure?
| 6
|
**Physician**: It is unlikely you have stomach cancer. It’s much more likely you have GERD, peptic ulcers, or other upper GI illness.
I would look into those more before I would consider stomach cancer as a likely answer
|
18F sore erect nipples suddenly
i am on cerelle. nobodu has a history of breast cancer in my family. i had no particular change in diet either. its been maybe a week now ive had erect sore nipples all the time! what could this possible mean? ive been on n off my pill since october and consistently for like a month now. but only now this has happened. i just feel confused by it
| 5
|
**Registered Nurse**: I would start with a pregnancy test.
|
M20
I have rencenty started getting some delusions where i cant tell if something happend or not i some times feel convinced i commited crimes or acts witch i knowe i diddent commit i often have a hard time knowing wherter something is Made Up in my Minde or happend is this common with psycosis. This is often when i think about past events. Coude this be psycosis
| 1
|
**Physician - Pediatrics**: Sure. Go visit your local ED to be sure. Can also be carbon monoxide or other reversible medical problem that needs prompt attention.
|
My breasts are full of lumps
I noticed my breasts were getting smaller for some reason, so I tried to perform an exam on myself. There are so many lumps when I touch them. I thought this was normal. I'm 25F, no conditions, drugs, meds, smoking and drinking. I have 67kg, and I am 165cm tall. I'm white. I have some random symptoms on top of this, like rashes after being exposed to the sun. I googled it and it said this can be caused by lupus and my grandma had lupus. Could this be just random lumps and random skin rashes or can lupus possibly cause this?
| 4
|
**Physician - Pediatrics**: All breasts are full of lumps. Don’t worry.
I’ve always thought “a lump” is a bad choice for a cancer euphemism, since cancer really feels like a rock hard marble, not the squishy glandular lumps that make up normal breasts. It is not only incredibly unlikely for you to have breast cancer based on age, but based on your description of your breasts as “so many lumps”, it’s nearly guaranteed that what you are feeling is normal breast tissue or benign fibrocystic breast changes.
Make a regular primary care doctor appointment and ask about it. They may do a breast exam and help demonstrate what normal vs abnormal breast tissue should feel like. There is no need to go to the ER based on the information you’ve provided.
|
Why does my mouth feel dry all the time?
As stated in the title, my mouth feels dry throughout the day even though I paradoxically drink water all day, at least two litres a day. I always keep a water bottle on my desk and constantly sip on it, and even though the action of physically wetting the insides of my mouth with the water seems to alleviate the perceived dryness for a few seconds, it just goes back to feeling dry. My piss is consistently clear, and I otherwise present no apparent symptoms of dehydration. I don't take any medication. I do have braces, but I've had them for about two years, and I only started to notice this problem recently. I'm an 18-year-old male. I don't have any diagnosed medical issues.
| 4
|
**Physician - Rheumatologist**: Do you see saliva in your mouth (especially the area between the side of the tongue and your cheek)? If you do not (lack of salivary pooling) you likely have what are called Sicca symptoms. These symptoms include dry mouth and dry eyes.
By itself, it is not necessarily harmful though persistent lack of saliva can cause dental damage. There are easy medications to help with sicca symptoms. Much more rarely, it can be associated with an autoimmine disease called sjogrens syndrome. Most people with sicca symptoms have just sicca symptoms, and it never becomes anything more. Nothing overly concerning but worth investigating a little more.
This may be something worth speaking to a primary care doctor about.
|
Dentists of Reddit
I (23M) have a half broken tooth due to a cavity, since I live in America and would like to have money to live off of, what can I do to get rid of the cavity/tooth before the pain killers ultimately destroy my liver?
| 4
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**Emergency Physician**: If it’s painful get it pulled out. Otherwise it will continue to cause you pain and may get infected and cause an abscess which will be WAY more painful and expensive to deal with.
|
Was hit in the eye and now I can barely keep my eye open. It’s painful, red and watering.
I (20F) was hit in the eye, not sure how as it was dark on a dance floor. My eye started hurting after that and I’ve woken up today and I can barely keep it open. It’s very painful and it hurts when I blink. It’s red and watering constantly. I’m in a foreign country and I’m not sure if it’s serious enough that I pay to go to the doctor. There’s no discharge or swelling right now and I’ve got some eye drops to help.
| 1
|
**Physician | Top Contributor**: You need to go to the emergency room, I’m sorry. Your vision is an emergency and this sounds really bad. Losing one eye can eventually cause you to lose vision in both if you don’t get help.
|
Suicidal thoughts since I was like 5, active depression since I was at least 11 - realistically, what’re my options? Will I achieve full remission?
21, male. I have depression, ADHD, and anxiety of some description that’s probably caused by the other two. Diagnosed with ADHD 2y ago, and officially with depression about a year ago.
I’ve tried a few SSRIs, augmentation with abilify, meditation, and online CBT. The Dexedrine for my ADHD didn’t really do anything for my depression.
None of the depression treatment have made real improvement to my depression, and most of them had side effects that made my life overall worse than not taking them (nausea, even more fatigue, etc).
I’ve been thinking about suicide for as long as I can remember, since I was at least 5. I’ve been actively depressed since I was about 10 or 11, and started SH at 13.
I wasn’t abused or traumatised as a child. My parents have been at least middle class for as long as I’ve been alive, and upper middle class for the last decade, and they’re still married and have never had any major marital problems.
I wasn’t bullied at school, I sorta sucked at it because ADHD but I did ok.
But I literally can’t think of a time I was not depressed in the last 10 years. Obviously on holiday or whatever makes things a bit better, but I still feel the sense of dread I always have, and the suicidal thoughts never really go away.
As soon as I’m done with whatever was keeping my thoughts off of my mental issues, all those feelings just come straight back. If I’m having a decent time out for dinner with friends, as soon as I’m back in my car alone, pulling out of the car park the depression will hit me like a freight train.
I don’t even seem to have the type of depression where I get depressive episodes for a few weeks/months and then it remits for a while. I just always feel shitty, like I’ve been stuck in a perpetual depressive episode, and then it will get even worse with another episode on top of that for a week-month ever so often.
And I really don’t know if whatever I have can be fixed. I know everyone with depression thinks that, but I really, objectively doubt that I’ll ever achieve meaningful remission.
My entire developmental period has been filled with suicidal thoughts and depression. That has got to have caused some (practically) irreversible damage. Those are the only brain pathways I’ve ever used. If any of the research indicating that depression causes brain atrophy is correct (which it seems to be), I’m screwed. Even if I do find a medication that works, I’m still left with a lifetime of incorrect wiring and “wrong” thinking patterns.
I have so many of the risk factors for TRD (panic attacks, ADHD, history of OCD traits, eating disorders, long lasting depression, suicidal thoughts) that it’s not even funny.
| 4
|
**Physician**: Look into clinical trials. There’s been huge strides in depression treatment with high dose TMS, and even ketamine, mushrooms, and MDMA. Reach out to big universities in your area and see if there are any less-mainstream treatment options
|
Chiropractor Y Strap
32M 6’3 245lb 16.3% body fat. I don’t drink or smoke. Medications are Zoloft 100mg and trazadone 100mg(night for sleep)
I go to the chiropractor every month for the past 3 years. I work out 5/6 days a week, they always pop my neck and lower back and that’s fine . Today they had a new doctor in that preforms the Y Strap technic. I decided to ask them to try it out as I have never tried it but seen videos and such online.
She did it once and nothing happened , the second time she did it , I felt literally every vertebrate from the top to the bottom of my spine popped . In places that’s never popped before. I was in such a shock as soon as she did it I sprung up within a second on my feet. My lower back muscles tighten immediately . It was sore from that second till now even more so. I get a shooting pain to my right thigh. When I walk. The pain is dull but hurts like 4/5 scale. 7 being a broken bone and 3 being a bee sting as reference . TMI when I sit to poop and when I push it out it’s like level 6/7 pain. Laying down hurts as well. I don’t know if I should be worried or not, slight headache but that could be from anything .
| 4
|
**Physician - Anesthesiology**: Yes, you need to see your medical doctor and never see a chiropractor again. It's not real medicine, it's based on made-up magic bullshit, and has real consequences. Who knows what happened. See a real doctor and be assessed
|
I may have fractured or sprained my wrist, can I heal on my own?
Long story short, I, 33F 140lbs, hurt my wrist on a fall and even the slightest amount of pressure from my fingers or hand is extremely painful.
There is no bone sticking out, no swelling, no bruising, but it's been about 3 days and the pain is the same extent. I can technically move my wrist and fingers as in the feeling is there but the pain is too intense to do so. Typing with that hand is impossible right now. Any amount of pressure as light as can be is too much for my wrist to take right now. It hurts without being touched as well and can't sleep well because of pain.
I have broken, sprained and fractured bones when I was younger and the pain is similar. When I was younger all doctors did was do an xray to confirm then slap an ace bandage, sling or cast on my arm. Never dealt with resets so not sure if that is always needed.
I looked into seeing a doctor but with the cost of living having gone up and my income not budging I am barely scraping by. My deductible is very high and even after that insurance only covers a percent so pretty much will pay just about all my wrist out of pocket. I was screwed last year with insurance and still paying for it so I am really trying to self-treat the best I can.
I have put my wrist in a hard splint wrist bandage to keep it from being mobile. I have a sling from my younger years ive been using to keep in from being used.
Is there anything else I can do myself to keep it healing on its own? I can just bite my teeth through the pain aspect as the cost will be more painful to me. I know that no one can confirm without seeing the xray but just knowing there is the possibility is enough for me.
| 3.5
|
**Physician - Pulmonary and Critical Care**: I agree from your description that it’s very reasonable to be concerned about a fracture. The big question is what bone might be fracture and the nature of the break. I’m far from an expert, but an example is if you break your scaphoid bone it can lead to severe osteonecrosis if it isn’t identified and treated appropriately. Also, all splinting is not equal — proper wrist position will vary depending on what is fractured.
I know it’s not what you’re wanting to hear, but I’d urge you to get a formal evaluation. Overall it will lead to much faster healing and prevent far more expensive/painful complications down the road.
**Physician - Pediatrics**: You need X rays.
Children are often just managed with splints and casts, because their bones are magic and can basically remodel anything.
You're a 33 year old woman, and you don't have magic bones anymore. You are much more likely to need surgical intervention to prevent bad outcomes.
You need wrist films, unfortunately.
**Physician - Surgeon**: The others are right. You need medical attention. Ignoring this or under treating it can have worse consequences than just financial. If you want your best bang for buck, don't go to a generalist like an urgent care or emergency room or your primary doctor.
Head straight to a hand and wrist specialist orthopedic surgeon. All of the other doctors would (should) refer you to one of those anyway given this story. They don't have the expertise to give you definitive advice or recommendations.
|
My Adderall XR prescription is causing me to have lower and lower blood pressure, and I'm frequently having stabbing chest pain, dizziness, and increasingly bad fatigue. I'm worried I'm damaging my heart.
I'm male, 23, 6'1, 163 pounds, I take 20mg Adderall XR daily, though I occasionally stop taking it for a day or two at a time to prevent addiction/tolerance. I'm in shape and physically active. I also typically consume around 200-500mg of caffeine each day.
Every day, even when I don't take my adderall, I get random spells of incredibly painful stabbing chest pain, that radiates into my armpits. When it settles, my chest usually just feels heavy. The other most noticeable problem is that I frequently feel dizzy, confused, or lose my balance while walking. It's especially bad when I sit down or stand up. I've been increasingly fatigued and tired as well, and it's interfering with my job - I've started getting so tired after only around 10 hours of being awake that I've been wrecking my sleep schedule by falling asleep earlier and earlier, and this is also interfering with my job. I'm usually never this lethargic, it is incredibly unusual for me as an energetic and active person.
I talked to my physician about it, but he told me it's probably because I don't drink enough water... the problem is that I've been making it a point to get at *least* 4 full bottles of water a day, or 2 liters, alongside the 4 or 5 cans of Soda or Energy Drink I drink everyday. I've been rigidly following this standard for a few months now. When I get my blood pressure checked, it's usually around 110-120/52-60 when I've taken my Adderall that day, or 110-120/60-70 on days that I haven't. My BPM always hovers around 100-110. My Adderall brings my blood pressure down, which I think is highly unusual - again, I mentioned this to my doctor, but he kind of just blew it off.
Should I be concerned? Thanks for any answers.
| 5.5
|
**Physician**: You've answered your own question. These things are making you feel bad so stop doing them.
**Physician - Pediatrics**: A drop in diastolic from the 60s to the 50s with systolics still in the 110s is not going to cause any significant symptoms. Those are normal values for a young, thin male. Clinically, they're basically the same thing.
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Bleeding abscess on scrotum - Dermatology/Urology
34 year old male, taking medications for bipolar disorder and gerd, also using topical Clindamycin for stage 1 HS
Current bleeding from abscess on scrotum. Go to ER or wait for doctor's appointment on Tuesday?
Almost two years ago I noticed a small lump on the underside of my scrotum which would occasionally grow/shrink and was not painful. Ultrasound showed what appeared to be a cyst, not involving the testicles. My doctor referred me to a urologist who said it was an abscess but insisted it was not related to my HS (which affects my inner thighs). He declined to remove or drain. The abscess seemed to go away later and didn't reappear until two weeks ago. It was much the same as before and I chose to wait until my regular checkup with my primary doctor.
A few days ago I noticed that the abscess was growing. There was still no pain or discharge. Last night when I undressed for my shower I saw a large blood stain on my underwear but there wasn't any active bleeding from the abscess. Two hours ago I used the bathroom and when I reached to wipe myself i got blood on my wrist. I could see more blood on my underwear. Currently I can feel wetness in that general area, I'm working a table at the flea market, standing but not really doing anything strenuous.
I'm not in pain, I don't have a fever or any other symptoms. It's not a major amount of blood, it's just disturbing. I have an existing appointment with my regular doctor for a checkup on Tuesday. I need to know whether it's safe to wait for that appointment or if I should go to an urgent care or hospital today. If I don't need treatment today, what signs or symptoms should I look out for that would tell me I should go to the ER?
If hospital is recommended, should I go to my community hospital or should I go to the trauma center nearby? The smaller hospital has a very fast in and out ER but may not have a urologist on site if that's needed, while the trauma center will be much more time consuming but will have specialists available.
| 1.5
|
**Patient Care Assistant**: You can just hit up a urgent care to get it looked at. You might need some oral abx.
**Physician**: A routine physical is not an appropriate time for a doctor to assess a potential abscess.
I know a lot of people like to cram a lot of potential problems into a scheduled visit, but a physical is like a yearly oil change. Your doctor is blocking out time for routine maintenance and making sure you’re up to date on health screenings, your chronic medical problems are managed, and there’s no new red flags. It’s not time for a surprise I&D of an abscess.
I would honestly go to the ED. The scrotum has a few fascial planes where bacteria can spread through, so even small abscesses can turn nasty in the span of a few days. A hospital would have ultrasound to assess it and if it’s a larger hospital, may have urology staff to take a look. I’ve even seen a few admissions for scrotal abscesses just for a day or two of IV antibiotics and observation.
|
A stray puppy's teeth grazed my leg. Should I get a treatment for rabies?
Physical description - 21 Male, Indian, 68 kgs, height 5'8
I live in a college campus, where a stray dog had given birth to a puppy about 1-1.5 months ago. 3 days ago, while playing with the puppy, it playfully grabbed my lower shin with its teeth. There are no visible scratches on the skin, and nor did I feel any pain when the puppy's teeth touched my skin.
Should I get a treatment for rabies?
| 6
|
**Physician**: No, it hasn’t broken skin (nor does a rabid animal want to engage in play of any kind).
|
36M healthy, triple vaxxed - first time relaxing a bit, immediately get COVID, and it's bad, just bad luck?
I have been so careful. Call it what it is - I'm one of the few pple in 2022 still masking everywhere and using hand sanitizer where ever available. Yes I count, at the gym less than 5% have masks, at the grocery store less than 5% have mask, at the airport less than 5% have masks, at an arena only like 1% have masks. I haven't been on an airplane or traveled since pandemic started in 2020. Then this month, I finally decided to travel (for work), my first time, again being super careful. Everyone I interacted with at work gets daily tested. Obviously can't test everyone in public areas. 2 days after I get back, immediately test positive for COVID.
​
Insane, I know friends/family who stopped wearing masks a year ago, have been on like 10+ vacations, 20+ flights, go out to eat all the time since 2021, and only caught COVID like once and it wasn't until like months after this behavior started.
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Am I just cursed with bad luck?
| 5
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**Physician**: Yes you are, but you'll most likely get through it without any complications since triple vaccinated. Stay hydrated, go for walks at a safe distance, take painkillers as needed and binge something!
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Feeling hot and thirsty…
Male, 24
I have been feeling hot and just drank a big bottle of water and I’m still thirsty. I’m still drinking more water.
Am I dehydrated? Do I need to rush to the ER or is this something I can take care of myself drinking plenty of fluids?
I hope I don’t pass out…
| 5
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**Physician | Top Contributor**: You don't need to rush to the ER. If you're thirsty, drink fluids.
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Hard, palpable lump under jaw. It doesn’t show up on imaging. Could this be why, and what should I do about it?
26 Female. I’ve made a few posts about this but I am desperate for answers and am wondering if I might have figured out why a palpable lump under my jaw isn’t showing up on imaging.
When I lay down (like I have to for CT and MRI), the lump below my jaw goes up “under” my jaw bone. You can barely feel it anymore because it’s concealed by my jaw bone. It’s like it goes behind it- the bone ends up in front of the lump, basically. Could that be why MRI and CT scans are missing this lump? And if so, what should I do about it? For reference, the MRI I’ve had done was for the face and neck. CT for soft tissues of the neck.
The lump is very concerning to me because I have other symptoms alongside it- complete loss of appetite, my throat hurts on the same side as the lump, my ears hurt. I’ve been dealing with these symptoms for months (at least 6) and have yet to have the lump show up as visible on any imaging, so I’m not being taken seriously.
| 6
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**Physician - Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery**: I answer to some lump questions so not sure if I answered your questions before. If the lump goes under your jaw then it would still be detectable by a MRI or CT.
Without having examined you, if a lump is not visible on MRI and CT then there is no lump. It is likely to be a muscle, fatty tissue or nothing at all. What you are feeling is normal you. A discrete lump would show up on CT or MRI.
This is actually positive, because if it was something sinister it would show up on CT or MRI.
Your other symptoms are unrelated to what you are feeling.
Small disclaimer, I haven’t examined nor seen you. But I see sometimes patients who are convinced there is a lump but it cannot be found by examination or scans. Whatever it is you are feeling, so nothing to be worried about.
**Physician - Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery**: CT normally goes from your upper lungs till your skull base so definite includes your jaw.
On the inside of your lower jaw there are a few muscles who attatch and they usually attatch to small bony ridges, could you be feeling that? Or a tendon of those muscles? Other explanation could be a small clacified lymph node but this should show up on a scan.
I’m sure you can feel something, but it is not cancer because your scans would show it if it was cancer. Unfortunate I cannot examine you over the internet so I’m a bit limited in the information I can give you.
Are you seeiing a specialist for this?
**Physician - Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery**: In my experience when people feel something that doesn’t show up on the scan it is a tendon as they feel hard and are discrete palpable.
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Does drinking coffee make your vomit black?
29/Male 6’1 150
I drank a cup of black coffee and threw up three hours later. It was mostly yellow but there were stringy bits of what looked like coffee grounds. Quite a bit. I’m guessing it is just coffee that hadn’t fully mixed with my stomach contents yet? Or is it blood?
Also been feeling terrible for the past 6 weeks with no real explanation. Slowly been feeling worse and worse all year but the past 6 weeks have been horrible. I’ve lost 30 pounds last year. I’ve been to the doctor multiple times with regular blood work and thyroid ranges. I’ve been to a GI for a colonoscopy with clear findings. The past six weeks have gone from bad to terrible. I’m considering going to the ER right now as I’ve had to call in sick to work for two days and had to take an extended vacation before Christmas. I’m unable to function at the high level that my job requires.
| 1
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**Rheumatology Research Fellow**: Attend an emergency clinic immediately. What you’re describing is known as “coffee ground vomit” and is indicative of internal bleeding of the upper GI tract - you are seeing blood, not coffee grounds. Tell them what you’ve told us. This is a medical emergency and should be treated as such
**Physician**: Go to the Emergency Department. You are describing symptoms of an "upper GI bleed." This would not be detected on your prior colonoscopy. Upper GI bleeds are much more dangerous than lower GI bleeds. They can be life-threatening. You need to be evaluated by a physician right now.
**Physician**: Everything that should have been said has already been said by the other commenters. I just wanted to echo their advice to further convince you to take this seriously and go to the hospital.
**Physician - Hematology/Oncology**: Little late to the party. If you vomited coffee grounds, go to the ER.
**Registered Nurse**: Update when you can. Your post history has me concerned.
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CRP levels are really high and I'm concerned
F 23 weight 75 kg I have been having a severe cough, flu like symptoms for the past 4 days. tested negative for covid but my crp is 17.3 mg/L (should be less than 5) along with monocytes of 16 pc(normal range of 2-10 pc). Don't know what to make of it, any answers?
PS: I'll send the bloodwork to my doctor but it's Sunday and it's making me super anxious so I thought I'd better ask.
| 6
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**Physician**: Consistent with a mild viral infection. Nothing to worry about.
For context, CRP of 17 isn't 'really high'. Severe bacterial infections can spike CRP levels into the hundreds easily.
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Does this require ER? I know there is a Super Bowl on right now…
EDIT: my mention of super bowl was that I know people are busy watching, I am not even watching. This is a serious post. Not a joke about high BP due to game…
Vitamin K2 (MK7) Raised Blood Pressure?
It appears Vitamin K2 in form MK7 raised my blood pressure to high levels 150-160/85-95 in that range.
I stopped 2 days ago after ~30 daily doses 95mcg.
Blood pressure is down to 140/90 on average now I’d say.
I was pairing the K2 with 5000iu vitamin D but that made me nausea then I took MK7/K2 alone without D for about a week 90mcg
My normal range is like 130/85
Is this normal for MK7 to do this? How long before it goes away?
Oxygen is fine and breathing fine.
If I was going to have a stroke or heart attack would it have already happened?
Now am I short on calcium and need some milk, or is this a wait and see thing?
Male 200 lbs 6’00”
| 4
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**Physician**: Asymptomatic hypertension is not generally a medical emergency. Make an appointment with primary care if you have concerns.
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Unequal pupils, when to seek medical attention.
Female, 26yo, 145lb, located in Canada. Currently taking synthroid, symbacort, and sertraline.
I noticed this afternoon that my one eye felt a bit weird so I went to look in the mirror and the pupil is significantly larger than in my other eye. I had been rubbing it earlier since it was itchy from allergies (nothing out of the ordinary).
It still reacts slightly to light, however it doesn’t react nearly as much as it should. It’s a bit sore, but otherwise no symptoms. Should I seek medical attention?
| 1
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**Physician - Anesthesiology**: There are many causes of this. Many not worrisome, some worrisome. It needs to be evaluated in the ER.
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Mildly concerned about hyponatremia.
34M, 5'4, 180lbs, don't drink or smoke, dealing with anxiety, take pantoprazole for acid reflux. I live in Idaho.
I went to a restaurant and drank 3 big (I'm not sure how many oz they were) cups of water. I have a headache, but no other real symptoms. Should I be concerned?
| 6
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**Physician - Pediatrics**: No.
**Physician - Pediatric Emergency Medicine**: No
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20F Heart Rate Question
I am 20F, 5’4, and 115lbs. Recently, I’ve started to wonder if I might have some sort of heart issue. I’ve been tracking my heart rate for the last year or so, and my average resting heart rate is 69, which is good, but my average high each day is 133. Which is a bit absurd I think. I am very physically fit, in the marines, working out multiple times a week, but even on days when I’m barely doing anything my heart rate through the day is still high at some points. Like I’ll be walking normally and it’ll spike into 120 for no reason. I’m on leave right now, it’s mid morning, I’ve walked a block and my heart rate has already spiked into the 100’s. Also, when I was getting my EMT certification, a classmate who was taking my heart rate mentioned that it would sometimes “slow down when I breath in, and speed up when I breathe out”. I dismissed it, but now I’m worried that it could be something.
Maybe I’m just being paranoid, but I’m not sure. Any advice would be appreciated!
| 6
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**Registered Nurse**: 133 is not absurdly high at all, very normal. Over a 100 when walking around the block? Just what I’d expect.
**Physician - Anesthesiology**: Not abnormal or concerning at all. And the heart rate change with breathing is very normal and more commonly seen in those who are fit. It's fine. I think the issue here is that you are constantly tracking and analyzing your heart rate.
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Can people still get normal colds?
22, Female, 105 lbs, 5’0, USA
So I’m just curious to know if people are still able to just get a normal seasonal cold as opposed to COVID. I’m currently experiencing the precursor symptoms of a cold which I get around this time every year. I’m fully vaccinated and boosted against COVID and I feel generally fine except for super minor congestion in my chest and slight hoarseness. Both are my standard “my cold is coming” symptoms. Still, I couldn’t on good conscience clock into work today knowing that it could be covid. Rapid test says negative. So, do normal colds still exist? Thanks for any input:)
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**Physician**: Yes normal colds still exist, people get them. Also the flu.
**Registered Nurse**: Yes, other colds are out there still
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accidentally took another 800mg ibuprofen only 5 hours after taking one already
so i got wisdom tooth taken out and was prescribed 800 mg ibuprofen and to take it every 8 hours. I use the notes app to jot down when ive taken it and accidentally didnt scroll down and looked at wrong time and took one only 5 hours after taking one. I took it with food and water. Will i be fine? Im 19 year old female who weighs about 110 and is 5'3.
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**Physician**: You’ll be fine
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I'm dying and I know it
So, Hello everyone I'm a 20 yo Blk male and by the title you can guess why I'm here. For the last few months I've been losing stamina and my chest has been hurting, on top of that I'm highly fatigued always, and everyday and I was wonder what illness is this....
| 4
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**Neonatal Nurse Practitioner**: You should check in with a PCP to be evaluated.
It is highly unlikely you are dying.
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I can't go to urgent care anymore, it's too embarrassing
I'm 18f 170lbs 5'4. I have ovarian cysts that keep rapidly growing and rupturing. It's so often and the pain hasn't stopped for months. It gets to be unbearable and I've been in the er 3 times from it. Everytime I go in they're scared that I have ovarian torsion. But it's never the case. I can barely eat normally, I can't leave my apartment. I'm just so sick of it. All I'm taking now is ibuprofen, Tylenol, meds for my hypothyroidism, laxatives and anti nausea meds. I don't know what else to do. I'm already mentally disabled so I don't know how to handle this added pain. What else could it be besides ovarian torsion? I have extreme social phobias so I'm afraid to go back to the er. They took out my iud and switched my birth control to see if it helps. It hasn't and the pain is just worsening. The biggest one they've pointed out was 3.6 cm.
I'm starting a job in a few days and can't just be in bed recovering. I have to be able to work, I can't do nothing. Is there anything else that'll help the pain? Any other advice?
Oh wow so many responses, I was on the kyleena iud and I switched to the patch as they said I probably wouldn't do great with any inserts. The pain hasn't lessened at all since
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**Physician - Pediatrics**: This is a chronic problem that needs management by your PCP or OBGYN, not urgent cares.
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Can I take a 50h flight while using a double J catheter?
Age: 29 weight:200lbs (90kg) height: 4’11(150cm) gender:F
Basically, was traveling abroad and had a kidney stone. Went to hospital. Urologist on duty made a surgery and inserted a double J catheter. Said it didn’t reach the kidney (stone was obstructing it) and left it touching the stone (which was between ureter and kidney). Told me to find other doctor for breaking it because he’d only take 100% in money (he didn’t accept public healthcare). The public healthcare here seems it can take a while. I risk losing the flight plus wait up to a month for the surgery. If I travel back to my home country, I can get the surgery done within a day with a much lower cost, but takes a 50h flight on economic to get there. Is this possible? Is it risky to travel using the catheter?
| 6
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**Physician**: No issues traveling whatsoever. You'll be fine
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23 M - Canada, got bit by a dog a few days ago, I now find out from Public Health that it isn’t proven up to date on its shots - extremely stressed / distraught
23 Male from Canada -
Got bit by a dog couple days ago, now I find out it’s rabies vaccination status is NOT confirmed.
A domestic dog bit me a few days ago, and has been put under a 10 day quarantine period. When I inquired with my public health department about the dog’s immunization status, I find out that it is NOT proven to be up to on it's vaccinations.
I was told that the risk of rabies in a domestic animal is very low, and they will wait and see how the dog does before determine if I needed the rabies vaccine.
Had the dog been confirmed vaccinated, I would have had some comfort and peace of mind as I awaited the results of the quarantine period, but now I am incredibly stressed. Even the slightest chance of Rabies is too much of a risk for me to bear.
Should I insist on being given the shots right away, considering I do not have any objection to the potential for side effects or the inconvenience the shots would cause.
Moreover, receiving the shots even if it turns out the dog did not have rabies would not cause any harm to me aside from just possible side effects, right?
I just want to play it safe than sorry because it is my life here.
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**Physician | Top Contributor**: Rabies is extremely rare in dogs in Canada. I would not be concerned, given that this dog is under quarantine.
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I [20M] have pooped blood and I’m so scared it might be colon cancer.
It started on October 20th, 2022. A night before, I ate a lot of frozen chicken nuggets. With a lot of ranch mixed with hot sauce. Frequently I do that in late nights and sometimes afternoons. I usually do that whenever my mom buys frozen nuggets. It happens every couple of nights but not every single night. So that one night I started feeling stomachache but it wasn’t very severe. The next morning, I woke up and my stomach felt bad. Not extremely horrible, but it didn’t feel good. My mom, who didn’t know about this, decided to take me to Chick-fil-A with her friends to celebrate her 42nd birthday. I felt pretty shitty but she bought me a spicy chicken sandwich, fries, and sweet tea with my choice. I didn’t finish because I felt bad but then my mom saved them for later. I eventually finished when I supposedly felt better then a couple minutes/hours, I needed to poop.
I dismissed as normal poop, and did my business as normal. Then I looked at the bell and there was blood. While the stool was coming out, it felt stretchy and a little tiny painful but I thought it was just normal “big” stool as it sometimes happens to people. Obviously I panicked, and while I wipe, there’s full of blood in the toilet paper. Then my next poop, there was a lesser blood but still a lot with one of the stools covered in red. Now my next business, a couple of stools came and this time there was no blood. Now the next morning, one singular small but not very small stool came out and there was a lot of blood. I then wiped and there was still plenty of blood in the toilet paper. Now the next 2 hours, a few stools came and it was only a little covered in red, but there was no bloody bowl this time. Then I wipe and there was mix of red and brown.
Now the next morning, a singular stool came and it was just a tiny red dot on it. A few minutes later, more come and there was also a couple small “leaves” around the toilet which I assume might be the ranch. Now a few hours later, a couple stools were thin with no blood at al. Which is a common symptom of colon cancer along with blood coming out I had. Now I did it again, a couple came that looked like a sizes of small rocks, no blood. I started panicking and also read that it may also not be a sign of cancer. Also I don’t have any family history with cancer.
Before all that, I took a blood test and they said my cholesterol was elevating but not high, and my vitamins D were low. Since then I take supplements as they recommended which were Omega-3 and D3. I also don’t exercise much and spend mostly on bed and couch while I occasionally walk.
I always overthink a lot and thought this might be cancer. My mom did some research and read some articles and found out with my poor diet that my stomach can’t take it so it’s likely just cleaning itself. And she said my intestines could be an inflammation and/or infected with and causing it to do that. It has happened to her friend’s baby by drinking a lot of formula and she started poop bleeding before they found out she was lactose. She told me it is more common than I thought. Now normally my stomach feels fine as I eat more vegetables and fruits and whenever I do my business my stools don’t have blood but rather they were quite small, otherwise normal. She said it happens because my colon is still trying to clean out the bad diet.
Also occasionally, I feel like throwing up but my stomach don’t feel a lot of pain. Just feeling like “barf” sound and it mostly happens whenever I get very anxious about potentially having cancer. She said it might just because of your anxiety along with the stomach problem. We are definitely calling my doctor on Monday as the office closes on Fri-Sun. To figure out what really could be a cause. But in a meantime, I wanna ask some doctors here what it could be. I truly hope it isn’t cancer but I feel like it’s mostly not the case because bloody poop can mean a lot of things as well.
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**Physician**: Probably just hemorrhoids.
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How fast should I get a tetanus shot after being shot?
I am a 22 year old white male. I do not smoke or drink. My medications include 1mg finasteride daily. I am 5’10 and weigh 160. I have no current medical issues.
Today I was at the range and I took a ricoched bullet to the knee. My dad friend and he dug the shrapnel out and stitched it together after hours but he did not have a tetanus shot on him. He told me to go get one tmr. But I’m wondering if I should go ahead to the ER and get a tetanus shot. I got hit about 6 hrs ago. Should I go rn or can I wait till tmr afternoon to get the vaccine?
| 2
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**Physician - Pediatrics**: Sooner is better.
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My 82 y/old grandfather’s blood pressure is 165/136, oxygen is 93% and temperature is 101.3.
My grandfather is 82, male, with a normal weight and height, he has kidney issues, diabetes and gout. He took codeine around 8 hours ago. Now, he has fever, his oxygen is Low, and his blood pressure is high. He’s also wheezing and hallucinating a little and talking in his sleep. My uncle told me not to call the ambulance, but I’m not too sure. I just gave him paracetamol an hour ago to bring down the fever but it’s still the same. He’s still muttering to himself and gesturing randomly in his sleep now.
*His oxygen fluctuates between 88% to 93% and his heart rate is 95-105. He’s still wheezing a little and he’s talking to invisible people (he does not have dementia. He’s usually alert and normal).. should I call an ambulance? We’re hesitating because we think it might be the codeine he took. This is his first time taking it as he fell and sustained a minor injury recently, and the doctor prescribed codeine to him a few days ago. Btw he’s triple jabbed with Pfizer since months ago.
| 1
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**Physician**: Sounds like he has an infection in the setting of the fever. His age can make him confused due to an infection (fever), codeine (opioids in older people doesn’t sit too well), and his wheezing / low oxygen makes me concerned for a lung issue. Does he have any nebulizers or inhalers at home from a wheezing standpoint? I would take him to an emergency room and contact his primary care doctor.
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Do I need an X-ray?
31f I fell backwards on the subway (10/13) and my hand hit the railing. It hurt fairly significantly after but was fine the next day— now, I have very intense (odd) bruising and a really weird lump (when I touch the lump it hurts around 7.5 out of 10). Otherwise, no pain— can flip my wrists, clench my fists, etc. the lump/bruising is just freaking me out. I don’t want to waste my or a drs. time for X-rays if it’s unnecessary.
| 4
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**Physician**: You might need an X-ray. I think it should be examined at the very least. Go see a Dr, don't worry about wasting their time.
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I don’t want my husband to freak out over nothing
37/F 120pds and 5’7”. I am a smoker, no drinking or drugs. I have NAFLD, COPD, Raynauds, Tibial Torsion, Femoral Anteversion, and mild Cerebral Palsy. I use a once a day steroid inhaler for my COPD.
This morning I woke up and was smacked in the face with sudden dizziness that last about 6-7 hours and then developed a fever of 101 and severe neck pain, like I didn’t want to move my head and the base of my skull hurts so bad. This is almost identical to what happened 2 weeks ago except the headache has lasted for hours. Nothing over the counter is working for the fever and pain, my husband lost his mom to meningitis years ago so I don’t want him to worry. I told him that if it was meningitis it wouldn’t come and go for weeks on end. I have lost about 55 pounds in the last 6-7 months so I am wondering if just not being as fat anymore has something to do with it. I will gladly answer any questions and any help would be appreciated. Thank you.
| 1
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**Resident Physician, Emergency Medicine**: This could be a lot of things but if your neck does hurt this badly and you have a severe headache that’s not improving with meds this warrants an ER visit.
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I think I’m in perimenopause, but doctor refuses to help
42 year old female. Non-smoker, don’t drink. The last two years I have been in absolute hell. I believe I am in perimenopause and I am in dire need of help. My primary doctor and GI said they believe I am as well, but the obgyn is the doctor to get help from. When I went to my obgyn I was in tears when I brought it up and she dismissed me before I finished the sentence. “You’re too young.” I am thousands of dollars in debt ruling out every symptom. I have lost two jobs because of my symptoms are so intense. I’ve been very close to ending my life because it is so bad.
What do I do? Why won’t she even listen? Doctors can’t really believe that a matter of a year or two determines perimenopause? Why is age the only thing they look at when we have raging symptoms?
| 4
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**Physician - Cardiology **: You could get a blood test for FSH levels to confirm menopause
**Registered Nurse**: Additionally, consider finding another GYN, preferably one that specializes in menopause. You are at that ripe age for peri menopause and should not have been dismissed that quickly, in my opinion.
**Physician | Moderator**: You’ve said that you think you’re in perimenopause and that the specialist disagrees and that there are thousands of dollars in tests, and then you left out all the information.
What symptoms do you have? How long have you had them? Why is GI involved? What other medical conditions do you have and what medications do you take? What tests have been done and what results do you have?
**Physician**: Get a new Ob/Gyn doctor/ second opinion if you believe this particular doctor isn’t listening to you. You need to have a better relationship with your doctor.
**Physician - OB/GYN**: It would be a matter of approximately ten years not 1-2 years. Average age of menopause is 51/52.
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brain tumor?
brain tumor?
F, 24, hispanic, 120 pounds, not a smoker/ drinker.
i am fully convinced that i have a brain tumor. i have been feeling sick and i have symptoms of it. please help me calm down.
| 6
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**Physician**: You have described nothing that could lead anyone to conclude anything other then significant anxiety.
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Does suddenly pausing insulin affect blood sugar levels?
My grandmother is 83F, 154cms, 55kgs, Indian. My grandmother has been admitted to a hospital for Ayurvedic( herbal ) medicine treatment. She has pain which starts from her cervical spine and goes up to her elbows. She was diagnosed with Spondylitis a few years ago. She is also diabetic and asthmatic. She has been taking insulin injections ( 40 units in the morning and 10 at night) for the past 7 months. Yesterday, we admitted her to an Ayurvedic Hospital for Spondylitis treatment. The doctor there is planning to stop the insulin entirely and replace it with ayurvedic medicines. Her current PPBS result as of yesterday is 245.... My question is **will stopping the insulin injections and replacing it with ayurvedic medicines for diabetes disrupt her diabetic levels drastically? After the course of her ayurvedic treatment, can we normally resume with her normal insulin injections?**
| 5
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**Physician**: Do NOT let the hospital stop her insulin! After googling what Ayuvedic "medicine" is I can easily say it won't do shit to help keep her diabetes in check. Stopping it is a recipe for disaster
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Is a positive test after 7 days possible?
My partner and I (25 female, take no medication) had sex 3 days in a row.
Before the second time, I took an ovulation test, which was positive and the one I took before the third time was also positive.
Now, 7 days after the last time we did it, I took a (cheap) early pregnancy test after I woke up this morning and it was positive! I took two other pregnancy tests since than and both are positive.
My breast were feeling a little tender the past two days and I was so nauseous yesterday, but I shoved this away to wishful thinking, but now THREE positive tests? Is it actual possible to see and feel if you're pregnant after one week?
| 6
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**Physician - Radiation Oncologist**: The pregnancy test was done 9 days after you first had sex in your fertile period. HCG starts being produced around 6 days after fertilisation. The false positive rate for pregnancy tests is very low. Three tests were positive. It's very likely you're pregnant, congratulations (I assume you're trying for a baby from your description)!
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Echocardiogram results - does it look too bad? Please help
Hi, asking for a family member 53F who has white coat syndrome. Hospitalized 10 years back for hypertension 180/120 but it came back 120/80 after 24 hr monitoring in hospital with echo results normal so got diagnosed with white coat syndrome and discharged. Performed echo yesterday and got the below results, could someone please check if these results are critical? could it be managed with medication and lead a long life? Could white coat syndrome affect/exaggerate echocardiogram results? Thanks
HR - 110, BP - 200/130
* Dilated Left Atrium and Left Ventricle
* Structurally normal valves
* Grade 1 mitral regurgitation
* Trivial tricuspid regurgitation
* IAS towards RA
* Regional wall motion abnormalities present
* Moderate left ventricular systolic dysfunction
* Grade 4 left ventricular diastolic dysfunction
* No pericardial effusion/clot
* LV EF: 35%
| 4
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**Physician - Cardiology **: Yeah they don’t have white coat hypertension. They have actual hypertension and it’s fucked up their heart. They have signs of heart failure. They probably also have blockages in their heart arteries. They need a cardiologist, a coronary angiogram, and to start on about 6 new medications
Anyone with a blood pressure above like 160/100 who is diagnosed with white coat hypertension… I’d be very suspicious.
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Oral corticosteroids about to run out. What are my options?
35F 5’8 135lb Asian nonsmoker nondrinker.
I have Primary Adrenal Insufficiency. I've been on Hydrocortisone 5mg 3x per day for a few years. My pharmacy can't obtain more before I run out and didn't notify me. Can I use dexamethasone that's a year expired as a substitute? If not, should I taper what I have left?
I have 3 days worth of hydrocortisone. Withdrawal has been bad before even on this low dose.
I can't get samples from my doctor, as her practice is out of state. I doubt I can have the Rx released to a different pharmacy within the 2 business days left but can try. If I run out, should I go to the emergency room despite being immunocompromised? Are there other options I haven't thought of?
| 4
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**Physician - Pulmonary and Critical Care**: Call your doctor and explain the situation with the pharmacy. She can prescribe your medications to a different pharmacy with supply. If not, she can help direct a proper dose of the dexamethasone until it can get sorted out.
As you know, stopping steroids suddenly can be extremely dangerous.
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(28m) my Sp02 levels stay at 96, it used to be a steady 98. I drink water all day, but I have a crippling cigarette addiction.
Should I get checked out? Will it go back up to 98% if I quit the cigarettes? Freaks me out.
| 6
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**Physician - Pulmonary and Critical Care - Moderator**: Normal is normal. An SpO2 isn’t used to screen for any conditions. If you feel respiratory symptoms you should see your doctor. Either way, stop checking your spo2
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Father (55, M) Is hallucinating. What do I do.
Title is the best TL;DR but context is important I think
So, for some basic info and background, I'm 25 and my dad is 55. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's a while ago and has been dealing with that. He smokes, drinks very occasionally, and does medical marijuana. He's been through... a lot, as well. His first wife, my mother, died when I was young, and his second wife/gf/gal pal (idk exactly how to describe their relationship) died last year (after many years of what I would personally classify as abuse. I'm not her biggest fan.) I moved back in to help him with various things.
Last year around August, he was hospitalized due to losing excessive amounts of weight due to not eating, and he heavily hallucinated while he was in there. He got out after a bit and improved drastically, quickly, and was doing great for a while. Things started going downhill again a few months ago. It started out as him just getting slightly confused about if something happened or not, but it was fairly easy to deal with. The past week he suddenly has been heavily hallucinating. He keeps thinking people are in and trying to take his car, going in and out of the house, he has called the cops twice by this point.
We went to the doctor on Monday, and he ordered for my dad to go to the ER and have some tests run. We did so, all the tests came back absolutely normal. We have him scheduled for intake for mental health services, but that's not until the 16th.
I'm not in any fear for my own safety, and though I'm kind of iffy on this I don't think he's in any personal danger at the moment. Through all of the hospitalizations and visits and issues, there still has been no real answer as to why any of this is happening. I'm starting to believe it's more psychological than other doctors are giving credit towards, as I am diagnosed bipolar and that often runs genetically, so he likely is as well.
I've been doing my best to make sure he's safe at least, but I'm not sure what else to do. How should I handle it when he comes to me with what is obviously a hallucination? What else should/could we be doing? Should I be more worried than I am, should I call someone, who would I even call?
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**Physician - Pulmonary & Critical Care**: Parkinson's disease itself can sometimes cause people to have hallucinations, and one of the main drugs used to treat the movement symptoms / rigidity (Sinemet aka carbidopa/levodopa) can also contribute to hallucinations.
Parkinson's disease is associated with a special type of dementia (not your classic forgetful type seen in Alzheimer's / old age) of which hallucinations are a common feature.
With that said, it is important to get him checked out like you have started doing, to make sure there are no other causes or conditions that can be playing a role. It wasn't clear from your post which type of doctors were seeing your dad for the hallucinations.
If this is Parkinson's related, he should be seen by a neurologist (to manage the parkinson's and its medications) and possibly even a psychiatrist (who can help differentiate various causes of hallucinations and paranoid thoughts, and work with a neurologist in targeting those symptoms). A primary care doctor or emergency medicine specialist can point you in the right direction and start some testing, but won't be the best equipped to treat this complex condition.
Even if it's not clearly Parkinson's related, seeing a neurologist and/or psychiatrist would be a good place to start if you have yet to get any meaningful answers or help for your dad. Hope this helps!
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Dad looking for answers
My dad is 68M, type 1 diabetes and the hardest working man I know. His toes look like what you would expect an old farmers to look like, grizzled and yellow and he rarely clips his toenails. However, the right big toe has been constantly oozing this dark liquid from the nail. It's not blood or pus, but it won't stop, although he says it's not painful. He lives in rural PA so he can't get an appointment for another two weeks and I don't want it to become serious.
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**Physician - Radiation Oncologist**: Your dad sounds like the type to only grudgingly trundle into the ER when his whole foot is black and oozing because it's probably nothing and the farm won't run without him.
This sounds very concerning for an infection that could get out of hand quickly and is painless because of diabetic polyneuropathy. Haul him to a PCP or urgent care asap.
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Colonoscopy prep didn’t work
I’m 48F with Type 1 Diabetes 38 years. I wear a pump and Dexcom CGM and take meds for cholesterol, blood pressure and allergies. I sometimes have trouble with constipation.
I have a colonoscopy at 9am tomorrow and the 4 Dulcolax I took 5.5 hours ago, followed by 8.3 oz Miralax mixed into 64oz Gatorade Zero over the course of 4 hours has not made me start to go.
Do I take more Dulcolax? Or keep drinking Miralax until my midnight cut off for no more liquids?
Thanks for any advice! This happened to me last time and I don’t want to have to have another repeat colonoscopy because they couldn’t see my entire colon. It’s especially important because they did remove two polyps last time and need to know if I have more.
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**Physician**: If this happened before, your gastroenterologist should have modified your prep to give you one full extra day to cleanse. It may need to be canceled/postponed again.
About all you can do is keep drinking the MiraLAX.
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There's something wrong with my brain, and it's starting to scare me.
Male, age 21.
I used to take Paxil (10mg) for Anxiety, but I stopped taking it many months ago.
It's hard to describe what it's like, it feels like random moments of complete and utter confusion. I forget how to do basic work tasks, I make extremely, extremely poor decisions that at the time, I felt were acceptable. It's happened so frequently in my life that it's starting to affect my life.
An example from work today:
i was asked to do a set up containing 6 tables that form a large rectangle ( so not pushed together). As I went to go and do it, I realized I didn't know *how* to do it. Like, my mind just couldn't figure out how to make a rectangle out of 6 tables. I go off to do other parts of the set up while my co-worker did the 6 table part. When I came back and saw how he did it, I got really concerned for myself. How did I *not know* how to do that? I've worked this job for years. I've done very similar set-ups with no problems before. How could this happen?
Another time, I'm riding with a co-worker and we're dropping something off at the office. As we're driving, I'm not quite too sure what happened to me, but I said "wait, we have to drop this thing off at the office." and he says "dude, are you okay?" and I realize we're right in front of the office. I tried to pass it off as a joke, but it really fucking scared me. I want to say maybe it felt like I didn't even know where I was for a few seconds, but maybe I just wasn't focusing? I don't know.
these kinds of things happen frequently, along with me having a poor memory, and pronouncing basic words strangely/completely wrong, leads me to think there's something severely wrong with my mind. it feels like my mind is half deteriorated, and my consciousness feels floaty. I don't really know how to describe it. This doesn't happen *all* the time though, very very rarely, I feel like my mind works as it should, my mind feels clear and I'm able to process things better. what's wrong with my brain?
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**Physician**: From a statistical standpoint, you probably don't have anything organically the matter with your brain. Young people with episodes of brain fog are frequently preoccupied or depressed. To my patients, I describe your emotional state as the window through which you see the world-- if it's cloudy, your thinking is cloudy. Do you feel depressed or overly anxious? Might be worth investigating first to see whether these experiences go away.
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Help! Too much Pain Medication?
Hi Medical Professionals of Reddit!
I am a 30F and recently I have had some bad dental work that has resulted in severe tooth pain 24/7. As a result, I've had to take pain medication for the past 12 days. Mostly switching off between ibuprofen and acetaminophen every 4-6 hrs. I’m now switching to just acetaminophen as I’ve read that it's safer to take long term than NSAIDs. My dentist only has one day a month where the root canal doctor comes in, so they have told me that they can't fix it until march 1st, which will be 18 days on pain meds.
I’m very worried that being on pain meds this long will be extremely harmful for me. Is my worry justified or should I be fine?
Thank you! :)
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**Physician - Anesthesiology**: You'll be fine. Preferably acetaminophen not NSAIDs.
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Broken Collarbone in the Bahamas, Can I wait to get an X-ray?
24M. Caucasian. No past medical history. No medications.
I think I have a broken collar bone. I got knocked down by a strong wave at the beach and landed on my left shoulder pretty hard, and have felt severe pain since. I have it in a sling right now with constant aching pain that is greatly exacerbated when abducting my arm— with sharp tingling pain. I also have a red swollen area over the respective collarbone. Any contralateral bend or rotation results in severe sharp pain as well.
I leave the Bahamas on Sunday, but I’m wondering if delaying treatment until then will greatly affect healing of the bone if it is indeed broken. I’m hesitant to seek medical help here as I don’t have travel insurance, and I’m unsure whether my insurance will work here. I’m also skeptical of the care I’d get here tbh. Am I good to wait or should I go in? Thank you.
Also: would any brachial plexus injury in this area be self-reversible?
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**Physician**: As long as you don't have a pneumothorax I would think flying back to your home and then immediately reporting to your hospital from the airport would be reasonable given the circumstances. Pneumos are very rare after clavicle fracture but I mention it because the pressure changes on a plane at altitude can do wonky things with an active pneumo.
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Rash after donating blood
Female, 35, 5'3", 170 lbs, generally healthy
I donated blood last Wednesday, and since an hour or two afterward the IV site has been very itchy. At times it's gotten so bad that it's woken me up in the night. On Sunday I got a rash - not super severe, a small area of raised red bumps right around the IV site. It's been coming and going since then, and the itching has not let up. I've tried some Benadryl cream, which did nothing. 1) Is there anything I can do about this besides wait for it to go away? 2) Should I refrain from giving blood because of this? It's not a huge deal, but I don't want to risk it if it might get worse every time.
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**Registered Nurse**: Other than the adhesive, it could have been the skin cleanser. If you already have a known issue with adhesives, I would put my money on that. If you're not certain you can just mention you had a rash after the last donation, they have alternatives.
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Huge iron loss in a month.
Hi, I am 18, White, Male, No smoke no drink no drugs no steroid user, i was diagnosed with iron deficiency 4-5 months ago. I started taking iron supplements and my iron skyrocketed in 1 month, from 20 to 192 which is a little above the normal range (182) I recently had a bad diarrhea and constipation back to back for 3 weeks straight and went to doctor a week ago for meds. Took them, it stopped, my poops are better, very nice. And i took a blood test for my iron because my palpitations came back and i am sweating all over the gym literally and my heart rate was going above 90 whilst sitting. The test came back, it dropped by 122pts, 192 to 64 holy fuck. Still within normal range but it is low and i am a powerlifter, like i need oxygen more than anyone. Feeling fatigued and excessive sweating came back and because of that i am writing this. Could it be because of diarrhea, (i didn't have blood i think, just some black spots and slight reddish poop) Or like from an ulcer or something? I didn't lose blood, i drank tea everyday to reduce my 192 iron idk man how could it drop by 122 pts? Everything else is normal except MCH (26.5 is mine, and normal range is 27-35 it says) PLS HELP ME I FEEL FATIGUED.
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**Physician - Anesthesiology**: Serum iron doesn't measure how good your iron stores are. Serum iron levels vary widely throughout the day and over time in response to various physical changes. Serum iron is a bad measure of adequacy of iron replacement. So your statement of "192 to 64 holy fuck" makes no sense. That's a pretty normal change.
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Just found out I'm pregnant and have a question about medication
Age 27
Sex F
Height 5'5"
Weight 242.8lbs
Race white
Duration of complaint N/A
Location N/A
Any existing relevant medical issues anxiety and panic disorder, pregnancy
Current medications 20 mg propranolol prn for anxiety
I just found out yesterday I'm around 4 weeks pregnant. I don't have an appointment with my OB until next week and was wondering if it's safe for me to take my propranolol (currently experiencing a panic attack with evaluated HR of 130)
Everything I look up says it's safe in early pregnancy and only can cause harm to baby in the later trimester.
I tried asking the nurse in call for OB but she said she can't give medical advice over the phone.
I just wanna know if it's safe for me to take one?
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**Physician | Top Contributor**: Should be good but your local pharmacist is the best person to reach out to!
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Why do I look pregnant?
All info: female, 22y/o, 250lbs, 5’8”
I genuinely look 9 months pregnant and I don’t know why. I’m not pregnant, just fat. I carry ALL my weight in my stomach. My arms and legs have increased in size a bit but it’s nothing compared to my abdomen, I genuinely look insanely pregnant. My abdomen is constantly distended and I can’t suck it in. Is this normal? My body has only recently gotten like this, this year. I rapidly gained weight during the pandemic—80 pounds in one year. I know my eating and exercise habits changed during the pandemic and I’m not asking about the fact I gained weight. I’m asking if I should be concerned that it’s all in my stomach because idk if that is normal. Possibly relevant but I have between 5 and 10 bowel movements a day. My friend said maybe I should see a doctor about my digestive system. Could that be something?
My body isn’t so huge you’d look at me concerned. I just look like a very pregnant mid-sized woman. I can still fit into medium sized pants granted they are a bit tight now. Is this concerning or does this just happen when people gain weight?
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**MD - Peds GI | Top Contributor**: Certainly, it could be abdominal weight gain, which is common in both men and women. (But of course more common in men). The reasons are complex, related to genetics, and not particularly well understood. There's a great deal of pseudoscience surrounding fat deposition patterns.
However, the fact that you have 5-10 bowel movements per day certainly needs to be investigated. Since your diet may have changed over the period of time you've gained weight, that could have resulted in any number of changes to your GI tract. The most common explanation would be that a significant portion of your abdominal distension isn't fat, but air. This can happen in things like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), gastroparesis (the stomach being slow), and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). These are all treatable problems, but would need a careful history and a little workup to sort out. It's worth talking to a gastroenterologist, I think.
In someone with the new onset of chronic abdominal distension, I usually consider starting with a regular X-ray to see how the bowel gas is distributed. I also usually get an ultrasound to make sure something more serious isn't going on (like accumulation of fluid in the abdomen - called ascites - or some sort of benign growth). Very rarely, someone thinks they're gaining weight from calories, but they end up having a much different explanation like a large benign tumor in their ovary, or something. It's usually worth looking for celiac disease (simple blood test) and Crohn's / colitis (simply stool test) in this situation as well.
Short of it, is that it's worth looking into. It might just be that you've gained weight traditionally. But the bowel movement change and the rapidity of it warrants further investigation.
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Severe headache/migraine that will not go away with any kind of medication
I just gave birth to my daughter 4 weeks ago. We tried pushing naturally and ended up having to do a cesarean. I had to have two epidurals and both failed. They said the first one slipped and the second one just didn't last more than 45 minutes.
I have been getting headaches every day since the day my daughter was born, and no one can tell me why. The one nurse suggested a possible spinal leak but the anesthesiologist called me and said he doesn't think that's what it's causing them. Usually it takes time but they go away (mostly) during the day, sometimes they come back.
Yesterday; however, I woke up at 4am for my daughter's diaper change and feed, and I had a massive headache. I took two extra strength Tylenol and went back to sleep. But when I woke up again several hours later it was still there so I took two more extra strength Tylenol. It still did not go away. At about 5 pm I tried taking two excedrin migraine, and it still did not go away.
We went to bed and I woke up at 1:30 to pump. I still had this headache and I was absolutely freezing. Nothing could warm me up. My husband ended up waking up and trying to warm me but I was shivering so badly. Eventually he got up to get our thermometer and take my temperature, it was 101.5. I also noticed a very slight soreness in my throat when I swallowed my water, and I was having dizzy spells.
We ended up going to the ER. They did a covid test, strep test, and xray for pneumonia (because when I took a deep breath it would kind of catch like I needed to cough). All were negative. At one point they were feeling up my spine asking if anything hurt or was tender. There was one spot in my lower back that was tender when she pressed on and around it, but she never explained what she was doing and nothing came of it.
They sent me home saying it was probably something viral, alternate Tylenol and Motrin every 3 hours, and drink lots of fluids. I STILL have this massive headache too at this point. She said that was probably just from the fever (that had climbed to 102.3).
We get home, sleep a bit. I wake up and now my legs are extremely sore and my head is still absolutely killing me. Even worse than before. My temperature measured 103, I am apparently burning up everywhere. I did take some more Tylenol and checked about an hour later and it said 101.5 temperature. I have noticed what I think might be some pressure in my sinuses since I woke up too.
I just want relief from this headache/migraine. I am literally begging. It hurts so bad. I can't take care of my daughter because I can barely function properly. I am so miserable. What could this be? Should I go somewhere else? Is there anything I can do to make this headache go away?
23F
Not sure what my current weight is since I gave birth
I was prescribed iron after my delivery for low iron levels.
Non smoker
Not currently taking any other medications.
It seems like I just finally stopped bleeding yesterday.
They said they didn't see any signs of infection on my incision.
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**Physician**: You should go back or visit a different ER, a temperature that high is not normal and with your other symptoms and history you deserve a more thorough workup then just "virus"
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My butthole hurts and constantly have a feeling of pressure in it like I have to go poop
26f, 170 pounds non smoker and no meds
Started on the 25th of Dec felt like I had to use to the bathroom but barely anything came out I had that sensation all day of wanting to use the bathroom to poop but I guess I was constipated that day, the next day I use the bathroom I push hard and now I’m all bruised up in my butthole and the only reason why I know is because my bf checked to see, yet the feeling of having to go poop never goes away even after pooping , it’s like constant pressure in my butthole idk what it could be and is this serious do I see my doc what can I take ?
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**Physician**: You’re describing what’s called rectal urgency, which is a natural response when you actually need to poop. If you are constipated or have IBS for example, this reflex can malfunction and urgency can appear when there is no poop. If you think you were constipated, I’d recommend adding more fibre and water to your diet, get exercise. If that doesn’t help there are over the counter laxatives. You don’t need an appointment for this right now.
Edit: glad my username can amuse while
I try to help
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I took a 45 minute nap, woke up with a sore throat, and now I’m sick. [21M] 5’10” 140lbs. Non-smoker
I did not have a runny nose or sore throat before this. Literally I just went down for a nap because I was a little tired, and now I’m sick. No, there was not a fan blowing on my face. Why did this happen?
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**Physician - Pulmonary and Critical Care**: You most certainly acquired a viral infection from someone in the past few days. Suggest self-isolation and a COVID test.
To be sure, a fan blowing in your face will not make you sick.
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Grandma started behaving oddly last night and has been repeating a single sentence to everything. Some kind of delirium or senile psychosis or something. Not sure how to help.
My grandma (70F, 50kg) has been on bedrest for the last 3 months after falling on her hips. Before that she had suffered a stroke and was suffering with post stroke symptoms, high BP and multiple orthopaedic conditions.
Since last two weeks she had been complaining of frequent urination and even had bouts of moderate fever. Lab results for urine showed bacterial infection for which she was prescribed an antibiotic and paracetamol. Since the last two days, she seemed to be recovering as well. However, last night she started repeating 'Urination didn't happen, I am okay.' to every question she is being asked. She even wet the bed twice but refused to wear a pad. Today morning she started unhooking her blouse buttons and isn't listening to anyone. Can anyone tell what might be happening to her? Death is fine but suffering from losing one's mind is something I can't see her go through.
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**Physician**: While this could be delerium from a UTI or any other number of things, given her past history this could also be another stroke. I suggest you take her to the ER for an evaluation ASAP.
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I can't use oral Birth Control, what are my options?
I am 24F, 5'8 and around 180lbs. I suffer from high blood pressure and am considered too high risk for traditional oral contraceptives. I suffer from menstrual hemorrhaging when stressed- I have to use adult diapers on top of regularly changing (sometimes multiple times an hour) internal menstrual products or I bleed everywhere and it can last months (I spent ten out of the twelve months of 2021 hemorrhaging).
I am not sexually active.
I work night shift.
Given recent events I feel the need to be on some form of contraceptive- I am not ready for a child and while my male coworkers will gladly walk me to my car if someone is lurking they can't do much to stop someone who's armed.
Can someone walk me through my options here? The stress of recent events has triggered significant bleeding.
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**Physician - Rheumatology**: The amount of your menstrual bleeding is abnormal. In addition to a discussion with gynecology about your options for preventing pregnancy, you need a workup to figure out why your bleeding is abnormally heavy. Thyroid hormone levels and PCOS come to mind, but GYN is not my area of expertise.
**Registered Nurse**: Is an IUD an option?
**Certified Nurse Midwife**: I agree with a progestin IUD such as mirena. The hormones are still safe for someone with hypertension (def safer than an unplanned pregnancy) and are also used for treating heavy periods — the majority of people will stop having periods (or have much lighter periods/spotting) after the first test of use. Best of all, this iud is approved for 7 years of pregnancy prevention.
There are more specific risks/benefits, but def worth a conversation with your provider.
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Please take a few minutes and read this i posted this on medical advice but didn’t it get much attention I’m hoping someone can recognise what this is because I’m freaking out
A lot of things happened today and yesterday and i have no idea what caused this so I'm just going to mention everything
Yesterday from afternoon to midnight while i was studying for my finals i had a series of panic attacks I'm not sure how many but between like 3 & 6 I'm not sure honestly could be lower
I'd say the Same day after midnight i joined a call with 2 friends i was fine during that time and while in the call i fell asleep so my friends heard what happened after, I can't remember much and in detail but my friends heard it and confirmed it
'd say around 4am I suddenly woke up with extreme back pain that l've never experienced before and I couldn't move much in bed, for some reason after that i got out of bed and walked around moaning in pain until I suddenly fell on the ground and started screaming in pain and that's all I
remember i was back to sleep after that
This morning when i woke up my back pain was still there (and now its almost midnight again it's still the same) but what's strange is i looked in the mirror and my whole face and behind my ears are covered in small
red dots that i can't feel After a While checking myself I realised i hit the back of
my head and it has a red spot and then i saw that i had scratched my right leg so hard that it was swollen and same thing with my back Also my legs are numb and it kinda makes walking difficult
I also have a fever and I'm sweating a lot
And it's still like that 14 hours after i woke up
Keep in mind i will visit a doctor but I couldn't today and tomorrow is the weekend here and we don't have doctors on weekends and until then i must know what this is it has never happened to me before and i have never experienced back pain as bad as this and nothing makes sense to me at all
I’m 18, male, i smoke cigarettes and take no medications
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**Physician - Gastroenterology**: It's hard to say, maybe a kidney stone or a kidney infection or even something else. If you're having fevers and drenching sweats, you may want to consider going to urgent care or the ER, especially if this keeps happening. If your fever is persistent, I'd definitely go see a doctor ASAP.
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Urgent care dismissed me because I’m “too young to have serious problems”
It’s been a year to say the least. Lots of weird symptoms happening on and off but in the past month it’s been overwhelming. Here are my latest symptoms that I went to urgent care for:
- Metallic taste in mouth
- Severe bloating
- Tenderness in abdomen
- Dry mouth, thirst
- Frequent belching
- Severe nausea
Other symptoms this year include
- Brain fog
- Fatigue
- Constipation
- Hair loss
- Numbness/tingling in legs and toes
- 2 periods a month
- Weight gain
- Hives for months due to booster shot
Please any help would mean the world. I feel terrible but nobody is taking me seriously
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**Neonatal Nurse Practitioner**: This would be best address by a primary care physician
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i’m having extremely bad pains in my asshole when I poop
I 21F have been having issues with my bootyhole for quite a while now, I’d say probably for about a year maybe longer. I also have really inconsistent poops, like sometimes it’s super hard stuff other times it’s really like… soft and watery… Sorry sensitive readers. But no matter what consistency, it really badly hurts to get out, and always bleed very fresh red blood. Like it hurts so bad I have to listen to music when I go, or sing out loud to distract myself from the pain.
Also just sitting down is painful on the really bad days, so it’s really starting to affect me a lot - I will also delay my need to go toilet for hours, because it’s painful.
I’m pretty sure I have haemorrhoids and have had for awhile, but also could it be something else? I’ve had a haemorrhoid some years back and it was definitely not this painful. I have tried different creams, cream meant for haemorrhoids and numbing cream.
Please do give me some advise, what could it be?? Treatments?
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**Physician**: It sounds pretty classic for haemorrhoids as you mentioned. Could it be something else? It can always be something else, but the simplest answer is usually the correct one.
If you haven't already, go see a doctor.
Haemorrhoids can be internal, external and also have other features such as being thrombosed. These different types/features can definitely cause different symptoms like different levels of pain.
They can also progress from one type/feature to another (typically external haemorrhoids become thrombosed if not treated correctly)
A doctor must gather the right information and take a look to see what's going on down there to put you in the right direction and make sure there's no better explanation.
Best of luck! While you're waiting to see the doc, you can try over the counter pain medications/creams (although I can understand it sounds like you've tried a lot of these already)
**Registered Nurse**: I think it sounds like you might have a fissure. Especially if you have tried hemorrhoid creams and they haven’t helped. Fissure can be intensely painful. I would recommend getting it looked at by your doctor, as embarrassing as it may seem it will not be a big deal to them. There are certain creams that basically do the opposite of hemorrhoid cream that they can prescribe to help it heal.
**Physician - Gastroenterology**: This is an anal fissure. You need to soften your stools, avoid constipation. Topical nitroglycerins is used to treat it.
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How long after vomiting should I wait to drink and eat?
So I ate some food on Wednesday night (like midnight) that I believe caused the vomiting. It was some fast food meal I got at a train station. In the morning on Thursday around like 9am I started throwing up. I threw up like 4/5 times throughout the entire day. I barely drank any water. I’m feeling a little dehydrated. I keep drinking water today but not a lot. Right now it’s Friday around 5pm and I still feel nauseous. How long do you think I should wait to eat and drink something?
F23 btw
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**Physician**: Put a bit of salt/sugar in water and drink plenty of that, light food will not do you any harm even if you don’t get all of it down
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Female aged 22. I woke up from anesthesia 5 hours ago and I feel increasingly more nauseous. Is this normal?
I don't drink, smoke, or do any drugs.
I woke up from being under anesthesia for 40 minutes or so at 2pm and still feel nauseated. Is that normal? I ended up eating a little better t of Chipotle about an hour later and then drinking water because I hadn't eaten since midnight the night before due to that being a requirement for my EGD procedure which was at noon the next day. I was told that nausea for an hour or so afterward was normal, but it's been five and I'm getting more nauseous. I asked if I could eat after leaving, and they said it should be fine and didn't give me any restrictions which is why I did. Should I be concerned?
Sorry for any errors.
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**Registered Nurse**: It's pretty normal, but the chipotle probably didn't help at all. We tell our patients to have a light meal the same day and then regular the next day.
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[Male 23] Ears clogged but doctors say I’m fine.
My ears have been clogged for weeks and have had multiple doctors check them out and all say I’m fine. I also have very dry congestion without any mucus and constant headaches. My ears pop every time I swallow and are starting to give me vertigo and also minor pain. Any idea on what this could be and how to fix it? Someone mentioned before TMJ, but I’m I have no other symptoms of TMJ so I’ve ruled that out.
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**Physician**: Eustachian tube dysfunction. Would start nasal saline irrigations to improve moisture. May benefit form flonase.
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Constipation that’s very painful, laxatives aren’t working
35 F, 260 lbs. mirena IUD. No medical issues other than weight.
I am having terrible constipation for the past week. I started taking miralax daily two days ago. All it has done is cause the “newer” feces to become diarrhea, but there is still a large older one that is sitting just at the base of my anus. It is very painful, now it’s causing nausea, and I’ve spent an hour at a time trying to pass it with no luck.
What else can I try if laxatives aren’t even working?
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**Physician - General Surgery**: Girl sometimes you gotta bring in the big guns. Magnesium citrate. It's at your local pharmacy with the other laxatives. Bottle of clear liquid. You can try drinking half, or if you're really committed just chug the whole thing. and get some pedialyte to stay hydrated when the diarrhea hits
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Need some War-front advice
I am having as issue with gagging and retching when confronted by the smell of human remains and any smell associated with wound drainage or infection etc. I am not affected much visually but the smell of an open wound or viscera causes me to start heaving more than other guys in the same situation, sometimes making it impossible to continue working for several minutes. This is becoming a serious issue. is taking an anti-nauswa medication going to help stop this? I am willing to take something every day to prevent this or before a situation that would cause this to happen. I am on a battlefield and have experienced my share of these sights and smells so there is no "getting used to it" nor is "don't be in the situation". Any advice would be appriciated....especially if as a doctor you have had to overcome this problem too. 45 year old male. No medication currently being taken. non-smoker. Medical history includes PTSD and anxiety disorder....thanks in advance....
| 5
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**Physician**: Like the others said, n95 works great. The n95s that fold up a great in the field but can't really get wet.
Vicks vapor rub or a smear of mouthwash on your upper lip works too.
Together the two work great.
If you're in the field, you can also put Vicks in a small chapstick container but make sure it goes on skin, not lips. When we do river based body recovery it's just Vicks for me since the n95 can't get wet.
Honestly, there's some smells you just can't train out. Almost everyone in healthcare has their one thing (mine is poop, for others it's mucous, etc. ).
Rotting flesh from an old corpse or gangrene gets almost everyone to some degree. TBH, this is likely protective to keep our lizard brain away from potential infection sources.
**Physician**: There are activated charcoal filter masks that can remove some odour, used them in nasty autopsies. Way back, in the field we smeared Vicks VapoRub under our noses to deal with rotters. Still awful. My blessings to you.
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cardiophobia is exhausting me.
30F 125lbs social drinker mild smoker(a pack every 2 days)
For the longest I can remember I’ve always had this weird sensation in my chest. We’ll where my heart is, like it’s being squeezed or a burning sensation. I have GAD and I was on medication for it but I recently have stopped. I do get some tingles or numbness in my left arm but at night I can’t seem to sleep when I start getting the chest pains. I’m always afraid of having a heart attack since my grandpa passed away from one. I’ve heard before that symptoms of anxiety also mimic heart attack symptoms?
| 5.5
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**Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (Ultrasound)**: Yes, anxiety can cause tightening and pain in the chest.
**Physician**: I’ve never seen a 30 year old female have a heart attack. Even with the smoking, and even if you had high blood pressure and cholesterol and were obese, it’s still very low risk. Maybe time to address the anxiety. Exercise helps a lot, especially if you push yourself to exhaustion and realize your heart is fine.
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Getting my period 2 weeks early after taking Plan B
I’m 30F, 5’5”, 115lb.
I took Plan B one week ago and started bleeding yesterday (so I’ve been fully bleeding, not spotting, for 2 days now), which means I’ve started my period 2 entire weeks earlier than I’m supposed to. Is this normal?
| 6
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**Physician | Top Contributor**: Yes, this is normal after taking Plan B. It often triggers bleeding.
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Muscles
26 year old 5’8 feet 140 pounds
Today was my first day working as medical assistant and my back muscles really hurt
I don’t know what to do
I do have straight back syndrome
And I was in tilting and slouching position for a few years when I smoked out a window i think that made my muscles hurt.
Idk what ti do
Plus I’m stressed
| 5
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**Physician**: Ensure proper lifting technique. Take some ibuprofen. Can ice it if needed.
**Registered Nurse**: Get better shoes. Try Nike Air Zoom Pegasus.
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Question Re: Abdominal Ultrasound Results
Good Evening!
Not a doctor at all so going to give the info I hope is helpful. I had an ultrasound done yesterday and got the results but want to know if I should ask the specialist for a CT to confirm the diagnosis.
I was diagnosed with IBS about 11 years ago.
I’ve been experiencing abnormal (for me) GI symptoms such as pain in my upper abdomen, and spontaneous incidents during which I either dry heave or throw up a yellow/green colored mucus like substance since June. I don’t feel nauseous during those incidents or before.
In June, I also woke up with truly what was the worst pain I’ve ever felt and I actually lost consciousness for a minute or two when I tried to go to the bathroom. I went to urgent care and the doctor thought it was a kidney infection based on where the pain and tenderness was. I did the antibiotics and didn’t experience that pain again.
I’ve also lost about 8% of my body weight between June and august. I’m 5’6, female, and weigh about 160 pounds.
Also notable: my mother was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer when she was 50. I am currently 34.
My ultrasound results indicate I have gallstones but also indicate focal fatty sparing and increased echogencity on the liver.
How likely is it I’ll need gallbladder surgery?
And, do I need to push for a CT or other imaging test to confirm it is fatty focal sparing and not a mass or lesion?
| 6
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**Physician - Gastroenterology**: If you have recurrent biliary colic or develop cholecystitis, those would be the main indications to get your gallbladder out.
Focal fatty sparing is fatty liver. There's nothing to confuse it with
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I have TMJ, my jaw just made a cracking noise with excruciating pain and now it’s numb near my back teeth…
I am a 28 year old female diagnosed with TMJ a couple years ago.
Basically what the title says, jaw made a cracking noise, followed by pain, pain when I close my mouth with teeth touching or if my Jaw moves in any way besides open and shut. (Pain and numbness on left side)
It’s now kinda numb near my back teeth and my jaw .. joint? There is still pain but the teeth and gums feel numb.
It also feels like it’s going to lock if I open my mouth or I push it to the side.
Is there anything I can do about this? I’m at work in tears. I have taken Ibuprofin but that’s about it.
Thanks.
| 2
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**Physician**: Urgent care for x-rays, make sure it isn't broken.
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41F accidentally took 1000mg Ibuprofen
41F, 5’2”, 305lbs, Armour Thyroid 120mg, Ozempic .5mg, Merformin 500mg (prediabetic and obesity treatment), Amoxicillin 500mg 3x/day for seven days.
I have a raging sinus infection and I took an Advil Congestion relief pill 200mg ibuprofen and 10mg phenylephrine, but my entire face was throbbing, so I took my NP’s recommenced dose of 4x200mg ibuprofen. I just realized my mistake. I assume, given my weight, I’ll be okay, but I wanted to check in to be sure.
| 6
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**Physician - Pediatrics**: Doesn’t matter as a one time event. We regularly give people 800mg ibuprofen. Taking 1000mg once is not much different.
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Post Pneumonia Symptoms
Female, 29 years old. I ended up with Peumonia from Strep B going wrong about a month ago. I'm still experiencing fatigue. If my body doesn't get 10 to 12 hours of sleep, I feel like I hit a brick wall. Or I will have energy and then WHAM! I have 0 energy to do anything. Is this normal? And what are some signs of relasp?
I know I'm going to have a cough for months. The fatigue is just disruptive at this point.
| 6
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**Physician**: The duration of post-pneumonia symptoms, including fatigue, can vary depending on the individual and the severity of their pneumonia. In general, most people start to feel better within a few weeks of starting treatment, but complete recovery can take several weeks.
Fatigue is a common post-pneumonia symptom and can persist long after other symptoms have resolved. In some cases, it may take several weeks for a person to fully recover their energy and feel like their old self again.
For the cough, is it a productive or dry one? are you still having any other symptoms as well?
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Hundreds of Blisters on Back after Chemical Peel
I \[25F\] got a "Perfect Derma Peel" 5 days ago on my back (it is a medium depth peel which claims to be safe for all skin types) and experienced no peeling at all, but I woke up today with **hundreds** of small/tiny itchy blisters on my back. I have dark brown skin and am concerned about hyperpigmentation or an infection from this (ironically, hyperpigmentation is the reason I got the peel) The business that did the peel won't answer the phone and all cosmetic dermatologists in my area are closed on the weekend.
Can I do anything to reduce the risk of scarring in this moment? Anything I should otherwise be doing?
25F, no previous relevant medical issues but prone to hyperpigmentation.
Edit: Wanted to mention incase relevant that, yesterday, I spoke to the person who did the peel because at day 4, it was not peeling which she told me is not expected (it is supposed to peel by day 3). She told me that she expected it to peel by now because she used double the peel amount (because it is my back) and she used a "booster". I did not request a booster, nor did she tell me that she was using a booster until 2 days after she gave me the peel. The booster makes the peel stronger and, according to the website, contains 4% Hydroquinone, 1% Hydrocortisone, TCA, Retinoic Acid, Kojic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Phenol & Vitamin C on top of the peel itself.)
I wish she had told me she was going to use a booster as I would have asked her not to and to just stick to what I asked for because I'm already afraid of using anything strong on my skin. I'm in complete distress over this and will be talking to my therapist this week about it (it's making me quite depressed and panicky thinking about my back being covered in marks like this) and I will be contacting a dermatologist asap on Monday.
| 4
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**Physician**: All treatments comes with the potential of side effects. People have different skins, and you know not to use this type again. Try not to hold too much of a grudge towards the one who treated you as they were doing what they thought was best for you, and did not mean to hurt you in any way. This is probably not something that will have lasting effects.
Until you get to a dermatologist and maybe get some anti-inflammatory. You should focus on relaxation, and reducing symptoms with emollients and antihistamines like Ceterizinin 10 mg once a day.
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Been in and out of the ER with no relevant diagnosis, would really love some help here.
\[M, 24 YO, 432 LBS\]
I have been in and out of the ER lately, aside from being morbidly obese which I think has a big role to play with my issue but not t he cause itself I haven't had any medical issues aside from a stuffy nose for around a few weeks. After meals, usually any,(even light snacks like pistachios) I get really lightheaded and have heart palpitations on some occasions. When I check into the ER I have normal blood pressure and a normal heart rate. However soon after eating when I feel these symptoms I take my blood pressure myself, and that is normal but my heartbeat almost always comes up as "possibly abnormal". I've had an EKG done and blood drawn, my sugar levels at the time and my heart rate come back normal. I think I have hypoglycemia and I've brought it up to the doctors but they've all said no. Is it actually not that? I need help desperately please. It's gotten to the point where I'm afraid to even eat.
| 4
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**Physician | Top Contributor**: This may need to be investigated, but the ER is not the right place for that, as it's clear that none of your symptoms are life-threatening. With COVID being so prevalent and given your weight, you're putting yourself at higher risk by going to the ER.
Make an appointment with your PCP to have this further investigated. You can always eat a snack there then get your blood sugar checked when you're symptomatic if you truly feel this may be hypoglycemia (I doubt it is).
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I (19M) accidently touched someone's blood and I'm scared I might get HIV now
So today I was waiting for the bus with a friend on a bench(the bench consisted of 3 chairs), my friend was sitting on the left most chair and I sat down on the right most chair. I didn't sit on the middle chair, because my friend told me there was something red on it(there were some small red stains on the chair) (he thought it was paint at first), but whilst we were waiting for the bus, he wanted to show me some video and when I leaned, I didn't think and I accidently touched the middle chair with my left hand. A few seconds later I noticed blood on my left thumb. It was just a little bit. When I'm stressed, I sometimes pull off skin on my fingers and because of that I have a small wound(it's not open) on my left thumb. The place where I got the blood on, wasn't where I got that wound, but it's relatively close. At first I got the blood off by pouring water on my hand. Now that I think about it, I'm scared I might've made it worse by pouring water on it. I washed my hands with soap like 2-3 minutes later. I think the blood on the chair had dried up, but it was raining a bit at that time which is probably why the blood came off onto my left thumb when I touched it. When I got home I immediately wahsed my hands a few more times and I disinfected my hands. I'm really scared that I might get HIV now. Is this possible/should I call my doctor to ask for PEP pills?
| 6
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**Physician - Gastroenterology**: risk is 0
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Do i have sunstroke?
18M, 172cm.
I walked for like 40ish minutes in the sun (34 degrees celsium) carrying a bag of around 6 half full alcohol bottles. Then I waited for a bus to go home in the sun for about 10minutes.
It got me really sweating and tired, I just felt so weak and a headache followed. That was 4/5 hours ago and I still have the headache
I have a temperature of 38.8°C, no apetite and I drink a lot fo water. Also took a med for temperature decreasing but it didn't work (the temperature is exactly the same). I also can't decide whether I'm sweating or not as I'm panicking too much (I have OCD). My skin looks and feels normal.
| 5
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**Physician**: Sounds like severe dehydration. Drink water, get some rest.
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I twisted my ankle about 10 hours ago. Last night I couldve still walked even though it hurt. This morning I cant put any weight on it at all. Do I need to go in to an ER or is there a chance it works out?
I'm a 24 year old male about 5"7 and obese. Last time I weighed myself i was like 280. I fell about 3 feet off some stairs on to my ankle last night and it hurt. right after it I sat on the ground for about 10 minutes before i used the side of a car to stand up. I still managed to put out the trash about 100 feet away and walk in pain the rest of the night to and from the bathroom and kitchen and stuff, i even stood for a shower.
I just got up to use the bathroom and i couldnt even stand on it. I had to crawl over to the bathroom it taking whats usually a 30 second walk over 10 minutes. I am also very poor so I dont want to go to hospital unless its really needed. Is this normal for sprains that heal on their own or is this indicative of me needing to go to hospital? is it too early to tell?
| 2
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**Registered Nurse**: If you can't put any weight on it at all, you probably need an X-ray. Go to urgent care or the ER for evaluation.
**Podiatrist - Foot and Ankle Surgeon**: Definitely go get an xray. u don't want lifelong problems if it really is broken and u let it heal wrong
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PLEASE HELP, [age 19][ sex male] [height 6’1] [weight 210lbs] pain/discomfort while urinating, have gotten checked for stds about a year ago, and have had sex plenty of times since then but with only one partner
PLEASE HELP 19 M I’ve been having this problem for about 2-3 weeks, I randomly started having a burning very uncomfortable sensation when peeing, when I’m done peeing the uncomfortable feeling stays for about 5 minutes I used to be able to hold my pee for a while and release a lot of pee but since this started I haven’t been able to hold it in at all, like I’ll need to pee so bad where I barely make it to the toilet and I expect a lot of pee but it ends up only being very little I also notice that when I jog or drive on a bumpy road the are between my penis and belly button feels weird and makes me uncomfortable, haven’t had a good normal poop either when it had first started my stomach hurt so bad and I had to poop really bad and when I tried I couldn’t at all my stomach was just in pain
| 4
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**Physician | Top Contributor**: Time to see a doctor and get checked out, including STI testing.
**Physician**: Sounds like dysfunctional voiding or health anxiety. Unlikely to be a uti or std. talk to your pcp
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What specialist should I see?
I (26F) have this issue recently where I feel like an electric current is going through my arms and sometimes hits my jaw. It feels like i’m getting shocked by an electric fence. Nothing exacerbates it necessarily and it happens constantly the last day or two. Like every 5-10 minutes. I feel like it could be nerve damage? I’m not diabetic, no underlying health issues. Who do I see? A neurologist? Ortho? Physical therapist? Thanks in advance
| 4
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**Physician | Moderator**: PCP or a neurologist is a fine place to start
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low calorie/fluid intake and rapid weight loss, not sure where to go from here
20FtM, 158cm, 97lbs, white, no medications, no drinking or smoking or drug use. been consuming 150 calories or less a day for several weeks now and beginning to feel very delirious, chest pains, dizziness, weakness, unable to sleep, barely able to hold a conversation most of the time, just to name a few. i also fast 20+ hours daily. weight was 210lbs in march (i have been restricting calories for months but not to this extent). i’m also restricting my fluid intake to a minimal small few sips of water once daily. continuing to lose around 3lbs a week currently. i have an appointment with an eating disorder specialists on tuesday but i’m worried about getting through until then. should i seek medical treatment before then or just up my calories myself? how many calories would be a good idea to increase to for the time being without causing any weight gain (also not sure if i’m at risk for refeeding syndrome at all) . also i’m located in the uk if that matters
thank you
| 1
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**Physician**: If you were consuming less than 150 calories per day for weeks, I'd consider you at a pretty good risk of refeeding syndrome. You are also pretty highly likely having some metabolic changes right now that are causing most of your current symptoms.
I would advise you go to an ER tonight and get evaluated.
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Keep nearly passing out at the gym
F22, 160lbs, 5’3, almost never drink or smoke anything. Last time I was checked a year ago I was very iron deficient (ferritin 4) but not anemic.
It doesn’t happen every time, but it has happened enough that I’m getting concerned. After lifting, I will slowly feel worse and worse until I can’t walk more than a few steps without collapsing. My vision will start to go black and will improve once I kneel or sit, but I feel so out of it that I feel like I’m about to die. My fingers will tingle and my hands will shake. One time I nearly threw up, but this time I just felt nauseous. I also appeared very pale. Also, very embarrassing but this time I felt like my asshole was about to fall out and it still hurts actually. I almost had to be carried out of the gym but I just laid on the locker room bench until I could muster the strength to get to the car. Is this normal if it doesn’t happen every time?
| 4.5
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**Surgical Tech**: What are you eating before you workout? If you’re lifting heavy you need carbs to fuel you and enough fluids. And are you breathing through each lift? A lot of times people are holding their breath when they lift heavy and it causes them to pass out.
**Physician**: This sounds like orthostatic hypotension. When you lift, you compress all the blood out of your legs into your upper body. At the end of your exercise, you relax the muscles and the veins get distended. All the blood pools in your legs and you faint or nearly faint. All the symptoms you describe are from blood not reaching those parts of the body (tingling in fingertips, blacking out, nausea).
Nothing you can really do about it, except hydrate before your exercise.
After you lift, you shouldn’t immediately stand up and walk around. Sit down for a couple of minutes.
Ofcourse this is just the most common cause of this. Other problems (with the heart) should be checked.
So my advice would be to go to a cardiologist. Get an ECG and Sonography of the heart to see if you’re not fainting from a cardiac obstructive cause.
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Les common side effects of having MRI scan
36f 62kg - Had a mri scan on my head - 6 hours after the scan I had sex with husband and started bleeding 8 days before my period is due. Can the machine cause your cycle to start early, am I maybe pregnant and having a miscarriage because of the magnetic force (were not trying to conceive but also not using any contraception - whip it in whip it out has been affective for 9 years since last child).
My cycle is always regular never a day early never a day late #freakingout and need some reassurance
| 6
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**Physician | Top Contributor**: No, an MRI cannot affect your menstrual cycle and does not cause miscarriage. It's just a big magnet. MRIs are totally safe and often used in pregnant people.
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Could someone help my anxiety by telling me I won't die from covid?
23F, 5'9, 130lbs, Caucasian. I've had three covid vaccines, the first two being in April of 2021, and the third being in December 2021.
I just got diagnosed with covid two days ago. So far my symptoms are mild but I'm really scared of them increasing. I don't have full faith in my lungs because I lived with my mom for twenty years, and she was a chain-smoker who literally never left the house. The whole house was basically a chimney. I somehow never got asthma though. Also, in the past two years, I've been vaping weed pens a decent amount, probably way more than I should. I'm trying to stop because I know they're not good for your lungs either.
I'm just really paranoid when the symptoms really kick in that I'm not going to do well. I'm not really looking anything up right now because I'm scared of what I'll see. I'm worried that if I have to go to the hospital, they will have a bed shortage and I'll die waiting for one.
If anybody can ease my anxiety a little bit I'd appreciate it! I'm sorry if there's a better sub for this.
| 6
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**Physician**: You won't die from COVID.
**Physician - Pediatric Emergency Medicine**: You won't die from covid
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water intoxication
i am 18M and weight roughly 150lbs. a couple of hours ago i drank 6L of water in less than an hour. since then, i have felt light headed, drowsy, have a minor headache and almost vomited. i am nervous to fall asleep now as I want to make sure I am okay and don’t fall into a coma. if anybody can help it is greatly appreciated as i have already tried searching the internet for answers.
| 1
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**Physician - Pediatrics**: You should go to the ER. Cases of water intoxication of that amount can be fatal.
**Registered Nurse**: Get something to eat and drink that has sodium and potassium in it and head to the ER. This can cause hyponatremia. Can cause seizures and death! Bone broth is good. Chicken broth too. Why did you do that?!
**Registered Nurse**: Also, there are certain medications that can also add to water intoxication as well. You need to have a basic metabolic panel drawn. Water shifts within the brain can happen overtime put you at risk for seizures… your family will be bothered finding you unconscious if you ignore this. I hope you are okay
**Physician Assistant**: As the doctor said the only safe answer is to go to the ER or urgent care and have your sodium levels checked. No one here can accurately guess your sodium level but your story (even the corrected version) puts you at risk for hyponatremia and the complications thereof including brain damage and death. No one here can tell you with any certainty that it would be safe to delay care.
**Physician - Emergency Medicine**: Some wild responses here. But the answer is to probably go to the ER and get evaluated for hyponatremia. Don’t drink or eat anything to try and bring up your sodium, your kidneys will fix your sodium for you. The reason to go to the ER is that if your sodium level is critically low it may need to be corrected back to normal levels slowly in the hospital to avoid a risk of osmotic demyelination.
Also please don’t drink 6L of free water in an hour.
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how long is it safe to wait before seeing a doctor after a potential heart attack?
(18f, 58kg, 176cm, british) I take no regular medications. So ive been researching and i think theres a decent chance i had a heart attack from an amphetamine od about 20 hours ago (took 500mg), but i dont know too much about them. my heart was absolutely racing, the left side of my chest/my arm was numb for a while and it hurt to use it, i was lightheaded, sweating profusely, and my chest was really uncomfortable and still is just as uncomfortable. i tried pressing on my chest during the incident and it was very painful. the left side of my chest and my upper arm is still a bit difficult to use without discomfort or again going a bit numb, but my heart rate is slower again. it is irregular though.
other things i felt after the most intense and uncomfortable stages were abdominal pain, nausea, frequently urinating and difficulty sleeping, but im unsure how many of these would be caused by the amph alone
my question is, would it be safe for me to wait 5 days, so 4 more since writing this, to go to the doctor. apparently it takes 5 days for amphetamine to leave your system and id rather not have an amph od, especially one that caused a heart attack, on my record. the discomfort is manageable but definitely weird. ive also had shortness of breath today. i know this is a very stupid question and objectively i should be going no matter what but if you guys could just answer the question that would be great.
also if this post doesnt fit the rules id really appreciate if you told me in a comment so i can edit it rather than taking this down
| 1
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**Patient Care Assistant**: You need to go to the ER immediately.
**Physician**: You intentionally took 500mg of adderall? I’d go to the hospital immediately and be evaluated by both a cardiologist and a psychiatrist. I’m not joking.
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TW ABORTION - Question about Misoprostol use...
I \[f20\] live in a country where abortion is very limited. My friend lives in a neighbouring country where abortion is easily accessible. She has had two abortions before, using one mifepristone pill and then 800mcg of Misoprostol. Since the doctor gave her one extra 400mcg misoprostol pill as a spare each time, she gave them to me to see if they would work. She told me that I should place them between my gum and cheek and wait 30 mins then swallow. She said that they should start working within 10-30 mins of ingesting them and that it would be incredibly painful and id pass the pregnancy. I am only 3 weeks pregnant, she was 9,10 weeks when she had her abortions so i thought it would work. After about 40 minutes of taking the pills i had what i would consider regular period cramps and my cervix felt very open. It lasted less then 10 minutes and now i am just bleeding lightly. It has now been nearly 3 hrs since I took them. Why havent they worked? I guess I am asking for advice on what to do now.
I really dont want to have to travel to her country and pay hundreds to have an abortion.
Please no discussion about the ethics or whatever about abortion as i really dont care what you think.
Thanks for your help.
Edit - I also took 800mg of Ibuprofen, would that of had an effect on the misoprostol?
| 5
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**Laboratory Technician**: That bleeding is probably the abortion if you’re only 3 weeks along there’s not much going on yet. Just monitor your bleeding and take a pregnancy test 2-3 weeks out from now.
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(19M) A flame spark went into my eye and I don’t know what to do
I work in a metal factory and I’ve been working there for the past few months, however, today whilst I was grinding metal pieces, a flame spark went past my safety goggles and into my left eye. I immediately went to a eye water soaking station and put in eye drops as soon as I got home but it still feels irritable. I did some research and it says that if I’m experiencing any vision loss or colours distortions I should immediately go see a doctor but I haven’t as of now. From the outside my eye looks completely fine but I’m no expert so I don’t know. Should I go see a doctor or should I wait it out to see if there’s any improvement?
| 1
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**Physician - Pulmonary and Critical Care**: Go to the nearest ER. You should have an eye exam asap.
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Is this an UTI or something else?
25F - 4'11 - 145 lb
Not possible for pregnancy
I've been taking antidepressants Escitalopram 10mg for a while and been taking anticonceptional pill since 14 years old due to my period.
My mother language is not english, sorry any mistakes.
The past 2 weeks (almost 3) I've been feeling a lot more urge to urinate, whoever, a lot of times almost no urine comes out and is usually clear...I did a good amount of urine yes, about 3 times a day, but the rest of the day is very small but I feel like I needed to urine more than what it came out. Is not a sensation in the urethra (or vaginal) but in my bladder, and since Friday I've been feeling a discomfort/light pain in the area but I don't know if it is because of my menstruation...the pain doesn't feel like menstrual pain tho and is constant. Besides the urine problem, I've not been drinking more than normal and I feel more hungry whoever I can't eat a full meal but I'm ok with snacks. I've lost weight too. I don't feel any pain when I pee in my urethra, only today but I think is because my period came today and I feel it whenever I'm on my period.
I don't smoke or drink.
Can a UTI make these symptoms? My blood tests were off because all my blood cells were higher than normal, but I'm not associating these symptoms w/ the test because I made in June because I thought my anemia came back (I've been having trouble with fatigue and hair loss, I had anemia at 14 due to my period). I'm taking the test again but only in the next month.
| 4
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**Physician - Pediatrics**: Could be. See your doctor, get a urine test.
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I haven’t pooped in a week - pregnant
23F 11w3d pregnant
I’ve been dealing with constipation for about a month, but I haven’t had a bowel movement in a week. I take zofran 4mg 2x everyday for nausea/vomiting and am taking prenatals with 27mg iron which I know both can cause constipation. I have had miralax the past 3 days and nothing is happening. I don’t eat much and I throw up about 50% of what I eat, so I don’t know how much really is in my stomach. I’m not sure what to do! Is this dangerous?
| 5
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**Pharmacist**: Assuming you took adequate doses of Miralax, you could also try switching to psyllium husk (one brand is Metamucil).
**Physician**: Agree with other commenter - Make sure you are taking full doses of miralax, water for hydration (sometimes adding fibre without adequate hydration makes things worse). If all else if failing you could consider glycerin suppository.
I’d also consider using the miralax daily even if you have a BM just for prevention!
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[31M] Should I take antibiotics if I have flu symptoms?
TLDR / Summary: Do antibiotics have any benefit if I show up with symptoms of flu or at what point is it justified to take them?
31M, Dubai - UAE. Obese but physically active (Workout 3-4 times a week).
On Allopurinol 300mg for gout and I take Colchicine when required. Been almost more than a year since I had my last flare-up. Also Keratoconus,
Started developing a sore throat since last night and I will test for covid since cases have been rising locally. Had my flu vaccine last November and 2 different covid vaccines (Sinopharm in last February and Pfizer in last August). Vaccines taken were as per the local health Authority guidelines.
I just want to go into detail about what I have asked in the title. I am not sure how it is in the states or other regions for that matter but I just want to be educated on the subject.
At certain hospitals, I would be prescribed a 'flu toolkit' which always of consists of Panadol / advil, anti-inflammatory medicine, cough syrup and antibiotics. My mother recently went to a hospital and was prescribed the flu toolkit. She had a dry cough, runny nose, fever, sore throat. They checked her BP, oxygen, throat, covid pcr which was negative. My nephews and brother got the flu toolkit last year after a hospital visit.
At other hospitals, especially family medicine clinics I go to would prescribe meds based on symptoms but I have not seen them prescribe me antibiotics. I asked my doctor once and she said it's symptoms management.
I made it a habit reading meds leaflet irrespective of what I am taking. This is since several years back I developed tendonitis after taking antibiotics, I read the leaflet later on which included it that it causes it. The other times I have taken antibiotics were for surgeries such as wisdom teeth removal and cross linking.
Thank you,
| 5
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**Physician - Pulmonary and Critical Care**: Your symptoms could be consistent with influenza, COVID, or another viral infection. Antibiotics have no role in treating viral infections, but instead treat bacterial infections. There are a few antiviral options for influenza that if taken early enough in the course of the illness reduce duration of symptoms and reduce complications. Aside from that medication, for the vast majority of people influenza, COVID, and other viral illnesses the treatment is symptoms management and prevention of spread to others.
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How do I deal with loose stools from antibiotics?
Age - 19
Sex - ftm
Height - 5'3
Weight - 120lbs
Race -white
Duration of complaint - 2 days, since starting the antibiotics
Any existing relevant medical issues - skin infection on my foot; recent radical hysterectomy (hence low dose estrogen)
Current medications - Geodon, testosterone, low dose estrogen, **amoxocillin-clavulanate 875-125mg**, pepto bismol pills, odansetron 8mg left over from surgery
Like I put in the current medication, I've tried zophran and pepto bismol. I've also tried ramen (someone allegedly told me that made you constipated) and have been eating a lot of microwave mashed potatoes. I mean, I have some shredded parmesean? Would cheese help? I'm not worried about losing fluids, I'm drinking plenty of water, but I'm worried about losing control and shitting myself in public (it's happened twice in private). What can I do? I can't go back to the doctor
| 5
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**Pharmacy Intern**: So zofran isn't for diarrhea, and if you're taking it for nausea that's fine but I wouldn't expect it to help this. Pepto is okay, but not the strongest. The best thing will be to take it with food, ideally a heavier meal if you're struggling with diarrhea that much. You can also try over the counter loperamide (Imodium). Follow the directions on the back of the box, which will be 2 tablets, then one tablet with subsequent bowel movements (up to 4 tabs per day). If it's still bad, talk with your doc and they might okay an increase in the Imodium dose or recommend an alternative strategy
**Nurse Practitioner**: The diarrhea associated with antibiotic use is due to the antibiotic’s tendency to kill “good bacteria” in the gut while also treating the “bad bacteria” in your infection. Taking an over the counter probiotic will help restore the “good bacteria”. This is what I recommend to my patients.
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Why can’t doctors fill scripts on weekends?
27m 5’11 220 Suffering from a broken clavicle and various other small injuries due to a car accident.
I’m in mass amounts of pain from an accident on Wednesday that broke my left clavicle and is pushing down into my sternum. Im set for surgery next Tuesday. I’m out of meds today and called about a refill (which is what my surgeon said to do Thursday) but had an on call doctor who told me they don’t do scripts on weekends, and to take ibuprofen. My surgeon gave me instructions in writing that say not to take ibuprofen 5 days before surgery. Why can’t they fill my scripts on a weekend? I am suffering and they are just “lol”
| 2
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**Physician - Pulmonary and Critical Care - Moderator**: Sounds like some sort of policy shortcoming or miscommunication. Some laws prohibit electronic prescribing of narcotic pain medications, which creates a difficult situation when the clinic itself is closed. I wouldn’t blame the on-call doctor too much, it’s something your surgeon should have thought through. Unfortunately you may need to go to an urgent care to get sufficient pain control.
Sorry, it looks like you’ve bumped into a hole in the system. Make sure you tell your surgeon about this issue so nobody else has to suffer through it.
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Breathlessness immediately after smoking
I am 21 M , Weight: 74 kg , Height: 5 feet 8 inches , diagnosed with hypothyroidism 7 yrs ago but discontinued my medications since my doctor suggested so , smoker since 2 years ( 1 cigarette and 1 joint (marijuana) per day on average ) , since 2 months I have been facing breathlessness immediately after smoking , I’m not facing any breathlessness on a consistent basis, only immediately after smoking or vaping ( more with vaping) I feel like my lungs are exhausted and face breathlessness for a period of about 30 mins to 1 hr .
| 5
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**Neonatal Nurse Practitioner**: Easy answer: stop smoking
**Physician - Pulmonary and Critical Care - Moderator**: What’s your question? My first suggestion would be to stop smoking/vaping.
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31F miscarriage/COVID
I’m pretty sure I miscarried first pregnancy (5-6wks) while being sick with COVID. I experienced pretty bad cramping, back pain and passed a few large blood clots then started what feels like a normal period.
- When will I have a negative at home pregnancy test.
-Do I really need to see a doctor? I’m still recovering from COVID and I’m not in the mood to talk about it.
-I’m RH neg, do I need RHIG? Can I be sensitized this early on?
Thanks
| 4
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**Registered Nurse**: You should see a doctor, if for nothing else, to get an RhIg eval/rhogam
**Registered Nurse**: Yes, you should see a doctor to be sure all of the products of conception have left the uterus + RH eval. It sucks. I'm sorry you're going through this.
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Husband bleeds from face every morning
Okay, weird one. My husband is 27M, he drinks a glass of whiskey usually after dinner. Quit smoking a few years ago.
Every single morning he wakes up with sore sinuses and bridge of nose. He immediately gets up and blows his nose but it's always just blood. Like...quite a bit of blood. He does not have nosebleeds, ever. He otherwise doesn't have any issues with this excerpt first thing in the morning. We've tried a humidifier and it didn't seem to help.
I've told him to make an appointment but he thinks it's silly.
Thank you!
Edit: I forgot his height and weight I'm sorry. He's 5'7 and 190 and white.
| 4
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**Physician - Rheumatology**: The first thing that popped into my mind was, "Could he have nasopharyngeal cancer?"
Of course, there are many other possible explanations for his symptoms, including benign conditions, infections, nasal drug use (particularly cocaine), vasculitis, and other types of malignancy.
I'm not trying to scare you, but ruling out cancer is the main reason he needs to see a doctor, preferably an otolaryngology (ENT) doctor.
Please encourage him to get evaluated.
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I take Zolof in the morning 2 pills and 1 went down the wrong pipe?
31 year old male took my 2 Zolof pills this morning and 1 of the pills went down the wrong pipe. I attempted to lay on flat on my back and just drink water hopefully for the pill to come up and go down the right way. Do I need to worry or let it run it's course?
| 6
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**Physician | Top Contributor**: If one of the pills actually went down your trachea into your lungs, you would have been coughing quite a bit and would have coughed it up. If it just felt funny for a bit then feels fine, it probably just scraped on the way down and is in your stomach like it should be.
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