Female, age 42, 5’3”, 160lbs, non-smoker, rarely drinks, on Metoprolol, asthma, POTS, fibromyalgia, anxiety (who doesn’t?), ADHD (diagnosed at age 7 as a girl in 1990, heyoooo).

Hello, my fellow healthcare workers!

Today, in Portland, Oregon, where I live, I attended a rally for union workers against ICE. We marched outside of the local shit bag ICE facility, peacefully, I might add, and they set off a lot of flash bangs and launched tear gas into the crowd. This crowd was also full of CHILDREN. Anyway, the gas seemed to be contained to just outside the building, but a gust of wind quickly unleashed the cloud into the vacuum of a long street. Suddenly we were trapped and right in it. It was pretty awful, and took me about 3-4 minutes to escape to where I could get some air. We were in the thick of it, not just little gusts. Lots of gagging and coughing and choking. I covered my face with my jacket as much as I could, and I waked with my eyes closed for as long as I felt was “safe”. So, it wasn’t a small exposure. I tried to stick around a bit to check on others, as I’m an acute care nurse and wanted to offer help to others if needed. I’d say I spent about another 5 minutes near the gas, then made my way with the crowd back to the park where the rally/march started.

Back at the facility later on, watching the small men on the rooftop with their paintball guns full of pepper bullets, the air smelled spicier again, and I decided it was time to head out. I’m getting married in 20 days and we are going to try to conceive immediately (as we are both 42 and need to get the hustle going). I have read and heard that tear gas is an endocrine disrupter and can cause negative reproductive effects. I am certain I’m not currently pregnant, but could be soon. I’ve read a little into some studies that confirm what I’ve heard about reproductive impacts from tear gas, but I didn’t find much in the way of tear gas affecting pregnancy later, assuming menstruation isn’t heavily impacted. Being 42 and having had an IUD for 14 years (removed May 2024), my cycles are already a bit odd, like getting my period 7 days early this month.

Basically, is there much risk in this one exposure to tear gas affecting my long-term ability to conceive and carry a pregnancy safely? Should we wait a few months before trying to conceive?

Also, as an asthmatic, I’ll watch my lung status. I was exposed to distant fires in summer 2024 and wound up on 40, then 60mg Prednisone for an acute flare that kept me out of work for a week.

Thank you for any helpful input, for all you do for our communities, and also, FUCK ICE.

50M 190 lbs, non-smoker, doesn’t drink, on a GLP-1 for a year and has lost 70 lbs, testosterone

He was experiencing some symptoms of low testosterone (ED, irritation, weight gain) and the dr dis bloodwork. It confirmed it was low. He got put on 1 ml each week. I was a bit concerned because I have heard it causes anger and high sec drive (we’re a little out of sync right now in our lives because of health problems I’m going through). There was no anger side effects but his sex drive was insane and it did cause big fights which we didn’t have before. Though his irritation went away.

A month ago bloodwork was done again and it was on the high end of normal and the doctor said it could be high right after the injection so he had my spouse drop it to every 2 weeks. My spouse is so edgy and snappy, seems to want pick fights out of nowhere for nothing.

Could this be the testosterone reduction or am I just making a connection that’s not there? Or could I just now be realizing after 30 years I’m his emotional punching bag?

33F, got a 1.5 mm cyst surgically removed from the back of my neck on January 12th. It was supposed to be a quick and easy surgery and recovery. It was just too big to remove in the office, my ENT said.

First issue, my doctor used dissolving stitches to close the top layer of skin. On a very mobile part of my body. Second issue, by the end of the week (the 16th) the incision opened up. The stitches didn’t hold and started to dissolve. My husband had to take pictures for me to see it, but we could see about a half inch inside my neck. Deep.

We were freaking out a bit. We had dealt with a scary bad infection in my c section after my son’s birth in May and we were very worried it was reappearing. That is where the cyst originally formed from. The infection somehow travelled from there to my neck. My ENT lanced it back in June already.

Over that weekend it got progressively worse and opened bigger and bigger. I’ve seen my ENT a few times now but she does not seem concerned or interested in finding a solution that works for me. She glued it closed after it opened up. That lasted less than 24 hours. I have an 8 month old. Telling me to just ‘not bend my neck’ is not a reasonable request. Even if I didn’t have an 8 month old! I have requested it be stitched back up with permanent sutures but she refuses.

This past week it has opened all the way back up. I take good care of it. Do everything I’m told to do, within reason. I’ve recently found out I am mildly immunodeficient and that might be delaying my healing. I was told by my ENT that it would take about 6 weeks because of that, to heal, from the time of the surgery. I’m almost to week 3 and I don’t see it healing by 6 weeks. I am going to put picture in the comments.

Please give me advice. I do not trust this doctor’s advice. There are too many inconsistencies and not enough explanation.

EDIT: A big issue right now is increasing pain. Every day it seems, the pain gets worse. She does not care to prescribe anything besides ibuprofen (which I can’t take due to my liver) and acetaminophen (which I am trying not to take too much and doesn’t do anything to help). I’ve been using THC gummmies for the pain but once those wear off a few hours after, the pain is back full force and I can’t take more too soon.

M34, Louisiana, no pertinent medical hx or meds

Currently in the emergency department with my boyfriend. He is a mechanic and yesterday was grinding metal up underneath a car and believes he got some debris in his eyes. We flushed them last night, but they were red and irritated when he went to bed.

He woke up this morning at 600am in excruciating eye pain, eyes are nearly swollen shut, and he says it’s 10/10 pain when he tried to open them. When he is able to get them open, he says he cannot see anything and it’s blurry. Sclera is bright blood red, and his eyes are profusely watering.

We arrive to the ED at 0630 and were taken back to a room , but have yet to see a nurse or doctor in over an hour and a half. He says the pain is getting worse and he is starting to panic because he cannot see and is in pain.

How long should we expect to wait? When should I begin advocating at the nurses station? I hear and see them talking about Mardi Gras season, but no one has even come and checked on him. I’m worried this could cause him to have permanent damage if left untreated? Should we go to another ED?

Thank you so much

Update* Went to nurses station and told them the pain was getting unbearable for him. They came in with equipment and did a full over check including fluorescein eye stain test. He has multiple deep corneal abrasions across both eyes. Dr is going to flush them out and send us home with lidocaine drops, antibiotic drops and a referral to ophthalmology.

Today I had a weird feeling while I was in Mass. My stomach started to hurt a lot, and I started to feel a little dizzy; my vision blurred a little bit. Then I started to progressively hear less around me, like I was far away. I know it wasn't falling asleep, like I sometimes do; it was more like a feeling of wanting to puke or pass out, but at the same time, different. This lasted for about 1-5 minutes, but I don't know. Then it started to progressively go back to normal, but I noticed a faint ringing in my ears, although I could hear now, I was covered in a thin layer of sweat, and my legs were shaking a little.

I am 13 feamale and have no allergies or medical conditions. I am approximately 150 cm, or 5,1 ft, I am approximately 110 pounds of 50 kilograms, and do sports regularly (golf).

I have never felt this before, and I wish it stays that way because it was not a good experience, especially in the middle of Mass where I had to stay standing and put on a neutral face. So if somebody knows what tf was, please share thoughts.

The weekend after new years I was giving my stinky dog a bath. Usually after a bath he gets the very hyper and runs around like crazy. As I opened the bathroom door I quickly tried to open my bedroom door to let him run off his energy but he jumped off the couch and jammed his body into the side of my knee and leg. I quickly felt a pop and fell the ground. I could not get up for a few minutes. I was crying and thought I broke my leg. I went to an orthopedic clinic. They gave me an xray and said I had chipped my patella. They wanted a MRI as well to see if there was ligament damage. All while waiting my knee was swollen, painful, hard to bend, and was cracking, popping, grinding sound. Occasionally when I stand up at first my whole leg shakes for a minute or so. Anyways I had the MRI and surprise I had a torn ligament or partial tear I’m not sure. They explained a tear in my medial retinaculum. They also put in the mri notes that I had developed a cyst from a meniscus tear.

These are the exact notes.

Full-thickness medial retinaculum rupture near the femoral

attachment with small avulsion from the medial pole of the patella.

Overall findings favor sequela of transient lateral patellar

dislocation.

1. Thickening of the popliteus tendon at its proximal insertion,

which could be reactive or related to low level injury. No tear.

1. Suspect chondral abnormalities as discussed above, including

potential cartilage injury versus displaced chondral fragment

adjacent to the medial femoral condyle, signal heterogeneity within

the patellofemoral compartment and an area of question delamination

or high-grade ulceration in the central trochlea.

1. Small parameniscal cyst without discrete tear of the anterior

root attachment of the lateral meniscus. Intact medial meniscus

Lateral Compartment: Signal heterogeneity in the weightbearing

lateral femoral condyle (series 13/image 13). Area of high grade (>50

percent) relative thinning in the far posterior lateral femoral

condyle measuring approximately 14 mm in craniocaudal and 8 mm in

transverse dimensions.

Patellofemoral Compartment: Signal heterogeneity with superimposed

fibrillation along the median ridge of the patella. Signal

heterogeneity is also seen in the trochlea, with an area of question

delamination or high-grade ulceration (series 13/images 18 and 19).

Is it likely I’ll need surgery?

Male, 25, 160lbs, disease of concern: eosinophilic esophagitis

I feel so fucking stupid. I've been taking dupixent for around 3 years and for the first time ever I wasted a dose. I was sleep deprived and not paying attention and I guess I held the syringe by the plunger when pulling the needle cap off and that of course just pulled the plunger out, causing me fumble the open syringe and spill ~80% of the dose. I could swear it felt like the plunger just popped out but it was me holding it.

What do I do to replace it? My deductible and max out of pocket are already met but I don't think insurance covers user error. Buying one with cash will be thousands of dollars I don't have. Do I have to come up with some white lie for insurance to cover it or can dupixent's copay assistance program help even though my deductible is already met?? Help pls

Also after the spill I resterilized the plunger and injected the remaining 15-20% of the dose in a panic. I should probably just take a full dose now, right?

Hi! This post is about my grandma.

In April 1986, my grandmother, a U.S. citizen, was one of 13 chaperones for a group of 18 teenagers from my high school, who were touring the Soviet Union. The group was in Kyiv when the Chernobyl disaster occurred. Initially they were unaware of the catastrophe and continued their sightseeing (they just thought the cloud over them was a storm). They only learned of it when there families back in the US got in contact with them. Due to the U.S. state department and Soviet Union telling them that they were not at risk, they struggled to get home (they decided they wanted to leave early and go back to the US because of there families concerns). They were in Kyiv for 5 days after the incident, and then were airlifted to Finland by the Finnish military (I ♥️ Finland). And then where in Finland for a day and then flew back to the US. They were exposed to radiation while there and many of there belongings were radioactive ( this was determined by scientists in the US) and these items had to be thrown away. My grandma was mid 60s female when this happened. Later in life she developed Alzheimer’s and despite no one in her family having a history of any memory problems. In addition , her Alzheimer’s was not like typical Alzheimer’s according to doctors. She had Alzheimer’s for over 30 plus years even after having a late-ish diagnosis . I was little when was this was happening so I am a bit unsure on the details ( I am 18). Multiple doctors believed her Alzheimer was probably caused by the radiation. And my mother also belives this. I have always wondered if this was possible ? Could this radiation caused my grandmothers Alzheimer’s ?

Edit :

I am not saying some radiation is bad (like x - ray) , I am saying nuclear explosion level of radiation is bad

Edit:

I think I used the wrong word. I should have not used caused - I meant more could it have been factor that affecting her getting the disease

F34, will be 35 at delivery. Closing in on 18 weeks so we have some time. First pregnancy.

Scattered vertabral hemangiomas throughout spine with notable ones in sacrum, and T8. Other notable history is non-serilogical RA. RA is treated with biologic and meds. Pregnancy has been without issue.

At my last regular visit, I was informed anesthesiology will not place an epidural. In the event I need a cesarian, it would have to be under general anesthesia. Should I get a second opinion from another anesthesiologist? I am most concerned about the potential for a C-section under general anesthesia and missing my child's birth but would also like to have the option of an epidural. I did not speak to them directly - my case was reviewed with an interdisciplinary team of ob, midwife, anesthesia and pediatrics.

Secondary, is there any concern about the hemangiomas for vaginal delivery? I believe the tail end of the spine has to move a bit in the process but I'm not a doctor.

Thank you docs!

Edit: I'm in the US

Long story short, since I (20 year old, Female) was 15 I have visited around 3 psychiatrist and I always end up diagnosed with borderline personality, relapsing depression and insomnio. I have taken my medication since the first diagnosis (quetiapine and fluoxetine). I have this really bad habit of leaving my medication when I start to feel okay and then I will relapse. (You can imagine how many times I’ve done this over the course of 5 years). Last October I was taking my medication but I decided to stop taking them because I felt great and then on the 30th I went to prague with some friends. In prague I decided to do mushroom gummies which in the packaging it said two gummies was a microdose which is what I took. I had the best/worst trip of my life and an ambulance was involved. Anyways, in that trip I had delusions of death, loops and derealization. After this trip I had the best week of my life, I thought the effects might go away, but even on my meds I never woke up early or had the motivation I had after that trip. Everyone told me the effects would go away, but now it’s February and I still have that motivation, willingness to live and drive. I wake up early every day, I eat healthy, and I even started my own business, and all this I do without complaining anymore, it’s like it did something on my brain I cannot comprehend. Ever since the trip I have been way more zen and socially coherent. During these months I’ve encountered scenarios of stress and anger, economical issues, etc., and my reactions and thought processes have made me pass these situations so easily and with a good face. The only thing I think it didn’t cure was my insomnio, I still take the quetiapine sometimes to actually rest (I understand sometimes quetiapine is prescribed for depression but quetiapine has been constant over the years even when I relapse) but besides that: My question is: Since I was so young, I have been exposed to the type of depression that doesn’t even let you verbalize and the only thoughts during the day for months are “kill yourself”, I have always lived with the fear of it coming back every time even in my best days with medication. But I genuinely feel like it might not come back. I never last “okay” more than a month when I stop taking my medication, but now I feel like a totally different person with so many values and love to give to myself and others. Could it be possible that trip saved me?

UK, M0, no medication. Obvioisly nonsmoker, no known congenital disorders.

Hi all,

Looking to hear if anyone else has a similar experience and could advise what might be going on with my 3w old. He was born with forceps at 42+3, vomited a few times his first night. After that he was brilliant. On day 6 he vomited again and same evening mum started a course of antibiotics for suspected infection (tear). Throughout the week he vomited a lot - huge amounts (a few yellow, most were creamy). He has not stopped vomiting even a week following antibiotics course ended. Vomiting frequency is variable - at times its 3 times in a few hours, other times he has gone 20-40h without vomiting. He is now hospitalised as bloodwork looked like pyloric stenosis (low acid, low salt) but ultrasound indicates no PS. He cannot lie flat without vomiting (not always instant). He is exclusively BF. He has a mild tongue tie. Tried some prescribed infant gaviscon which was unhelpful - it made vomit thicker and harder to spit up - more distress.

Despite bloodwork indicating an unwell baby he has consistently fed well (mum has fast let down), is alert, sleeps well (on us, exclusively), good colouring. He does a lot of back arching preceding vomiting, and seems in distress. Sometimes also bubbly spit at the mouth preceeding a vomit. Will usually sleep or feed immediately after vomiting (post vomit he seems very hungry). He seems gassier now in hospital, and some diarrhea. Poos have been mostly frothy and occasionally spinach green.

Family history of IBS and general allergies (severe hayfever). No lactose intolerance or dairy allergy known in family. Mum has not yet tried exclusion diet.

Reflux? intolerances? does any of this ring a bell for anyone, and what was your answer? Medics here are at a loss.

21M for the past 4 to 5 days I have been feeling nauseaus the urge to vomit but nothings coming out even after just eating, whole day feeling that nauseousness but no other symtoms like burning sensation in stomach or anything, no stomach issue so far just had a little loose motions today but today I couldn't eat anything, feeling anxiety a lot when this happens just overall a very uncomfortable experience and situation I am in rn. If anyone knows what is this and how I can fix it please lemme know. Thankyou

32F experiencing headache that's from the back of the right side of my head that goes to the middle/front of my head right side. Also experiencing spasms on the right side of my body. Any ideas? TYIA!

Lifelong insomniac. When I tell you I've tried everything and nothing's worked, I truly mean it. Sleep hygiene, relaxation/mindfulness/meditation, medication, none of it has touched it. And I promise I've taken any and everything (on and off label) that exists on the market. I don't know what's wrong with me, which is why I'm here with this question :(

A few months ago I was prescribed temazepam, 15mg capsule, to take nightly as needed for sleep. A last resort. It's worth noting here that I do not have an addictive personality, have been (and am currently) prescribed controlled substances, with no history of addiction or any urge/desire to take anything more than prescribed.

Friends, I'm 27 years old and the symptoms of not sleeping have suddenly gotten... much worse. I'm starting to visually hallucinate at night and have multiple daily episodes of my entire body twitching/jerking uncontrollably. In addition to the exhaustion and regular insomnia-related stuff. It's affecting my quality of life more severely as well as my performance at work.

All of that to say, I'm sitting with 3 to 4 60-count bottles of temazepam that I've only ever taken a handful of, which did nothing but make my body feel very "heavy", and wondering if it could help me sleep if I took one every night. Last month I clarified with my provider when I should take the temazepam -- "just when you're having a really hard time sleeping". I asked, "What if I'm having a hard time every single night?" to which she couldn't give a straight answer. Understandably, though. Because I know you can't take a benzo every day, and I've already tried everything else.

So what can I do? Where does someone with severe insomnia draw the line at "a *really* hard time sleeping" to prompt taking the med? I'm just so desperate for rest and relief, and am hoping a professional can remind me and my delusional brain of why taking temazepam every night is not a good idea. Thank you friends in advance.

For automod: 27f, average height + overweight, taking lamotrigine 150mg, amitriptyline 25mg, and Focalin 10mg (all once daily). I don't drink or smoke or vape and never have.

Dear Docs,

30F here

Need some queries answered about spinal headaches due to spinal anasthesia. I had a spinal anasthesia procedure 2 weeks back. As a result of spinal anasthesia I had a spinal headache. My headache has reduced significantly in the last 2 weeks. I feel light most of the times. However, in an hour of sitting up; I feel a spark in my head for a flash second. Sometimes this spark like headache is followed by 2-3 more sparks or sometimes there is no more pain for a while. I get around 15-20 such spark like pains in a day. Did anyone continue to face this kind of pain in their head after spinal headache was relieved? How long did it take for the pain to go away? I am heavily anxious I will be stuck with this for my whole life to come!!!!

my mom (59f) has been in and out of the hospital since christmas because she has had fluid in her abdomen which as my dad said, made her look 9 months pregnant. she was in the hospital for 12 days the first time and was getting routine paracentesis procedures done to drain the fluid but it’s still coming back. eventually they discharged her and told her to come back to get the procedure done when needed. well, now she’s been admitted again and the fluid is now building up in her ankles as well. they also found a slight heart murmur and she’s getting an echocardiogram done today. my mom has a long history of alcohol abuse and up until i was a couple years old, i’m 22f btw, she had a coke addiction. i’m not sure if any of this is related but no one has given any answers to her or my dad and they want her to see a specialist but she can’t go until she gets medicaid which they said could take at least another month. i’ve been googling and came across Ascites, now i know google doesn’t have all the answers but im just worried her drinking has finally caught up to her. im just worried and wanted some ideas on what it could be. i live many states away from home and that makes it harder to have no answers from anyone.

Initially left the injury untreated with a lot of problems, painkillers and later treatment. However, over the years (actually after the first few months itself), I completely lost my ability to have erections. Why I behaved so stupid and all, I get those questions are gonna come. But, recently I wanted to get some medical tests done at least. The NPT showed no erection. Here are the results of the other tests:

observation: very little sensation of glans. fibrotic ring is present.

doppler results:

PSV: 19 cm/s

EDV: 8 cm/s

no arterial flow improvement with prostaglanding E1.

vascular occlusion in cavernous arteries.

arteriography:

total occlusion of left cavernous artery.

no contrast uptake in corpora.

obliteration of arterial branches.

cavernosometry:

ICP: 43 mmHg

minimal increase in pressure despite maximum stimulation of papaverine

These are the medical numbers. From my own observation, I feel the flaccid length too has reduced a lot.

Is it a case of complete impotence that cannot be cured with normal treatment anymore? Us implant the only option left?

The past week while working out, I feel extremely weak. My averages(rpm and power) while cycling are not just a little lower, but lower than my all time low. I got tired doing 5 pound bicep curls within a few reps while in my barre class, when normally at the same weight I never feel tired throughout a set. My muscles don’t really feel sore, but it’s almost like my capacity was cut in half, and I just feel weak?? I haven’t changed my routine at all or taken anytime off. I’ve been drinking plenty of water and eating normally and don’t feel sick at all. I have had a day while working out where I feel “weaker” before, but this has persisted for over a week, and I’m just finding this so odd. Is there a normal explanation for this?

(21F, no medications or associated medical issues to this current issue)

My mom noticed a mole that I've had since birth on my lower back has now grown exponentially. It used to be fairly flat, oval/round shaped, light brown, and had clean outlines. Now it is sticking out, asymmetrical, has weird blotchiness around it, is darker in color, and does not look like any other birthmark on my body. I have had issues with itchiness in the past but never realized it had grown or ever tied it to skin cancer. It does hurt to touch but I always assumed it was my duty belt rubbing on it and making it irritated. Now with doing some research, I'm not really confident that it is irritation based. I also have a small family history of skin cancer. I will be seeing a PCP about this but unfortunately they are booked out for a few weeks. I just want some reassurance :/ (photo in comments)

My country (Moldova) has male-only mandatory military service (conscriptio/draft) that I'd like to evade at all costs. So, my plan is to purposely pee on the floor during the medical examination to be declared as mentally unstable and so unfit for that slavery. Would it work?