Hello. I’m the sister of the 15 y/o boy (who almost completed 16) who was in a devastating accident in December 2025 that lead to his brain death within the first week. After almost eleven months of my family suffering to keep him on life support despite knowing that he’s never waking up, he was finally able to rest in peace yesterday afternoon. His heart stopped on its own after ten hours of spiralling and multi-organ failure.

My heart is now at ease, and many thanks to all the medical personnel on this sub and everyone who sent me condolences and prayers, this means much more to me than anyone realises.

Thank you all for your support, genuinely, and I pray that none of you are ever put in this horrendous situation 🤍

https://www.reddit.com/r/AskDocs/s/mmK2zTVEYE

Male black, 40yo is been having these on his body, and the clinic he went told im its a fungal infection and gave him ointment, but surprisingly after the ointment it's getting worse, and spots are spreading to other parts of his body. Anyone know what is happening? What tests should he do?

I am 32F, and had a baby via emergency c-section 10 days ago. Today this spot appeared suddenly on my hand under the skin in the span of 20 minutes or less (we were on our way home from my son’s pediatrician, I washed my hands right before we left - no spot then - and it showed up on our way home). I didn’t hit it on anything or grip anything that might have done this. I normally wouldn’t stress but the postpartum hormones have me a little anxious and my OB hasn’t returned my call yet. Is this anything I should be concerned about?

Other info:
32F, 5’4”, probably around 190lbs at the moment. Meds I’m taking include 20mg Citalopram daily, prenatal vitamin, and magnesium glycinate. I’m not breastfeeding.

I am a 37F, 115lbs, 5’5”. I have a seizure disorder and take Topiramate, Lamotrigine, and Gabapentin.

10/6 I suffered a seizure, fell and hit my head on a sidewalk. Airlifted to trauma center when they noticed one pupil was dilated and not reacting to light. CT and CTA came back normal. I was discharged a few days later saying it was likely a symptom of the concussion or possibly from an unknown medication.

Fast forward 3 weeks later and the pupil is still dilated. No longer seeing double, but my close up vision in that eye is blurry. It is also more sensitive to light than the other one.

Should I be following up with an eye doctor or something? There were no instructions given to me on that and I’m starting to get a little worried about it.

Thank you for your help!

44, female. 5’6, 140lbs, nonsmoking, Lexapro and atenolol for medications, discoid lupus and Graves’ disease but asymptomatic and otherwise in good health.

I did a sensory deprivation tank / salt water float yesterday for the first time, without ear plugs. I have water in both my ears and I have tried laying on one side, jumping up and down, tugging my earlobe, chewing gum while laying on one side, tugging on my earlobe while chewing while laying on one side, the hair dryer trick … help. Urgent care is an hour away and if I can get this out now without that trip, I would be so grateful.

What else would you try as a medical provider? I haven’t tried rubbing alcohol in the ear yet but that’s my next step.

No fever, no warm, but the pressure is starting to feel more noticeable and I feel like an ear infection is inevitable if I don’t get it out.

I will try any weird, safe tricks … help me please, medical friends!! My ear, to try to defeat the auto mod.

5'8" 240lbs

Medications: Estradiol, spiranolocatone, duloxetine, Seroquel, metoprolol

It's so embarassing but I think I have OCD. For the better part of a year every day after getting out of work at my hospital job I would have large, rock hard, mucus deposits in my nose. I don't know if it's the dry air there or what, but they are incredibly uncomfortable and I would pick at it to get them out. Eventually this led to me picking at more than the mucus leading to me having daily bloody noses.

About a week back I picked at something that was huge and didn't have any sensation at all, dislodging this large circular mass that it turns out was plugging a hole between my two nostrils. It now whistles loudly when breathing and one of my nostrils is somewhat swollen.

I'm seeing my doctor next week, but is there anything that can be done to fix this?

I would also like to say I have a similar issue with my arms. Ended up with an abrasion to them a month back and daily I've been picking at the skin keeping the wound open.

I know I sound psychotic but I just can't help myself. I get into such a frenzy during, it's like I lose myself.

Male
10 years
55 pounds
No medications
Previous tonsillectomy

He jumped off the counter yesterday and landed on the drawer—tore open the back of his thigh. The wound was very deep, and you could see fat etc. Minimal bleeding. It was flapped open, as I’m sure you can imagine from the shape.

No bleeding or oozing since. Changed the dressing tonight (about 36 hours post-injury) and noticed the dark tissue about the stitches. Almost looks purple/black. Figured it was bruising, iodine, some blood, but very uncertain as I have never dealt with this before. No extreme pain. Has taken Advil twice but other than that, is acting normal, has no fever, and apart from some expected pain.

Should he be seen promptly or is this normal healing?

Thanks!

My mother fell down the stairs on October 24, 2026, at around 00:00 (UTC+8) and hit the back of her head. There was bleeding, and she still hasn't woken up. A CT scan was done. She is currently on a ventilator and vasopressors, her Glasgow Coma Scale score is 3, and her pupils show no reaction to light. (She drinks alcohol every day and previously took psychiatric medication. Could that affect the pupillary light reflex?)
Additional information:
Age: 56
Sex: Female
Height/weight: approximately 165 cm (5'5") / 57 kg (126 lb)
Smoking: Non-smoker
Alcohol: Drinks alcohol every day (exact amount unknown)
Medications: She previously took sleeping pills and antidepressants, but she is not taking any psychiatric medication now that she is in the ICU. I don't know the exact names.
Other medical history: Unknown
Current condition: Unconscious since the fall, on a ventilator and vasopressors, GCS 3, no pupillary response to light.
I really want my mom to get better, and I feel so desperate. Could anyone who looks at the CT offer some advice?
English is not my native language, and I am using translation, so please forgive me if anything reads awkwardly.

I’m including this info because ik if I don’t my post won’t go thru but it’s irrelevant to my question lol

37 F, 150 lbs, 5’4 in height

My question: I’m a mom of 3 kids. I’ve had my share of Dr visits, walk in visits, few ER visits, etc… most the time the drs we have here are awesome. They listen, they take their time and ask questions and all that jazz.

Couple weeks ago, I took my son in because he was getting a cough. He gets the same exact cough every year for the passed few years. It’s horrible. Deep, rattly, causes him to not be able to sleep. Over the counter meds only work so well, so at the first sign of it I decided to take him in.

Dr listens to his chest, says his lungs sound perfect (?!) and tells him he’s gunna give him this one time med that is supposed to help for allergies. I know it’s not allergies, but, who am I to tell the guy who went to med school for 50 years that he’s wrong?!

But here we are now, his cough much worse and we now are going to have to make another trip. I want 100% honest opinions, how annoying is it when u diagnose someone or tell them what they need to do to get better, and have them tell u that they don’t think that’s correct?

As a mom, I need to make sure my kids are getting the care they need and be their voice, but u guys are the professionals and the experts. Would u rather someone speak up? Or would u rather us take the advice and if / when it doesn’t work, come back? I just don’t want to be that annoying mom who thinks she knows better than the Dr but on the other hand, I know my kids better than anyone….

My boyfriend and I were at work today and he texted me telling me that he needed me to come to the main meeting room because he needed my car keys because he had fallen and hit his head.

He told me that he was doing his job (loading packages into an 18-wheeler) and he started feeling faint and started hallucinating he was talking to me and then woke up on the ground. He tried to walk but he couldn’t, so he had to be carried out. They gave him water and let him sit down until he was okay to walk to my car. He told me before he passed out he hit one of his friends vapes and had just started drinking a monster he had bought. He described it as feeling like someone had punched him in the side of the head and knocked him out. No one around him could tell him whether he hit his head or not but he believes he hit his head on a hard package. He told me when he first woke up he couldn’t remember where he was, his name, his birthday. He has no recollection if what happened before he fell either.

When I got off work, he was laying in the back of my car. He told me that his head was pounding and he couldn’t move. He told me he couldn’t remember the year we were in right now or where he lived but told me his name and his birthday. He’s extremely sensitive to light and sound. His heart rate is regular and his pupils aren’t dilated but he’s extremely tired and his speech is almost slurred and his sentences are slightly incoherent. He shouldn’t be tired because he woke up at 7pm and we went into work at 10:30pm and he had only been working for about an hour. He’s not prone to lightheadedness or anxiety and smokes regularly because of the pain he has. He has no prior medical issues besides his scoliosis that affects a lot of his body. When he was younger he was quite asthmatic but grew out of it and doesn’t struggle with it anymore.

What’s worrying me is that hours later he has not gotten better and has continued to be nauseous saying he feels like he’s going to throw up. He’s taking a nap right now and I’m closely watching him making sure he’s okay. He’s sleeping pretty hard. Im hoping that when he wakes up he will feel better because if not I don’t know what to do. We can’t really afford to go to the ER right now but if I have to I’ll take him. I’m just very worried and not sure if the ER is a good call.

EDIT: I forgot to add he is sick right now. Not like flu sick but cold sick. He has a runny nose and sore throat

20 years old
5’6”
Doesn’t take any medications
About 130lbs
Scoliosis and asthma as previous medical history
Smokes cannabis for pain regularly

30F

I’m seeking a second opinion regarding conflicting chest X-ray results

December 4, 2025: My chest X-ray report indicated left pleurodiaphragmatic adhesion.

December 6, 2025: I got a second opinion and underwent X-rays from multiple views. The pulmonologist and radiology findings indicated that my lungs and diaphragm were normal, with no adhesion

October 14, 2026: Because I was still worried about the initial result, (I’m worried because I’m a food worker applying for a job abroad, and I understand that lung scarring could affect my medical fitness for employment)

I had another chest X-ray. The findings stated that my chest was clear and normal

October 16, 2026: I underwent my Phase 1 medical examination for overseas employment. I passed the chest X-ray, and my lungs were considered normal. However, I had difficulty during spirometry

October 27, 2026: I consulted another pulmonologist and explained my previous results. I told her I had a “false” result before. I showed her the old x ray and the new one. But I told her that I had 2 X-rays since, and both said that my chest are normal.

After reviewing my X-rays, she said there appeared to be a small adhesion. She explained that interpretations can vary among doctors and that the finding may not be obvious.

So far, three doctors or readings have indicated normal findings, while two have suggested a possible adhesion.

Although I passed my recent medical examination, I’m afraid I might fail the medical examination upon arriving in my destination country if the adhesion is confirmed

For context, I have never had tuberculosis or pneumonia. I have asthma and had bronchitis as a child.

Any advice or similar experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

32, 5’3, 175 lbs, F, no current medications.

I have been coughing/had a cold(?) for over a week. The coughing is severe enough to make me vomit at least once a day and is particularly nasty at night to the point where I’m rarely sleeping more than a few hours. I’m coughing up phlegm periodically, it’s definitely productive most of the time, and is causing shortness of breath.

I went to a walk in clinic at the week mark to ensure I don’t have something worse going on.

Doctor asked me standard lifestyle questions and asked if I had allergies. I said not really, sometimes I get seasonal allergies but they were really mild this year. She asked if I have pets, I said yes. I said I’m very sure it’s a cold, half my coworkers have been sick, they’ve just all gotten better and I haven’t. She asked what I do for work and I said I work at a dog kennel. At this point I got the impression she felt I was allergic to dogs and that this was an allergic response. I’ve had dogs my whole life and am constantly around them — I am not allergic to dogs, I can breathe fine around them when I’m not sick. She also asked if I have had a stuffy nose and I said yes off and on, which seemed to confirm for her that I have allergies.

She did listen to my lungs and said they sounded fine, and prescribed me a nasal spray. I’ve been taking it for a couple days now and have seen zero improvement — if anything I’m coughing more.

I looked at the medication information and it says not to use it if having yellow or green nasal discharge (which I’ve had) or if you have some kind of infection. I’m wondering if I’m right in feeling dismissed and like this was not helpful — the last time I had a cough this bad it wound up requiring antibiotics to dispel. I guess I kind of expected either to be prescribed that or a stronger cough syrup than the OTC ones which aren’t touching it, but maybe I’m just not finding good information online on nasal sprays for treating this kind of cough?

I know I probably should see a doc but I’m an exchange student I would really like to avoid it
I fainted 3 times since september, got told it was a vasovagal response, and to drink electrolytes
I’m doing that I still don’t think it’s working
it doesn’t really happen in specific situations and not when I workout I usually get hot nauseous and dizzy then nothing
if yall have explanations/tips Im really open to

Hello. 23 years old F. I was playing with my yorkiepoo dog when he accidentally missed his toy, and his tooth scraped my finger. Google says I should go get antibiotics to prevent infection caused from dog mouth bacteria. I’m including pics.
This happened Sunday night around 8pm.
The following Monday morning, my finger did have some throbbing and a slightly warmer finger tip which I assumed was just inflammation. And it went away during the day. This morning, Tuesday, there’s no throbbing, zero pain, no warmness. The redness has remained completely localized to the cut site.
Would you guys recommend me to go and get preventative meds, or just keep treating it at home and only go if there’s signs of infection? I’ve been washing with antibacterial soap, drying with clean paper towel, using thin layer of Neosporin, and covering with a loose bandaid.
Pic included is this morning. I’ll put more pics in comments.

TIA!

26F 5'2", 247lbs.

Diclofenac, Latuda, Lamictal, Klonopin, Baclofen, Lyrica, Buspar, Ramelaton, Duloxetine, Metformin, Addiy. Benedryl every 4hrs.

I am aware I am on a lot of medication, I have done numerous medication reviews, I cannot change anything currently even if I wanted to before we do the EEG. Meds have not been adjusted whatsoever in half a year asides from benedryl.

HSD, SI Joint dysfunction, Nerve pain, BPD, PTSD, chronic long-term constipation.

It started after I got very very sick (like piss myself at work sick) two months ago. It was confirmed not COVID or the flu. After that, I began experiencing migraines for the first time in my life. They're in a different place every time, ranging from pressure behind my eyes, to what almost feels like a nauseating visceral brain freeze. They are not localized in one area or one side of my head. Benedryl stops these, Nurtec does nothing, Dramamine does nothing

Then I began experiencing extreme dizziness. If I'm awake longer than 5hrs at a time, everything becomes static-y, especially when turning. Like you've stood up without breathing. My vision will blink out and I will begin to black out and cannot keep my balance. If I wait too long to sleep, this then turns into feeling as though the room is spinning on its axis, worse when my eyes are closed. Diclofenac helps with this.

Short of breath constantly but o2 stats fine. If I go too long without the Diclofenac, everything in my face becomes severely inflamed- my sinuses, the roof of my mouth, my jaw, my ears become hard to pop and painful. It constantly feels like I'm hanging upside down, and the blood is pooling to my head, worse when bending down and standing up. I cannot do any activities that require bending down and standing up without risking passing out.severe pressure and pain in my eyes.

Eyes around iris and eyelid grow puffy only at night, with or without eye drops, with or without benedryl.

I cannot hear well. I can tell there's sound, but I can't interpret it unless it's louder than normal. I've had to turn the volume up on every device I use for the first time.

Weight briefly went up 7lbs in 8 days, no edema, but has gone back down and stabilized.

Any type of outing, or even just getting dressed, leaves me wiped and extremely fatigued for several days after. I have been unable to leave my apartment with one exception for weeks.

Heart palpitations.

I've started experiencing severe night terrors where I will thrash my head/shake and whimper at night. My fiance has to wake me up.

I have started, for the first time, experiencing flashbacks very vividly. For the first time also, I can picture faces. My pets, and my partner.

I have severe strabismus. Lately I've found it incredibly easy to pull my eyes together, and I can see more in 3D than normal.

My hallucinations came back in a weird way. I heard my fiance's ringtone for 3 days straight, and kept seeing black spots on the wall in the corner of my eyes. I began eating with the Latuda, and it has since thankfully ceased.

I've started experiencing severe acid reflux.

I've stopped eating and primarily drink sugary drinks.

My hands have begun twitching uncontrollably at night and I find myself with my jaw hinged to the right when at rest, which pops it out of place. I crunch it back.

Due to the severeness of these symptoms, I have been out of work for a month on medical leave. I cannot afford to miss more work. I have to use a shower chair due to being a fall risk.

I've been to the ER 3x, the walk in 2x, and my PCP 3x, Neurologist once, opthamologist once. EKG normal, CT scan and MRI w/o contrast of brain normal, ears grossly clear. Basic metabolic labs normal asides from increased WBC. We have a lumbar puncture on the 11th to rule out IHH, I have to schedule an EEG to rule out seizures (we deem this unlikely) and I have trypase (?) labs waiting for me to complete to rule out MCAS. Opthamology showed normal, no swelling of optic nerve or inner eye.

Please help me. I want my life back. I want to shower independently. I want to go back to the job I love. I want to stop relying on my partner so much. I want the appointments to stop. I am so, so tired. I just need an answer so we can fix this somehow. Please, if anyone has any ideas, please help.

Thank you so much

Ive come here to see if anyone can give me any advice. Ive had to give up my job lifting due to persistent back and hip pain. Im a woman of 57yrs. This has been going on 2 yrs. After no joy from test etc I went to a chiropractor and got significantly better. That's a bit of back story that might be relevant. Early this year I started with dizzying episodes with low blood pressure, sweats and generally feeling very unwell. Went to a&e and they found high white cell blood count in my urine. Antibiotics given. Ive had the same symptoms again but nothing found. Along with this im getting chest pain but ecg all come back normal. All whilst this is going on im not able to eat full meal and have to cough up food at least once that that sits on the back of my tongue. Im not losing weight. I feel full and apatite is none existent. Ive been backwards and forwards to the drs that im losing hope. Im currently on the list for ENT but its been 2 months already. This week ive started with stitch type pain in my side and above my belly button. My back and hip pain still comes and goes daily.

Sorry for the long post but this is now giving my anxiety that there's something serious going on.

Hello! I’m a 24 year old female, about 5’9” and 220lbs and have two abnormalities on the bottom of my right foot. I now soak my foot for 10 mins every night and lotion afterwards — I walk about 15k steps a day, and was not super bothered to get them looked at but now they’re beginning to cause quite a bit of pain when walking, especially barefoot. The one pictured on top was mostly blister-like until about two weeks ago, and the one on the ball of my second largest toe has only now really surfaced, it feels like a small rock has gotten stuck under my skin - hard to take a photo of it but will be in the comments. They’re both slightly tangential to each other, so possibly related but unknown.

Neither of my parents are around, and I’m a student so would go to a formal doc but not sure where to start — podiatry or my GP or a specialist? Not sure if they’re corns, or a different other weird thing.

Looking for advise on what exactly is happening, and who to go who to that would best help!

67M

180 cm

78 Kg

Non-smoker

No diabetes, no high blood pressure, no high cholesterol, no kidney or liver issues.

Medication: Ator, Plavix 50mg, Entresto 50mg , Asprin, Stimulan 800mg, Concor 5mg.

(Medication might have different names, I'm not from the US).

Cardiologist recommendations: avoid stress, fried/processed food and avoid salt at all costs, also a 30 minute daily walk if possible.

There has been a couple of brain strokes over the span of the past month, this MRI was done last week.

context: my blender started making some funny noises, but i ignored it and downed my protein shake. at the bottom of the glass, i saw multiple small metallic pieces shining in the light. am i going to die...??

the pieces were half a finger in length and the thickness of the metal shavings you get when you sharpen a pencil. they had pointy ends.

i can't talk to my parents about it because i'm afraid they'll just panic/scold me for being irresponsible.

edit: i now feel discomfort in the lower left section of my abdomen. i am not sure if i am imagining the pain and overreacting. help-

22F. A quick disclaimer that this happened a few weeks ago. While on vacation surfing, I hit my head 3 times. A few hours after the 3rd time, I started feeling very dizzy and disoriented. I went to sleep, and when I woke up, I felt okay laying in bed, but when I got up, I again felt very dizzy and sensitive to light. During the day, I felt a bit better. But then that evening, I suddenly felt extremely dizzy, weak, and disoriented. I could barely walk. My face also started feeling numb and my vision felt slightly blurry. My pupils were also dilated.

So that night, I decided to go to the ER to be safe. They did a CT scan and said there’s no bleeding and I was discharged with vertigo meds. The report indicated mild cerebral edema, but a physician on this subreddit looked over it and said the CT shows no indications of that.

After that, I went to bed to try to sleep it off. The next morning, I felt much better. Then evening came, and I again felt dizzy and my vision became blurry. This repeated again the next few days, where I started feeling dizzy in the evenings.

Although I feel better now, I’m curious as to what could have caused those symptoms. I didn’t really have a headache (beyond external pain), so I feel like a concussion doesn’t seem likely? But then what could have caused those symptoms? The dizziness and blurred vision became worse at night (even in well-lit conditions) for the few days that it lasted. Also curious if going to the ER was the right choice here. Reflecting back, I kind of feel like I overreacted and wasted time/money/resources.

i’m Female 23 history of hypertension, prediabetes, subaortic stenosis(myectomy in 2019) Ekgs now show “left bundle branch block” since surgery.

I have been through the wringer with all of these symptoms. I have been to my PCP who has done multiple tests, the ER who don’t seem to help much, cardiologists, ENTs. Nobody has a solution and I am so very exhausted and scared. For the past three ish months I have had this feeling of me being me falling through the floor/elevator. Extreme Tingling in my right hand and elbow and side of my head. Extreme fatigue/cant walk to shower or to the kitchen. It has COMPLETELY taken over my life. I noticed it comes in waves but when it hits it HITS and it’s scary. No one seems to understand what I mean and I feel so small. I have brain fog and body vibrations. The feeling of doom and like something is seriously wrong. I haven’t been myself for months or got quality sleep. I have chest pains but mainly in the lower throat with GERD. I am having an absolute nightmare of symptoms. I need help on this so bad. Please anyone tell me you’ve experienced similar symptoms. I legit feel like i’m dying or something is going to happen.

Age 35

Sex F

Height 5’ 5”

Weight 215

Duration of complaint 30hrs

Location Los Angeles

Any existing relevant medical issues No

Current medications No

I had an injury at the gym yesterday while tensing my core and ended up finding a firm bump above my bellybutton. Went to urgent care today and they sent me to ER for imaging. Been here 8hrs without being seen and the bump slowly reduced and is now nowhere to be found. Wondering if it’s safe to go home as I have an appt with my PCP in 3 weeks.

Some details;

-I didn’t feel it happen but definitely felt “weird” tension after the exercise and later found the bump.

-It wasn’t painful unless pressed, just tender when I leaned forward or twisted and it was hard to sleep because pressure made it feel weird.

-Urgen Care doc tried to “push it in” but couldn’t. Just hurt a lot.

-I went #2 just fine a couple times after it happened and it didn’t hurt to pee (questions i was asked to answer at triage)

Im exhausted as I’ve been trying to get this figured out since 3pm and it’s now almost 1am w/ no answers. I’m not in pain or discomfort and I can no longer find the lump. Can I go home and be reassessed at a later time?

Hello, female, 23, 175 cm and 76 kg. I also smoke. When I lay down but also when I stand up I can see my stomach pulsing. I can’t feel a mass, although my stomach feels harder on the right side. Could it be an aprtic aneurysm? Is it common at this age if I am a smoker?

29YO
male
5’10

Was eating cereal when I started tasting blood. It bled a lot but only for a couple of minutes. Smoke cannabis but not sure if that is relevant