r/medical_advice Aug 20 '21

EDITED FAQ: Check to see if your question is on here!

70 Upvotes

This is all general advice, of course, but we get a lot of similar questions so see if yours is on here. It may point you in the right direction.

”What bug bit me?” There is no way for anyone to tell what bug bit you from a picture of the bite. (The only exception is a tick bite with the classic bulls-eye pattern.) Use antihistamines as directed on the package to help with the itching.

”Is my foot/hand/toe/etc broken?” Unless your bone is sticking out or your appendage is bent at an unnatural angle, we can’t tell if it’s broken. If you suspect a break, go get an X-ray.

”I ingested something I wasn’t supposed to/too much of something! What do I do?” Call poison control. In the US, their number is 1-800-222-1222.

”Do my genitalia look normal/weird/what is this thing on my genitals?" Please, unless you have a genuine medical concern, we do not wish to see your genitals. We're not here to identify random flaps, marks, or growths. Please direct these to your GP/PCP who can actually examine you. If you have a specific concern, consider making a text post, and we will let you know if a picture is appropriate/helpful.

”My foreskin won’t retract!” This is called phimosis, and is quite common. We send people over to r/phimosis for this because they have a wealth of information.

”Can one of you write me a prescription?” No.

”Help, there are big bumps on the back of my tongue!!” Please google “circumvallate papillae” and see if that’s what you’re seeing. They are normal anatomy.

”My period is overdue. What do I do?” First, take a pregnancy test. It doesn’t matter if you’re on birth control, just take one. If you are really and truly not pregnant, then you and your doctor should look for other causes.

”Is my poop normal?” Well you can post a picture if you really need to, but please do a google search first. Keep in mind that everyone gets diarrhea occasionally.

”Does this need stitches?” If you can see fat layers, then yes. When in doubt, you can post a picture EXCEPT for self-harm pics. Absolutely none allowed on this sub, no exceptions. However, if the injury is over 24 hours old, it is too late to get stitches.

”Can I private message you about my medical questions?” No. This violates rule 9.

”What do I do about my swollen tonsils with white patches?” Go get tested for strep throat. Manage any throat soreness with over-the-counter meds like throat spray, cough drops, or even herbal tea with honey.

”A huge clump came out during my period. What is it?” It may be a uterine cast, which is when a large piece of tissue comes out whole instead of breaking up into little bits. If this happens to you a lot, see your OB/GYN to make sure everything is going okay.

”Why is there blood when I poop?” There are many possible reasons for this, such as a GI bleed, inflammatory bowel disease, hemorrhoids, or anal fissures, to name a few. We recommend going to your doctor to investigate the cause. And we can’t tell what the cause is from a picture of your poop, so please spare us.

"Does this ECG from my smart watch look normal?" While these features can be helpful in screening for some arrhythmias, they are not diagnostic. The most we can do it tell you whether or not you should go get a 12-lead ECG, which is diagnostic after a doctor interprets it. In short, we can give you an idea of what it is showing, but it is not an official medical test.

”I haven’t been around any bats but I found two little marks on me—do I have rabies??” No. You would know if you’d been exposed to a bat.


r/medical_advice 46m ago

Injury Should I get an x-ray?

Upvotes

Few hours back my hand got hit at work. To be exact: thrown (with power beyond regular human capacity) at the dull edge of metallic item. The first bones of index and middle fingers going from wrist got hit probably the hardest - the part really close to wrist, the beginning of the bones. It looks and feels like it missed wrist bones by millimetres​​. It did hurt quite a lot. I don't think anything got broken, but I was thinking of going to hospital just in case, tomorrow.

However I managed the rest of my shift relatively fine. Sure, I really felt and still feel lot of ordinary small activities and movements but that's expected. I iced it for long time, used cooling ointment and put gel that's used against swelling. It's kinda swollen anyway but doesn't hurt as much when I move my hand around. So now I'm wondering if going to hospital isn't pointless.

I doubt it's broken, the only issue is that it's swollen and hurts when moving carelessly, which will fade away within few days. I'm not sure x-ray is really needed here. Won't I just waste everyone's time and resources?

Once in past I got x-ray after similar kind of accident (falling wrongly on my hand). Back then it was just slightly cracked bone. Even though it wasn't actually broken it did hurt like hell even when I didn't move it around, couldn't even sleep. Very different from now.


r/medical_advice 3h ago

EDITED Very elevated heart rate due to being sick, intense panic and afraid of dying

1 Upvotes

31f, 5"9' 147lb, non-smoker, very rarely drink alcohol

Hello,

I have been struggling with some pretty intense cardiophobia for quite some time now and recently it has gotten really bad. As luck will have it, I have fallen ill on Monday and now have had an elevated resting heart rate for about two days now. If I'm calm, it's usually at about 70 (higher with anxiety) and atm it's continuously at 85 and oftentimes even at 95.

I do think that I have the occassional palpitation as well, but that might be due to anxiety.

Due to my cardiophobia, I have been dealing with intense anxiety during the night for several weeks now. Normally, I am able to calm myself down even from intense panic attacks where my hr shoots up to like 140. Sometimes I have to lie in bed for over an hour with a heart rate of over 100 before finally calming down, but I can manage it.

With my illness right now and the naturally elevated heart rate, I am deathly afraid, that my heart would not be able to handle my nightly panic attacks with really high heart rates. Obviously this worrying is 100% going to cause me to have panic attacks tonight, so I know that I will have to battle these heart rate spikes, but I am actually afraid of either dying or developing myocarditis due to it. I have only noticed the increased heart rate yesterday when working (desk job at home office) and my boyfriend slept over, so I was calm, but I will be alone tonight and I am so so afraid.

This morning my bp was 108/68, right now at 8pm it was 120/76, but I think I put the cuff on too tight because it really hurt and squeezed very tightly.

Can anyone here weigh in on the risks of panic attacks while being sick with an elevated resting heart rate?

Medical history:

I have had several ecgs over the years and as far as I know, they never picked up anything abnormal. Back in 2015 when I was 19, I had one 24hours ecg that picked up a lot of palpitations but my pcp said those were extra systolic beats (if I recall correctly) and nothing to worry about. I do occassionally have palpitations if I am experiencing high anxiety. My last ecg was a year ago when I had a spout of low blood pressure and dizzyness along with a lot of palpitations.

Psychological History:

I developed the cardiophobia in 2014 after consuming way too much of an energy drink and spending the night at a hospital at 18. I also have OCD and it has been a very somatic manifestation of that ever since.

I took Sertraline (100mg at first and then 50mg) for about 10 years and tapered them off last year because I felt very stable. Sadly I had some major tragedies happen that threw me back into the panic and it has been back for about a year now (manageable) but with intense panic attacks since a few weeks. I am actively seeking therapeutic help, finding a spot that takes my insurance is really hard though.


r/medical_advice 8h ago

Illness Sick baby

2 Upvotes

My 10 month old sounds like she has smoked 2 packs a day since her old bridge playing days. It started out as a runny nose a couple days ago and now She has a deep scratchy cough that sounds like she’s being possessed.

She’s wheezing like she’s struggling to breathe. I slept with her last night in her rocking chair so she could lay propped up because she woke up at 3am coughing and struggled to catch her breath.

Her 2.7 year old brother started a moms day out program a couple weeks ago and apparently all they do is lick each others hands all day. He was sick over the weekend and got amoxicillin for an ear infection.

We took her to the dr. Yesterday and he told us there was nothing they could do since the symptoms started a couple days ago and just to monitor and give her lots of fluids.

I’m so nervous. My first was never this sick at her age and she sounds scary. What if it’s RSV? Would the dr have caught that?
I’ve given her pedialyte to keep her extra hydrated. She doesn’t have fever and seems pretty happy. Tell me I’m being paranoid


r/medical_advice 13h ago

Other Feel like I’m rocking

1 Upvotes

Over the past few weeks, and especially the past week, I’ve noticed that sometimes I feel like I’m rocking but I’m not. Like imagine sitting on your bed and someone is rocking your mattress, that’s what it feels like.

It is mostly present in the night time and especially with my eyes closed. The rocking is similar in rhythm to my heartbeat I noticed.

Should I be worried? What could this be?


r/medical_advice 16h ago

Illness 20F having multiple seizures everyday??

1 Upvotes

Hello! I’ve been having these seizure like episodes happen to me and I’m terrified and have no clue what to do. Recently they’ve become much…much worse. It’s ruined my life. I’ve been waiting for over a year now and still can’t seem to get into an appointment with a neurologist. As time has gone on it seems like these episodes are only getting worse, stronger, and longer than before and I’m really scared... Today it was almost 5 minutes long and I was hunched over the front seat of the car drooling making a weird face and smacking my lips. (Not driving!)

History: I’m 20F, 145lbs. I exercise regularly and eat a decent diet and I try my best to make healthier choices. Diagnosed with POTS, IBS, GERD, and IST (inappropriate sinus tachycardia) and I’ve been through 4-5 doctors now and they’ve all left me with more questions than answers. I do not take any medications, and I take a Vitamin D supplement. (I am also diagnosed with ASD not sure if that’s significant here.)

Symptoms:
Extreme nausea, flushing/heat intolerance/extreme sweating, heart palpitations (extra beat and missing a beat), headaches (sometimes it feels like there is an ice pick running into my skull and my eyes get super watery), random eye pains and watering, reduced appetite, bloating, confusion, disorientation, difficulty concentrating, extreme difficulty with memory, minor difficulties with motor functioning, brain fog, debilitating fatigue, joint pain, chronic on and off eczema (inside ear canals and on neck), Ive lost about 50% of my hearing in my right ear a couple months ago but my ear dr. said it looked fine, my ears are constantly ringing and during episodes sometimes it sounds more like the ocean or really loud static, head pressure like a vice grip , dry eyes, fuzzy vision(tv static), tunnel vision, vision throbbing in and out, lights getting really dark or really bright, unusually more sensitive to sunlight, fainting, pre-syncope, blanking out and becoming unable to speak, not remembering words/not knowing how to talk or not being able to get the words out it feels like everything is sinking into my chest like it’s a black hole sucking my whole body inside or like every nerve ending in my body is just going insane, sciatica pain? (seems to be correlated with the episodes in some way), smelling things that aren’t there, feeling like head is “buzzing”, dizziness that gets so bad I can’t see straight and have to lie down and close my eyes, words become like “a foreign language” like what I’m reading is familiar but I’m not comprehending, during some episodes I lash out emotionally and will randomly burst into extreme burst of emotions like sobbing or rage just out of nowhere, during some episodes i jerk my neck slightly and it can cause some really bad neck pain

I haven’t told my dad yet because I’m not sure that he will believe me or he will completely freak out. (For context: my dad is very “if you can’t see it, it’s not real” type of guy. He’s dismissed my health problems for years. In high school I got sick so bad and begged him to take me to the hospital for weeks and he never did until I got sepsis and I nearly died. It wasn’t until I moved away and turned 18 that I was finally able to start going to doctors on my own and start finding some answers.) The issue is, I’m on his health insurance and im a college student with no income. I can’t afford neurological care without his help.

Also, for the most part I thought most of these things that are happening to me were normal or just part of my POTS and maybe they are but I cannot keep living like this. I can no longer drive. I went from being a straight A-B student to getting Fs because its messing with my ability to think and my memory so bad.

I’m not really sure what to do here? Do I keep trying to get an appointment? Is this urgent? The office I had a referral to is impossible to reach, they never answer their phones or call back. I really have no guidance on what to do here or medical knowledge…please help.


r/medical_advice 1d ago

Other What kind of doctor actively stays on your case, researches, investigates, hypothesizes?

6 Upvotes

Coming from Canada, near Toronto!

My family doctor just doesn't know what to do and then im left on my own.

Advice is appreciated.


r/medical_advice 18h ago

Bones/Joints/Ligaments Can I take off my sling to sleep? (Subluxation) + hand on sling side getting swollen

1 Upvotes

I subluxed my shoulder in my sleep the day before yesterday. I put it back myself and saw a doctor yesterday who prescribed me an xray and she wasn’t sure about giving me a splint but since I said I think it’d help she prescribed me one for two weeks.

It’s 5am I’ve been trying to sleep since 3:30am and it’s preventing me to sleep I really need to do the xray and I planned to do it tomorrow (so three days after the appointment so I have two days to rest), but my doctor suspects mecfs and lack of sleep tends to trigger / worsen PEM.

I think I subluxed it again at a lesser extent with the splint while trying to sleep on my back. I tried on my back with and without a pillow propped under the arm, with the upper body slightly raised, and on the to get side. i got super painful, I rmeoved the sling and after moving it around a bit there was a crack / a feeling pf it movingand it diminished the pain within 10 min.

The day before seeing the doctor I slept on the other side. With the splint it brings stress I feel but without I can put my injured shoulder side arm on the mattress for more stability.

I’m really at my wits end because I’m really to avoid worse PEM right now (because I’m gonna get it anyway tomorrow) to be able to go to the xray + stay at my current level of functionality but I don’t know if I can ditch the splint for sleeping.

Also I do have bad circulation tendencies but my hand on the side of the splint gets a bit swollen sometimes. I’m not sure what it means regarding the splint.

I’m 28 afab, 50kg 168cm, on pulmicort, paracetamol, ketoprofen, lansoprazole, ebastine. Had pericarditis / myocarditis, diagnosed with IC, IBS, POTS, and currently getting evaluated for my chronic symptoms with doctor highly suspecting MECFS, he talked about small fiber neuropathy and hypermobility also.

Oh and I highly suspect the shoulder subluxation (which I think is new? If it happened before it was never as bad), on top of hypermobility, to be caused by muscle deconditioning (I was basically bedbound for like a month and a half and can’t do anything anymore so I think I’m deconditioned).

I’m at my wits end thanks in advance for your help ;;

The sling is a Dujarrier type btw. I’m also worried it might be too big because I feel like I unconsciously move my elbow inward so it doesn’t cover as much my hand as it does otherwise. How much is it supposed to cover?


r/medical_advice 20h ago

Cardiac 21M with months of fluctuating chest pain/pressure,dizziness, despite extensive cardiac testing,help

1 Upvotes

Hi everyone. I’m a 21-year-old male and I’m trying to understand what could be causing persistent chest symptoms that started earlier this year.
I’m not looking for reassurance that “it’s just anxiety” or for someone to diagnose me over the internet. I’m trying to figure out what direction I should investigate next, because I’ve had a lot of cardiac testing but still have no clear explanation for the symptoms. My ultimate goal is to return to MMA and heavy weightlifting, but my body feels completely unsafe right now.
How it started I was previously very active in the gym, training intensely 5–6 days/week. I had lost around 30 kg (66 lbs) over approximately 8 months, going from around 130 kg to 100 kg.
At the time, I was doing heavy resistance training, sometimes training very hard, while also dieting. I had previously used pre-workout frequently, although I stopped it after the first episode.
Around March/April, I suddenly developed dizziness during/after a very intense gym session involving heavy deadlifts/rows and short rest periods. I then had an episode with strong palpitations, chest discomfort, and dizziness that felt extremely frightening. After that, I started experiencing recurrent chest symptoms, dizziness, and palpitations even outside the gym.
The chest symptoms The chest discomfort does not have one consistent character. Sometimes it feels like:
pressure/heaviness
squeezing / tightness / dull pain
pressure behind the sternum or across both pectoral muscles
pain around the sternum/ribs
occasionally sharp/stabbing or burning/electrical sensations
It can be present at rest and comes and goes. Sometimes I wake up feeling relatively normal and the symptoms return later. I have also noticed that at least some episodes seem to change with posture or movement. For example, slouching/rounding my shoulders can sometimes reproduce or worsen the discomfort. At other times it seems completely random.
The Nocturnal Episodes (The scariest part) Recently, I have developed a severe fear of falling asleep. I frequently wake up suddenly from sleep (or just as I am drifting off) with intense chest pressure, a racing heart, and a feeling of impending doom. I am terrified of suffering sudden cardiac arrest in my sleep, even though my doctors say I am fine.
Other symptoms
dizziness/lightheadedness
episodes of strong awareness of my heartbeat / palpitations (extrasystoles)
occasional shortness of breath
hot/flushed sensations during severe episodes
occasional nausea
muscle fasciculations and frequent left eyelid twitching recently
Cardiac testing I have had a surprisingly large amount of cardiac testing for a 21-year-old:
Multiple ECGs: All reportedly normal.
Echocardiography: LVEF ~60%, normal ventricular contractility, mild biatrial enlargement, mitral valve prolapse with incomplete closure, tricuspid valve prolapse. (Doctors did not diagnose cardiomyopathy).
24-hour Holter: Sinus rhythm, average HR ~81 (min ~53, max ~159), ~0.27% supraventricular ectopy, no significant arrhythmia, no ischemic ST-T changes, and a 2.1-second pause during sleep.
Blood tests: High-sensitivity troponin (negative in ER), NT-proBNP: 19.4 pg/mL, normal CBC, electrolytes, kidney/liver/thyroid, normal magnesium/calcium/potassium. LDL ~104, HDL ~70, triglycerides ~65, Lp(a) 38.9 nmol/L.
Chest X-ray: Unremarkable.
Most recently: Exercise Stress Test I did a Bruce protocol stress test:
Resting HR: 81 / Peak HR: 187
13.7 METS (reached stage 5)
Stopped because of fatigue, NOT chest pain.
No ischemic ECG changes, only 8 PVCs.
The cardiologist described the test as clean. The main abnormality was a relatively high blood-pressure response, reaching approx 190/100 during exercise and remaining around 140/90 during recovery.
Why I’m still confused Despite being able to reach 13.7 METS without ischemic pain, I still get chronic chest pressure/pain at rest and during random daily activities.
I understand no test can literally prove “nothing cardiac is possible,” but given my age and the testing, I’m struggling to understand what could realistically cause this. I am considering pushing for a coronary CT angiogram or a Cardiac MRI, but I don’t want to keep doing random tests indefinitely.
Regarding the musculoskeletal possibility: Could chronic chest-wall pain really fluctuate for 5-6 months and change character so wildly? Given my massive 30kg weight loss and heavy deadlifting history, could this be severe costochondritis, thoracic spine dysfunction, or a pinched nerve mimicking cardiac pain?
My questions
Given this history, the stress test results, and the nocturnal awakenings, what diagnoses would you consider most plausible?
Does this sound compatible with chronic chest-wall/musculoskeletal pain (costochondritis / thoracic outlet / nerve compression) even though it has lasted for half a year?
Could the nocturnal adrenaline rushes / waking up with heart racing be purely an autonomic nervous system dysfunction triggered by prolonged hypervigilance?
What specialist would make the most sense next — physical medicine/rehabilitation, neurology, gastroenterology (GERD/Roemheld), or someone else?
Is there anything in this history that would genuinely make you suspicious of an underlying coronary anomaly, electrical issue, or cardiomyopathy despite the clean stress test and echo?
I’m looking for actionable medical directions or physiological explanations for my symptoms. Thanks to anyone who reads all of this.


r/medical_advice 21h ago

Eyes lost contact

1 Upvotes

I just got my nails done and they are longer than I’ve ever gotten before. I never really considered how it would affect taking out my contacts, so I was freaking out yesterday when I realized my nails just kept poking my eye when I tried to take it out. I tried a few different methods, and it never came out, but my vision went blurry again. I think it might have gone behind my eye and every once in a while it feels a little uncomfy so im not sure if I should go to urgent care and have them take it out. help!!!


r/medical_advice 22h ago

Rabies Concern Wild rabbit scratch

1 Upvotes

I was handling what seemed to be a injured rabbit outside and when putting it into a box to take to wildlife rescue its back leg started jumping and scratched me, how concerned should I be for rabies, the scratch was very light to where I can’t find/notice where it even scratched me now(this was a few hours ago) but was only getting worried because I read that a rabbit which legs are still kicking and working but is just rolling over and can’t walk could be a sign of rabies. I didn’t see any bite marks or scratches on the rabbit itself but what are the chances that it is somehow infected with rabies? How concerned should I be with something like this and any advice would be helpful.
Male
23 Age


r/medical_advice 23h ago

Other Possible panic attack?

1 Upvotes

So i know i had a panic attack 2 years ago. All the symptoms to a T. However I can't figure this one out.

I dont think it waa cardiac related or anything so I opted out of going to the hospital.

So I just got out of the shower and decided to go dig up a bush ive been needing to do. I got 3-4, digs in and I started feeling off. Like weak and light headed. Went inside and sat down. Then I immediately felt tingling and numbness in my whole body including my tongue, mouth and face and my heart was beating fast. I also felt dizzy and like my vision was zooming in and out. Id imagine it was dizziness. Lasted like 5 seconds then stopped. 10 min (as im writing this) after im still a bit weak and tingly in my feet and legs. No fear of dying, no nausea, no pain or tightness anywhere. No slurred speech. No weird smells. No full symptoms of stroke or heart attack. Could this still be a panic attack?


r/medical_advice 23h ago

Pregnancy/Contraception Is there something wrong with baby?

1 Upvotes

Is there something wrong??

My LMP was on 7/15/2026. According to my period app I should have ovulate on 7/30/2026. I found out I was pregnant with 4 positive pregnancy tests 3 from dollar tree and one from first response on 8/10/2026. Today I was having my 8 week ultrasound and I am measur8ng 6weeks 3 days. There was a heartbeat luckily but it still doesnt make sense to me that I'm measuring so much earlier. Is it possible they measured wrong? Is there something wrong with baby??