27F, 5’4. 115lbs. Scoliosis, iron deficiency. Depression. Left sided migraines for 10+ years. Increase in frequency of numbness tingling and twitching in left arm.

Are these cervical ribs?
Anything else noticeable?

Lmk :)

Im Male 13 and its hard for me to post this because im ashamed. i drink MAXIMUM 4 redbulls a day and i dont drink redbull everyday

So now the things i have to say

Male 13

71kg

174 CM

No medical issues

idk what race means im white if that helps

i dont drink alcohol

So yeah i just want to know the absolute limit or how many i can drink because im ashamed of myself that i sometimes drink 4 a day.

18F - Just got out of the shower to moisturize and I find this? Its not a vaccine scar, thats on the other side. when I scratch it it itches and stings a bit, but only a tiny bit, like barely. someone tell me its not ringworm please🙏🏾😭

Age:38
Female
Height 5’7
Weight 155
I take HRT medication but the pain started way before I started it. It’s just a more frequent pain than before
I’ve been experiencing a burning pain under my right breast/right rib area that sometimes wakes me up in the middle of the night. It seems to happen around 7 hours after I’ve eaten, rather than immediately after a meal.
I’ve noticed it sometimes happens after eating ice cream or drinking alcohol the night before. I also wake up feeling nauseated almost every morning.
The pain doesn’t happen every night, but I’m starting to wonder if it could be related to my gallbladder, acid reflux, gastritis, or something else.
For anyone who has experienced gallbladder issues or similar symptoms:
Did your pain ever start several hours after eating?
Did it feel like burning under your right breast or ribs?
Did you experience morning nausea even when you weren’t actively having pain?
Did fatty foods, ice cream, or alcohol trigger your symptoms?
What tests ultimately helped you figure out what was going on?
I’m planning to get checked out, but I’d really appreciate hearing about other people’s experiences.

As the title says, I’m experiencing abnormal symptoms that mimic that of a heart attack. I’ve been experiencing severe chest pains for the past 4 days and today my left arm is numb, and it’s spreading to my right arm and jaw. I went to the ER and was dismissed after an EKG they barely looked over, and was told that they “don’t do sick notes” after discussing my symptoms (insinuating that I was looking for a get-out-of-jail-free card). I also received bloodwork but I was sent on my way without the results or any feedback. I understand that some things are simply not that serious, but I’m just a little concerned and would like a second opinion. For context, I’m 46F, 5’5 180ibs, non smoker/drinker, with no severe medical issues that I know of. I occasionally have fits of vomiting & passing out from stress regarding work, which is why I didn’t pay any mind to these symptoms until the numbness in my arm started. Could it just be typical pain that I can sleep away?

8 year old male. It’s been a long ride. I’m really hoping somebody can give this tired stressed mom some insight and relief into what’s happening. My son finished a seven day course of oral antibiotics four days ago and yesterday he started to develop flat red bumps on his trunk he didn’t complain of them being itchy. They just appeared today. There are more bumps on his back in his groin area and on his trunk he says that they’re a little itchy, but nothing major. Any ideas to what this is is this urgent? What can I expect? Please help

22, Female, 5’5, 120lbs, No existing medical issues.

Hello!

I was hoping someone could give me some reassurance or let me know what I should do because this situation is definitely anxiety provoking right now.

You know how sometimes you’ll get a sharp pain in the side of your ribs and especially when inhaling or moving you get a sharp stab in response. I’ve had this before but usually it stops within a minute or two.

It’s been a couple hours, on and off, where i’m still feeling this sharp stab in the left side of my chest when I breathe deeply or move a certain way. I am breathing normally and I don’t feel a pain when i’m taking normal breaths.

I had been sick with a respiratory virus, and had a lasting cough for weeks. But that has finally subsided and I haven’t been coughing. I have smoked in the past couple days.

Anything words would help! It’s 2am and it’s feeling pretty scary. Thank you

23F, 192lbs, 5'4, no medications or any physical diseases (as far as I'm aware). Most of the weight gain is in the pelvic region, sometimes looks like I'm very very pregnant (I'm not)

The past 4-5 months I have gained nearly 50 Ibs despite not changing anything, I am suddenly gaining weight (like a crazy amount). Maybe started a little over in calories before I started tracking, but it was nothing crazy that would explain such a change in my body. I started tracking my calories excessively once I noticed this change (weighing everything I eat, scanning the label and getting exact measurements, etc). I'm still gaining weight despite working out and eating 1400 calories a day. I work out 4-5 times a week. I'm getting very nervous because I'm gaining like 3-5 pounds every week and I don't understand why. Even if I'm measuring extremely wrong, I shouldn't be gaining 3-5 pounds each week. I would have to be eating thousands of calories over what I log. I don't snack (except for pickles!) and I log literally everything I eat, like even logging cough drops and mints and stuff
just to make sure it's not adding up. I am sure that it’s NOT an issue of me logging incorrectly

I really don't understand how I'm gaining so much weight.
Really starting to get worried and I need some advice because this feels so abnormal and it's draining the energy from me worrying about this so often

I'm 42 male, 183lbs, no current medications, previous history of kidney stone. Fairly fit (weightlifting, currently on break)... I've been having some mild discomfort that comes and goes during the past year. Around February i visited my GP and described my symptoms which were some bloating, lose stools, and frequent bowel movements and some cramping. I mentioned some pain above my left testicle and would sometimes experience a sensation that felt like I was nausea which the doctor said it could be part of the cramping I was experiencing.

Prescribed a fecal exam (negative) and a visit to a GI.

Visit with GI in March recommended modifying diet (eliminating most dairy and spicy foods) and recommended taking Metamucil along with Align and a follow up for July. I modified my diet and took both align and Metamucil as prescribed and noticed some improvement but symptoms would return here and there.

Most recently have only been taking Metamucil once a day during the evening. Diet lately has been mostly takeout (nothing very greasy) or putting together something to eat with items in my pantry, my usual diet has been put on the back burner since I've had to deal with a home remodel.

Currently, I'm experiencing some of the previous symptoms however the 'nausea' sensation seems to be a bit more frequent and the pain in my lower left abdomen seems to be a bit more intense. On a scale from 1 to 10 I would rate it a five, maybe 6.

The nausea almost seems like the feeling you get when you get hit in the testicles, it comes in waves. I've also noticed it happens after intercourse but that's rate. I know I don't have testicular torsion but I've performed a self exam and my left testicle feels slightly tender around the cord but not painful. And also when laying down noticed a feel a bit bloated and I've massaged/put pressure on that area on my left abdomen and deep down I feel a slight bulge and notice a slight pain shoot down my left testicle. If I lay on my stomach I feel pressure.

I have blood work prescribed and a visit with my GP next week to review the results but I will be bringing up this issue. Any thoughts would greatly appreciated.

My boyfriend and I made out in the car. He rubbed my genitals and touched himself, but he never took his penis out of his trousers and did not ejaculate.

My last period started on September 27. Right now, I am experiencing cramps, side-belly and groin pain, and sharp, needle-like pinching sensations in my belly, arms, and back. I also feel hungry but have a strong aversion to eating food.

What is causing all of these symptoms? I am genuinely terrified right now

Edit: I also seem to gain weight and belly looks fat since Oct 11.

37 years old. Male. Asian. with health anxiety. Dont smoke. 178cm, 73kg. No family history of skin cancer. Mum is Thai and she does have sun spots / freckles on her face.

Recently I noticed these brown spots next to my mole. The mole has been stable for more than 10 years so im not too worried about that.

These brown spots seem to appear in recent months or 1-2 years. Maybe i started noticing more recently.

No itch, no discharge or pain. Spots are flat.

I visited a dermatologist today, though shes more into facial treatment. Her diagnosis is that these seem to be benign pigmentation and asked me to monitor. She suggests not to use pigmentation cream as those can be quite strong. Laser was an option too.

Just feeling anxious from the lack of certainty. If anyone been through this or any derm here, i would much appreciate it.

39F 162cm 80kg from the Netherlands

I had a MRI because my ankle kept hurding after an ankle sprain (6 months ago)

They did mention ankle ligament injury in the report. But I have seen a black stripe in the talus bone (and a dot on the other image). I want to know what that is in medical terms, apparently nothing serious because its not in the report. But i still want to know what it is, serious or not. Can anyone help me out?

https://ibb.co/ZR68Grwf

https://ibb.co/mrJRFGJ8

https://ibb.co/gFc1HWK0

no medications/ drinking/ drugs

35, female, 5'2" 125ibs, non-smoker. I only take a multi vitamin, MTHFR folate gummy, probiotic/prebiotic, extra vitamin c, and sometimes iron pills (my problems started before I started taking these)

Previous issues: year long pain in armpits and groin (mammogram/ultrasound clear); iron deficiency treated, now only low ferritin; estrogen dominance; high cholesterol; gluten intolerance with no diagnosis yet, 5 months on gluten free diet; memory issues; debilitating fatigue. Lifelong panic attacks/anxiety (If you came here to tell me it is anxiety, IT IS NOT ANXIETY.)

I started having episodes of intense weakness, disorientation, and dry mouth in May. Extremely sweaty palms and soles of feet. Blood sugar is fine, blood tests fine. Thyroid was fine as of June.

Then I started feeling a tingling in my legs mid September. It feels like water dripping on me. Its intense enough to keep me awake at night. Now the the tingling has spread all over my body, seems to have worked its way upward over weeks, to my neck and face. This is separate from the episodes of weakness, but in general they are new symptoms that are getting worse in tandem.

I was given compazine for "migraines" in late September, and it seemed to make everything worse, adding a neck injury/strain that will not go away.

The tingling is the worst. The weakness episodes are infrequent, but the tingling is daily. It is worse at night. Sometimes it is only one spot, other times its everywhere.

ER does not help. Urgent care said "we do not treat any ongoing conditions." I don't have a primary care visit until November, both my doctors this year have retired or left their practices during my time of crisis, ofc.

Hi everyone, doctors & community!
I’m posting because I am currently stuck in a medical dead end and looking for input on what potential underlying issues we should have investigated next. Any insights or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Demographics & Primary Question

• Age/Sex: 43M
• Height: 183 cm (6'0")
• Current Weight: ~175 kg (385 lbs) [Fluctuating between 168 kg and 177 kg]
• Primary Issue: Rapid, unexplained weight gain of ~30–35 kg (~70–80 lbs) occurring within a 3–4 week window (late February to mid-March) without any increase in caloric intake or decrease in physical activity. Cardiology and standard blood panels show no obvious organ failure, but local bariatric specialists dismissed the sudden onset. Looking for advice on what potential causes to investigate next or what specialist to see (e.g., Endocrinology).

Diagnoses & Medications

Diagnosed Conditions:

• Hypertension (Essential)
• Seasonal / Dust mite allergies
• Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Prescriptions:

• Ramipril: 10 mg / morning (On and off for ~15 years, taken consistently for the past few years)
• Metoprolol: 95 mg / morning (On and off for ~15 years, taken consistently for the past few years)
• Levocetirizine: 5 mg / morning (Long-term, recently switched to Desloratadine)
• Desloratadine: 5 mg / morning (Started recently)
• Nasal Spray: Prescription

OTC / Non-Prescription:

• Xylometazoline HCl nasal spray (decongestant, as needed)

Past Short-Term Rx:

• Torasemide: 2x 5 mg / morning (Prescribed for suspected fluid retention; induced diuresis but yielded no net weight loss; currently discontinued)

Key Vitals & Lifestyle Baseline

• Blood Pressure: Consistently normal to low-normal (105/60 to 139/77 mmHg; Resting HR: 63–75 bpm).
• Physical Activity: 8–12 km (~5–7.5 miles) walking daily at a steady pace (~10,000–15,000 steps/day).
• Caloric Intake: Tracked at 2,000–2,500 kcal/day (high fiber, raw vegetables, low saturated fats, light meat 2–3x/week).
• GLP-1 / Weight Loss Medications (e.g., Mounjaro): None.

Timeline & Weight History

• Young Adult Baseline (Ages 20–35): ~82–85 kg (180–187 lbs).
• 2018–2020: Weight increased following burnout/illness, peaking around ~180 kg (396 lbs) mid-2020.
• Mid-2020 – Late 2020: Started daily 8–12 km walks and diet improvements. Weight dropped from 180 kg to ~142 kg (-38 kg).
• 2021 – Early 2023: Reduced walking due to work changes; weight rebounded to ~170 kg.
• Early 2023 – Early 2026: Re-focused on lifestyle (8–12 km daily walking, short rehab stay in late 2023). Steady, continuous loss from ~170 kg down to ~140 kg (~10 kg/year).
• Late 2025: Further optimized diet (higher raw vegetable and fiber proportion).
• CRITICAL EVENT (Late Feb – Mid March):
  • Late Feb: Weight was ~148 kg.
  • Mid March: Weight rose abruptly to ~179 kg (+31 kg in about 3 weeks).
• Present: Weight plateaued around 173 kg (fluctuating 168–177 kg) despite strict maintenance of ~2,000–2,500 kcal diet and 8–12 km daily walking.

Medical Evaluations to Date

1. Cardiology: Echocardiogram negative for structural heart disease or overt heart failure.
2. Primary Care / Diuretics Trial: Trialed Torasemide (loop diuretic) under suspicion of fluid retention. Increased urine output, but body weight remained unchanged.
3. Bariatric Consultation: Specialist dismissed the sudden timeline, doubted the walking/calorie logs, and insisted surgery was the only option without investigating potential root causes. The overall consensus from the doctors so far has simply been: "Just get weight loss surgery," with no willingness to explore why this sudden gain happened in the first place.

Recent Lab Results

• CBC & Inflammation:
  • WBC: 8.65 /nL (Normal: 3.9–9.8)
  • RBC: 5.29 /pL (Normal: 4.54–5.77)
  • Hb: 15.8 g/dL (Normal: 13.5–17.5)
  • Hematocrit: 46.5 Vol%
  • Platelets: 259 /nL (Normal: 140–362)
• Metabolic & Lipid Panel:
  • Total Cholesterol: 192 mg/dL (< 200)
  • LDL: 124 mg/dL (< 190)
  • HDL: 33.7 mg/dL (Low, Normal > 35)
  • Triglycerides: 169 mg/dL (Elevated, Normal < 150)
  • Fasting HbA1c: 5.6% / 38 mmol/mol (Normal)
• Renal & Electrolytes:
  • Serum Creatinine: 0.73 mg/dL (Normal: 0.70–1.20)
  • eGFR: 118 ml/min (Normal > 60)
  • Sodium: 140 mmol/L (Normal: 136–145)
  • Potassium: 5.1 mmol/L (Normal: 3.5–5.1)
• Thyroid:
  • TSH: 2.08 µIU/ml (Normal: 0.27–4.20)

Questions for the Community / Doctors

1. What physiological or endocrine mechanisms could account for a 30+ kg (65+ lb) weight gain in a 3–4 week timeframe without changes in food intake or activity, given normal basic thyroid (TSH), kidney function (Creatinine/eGFR), and cardiac workups?
2. What specific secondary endocrine panels should be requested next (e.g., full thyroid panel with fT3/fT4, Cushing's screening / 24h cortisol / dexamethasone suppression test, IGF-1, metabolic/androgen testing)?
3. Could long-term combination therapy (e.g., Metoprolol/Ramipril) or underlying metabolic shifts play a hidden role here, and what specialist type would be best suited to investigate a non-standard rapid weight onset like this?

Thank you very much in advance! <3

Female, 23 years old, 44kg. What tests to doctors usually require when you have chicken pox?

32F

I found a series of research papers that perfectly described something related to my illness that I've always struggled to match to what's known and described about my illness.

I would like to send a thank you email to the researcher for providing more coherency to my voice.

What is the best way to find their contact info in a professional manner? I have zero desire to do any creepy internet stalking.

Thank you for any assistance you can provide.

31 years old. I threw up and the color was super dark. It’s never happened before and I’m still trying to figure out what it is. Has this happened to anyone before? I had saltine crackers about 9 hours prior and I also had ginger ale and water

30 year old female
209lb
5’4”
USA, Ohio
Previous diagnosed with POTS, hEDS, and Long COVID. (5 year history)
Negative for all autoimmune stuff. Negative for blood cancers. Negative for all infectious disease.

2 months ago:
-sudden onset spelling in armpit. Lymph node confirmed. Went away after a week.
-Sudden onset right neck swelling (squishy) no enlarged lymph nodes on imaging. Went away after a week. Returned last but less swollen
-Random bruising in right upper arm.
-Progressive fatigue.
-Onset of pain in mid back (like behind kidneys) that wraps around to front of abdomen.
-Pain mostly in upper middle stomach. Pain consistent and doesn’t go away.
-New headaches, migraines, nausea. Not every day
-shortness of breath on exertion (could be worsening pots)
-daily temperature increases around 2pm into the evening: 99.4-101
-everything they have tested for is normal

Is this just a big flare from POTS and Long Covid or something different?

head and neck CT
abdominal CT

i am 20 years old, female, 5'5 in height, and 50kg in weight. i got bitten by a cat and immediately went to the city's animal bite center to take anti-rabies shot. now after 6 hours, i'm feeling super dizzy. can i take paracetamol to lessen the dizziness or is it not recommended after taking an anti-rabies shot?

Hi all .
Male, 39 years old , 6’1, 97kg . Fit

I was in an abattoir today for about an hour and a half for work . I had a mask on for about 95 perfect of the time , although i have a slight beard , so it probably wasn’t super sealed . The main part I’m worried about is I had to change a fire sprinkler in a small room where they were cutting open cow stomachs . There was flesh and guts everywhere in that room . I changed my clothes after , and I did have a mask on whilst in there , but I’m not vaccinated for Q FEVER . Is it just a case of monitoring for 3-4 weeks.
Thankyou.

im 16 almost 17 years old, 5'11 70kg, uncircumcised, i dont smoke, drink or do drugs or take any medication and recently i noticed a pain while masturbating and looking into it i see theres a small red spot/pimple on the inside of my foreskin, the skin around it seems a bit inflamed aswell, touching the spot while unerect doesn't hurt but if im masturbating it hurts a little bit
ive never had sex before and i masturbate pretty much daily, this issue started maybe a few days ago
please anyone who can help even a little bit reply, ive read that it can even be penile cancer and i got worried
thank you anyone who replies in advance

Hi, something so confusing just happened that I've never experienced before and I can't find any real answers on Google.

29 yr old female, I don't take any meds, don't smoke, don't drink alcohol, didn't do anything out of the ordinary night before. I was woken up out of a deep sleep by a very sharp, almost electric pain on the right middle-ish side of my stomach near where the ab muscles are. It felt like it was surface level pain, definitely did not feel like organ pain. It lasted maybe a minute and went away. The area now just feels slightly tender. It felt like I got stabbed by something so my immediate thought was something bit me but even after about 10 minutes theres been no visible physical changes to the area. I've never had this happen before so I'm a little freaked out. Could this have been some kind of pinched nerve or something along those lines?? I haven't felt the pain again since it initially happened and other than the slight tenderness, I don't feel anything else. Should I be worried??

Hello everyone! This is my first time posting to this sub, so I hope all of the information I provided meets the guidelines. TIA!

Age & Sex: 26F

Height & Weight: 5’9”, ~155 lbs

Smoking Status: Non-smoker

Current Medications: Omeprazole (mornings, 30 mins before breakfast), Lexapro (for anxiety)

Previous/Other Substances: I am a social drinker, no other drug use

Duration of Complaint: ~10-11 years (began around age 15–16, progressively worsening over the past 5-7 years)

Primary Complaint & History: I have been suffering from severe gastrointestinal issues that interfere greatly with my daily life. When I wake up in the morning, I typically have no symptoms. However, symptoms present after I eat and worsen after every meal, even with bland foods.

Key Symptom Characteristics:

Symptoms experienced: Persistent gas, bloating, abdominal pain, urgency, soft stools, belching/burping.

Upper GI/Throat symptoms: Pressure and pain in the upper esophagus/throat that feel like a "bubble" that needs to be popped. This is temporarily relieved by laying down, gagging, dry heaving, or in extreme cases, vomiting.

Atypical presentation with posture: Lying down provides almost complete relief of my symptoms (the opposite of typical reflux). Conversely, bending forward, wearing tight clothing, sitting, and standing up trigger upper GI pressure and pain.

Exclusions: I do not experience classic heartburn or nausea.

Impact of Exercise: My symptoms are heavily triggered by cardiovascular exertion. I can only exercise in a completely fasted state right after waking up; even a small granola bar beforehand causes upper GI distress (throat/esophagus pain relieved only by belching or dry heaving). This is deeply frustrating as I want to train for half-marathons and marathons, where fueling is essential.

Medical Context & History:
Onset coincided roughly with puberty (no/minimal symptoms prior to age 15).

I had an endoscopy and colonoscopy done in January of 2020, which yielded no significant findings.

Neither omeprazole nor Lexapro has provided any meaningful relief.

Standard triggers (alcohol, coffee, acidic/spicy foods) exacerbate things, but even bland foods trigger symptoms now.

Every time I explain this to a gastroenterologist or primary care provider, they act like they've never encountered this presentation before, which is extremely frustrating.

Question: Does anyone recognize this pattern of symptoms, or know what underlying physiological mechanism or condition could link postprandial upper GI pressure/pain (relieved by dry heaving/belching), relief from lying down, and exercise-induced triggers?

32, afab, former stimulant laxative abuse. I’ve been free of stimulant laxatives since January. Used to take upwards of fifty 5mg Bisycotyl a day. Went cold turkey in January and switched to MiraLAX twice a day and eventually once a day. I ran out of MiraLAX and haven’t picked up more in about a week. But i also haven’t gone number 2 since last Thursday. I feel the need to go but I’m struggling. I bought MiraLAX today and took two doses over 12 hours but I’m feeling desperate. I’ve had to do a fecal impaction twice when trying to stop the stimulant laxatives. Am i at that point?

I am embarrassed to post this and I know I’m under 18 but recently I went to the doctor for my foreskin not going all the way back. I was prescribed a cream which is working but by bit everyday but I the foreskin underneath looks kind of discoloured and the tip just looks bit like a weird shape. I don’t know if this is normal since I’ve never seen it before.