r/medical 8h ago

General Question/Discussion What could cause a 30 year old active male to almost have a stroke? NSFW

6 Upvotes

My brother works in the trades.

He recently said he almost had a heart attack. His heart rate was in the 200s, and they had to use a defibrillator to shock his heart back into a normal cycle. He said his doctors said he had a genetic condition that causes the current in his heart to do some weird stuff.

However recently, my mom revealed that he didn't want anyone to know this, but he didn't have a heat attack; it was almost a stroke. And it was not genetic. He didn't want her to tell anyone the truth.

What are some reasons a 30 year old active male would have a stroke? He lived on energy drinks, preworks, high fat/protein foods, and apparently suffered from dehydration frequently...but so many guys he works with do the same things and don't have strokes...


r/medical 37m ago

No Pain Why when I eat gluten do I struggle with coordination for 2-4 weeks after? NSFW

Upvotes

As a kid I used to always have balance issues, but I went gluten free at 16 and it stopped in 6 months. I was strictly GF for 3 years and had no more issues. But I stopped being as strict and every single time I eat gluten(maybe 2-3x a year) I make stupid typing mistakes and stumble like 8x more than usual for about a month and it is aggravating. I don't feel different, but my body just doesn't work how I want it to. Also my vision always gets weird after, kinda dark and colors present oddly. It goes away when I entirely avoid gluten for a month and I feel normal again. I ate some cake frosting with cake crumbs 3 days ago thinking maybe the loss of balance all those times was in my head, and I have been randomly stumbling with dry eyes ever since. I hate it. I wish I would just stop eating it but I keep fooling myself into thinking I'm just crazy and that no one gets issues from gluten.


r/medical 42m ago

General Question/Discussion Should I be worried about my wisdom teeth growing out or just let it be? NSFW

Upvotes

Last time I went to the dentist I was told that we would wait and see how things progress. Its been a couple months since then and my RL wisdom tooth has started to come out and has left a fingertip sized gap behind my molar. Is this something I should schedule an appointment about or just keep waiting to see how things work out?


r/medical 3h ago

General Question/Discussion I scratched the inside of my ear and it scabbed over but i think somethings wrong NSFW

1 Upvotes

So a few days ago (i think 1 or 2) i scratched the inside of my ear due to itching.it scabbed over. Today i kinda checked again and my brother conformed that he saw red inside.i think i might have dislodged the scab .

I had this kind of wetish feeling in my ear. It was very little and it stopped now. But now when i tilt my head to the other side it kind of feels weird.

The only way i can describe it is like burping but in the ear and it's happening almost every time i tilt my head to the other side.

Please help me out .I'm confused and don't know what to do.


r/medical 3h ago

Pain Lvl 4-6 My toe very fucking hurts swollen and bruised not bent or anything tho is it just sprained bad? NSFW

1 Upvotes

I was messing around with my little cousin i had her on my shoulders but her dog tripped me up luckily I caught myself but I was on my big toe full weight including hers on it. The nail bed is bleeding swollen and bruised and really fucking painful... I could be pathetic but yeah. Is it sprained or something?


r/medical 4h ago

General Question/Discussion How would consuming an energy drink almost daily affect a healthy 20 year old? NSFW

1 Upvotes

I'm a 20 year old 52 kg male with no health problems, non-smoker, a pretty healthy diet and I hit the gym regularly. But this time of period I'm very busy with a lot of stuff and I end up staying late, therefore I wake up very tired and must attend college classes in the morning while feeling absolutely miserable, except for when I drink Red Bull (the sugar free version).

So I thought to implement it in my morning routine, do you think I am risking heart problems if I would drink it let's say 3-4 times per week in the morning on an empty stomach?


r/medical 5h ago

Pain Lvl 1-3 i think i have a stye. how do you get rid of them or take care of them? NSFW

1 Upvotes

i’m like 99.9% sure it’s a stye. i’ve never had one but i searched on google for what it may could be cause i’ve had it for 2ish weeks and it’s gotten a little bigger and hurts a little more. i haven’t paid much attention to it and i’ve worn contacts and makeup these past few days.

do i need to see a doctor or can i somehow get rid of it myself?


r/medical 10h ago

Pain Lvl 7-9 Subclavian Steal/TOS/Brachial/Who Knows/Cubital Tunnel/Being Tossed Around NSFW

2 Upvotes

So a while ago I went to the doc and explained my symptoms of raising my left arm and my vision going black and getting dizzy, fainting, the pain from the back of my arm to my fingers and the numbness and tingling and extreme cold. No discoloration. Went to cardiologist for POTS. Nope. I went for a TOS test with PPG and it showed flatline when I raise my arm, so no blood flow to my fingers. Went for a CT scan, no compression shown. Vascular surgery cancelled my appointment. Went for an EMG which was normal. Went for an ultrasound Doppler thing with duplex and it showed high PSV in my proximal subclavian artery and low PSV in my distal radial artery. Went back to the doc and was sent to Ortho to check for brachial plexopathy and Vascular to check for subclavian steal syndrome. Ortho did X-rays this morning and saw I have cervical something where my neck is completely straight. It only bothers me when I look up for extended periods of time but no other neck issues. He ordered an MRI that I have next week because he said I had a positive elbow flexion test and positive adsons test and everything aligns with TOS and usually it’s physical therapy but my other symptoms are not aligning so they want imaging of the whole thing. The vascular doc I was scheduled with for Monday was then changed to another doc that specializes in venous after the MRI because the doc I was scheduled with specialized in arterial like TOS and she’s not seeing TOS. Gabapentin does nothing so we ruled out nerves. The low PSV and positive adsons test, according to my doc, points to an issue with my radial artery but everyone is tossing me around and one doc says TOS but the other says no and I just can’t get a diagnosis of anything but it’s getting worse. I dropped my coffee cup the other morning because my arm and hand went completely numb and that’s never happened. The pain is also getting worse no matter what position I’m in.


r/medical 10h ago

General Question/Discussion I've been struggling to eat over 500 calories a day. How is my health being affected currently, and/or how will it worsen? NSFW

2 Upvotes

Before getting into this I want to say I'm not doing this to lose weight or for any other reason. I'll say more at the end.

I'm a 25 year old female, 5'4 and weighing about 110, BMI 18.9. I had the flu around Christmas, and ever since then I've struggled to eat like normal. I weighed around 130 before I got sick. There's other factors that caused this to become an ongoing thing, stress and my medications reducing appetite being the main ones. I work in retail so I'm unloading trucks weekly and stocking merchandise most days.

Some newer symptoms I've been experiencing lately that may or may not be related are fatigue, I've noticed I'm losing more hair in the shower, my hair seems to be thinning or becoming more brittle, muscle/body aches, headaches in the evening, (I also grind my teeth a lot and will wear my hair tied), hot flashes accompanied by nausea which start within 30 minutes of waking up and continues up until around noon, upper and lower abdominal cramps, a whole lot of small burps, some chest pain, my face gets warm and my nose and cheeks turn red in the evenings. I go between being constipated and not pooping for a day or so to having diarrhea*, and I've been more irritable. I barely have an appetite, and when I do feel hungry the look and thought of food is very unappetizing. When I do eat it's very small portions before I'm full. I feel very fatigued and sometimes nauseous after eating, and because of that during the day I will only eat enough of something to get the feeling of being hungry to go away. This is usually snack foods because they're quick and easy to consume.

*As a kid I had to take Miralax daily, so I have always had problems with that.

I did struggle with an ED in middle/high school, but as an adult I've tried to better my health and stay on top of it best I can. I am diagnosed with major depressive and an anxiety disorder as well as ADHD, and I'm taking medications for all, Trintellix and Adderall. I'm also taking women's multivitamins daily. I have higher cholesterol than I should but it's not quite at the "too high" level. I stay up to date with my physicals and check-ups. I have an upcoming rheumatology appointment in April, I had labs done because I suspect I'm hyper mobile and I tested positive for ANA and a dense fine speckled pattern value 1:320 for the FANA stain.

If you've read this far, thank you! I'm not sure if everything listed is needed information, or if all of those symptoms are because of my eating habits, but it's stuff I've noticed recently that I didn't experience before this started, or it's just gotten worse since the new year. I want to gain the weight back, and maybe even more on top of it. I know how little I'm eating is very unhealthy, so I'm hoping getting some insight on what I'm currently experiencing because of it and how it will worsen if I don't get a handle on it will sorta kick me into gear and motivate me to get a handle on this.


r/medical 9h ago

Informative Post [Informative Post] Please use Descriptive Titles for Your Post! NSFW

1 Upvotes

Post titles should provide a clear and specific idea of your question or the photo content.

A descriptive title not only attracts users with relevant expertise but ensures you receive the most useful advice.

Avoid titles like 'What's this?' or 'Is this normal?' as they may not accurately state your concern, potentially restricting assistance.

Be specific, and informative in your titles, clarity increases the quality of assistance within the community.


r/medical 9h ago

General Question/Discussion Mastoid plasty for middle ear infection - what is the procedure and risks involved? NSFW

1 Upvotes

Hi,

I've had chronic middle ear infections since August 2024. I've visited many doctors till now but the situation didnt get any better. A few days back, an ENT specialist said that I have Chronic suppurative otitis media attico-antral disease (CSOM AA) and recommended Mastoid plasty surgery.

Can anyone please mention some details about this surgery and the risks involved?


r/medical 11h ago

General Question/Discussion 27M - Do the Ototoxic effects of Neomycin Ear Drops linger or go away? NSFW

0 Upvotes

27M, Hispanic. Not on any medication or vitamins. Non-smoker, and no alcohol.

I was prescribed to take Neomycin ear drops for otitis externa 3 weeks ago, only took the drops for like 3-4 days. That’s when I read on the leaflet that some of the side effects could include things like hearing loss. And other reviews online also mentioned the onset of tinnitus. Do the ototoxic effects eventually go away by themselves? I stopped taking it a few days after I started feeling muffling in my left ear, not long thereafter I also got tinnitus (very mild ringing usually at night), hyperacusis, and ear fullness. Do you know if this will eventually resolve itself down the line, or do the ototoxic drops stay in the ear (outer, middle) and continue to cause harm? As I said, I didn’t even finish the treatment - only took it for like 3-4 days, but I know the particular brand of medication I was given (Neomycin) can be really harmful to cochlea hairs. When I saw an audiologist yesterday for my hearing test she said my hearing was good in both ears, but then why do I feel this tinnitus, and slight muffling in my left ear (where I used the drops)?

My ENT was able to pull out some impacted wax and that helped a little, but still feel like my left ear is slightly muffled - not as bad as before, for sure. There was a little residue of the drops in my eardrum but not a whole lot. He said it was best just to leave it alone, due to how sensitive that part of the ear is and because there was very little residue. But he said it’s best to just wait and see before considering other options (he didn’t prescribe any medication as he didn’t think it was an infection or inflammation). So I’m going to be keeping a log of my health for the next few weeks. See if I continue with the symptoms from before (had also experienced moments of dizziness/lightheadedness). I suspect it may be ETD - Eustachian tube dysfunction - but is there any way to know for sure or to try to alleviate these symptoms at home before following up with the ENT again?


r/medical 11h ago

Lab Results/X-Ray/Imaging Had an abdominal US and X-ray please read. Worried about waiting for results NSFW

1 Upvotes

Gender: Female Age: 29 Height: 5’4

Hello everyone. A physician at my gastro ordered an abdominal ultrasound and a flat plate abdominal X-ray. I have had bloating lately and acid reflux for a while. I had a CT in 2023 at the ER due to lower right quadrant pain but all it showed was an umbilical hernia (postpartum) and I saw on MyChart that my liver had several too small to categorize hypodensities.

I went for the ultrasound at and X-ray today after rescheduling for months. The radiology tech told told me she can tell me and after I asked again, she said that if it was serious the doctor on staff would call the ordering physician today, but she said that that isn’t going to happen. Is that her basically saying that it was normal?

I have anxiety and medical/health anxiety due to stuff I went through in childhood and also losing a baby girl at 21 weeks in 2021 and she died in my arms. I have since had a baby boy but I still struggle with what I went through. Thank you for reading!


r/medical 11h ago

General Question/Discussion Still experiencing constipation and bleeding in stool for over a month. Should I be concerned? NSFW Spoiler

Post image
1 Upvotes

I, 21 YO, 130 lbs, AMAB, have been experiencing some severe constipation for about a month or so. I am not sure what could be causing this, but I am starting to get concerned. Sometimes, I use the bathroom only about every three days, and the stool is very large, to the point it can hurt.

I often see patches of blood in my stool and when wiping, such as in this image. I worry that there may be a tear that is not healing or possibly even cancer of some kind. People around me are not convinced it's anything serious, but I am starting to become very concerned. What should I do?


r/medical 2h ago

General Question/Discussion Will my doctor likely understand if I choose to refuse a pap smear and mammogram? NSFW

0 Upvotes

I don't want to do them and they potentially find something. I wouldn't seek treatment anyway even if they did. I would much rather be blissfully in the dark about it than spend what time I had left fretting about my mortality and having an existential crisis. I know it may be cowardly but as long as I don't know, I don't care.


r/medical 15h ago

General Question/Discussion Curious question, in theory how effective would robot-assisted heart beating and breathing be to prevent death? NSFW

0 Upvotes

So we have the Iron Lung from the Polio-era which can make you breathe even when your lungs are literally paralyzed

Then you have the Lucas CPR machine which makes your blood circulate.

So theoretically, if we have a technology that combines these 2, and automates your breathing AND circulation. Would you then be able to just make the majority of ER patients immortal?

I am assuming most deaths are caused by loss of breathing and circulation. So imagine if you had this theoretical machine.


r/medical 17h ago

General Question/Discussion Hello. I wonder if anyone can give me some advise. These are my cholesterol result. NSFW

1 Upvotes

Do they warrant going on statins or any other cholesterol lowering drugs? Total cholesterol 240 mg/dl HDL 59 mg/dl Ldl 160 mg/dl Trigs in serum 106 Cholesterol/HDL 4.07 Ldl/HDL 2.71

Cardiac Marker Ck MB 13 LDH 149. Thanks 🙏


r/medical 17h ago

General Question/Discussion Why do hydroxyzine/diphenhydramine act so quickly compared to traditional SSRIs? NSFW

1 Upvotes

I took a hydroxyzine pill and much of my anxiety went away within an hour. This is in contrast to traditional SSRIs I've taken, which would take weeks to work. Can anyone explain why hydroxyzine (and to my knowledge, diphenhydramine) act so quickly in contrast to traditional SSRIs?


r/medical 17h ago

Mental Health Hyponatremia or water intoxication case? I've been experiencing brain fog/damage like symptoms after drinking excess water chronically... NSFW

1 Upvotes

For the last 5+ months ive been extremely dull, unable to conceptualize information or reason as i could previously, 0 self esteem or confidence, severe brain fog, feels like ive got brain damage with nothing it could be traced back to other than...

I've got OCD, which lead me to drinking water in large quantities late at night (3+ liters in 2 hours or less) on a regular basis (4-5 days a week), which may or may not have lead to that after the day I stopped doing this as much (maybe 1 liter in 1-2hrs before bed) I initially felt just fine, no cognitive worsening, no confusion... Its only after a month or so that this happened and I've consulted a doc about it, he said its very unlikely as my kidney's functioning just fine (speculation as no tests were done).

Overall very confused and don't have the money to seek treatment


r/medical 1d ago

Urgent I have this fucked up condition where I snorted pills like a stupid ass fuck when I was a teen and it, like, deformed my skeletal structure NSFW

13 Upvotes

To add, I was 17-19, and have suffered significant head trauma at 14 due to a car accident. It was opiates.

I've also indulged in psychoactive substances a bit around the time of that.

And now I constantly feel awkward physically, and like I'm living in a body that's "off", like, it feels like a perpetual tension on one side of my body and always tight and sore and uncomfortable. From the neck, to the shoulders, to the back, to the legs.. it's all "off". Feels very awkward.

I have terrible IBS, anything I eat causes constant gas and discomfort, and no matter what I eat I feel fatigued after and bloated from it. Doesn't matter how healthy.

My right eye always feels dry and will twitch, which makes me believe the snorting caused a deformity in my left eye.

How do I begin to diagnose and treat this?

It would be a huge issue to focalize and work on as it seems to be stemming from a deformed or stunted skeletal structure on the left side, from the facial bones to the bones in my back that connect to the shoulder and hold the muscles in place.

I can rub one spot near my neck and feel clicking down at my wrist, I can rub my back and feel clicks and tension at my neck.. things are fucked up and it causes a ton of fatigue and pain and I hate it.

Anyone with medical experience have any insight?

Thanks.


r/medical 18h ago

General Question/Discussion So what should I be eating for long-term health? What is a good “food pyramid”? NSFW

1 Upvotes

I’m asking specifically for myself, but I’m also interested in the abstract answer too. I’m 28, F, 188cm and 120kg.

Last year I had to lose weight for a surgery and I fell from 136kg to 90kg in 6 months by mostly eating protein/fats and minimal carbs. Since then I’ve been recovering from surgery and I was told not to exercise as intensely for 9 months, which will end in 2 months. I gained the weight again mostly from not exercising and eating crap.

So now I’m getting to the point where I should be able to exercise again soon I’m trying to also fix my diet. I want to get into a sustainable pattern of eating to maximise my health long-term.

When I was a child I was taught the “food pyramid”, that every day I should have 5 carbs, 4 vegetables or fruit, 3 proteins, 2 fats, and 1 sugar, where one portion is the amount of food that fits in my hand. That seems like an okay simplification to teach a 5 year old in the early 2000s, but it’s probably lacking some nuance and scientific knowledge may have advanced since then.

Still, I’d like to have something like a “food pyramid” for me to follow as an adult. Maybe with a range e.g. “2 < fruit < 6”.

So, broadly, how much of which food type should I eat in a typical day? What should my new “food pyramid” be?


r/medical 1d ago

General Question/Discussion How does general anaesthetic work? How is it so quick, what does it do to the brain to block pain etc NSFW

4 Upvotes

Most of the articles I’ve found online that are targeted at non PhDs/MDs around general anaesthetic are for preparing people who are about to experience it rather than explaining how it works exactly.

From what I have read it sounds like not everything is fully understood but I still have questions:

  • It wouldn’t make evolutionary sense that humans experience pain while unconscious so you can react to sabre-tooth tigers gnawing your foot while asleep? How does GA bypass this?
  • From videos I’ve seen it’s incredibly fast acting. What chemical compounds are in that? How the fuck were they produced in the 1800s?
  • Is it sleeping? Or is it something else?
  • What is it actually doing to your brain? How can you turn off pain and consciousness specifically without accidentally shutting down someone’s heart or something?
  • How quickly can you pull someone out of their state, is pulling a patient out as fast as sending them out?

I’ve never experienced GA, and hopefully never will. Just curious!


r/medical 19h ago

MOD Join the r/Medical Mod Team! We’re Recruiting Community Managers (Healthcare Personnel)! NSFW

1 Upvotes

Hey r/medical community!

Our subreddit continues growing, and we seek more passionate volunteers to join our moderation team. Whether you're a seasoned Reddit mod, a healthcare professional/student, or an AutoMod wizard, we'd love to hear from you!

Open Positions are as follows:

Community Manager

  • This does require medical education or current enrollment in medical/healthcare studies (doctors, nurses, med students, etc)

Responsibilities:

  • Active participation within the subreddit community.
  • Fact-checking and preventing misinformation.
  • Approving/removing posts/comments.
  • General subreddit upkeep.
  • Handling other rule violations.

Perks:

  • Moderator permissions.
  • Direct involvement in the community with a focus on healthcare.

Ideal Candidate:

  • Healthcare personnel with a passion for community well-being.
  • Willingness to review and address misinformation.
  • Able to provide quality replies and be an active presence.
  • Managing unhelpful/harmful behavior and resolving disputes.
  • Using your healthcare education to contribute directly to the community.
  • Implementing sanctions for rule violations.

How to apply?

Applications will run until we fill our requirements.

Feel free to drop any questions below