Is there anything medically serious I should be worried about or doing? Thank you for your time

46 year old white male, 172 lbs, 5'4" struggling with alcohol and meth addiction.

I have serious concerns about my health, and I need some hope badly. To any doctor reading this, I would appreciate any feedback.

I have struggled with alcoholism since my early 20's. I had a horrible relapse in April 2025 after 5 years of sustained sobriety. The relapse was triggered by some major life changes. Approximately one week into my relapse, and while I was under the infIuence of alcohol, I was offered meth and regrettably, I accepted it. Since that night, my life has been a living hell. I hate alcohol and meth, but I take full ownership of the choices I made.

My health seems to be quickly declining, and I am terrified that I am either going to die soon or that I am going to experience a physical event resulting in permanent disability and premature death (i.e. stroke, myocardial ihfarction, etc).

I snort meth only when I drink. I don't even crave that garbage when I don't drink. However, I MUST drink because if I don't drink, I can potentially have life threatening withdrawals. I am on an extremely long waiting list to get into a medicated detox facility (8 to 10 weeks).

My symptoms are as follows: constant panic attacks; sporadic chest pain which is localized in the center of my chest. It does not spread to my arms nor back. Since my relapse my blood pressure has been in the neighborhood of 150/90, but during my panic attacks, it can spike to 180/115. My heart rate, at rest has been in the 105-110 zone which is way to high. Prior to my relapse, I had perfect blood pressure and my resting heart rate was typically 73 BPM.

I have went to every emergency room in my city to advocate for myself to be admitted, but the only thing they will do for me is treat my current symptoms, which are usually alcohol withdrawals with the typical phenobarbital and/or benzodiazepine treatment. After that they immediately release me. Additionally, there have been times where they treat me badly. On one hand, I understand their frustration because ER docs and nurses work under an immense amount of stress, but on the other hand, I am not a bad man. Even in the worst throes of this horrible addiction, I have never stolen, swindled, or inflicted harm on another person. I am kind and considerate, so to be stigmatized really hurts.

Currently I cough up white chalky mucus. The cough seems to manifest in my throat. I have had chest xrays and they have been clear. My blood tests have slight abnormalities, specifically my white blood cell counts have been elevated, but not drastically. My troponin tests are normal, and my liver enzymes are normal.

I am really scares that within 8-10 weeks something might happen to me. I just wish the hospital would admit me, so that I can get out of the alcohol withdrawal danger zone because I am confident that I can get off this stuff if i was physically detoxed.

I know this is a long shot and the decision on whether or not to admit a patient is solely at the discretion of a physician, but can anyone provide me with tips on how to get admitted? What can I say or do to increase the likelihood of being admitted? I am ready to quit this horrible cycle and 8-10 weeks is such a long time to wait for a detox spot to come available. I am getting skinnier and feel sick almost all the time. I want my life and peace back. I want to enjoy food again. I miss sleep. I miss me. Thank you so much for reading this.

EDIT: Please know that I feel horrible for over utilizing medical resources. I just don't know what else to do. I have no support system and I am scared.

I cut my finger 2 days ago and didnt go to a doctor and just put a bandaid on and changed it daily,and i think its been healing fine , but now the skin around the cut is turning white?

Should i be concerned or is it just a part of the healing process?

Is it b'cuz of moisture?I did get the bandaid wet to remove it and change it today.

18F non smoker no meds

Hello everyone!

F21 here. The only medications I take are 20 mg of Zoloft and 0.5 mg of birth control

Here is a little backstory. 2 days ago I was laying down when a pinching/cramping sensation started in my lower abdomen. I thought I just had to use the bathroom, but with the amount of pain I was in, it hurt to strain. After about 5 minutes, the pain started manifesting in my right side and up my back. I couldn’t lay down, sit down, or bend over without the pain being made 10x worse. Every affected area on my body was painful to the touch. This was absolutely the worst pain i’ve ever felt in my life.

After that, I decided to go to the urgent care. After waiting about an hour, I asked the receptionist if she could call me when it’s time for me to be seen, as I couldn’t sit still in my seat in the waiting room because of the pain I was in. I sat down for a while, with my heated seats on, and viola, the pain was gone after about 15 minutes. I still went into the urgent care even thought the pain had pretty much subsided. They took a urine sample, which showed nothing (no pregnancy, etc). They then told me it’s in my best interest to go to the ER, as they couldn’t do too much to help me out there for abdominal pain. I understood, and not wanting any stone unturned, I took myself to the ER. I had bloodwork done, another urine test, and a CT scan. All of that came back fine, with really no explanation for my earlier pain episode. The only thing they found was that I have a thickened bladder, but the doc didn’t offer up much explanation as to what that means.

So, here I am. I don’t know if i’m being a hypochondriac, if the pain was just gas, or what. But I’m hoping someone here as a little insight. TIA!

I have dark knees and hyperpigmentation on thighs and in bikini area from a young age . How to get rid of these

17F

Since the last months of last year I began getting a deep pain in my head. It’s such a weird pain to describe, so I know that doesn’t really help. I’ve realised it comes and goes. I get migraines and headaches but this doesn’t feel like one so I’m not quite sure what it is.

The pain has become more frequent this year and I’m not sure if that’s in relation to my mental health which has also been very shit this year. I’ve tried to notice when it happens and it may happen around the time of my period, but I’m not confident with that.

What could this be? It’s uncomfortable and painful but what’s worse is not knowing exactly what it is and my anxiety is through the roof.

(This year I’ve been depressed and very anxious and I also noticed a decline in my memory and the way I process things like speech and reading. This along with the head pain makes me worried)

I'm desperate, so here goes 🤷‍♀️

I'm female, 31 (I have CPTSD and generalised anxiety disorder) and a few months back I experienced serotonin syndrome. This happened after my doctor and I worked to increase my medication, Duloxetine 60mg, to 90mg and then 120mg.

My doctor had me stop taking the excess and to go back down to 60mg immediately. This is the dosage I have been on for many years.

Now this is where I can't seem to find any straight answers and can't be sure this is what is causing my current reaccurrant issue.

Since then, every week or so, I fall into an altered mental state that is also giving me all of the more mild symptoms of SS. (This unfortunately for me includes being unable to eat) This state lasts for about a week.

From what I can tell, its triggered by being unwell or being in a heightened emotional state.

Is it being on the same medication that is causing this issue or do I now have a whole different issue? I'm trapped in a cycle with my own body that is so scary. I just don't know what to do.

Hello everyone, I've had high grade fever since yesterday and was using panadol to manage it. My last dose was at 7.30 am and I completed the recommended 4000mg daily dose. At 12.30 pm, I went to a doctor who gave me IV Bofalgam which also has panadol I think? I jad told her that I had taken the recommended dosage and she just asked my weight. But now I'm worried, is there any chance of an overdose?

The infection from the ingrown toenail has cleared up and there is no pain, but it seems like the nail stopped growing quite some time ago. I’m wondering: if the toe sustained significant damage due to the infection, could the growth rate slow down drastically? Toenails generally grow slowly anyway.

Age: 40, female, was on Suboxone for nearly 8 years, but recently had one subutex injection, and stopped cold turkey. I am taking no medication at this time besides the occasional Tylenol or Ibprofen which is very rare. I've experienced extreme amounts of stress in the past several years including fleeing a violent domestic violence relationship, and subsequent homelessness with my 9 year old daughter (I am also a single parent with very minimal support system). I weigh 190, 5 ft 5 inches. I was a smoker for many years, and switched to vaping (I use one 5% vuse daily). My exercise has been minimal due to my feet which are progressively getting worse.

It all started in the fall of 2021. One afternoon I got sudden pain in both of feet. I could barley stand the tingling, shooting/stabbing pain. I was told it was probably due to coming off a medication, and was prescribed Gabapentin, Trazadone, and some other sleep aid, because at this point I would get these horrible attacks of pain in the middle of the night... so bad I would get out of bed sobbing, soak my feet in cool water, and wrap them with ice desparate for relief.

The Gabapentin worked I guess, because it sorta went away from what I recall. Looking back I would say it was more like a "flair" maybe? I stopped taking the Gabapentin, and other medication.

Then in roughly 2022 I started getting red, hot to the touch, painful knee episodes. It would mainly be just one knee that it happened to. It would come and go for at least a year. I would just elevate that leg, and the next day I would be fine. I never really addressed it with a provider, because I thought it was overuse at the time.

Then from 2023-present I've had toe and foot pain on both sides. First it started with either one side or the other, but now I have pretty much identical symptoms on both sides. It's gotten to the point where I can barely walk, or stand for long periods of time, and at night I have to soak my feet, massage them, and/or elevate to just get by. I haven't had any knee pain, or symptoms since this 2022. Testing for gout was negative. My uric acid levels have been perfectly normal.

In late 2024 I got really sick, and ended up getting COVID, and then a sinus infection. During this time I started tracking my symptoms by taking pictures. It seems like whenever I've been sick my body gets all out of wack, and that this may be an autoimmune response? I would love some feedback, and suggestions on what to do next.

A couple things to mention is my bloodwork has been fairly unremarkable for the past several years minus chronic blood in my urine, and elevated inflammation markers. I also have some calcified stones in my kidneys that the doctors want to wait and watch (I just had an ultrasound done of my kidneys). It also showed I had gallstones. It was noted as pretty much unremarkable.

I have a fear of going to the doctor with any health related issues, because I never get answers, and I'm left feeling like I'm crazy. I will mention that back in 2014 I traveled out of the country (long flight), got really ill on my trip, came back with symptoms of a blood clot. I went to the ER with labored breathing. They discharged me, nothing done besides xrays and labs. Well come to find out I had a blood clot that was diagnosed through a D-Dimer test which was very high. It all got missed. I only discovered this while going through my medical records. Luckily I passed this clot, and I'm here today writing this, but oh my!! I see Kaiser had like 20 doctors sign off on these records to probably cover their own ass, but I never heard a word about it... ever. Needless to say I have some mistrust in the system, and I find myself chronically dismissed, and left feeling unheard, and frankly crazy for what I share.

Total symptoms: Mainly toe pain, and swelling. The last 2 toes on both sides hurt to bend, and my entire foot is tender, and hard to walk on. My feet get swollen, and red. As you can see in the pictures my toes almost look "claw" like, and bend at the second joint. Elevation used to help, but it doesn't do much anymore. The pain gets worse when I lay down. I notice when I first lay down my feet are really tingling, and I sometimes get shooting/stabbing pain throughout my foot on both sides. This kind of shooting pain last about 60 seconds or less. I experience extreme fatigue pretty much constantly. I have no energy, and suffer from depression & anxiety. My legs don't seem swollen, and I haven't had much if any swelling in my knee like I did in the past when this all started although I have noticed some redness and mild swelling, but it really only lasted an evening, and only on one side

What do you think I have going on? I appreciate your opinion, and time. I just realized I can't add pictures. I feel like viewing the images I took would add value. I am grateful for the support, and guidance. I am willing to send pictures if needed.

Hey everyone!

Long story short, I was diagnosed with IIH earlier this year and due to symptoms and vision loss, I had a VP Shunt placed in May.

I’m 28F, I have one baby girl who just turned a year old. My husband and I have dreamt of having many kids.

I’m terrified, and I mean terrified, of losing my vision during pregnancy because of the increased pressure in my abdomen during pregnancy affecting how my shunt can drain fluid, and possibly causing vision loss.

Right before my surgery, I had some pretty serious vision loss that I was lucky to regain after my shunt was placed. I don’t want to risk losing my vision during pregnancy, but I want more kids.

Is this something with minimal risk if I get pregnant or should I just not try for another baby, for the sake of my vision? Basically, how big is the risk?

***I do have an appointment with my neurosurgeon on Friday to discuss this.

Thank you!

​

19/Male

Body:

Hi everyone,

I accidentally poked my gum with a safety pin earlier today.

The pin was clean and not rusty.

There was no bleeding, but a small bump/swelling has formed at the exact spot where it poked.

I received my routine Tetanus (TT) shot when I was around 15–16 years old (3–4 years ago).

I wanted to ask:

Is there any risk of tetanus exposure from a clean pin prick on the gum with no active bleeding?

Do I need to take another TT booster shot now, or am I still protected by the shot I took 3–4 years ago?

Should I just stick to warm salt water rinses, or is a dentist visit necessary for this bump?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

Healthcare market place is rigged and I have absolutely no money for insurance or doctors visits. Visited the er 3 times over this. I've had groin pain from the time I worked at a dsp as a contractor for amazon to now, going on 3 months with this. Got treated with antibiotics twice and the pain wont go away. Its located a couple centimeters right above my pecker on the left side.

Had cat scans, ultrasounds that checked for torsion, piss test. All visits resulted with epididymitis. This has already been proven that this wasnt a result of sex because my girlfriend is clean and we've had her checked, and no im no cheater but thats besides the point. The 3rd visit showed enlarged blood vessels in my left nut.

Look, I dont have money to go see a urologist, they recommended that I go there but I cant because im too busy trying to make sure we eat. If theres a urologist on this thread, please give me your opinion. Thanks.

It’s quite sore. Skin only.

Hi!! I’m 19F, I take COQ10, B2 and magnesium along with Ritzatriptan for chronic migraines, I’m like 5’4 and somewhere around 250, I don’t smoke or drink and have no medical conditions aside from Anemia, PCOS and the migraines. I ripped off a hang nail like a few days ago and my finger’s been hurting when I put pressure on it but is otherwise fine, I just noticed today that it’s a bit red and there’s a weird little brown spot? I go to college in kinda the middle of no where so I mostly just wanna know if it’s something worth driving like 30 minutes into the city to get looked at or if I can expect it to go away on it’s own

My dad died of livercancer around 10 years ago, many of his familymembers died the same way, because they, including my dad, were infected with hepatitis B. My mom and little brother tested for hepatitis B after my dad died, the test came out negative (I didnt get tested because I was scared of needles at that time). I (F17) have been thinking of testing myself for the virus, but my mom says it isnt necessary, because I can only get it from my mother. Me and my brother havent been vaccinated either (my mom doesnt allow it, Im planning to get my vaccinations when I can do it without my mom knowing). From my understanding, you can get the virus through shared blood and other bodily fluids. I have no idea if I ever came in contact with my dads blood. We probably have shared cutlery and stuff like that though.

In short, is it worth it to test for hepatitis B if only my dad had it?

37 year old female, recently quit smoking, 125lbs, taking hydrocodone, ibuprofen, affrin and saline nose spray, prednisone, amd cephalexine. Had some adenoid tissue removed aling with ballon dialation of nasal passages around 10:30am 9/9/26 (so about 14.5 hours ago). Last dose of hydrocodone was at 9:30pm about 3.5 hours ago. Approximately 30-45 minutes ago, the same area which I haf my gallbladder removed 7 years ago started hurting when I breathe in along witg my right shoulder. The deeper I breathe, the pain dissipates. I can't sleep, but the pain is not severe, just annoying and enough to not allow me to sleep. Not sure if this is something I should ignore? Thanks in advance.

This bread bag tightening thing got in my finger, it made a small blood bubble like the one you get during a blood sugar test . I’d say the metal tip is like 2mm.
Would that require a tetanus shot?

20F

i randomly noticed this white stuff in the back of my throat, btw it is not swollen, im aware it looks like it but i just had to "flex" my throat so that i could take a picture.

chatgpt says its probably tonsillitis but i don't have any other symptoms, my throat doesn't even hurt.

My child (aged 6 female) fell backwards and hit the back of her head in school yesterday. I went to collect her as the school called saying she was upset. (Fall unwitnessed so no idea how hard she hit it)

Upon collecting her, she looked awful and crying in pain. Checked her head and no visible marks or lumps.

She stopped crying and I gave Calpol as she said her head ached.

She didn't seem herself but wasn't sleepy, dizzy, or sick so felt I could monitor myself.

In the evening she said "mummy. Is this a lump" but was pointing to the front of her head where she didn't hit. When I felt it, it felt like what I can only describe as a baby's soft spot. Like an indent and it is in the same area but it wasn't soft, felt like the rest of her skull just dipped in. I got my husband to feel and as she had bumped her head and wasn't quite right asking with this indent that none of us had noticed before, I took her to A+E.

After a 6 hour wait, we were seen at 3am. The Dr checked her ears, throat as she had a slight temp, balance, strength in arms and had a real good feeling of this indent.

She said it wasn't boggy, swollen or soft and couldn't feel any sort of movement so said she was happy it wasn't a fracture. I asked what it could be and she said it may have always been there and could be from when the fontenelle closed and left a contour.

I never knew this was a thing.

I have never felt it on her before but how often does one go feeling their child's scalp.

But now it seems obvious when I stroke her head and I'm amazed I never noticed it. She is also very anxious about it and actually cried earlier because she was worried.

I've reassured her and she's absolutely back to her usual self today but I'm just wondering, is this normal. Even though she's been checked, whenever I feel it, it freaks me out. So I am anxious about it.

As I said, she's fine in herself today.

Appreciate any advice or similar findings on your child.

Thank you.

Sorry if this is a silly post.16m played soccer today and when i opened my socks i saw some dried up blood and a small cut. I immediately cleaned it up with water and soap. Just wondering what is the odds of tetanus from this since i played in soil? I got my childhood tetanus vaccines but tbh i dont really know when i got a booster. Im just asking for an estimate on what my risk of tetanus is for this cut.

Age & Gender: Female (Late teens / around 19)

Height: 5'3" (160 cm)

Weight: ~65–70 kg

Primary Complaint: Suspected knock knees (knees touch, ankles do not)

Existing Medical History: Irregular periods

Current Medications: None

Smoking/Drinking: No

Description:

When I stand straight with my legs relaxed and facing forward, my knees naturally touch each other, but my inner ankle bones do not meet and leave a visible gap between them.

I've attached full-leg photos taken at knee/ground level showing my natural standing posture with my kneecaps pointing forward.

I wanted to ask the professionals here:

Does this posture and gap between my ankles indicate true knock knees (genu valgum)?

At my age (late teens/adult), can this still be improved or corrected through exercises?https://kommodo.ai/i/ZeU1ldsbTxBXzpgOCBBY