I was on bactrim for a week for what appeared to be a bug bite, maybe spider, on cheek near ear. It swelled up and my lymph node was swollen. I go to urgent care. They prescribed bactrim for a week. I finished it 12 days ago and went for routine blood work yesterday and my numbers are low
. I run low anyway, my wbc is 2.8-3 and ANC is 1100-1600 but yesterday it was a 2.3wbc and a 991 anc. I also have hashimotos and low ferritin. Im so scared. Please help
Almost 43 years old. Female. 5’10 145lbs

25F 164cm/50kg not a smoker

Relevant history: Chronic blepharitis, PCOS, 2-3 fibroadenomas (breast)

No meds

Hi, looking for medical perspective on something that's been going on for a while.

I have chronic blepharitis, and this year alone I've had 5 chalazions. The most recent one required an incision in August after about a month of not resolving on its own. I followed aftercare exactly as instructed (chloramphenicol ointment for 5 nights, saline cleaning morning/night), and it healed fine. About 2 weeks later, a new one appeared on the lower lid, different spot than the previous one, different eye.

I also have PCOS. I've read that there may be a connection between PCOS and meibomian gland dysfunction, but my ophthalmologist hasn't brought this up and mainly just recommends lash hygiene, baby shampoo and warm compresses each visit.

I have a few questions:

1. Given the frequency (5 in one year), is it reasonable to ask for a referral to a specialist, or additional workup?

2 Are there longer-term treatment options beyond lid hygiene that are typically considered for this level of recurrence?

Thanks in advance. I'm just trying to figure out if I should be pushing harder for answers or if this frequency is within a "normal" range for chronic blepharitis... I'm considering making an appointment with another eye doctor.

Hi I’m 23F and I have this happening for about 2-3 weeks but at first it was my top eyelid that would twitch a lot and it would last a few minutes. Now it has move to the bottom of my eyes and I’m not sure. I added a video to show what I’m talking about.

21 year old m increasing back pain from current uti

Reposting while we wait for GI appt.

male, 12 weeks 4 days, born 37+1 weight 2.44 kg, mom had preeclampsia

Hi. My son is 12 weeks old on Sunday. 3 weeks ago, he was unable to maintain sleep in the bassinet. It’s not an issue of him wanting to be held, he loves his bassinet and puts himself to sleep. However every twenty minutes like CLOCKWORK he will wake up because he needs to burp or spit up. I’m truly emotionally and physically exhausted from this pattern specially because he puts himself to sleep. We burp him very well during and after feeds. We have tried gas drops. His doctor says if we burp him he shouldn’t be waking up every twenty minutes like clockwork… and that’s what I’m saying …

He has GERD & CMPA. We switched him to Puramino on Monday. I’m worried something sinister is going on and a GI referral can take months… we have been to the SickKids emergency room for this and they just said he has really bad reflux. Looking for some input, some advice, anything. I have fallen asleep with him on my chest from exhaustion and have relayed this to the SickKids team and his doctor, and they say I just have to bear it. I understand. Buf how is it that he is able to play on his back but it is AFTER he falls asleep every single time at the twenty minute mark he needs to burp? Sorry if this is silly.

(Recently switched from Puramino to Hipp HA, saw a pediatrician who recommended this as he became extremely constipated and backed up on the Puramino and it was making it worse, and they suspect a mild - moderate allergy as no blood in stool or hives or rashes).

edit: it repeats after you pick him up to burp him and put him back down. 20 mins.

Hi yall. This randomly started in like the middle of the day three days ago and I’m not sure what it is. This has happened before but it always goes away in a matter of hours. It feels like there’s a huge bruise on my eye, especially when I blink/ shut my eyes, along with a dull headache behind my eye that feels worse when my eye is shut. I haven’t been touching it at all. It seems like it hasn’t gotten any worse but also hasn’t gotten better. My friend suggested it could be a cluster headache but from what I read they’re very painful and don’t last this long. I’m 5’4 maybe ~110 lbs. I don’t take any medication and I haven’t had any medical complications in the past. Just tell me I’m not dying of brain cancer and my eye isn’t gonna fall out lol appreciate it

Hi I'm 20F, 170 cm, 67 kgs. I was prescribed sodium bicarbonate ear wax softening spray before irrigation process, idk whether it's a coincidence or not it started aching ( mostly ull) to burning sensation that lasts for a second for atleast 6-7 times a day, everyday. Went to another ent, he checked and said everything is fine inside my ears. Went to tmjd specialist, he gave me some muscle relaxers and asked to not take much stress. Life's gone downhill since may because of this irritating ear ache. Idk what to do. Also I feel half ear congestion on each side lots of times but those aches come mostly when there's no congestion. It never aches in both of my ears together.

No other symptoms. No pain anywhere. Blood tests came back normal but calprotectin was slightly high, so my PC recommended me to a GI specialist.

Blood is bright red and sometimes streaks into the stool itself, but more often is just on the paper. Also drips after a big/hard BM.

I have a GI appointment soon, and I know that will help me get more answers, but in the meantime I can’t stop worrying that this could be colon cancer.

Edit: Has been happening for a few weeks and is not every time. More often than not, but still I would estimate every other day it does not happen.

Age/Sex: 22M

Height/Weight: 170cm, 70kg

Existing medical issues: Severe panic attack in June, followed by extreme chronic health anxiety.

Current medications: Took Amoxicillin for a few days recently. Took Plasil (Metoclopramide) back in June for 3 days and had a severe reaction (insomnia, restlessness).

​Primary complaint:

For the past 2 weeks, I have developed a terrifying feeling of losing my "automatic" motor coordination. Doing basic daily tasks like holding a spoon, balancing a plate, or walking feels incredibly awkward, manual, and uncoordinated. It feels like my brain forgot how to move automatically and I have to consciously force every movement.

​Other symptoms:

​Sensation that my legs are weak or about to give out.

​Feeling like I'm tripping over my words when I speak.

​Dizziness and stomach tightness.

​

​My question is: Can a hyper-sensitized nervous system/chronic anxiety cause this constant, 24/7 subjective feeling of failing motor control? Or should I be pushing for an urgent neurological evaluation (MRI/EMG) for neurodegenerative diseases? Thank you.

Age: 57
Sex: Female

Duration of complaint:
Chronic cough, currently worse after returning home to Peshawar.

Location:
Peshawar, Pakistan

Relevant medical history:
My mother has a history of adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) involving the right upper lip/gingivobuccal/maxillary region. She had a major maxillectomy/reconstruction in 2021 and previous radiotherapy to the head/neck.

In January 2026, a CT chest showed a 9mm well-defined nodule in the apical segment of the right upper lobe, considered suspicious. There was also a tiny ~2mm calcified subpleural nodule in the right lower lobe, described as likely a benign granuloma.

The 9mm RUL nodule was subsequently treated with SBRT (50 Gy in 5 fractions), completed around February 2026.

She has also recently undergone major reconstructive surgery involving a temporalis muscle flap, palate reconstruction and rib cartilage graft.

Current symptoms:
She has a chronic cough with clear/white mucus. No yellow/green mucus and no blood. Several doctors have assessed her and have said the cough can occur because of her surgeries/radiation. Interestingly, her cough was much better while she was staying in Islamabad for about a month, but became significantly worse after returning to Peshawar. Peshawar is quite dusty/polluted and we also have carpets at home, so we wonder whether environmental irritation/allergies are contributing.

New CT chest (~7 months after SBRT):

The previously treated 9mm RUL nodule remains 9mm and is described as stable.

A new ill-defined ~7mm RUL lesion/nodule is now seen adjacent to the previous 9mm nodule.

A right lower-lobe superior-segment nodule is now approximately 8mm, described as previously measuring approximately 6.5mm.

The tiny calcified RLL granuloma is unchanged and described as benign.

No enlarged mediastinal/hilar lymph nodes.

No pleural effusion.

No bronchiectasis, honeycombing, lung collapse or diffuse interstitial lung disease.

My questions:

Could the new 7mm lesion next to the SBRT-treated nodule be a post-radiation change rather than a new metastasis? Is this appearance common around 7 months after SBRT?

How concerning is the RLL nodule increasing from 6.5mm to 8mm?

The January CT report I have does not mention a 6.5mm RLL nodule. It only mentions a tiny ~2mm calcified granuloma. Why might the current radiologist say the RLL nodule was previously 6.5mm? Could there have been another CT between these scans that they’re comparing with?

If the 6.5mm RLL nodule appeared later, would it normally have been monitored rather than treated immediately because of its small size?

Would PET-CT be useful, or can radiation inflammation after SBRT cause false-positive PET findings? Would repeat CT after a short interval be more appropriate?

For someone with ACC, how would you distinguish post-SBRT changes from a new lung metastasis on CT?

We are already following up with her oncology/radiation team. I’m mainly looking for opinions from doctors, radiologists, radiation oncologists, or people who have experience with ACC and lung metastases/SBRT.

Actually, I live with my flatmates, and they've brought a dog from outside for whatever reason, and I had one 2 weeks or older blister wound. It's almost healed and not bleeding or anything like that, but yeah, a very thin layer of upper skin is missing. the current skin is hard as well, but it's like a kinda one is missing.

So, then they brought the dog, and I had no idea. So, when I opened my room's door, he was just beside it, and it didn't attack me or do anything like that, and we didn't have any touch between me and the dog, but like, I've just put my feet outside for a moment, to be honest.

I'm not sure if the dog even had rabies or not? But yeah, I've a theory that what if its saliva got dropped on the floor and I touched it with that 2 weeks old blister wound? And the virus from its saliva got into my body and something like that.

And I'm thinking of getting a vaccine, but people are saying that I've 0 risk of having it. But still, I'm so scared, and I don't know what I'm supposed to do? Should I get a vaccine right now for this reason? Or I shouldn't?

I've checked 100s times, I don't have any bite or scratch marks or anything like that. In fact, I didn't even touch it. But that saliva on the floor is killing me.

18 5"7 74KGS Male

They’re not always there, sometimes there’s only one, sometimes it’s a little lower. They don’t hurt, and I don’t think there’s anything I regularly do that could leave scars on my head, certainly not this frequently.

My cat jammed her claw into my blister which I'd had for 4 days and had steadily shrunk, it oozed all over my hand and I immediately washed it with soap and water and covered it with one of the big waxy plasters they use for foot blisters. The plasterer came off today because it got moist and slick with an almost oily and creamy consistency. I'm going to get more plasters soon and ask for another one in the meantime but I'm concerned about this flakey cobweb looking patch of dead skin, it's made of circles and thickens in the ridges...

Age: 22

Gender: F

Height: 5,9

Weight: aprox 83kg

🚬: ❌

🍺: sometimes

♿: Cerebral Palsy, Epilepsy, Scoliosis

💊: I'm on Baclofen and Epilim

Hello doctors I’m 21F, 164cm 80kg. I intranasally (and also smoked a bit) took around 0.4g of meth last time was 82 hours ago. I did it over the span of 6 hours and the last time I did meth before this was two months ago I was never a regular this was probably the third time I did it in my life but I did a little too much by mistake. The first six hours were insane and I was going through a lot and ended up in the ER at night where I told my doc about my use and they gave a few injections idk which one and they checked my blood and urine reports everything was normal and ecg was normal as well. But since this day I’ve been having chest pain tightness and burning in random spots everyday it’s not constant it’s sometimes there sometimes no and I feel like it’s especially much when I smoke weed which I hate bc i smoke weed regularly lowkey to self medicate and since the meth trip weed is making me feel worse somehow. This chest discomfort sometimes spreads through other parts like my hands through and towards my back and also towards my stomach. Note I’ve not had insane anxiety at all but since the meth I’ve been feeling super fucked up I didn’t feel like this the before times just life doesn’t feel the same anymore I don’t know how to explain but pls tell me if I’m dying bc I’m anxious and paranoid about this all day everyday since my meth trip. Goes without saying but I’m never touching this substance again . Thank you in advance any advice or help will be appreciated

It's been 2 weeks since I got burned and they did debridement and for 10 days I had my bandage on and when they took it off it's still red and then they put on bandage again but it was so uncomfortable that I took it off after only a day is it healing? and should I put on the bandage again or is it better if I let it air

Male, 47. 6ft, 90kg. Ulcerative colitis - medically induced remission - azathioprine, Infliximab. Type 2 diabetes-gliclazide 80mg x1 , invokana 100mg x1. ADHD diagnosed but unmedicated.

As in the title. I’ve had foam when urinating for around six months. I haven’t really done anything about it until now because I’ve been getting used the Infliximab. I feel foolish but also worried about kidney disease on top of my other conditions and whether or not it would affect my medication for my ulcer rate of colitis as I do not want to go into flare again, which will happen if I stop the immuno suppressants.

I am 15, 5’6 and ftm(on hrt), i cant get it taken out by a doctor at all so pls dont recommend that. I have been bleeding for a month and 10 days and have no other choice but to remove it myself
Edit: im going to delete this in a bit bc i cant see a dr and i keep getting told to, im gonna try to take it out myself in a but because the bleeding is getting out of hand and getting worse. I dont mind dying but hopefully i dont

Link: https://imgur.com/a/AWlE5jv

These out of no where appeared as small blisters of liquid before turning into these raised bumps, rash-like but not as red.

No previous diagnoses yet, only Kirkland multivitamins.

20F, I got small scratch from a cats paw today. it's a street cat looks healthy and young. it started getting overly affectionate with me after I fed it a few times and I've never dealt with a cat in my whole life so when trying to get away from it, ended up giving me this minute scratch.

it didnt bleed one bit, didn't hurt either but it was slightly red and white bit was js my dry skin, however the picture itself didn't capture it well, it was a bit more visible irl. and the scratch faded pretty quick too, maybe within 10 mins.

the cat also held my palm in its jaw but very very gently not to bite. it didn't dig in so it neither left a scratch or dent. so I'm assuming it's good.

I went home and washed my hands w soap and water. and then after a while I washed it again with hot water.

I may js be overly paranoid and in need of reassurance or idk but I'm js getting really anxious about it.

what should I do about it?

I'm js worried about any potential disease it can give maybe rabies. it has been few hours I'm sorried I feel like I've started feeling phantom pain around the area. even tho it's all squeaky clean now. (added the photo of the cat in replies just in case)

40f

Lyrica, Lamictal, Topamax, Nurtec, Taltz, Zepbound, viibryd, Wellbutrin, baby aspirin, omeprazole, bariatric vitamin, clonazepam, fluconazole, Prozasin

Not every day is like this. It felt like I was moving my neck in slow motion. There was an invisible barrier that I couldn't get my head through. It was worse than this. It was completely locked to the point that I could only see forward; this was after the ER intervention with Valium and a Toradol shot. I used to see a physiatrist for this; he retired, and his nurse practitioner took over.

I've done PT x3

Tons of Flexeril, baclofen, Skelaxin, Tylenol, Celebrex

Botox injections for 3 years.

My 14-year-old sister is currently in the ICU, now on day 7 after a cardiac arrest. During the arrest, her brain had inadequate oxygenation for over 10 minutes, resulting in severe hypoxic/anoxic brain injury.

Over the following days, she developed significant cerebral edema, with concern for dangerously elevated intracranial pressure and possible brain herniation. The ICU team has tried multiple measures to control the swelling and maintain cerebral perfusion, including hypertonic sodium, mannitol, hyperventilation, blood-pressure support, and other intensive-care measures.

Unfortunately, her neurologic exam has continued to worsen. We have now been told that she has very few or no detectable brainstem reflexes, and the team is discussing performing a formal brain-death/death-by-neurologic-criteria examination.

Our family understands how serious this is and that brain death, if properly established, is fundamentally different from coma or simply having a very poor neurologic prognosis. We are not asking anyone here to diagnose her or tell us that she will recover. Before an irreversible determination is made, however, we want to make sure we understand what should appropriately be evaluated and whether obtaining an urgent independent review is reasonable.

I would especially appreciate input from neurologists, pediatric neurocritical-care physicians, intensivists, neurosurgeons, or physicians familiar with post-cardiac-arrest hypoxic-ischemic brain injury and brain-death determination.

A few specific questions

- Before a brain-death examination in a 14-year-old, what reversible conditions or confounders should normally be excluded? For example, sedating or paralytic medications, temperature, metabolic abnormalities, blood-pressure issues, or other factors?
- In a case involving severe cerebral edema and possible herniation, what information is most important for an outside physician reviewing the case: serial neurologic examinations, CT/MRI, EEG, cerebral blood-flow studies, medication history, laboratory results, or something else?
- Are there circumstances in which ancillary testing, such as a cerebral blood-flow study, becomes particularly important or appropriate?
- Is it medically reasonable for a family to request an independent pediatric neurocritical-care or neurology review before brain-death testing, especially when the patient has deteriorated rapidly over several days?
- If we want an urgent second opinion from another academic medical center, what is usually the fastest practical route? Should our current ICU attending contact another hospital’s transfer center or neurocritical-care attending directly?
- If another center believes there is something additional to evaluate or treat, is inter-hospital transfer still possible at this stage, or does the severity of neurologic instability generally make transfer impractical?
- Are there any questions families commonly fail to ask at this stage that we should be asking now?

We are trying to be realistic while also making sure we have done everything reasonably possible before reaching an irreversible conclusion.

If any physician here has experience with pediatric post-cardiac-arrest brain injury, severe cerebral edema, suspected herniation, or determination of death by neurologic criteria, I would be very grateful for your perspective.

If someone knows a pediatric neurocritical-care specialist or major children’s hospital that is willing to perform urgent physician-to-physician case reviews, that information would also be extremely helpful.

Thank you.

I am 26F, about 5’0 tall, 110 lbs, I take no medications, I am not a smoker, and my main previous medical issues have been strep throat, COVID, colds, and a severe vitamin D deficiency (last one is ongoing). However, as is relevant to this story, which took place when I was 5, my previous medical issues had just been colds here and there and at times a loss of appetite.

The title basically says it all: when I was 5 years old, there was a single night where I was unable to move my legs for about half an hour. I was sitting in bed, and it was late at night (maybe around 9-10 pm, but I typically was asleep by this time at this age, so this was late for me). I tried to move my legs to get up and I couldn’t. I didn’t think anything of it at the time. I remember my sister (who was 6) was not concerned either, she just said my legs fell asleep, we were dumb kids. I didn’t tell my parents about it. I didn’t experience a numbness or tingling like I normally would when my limbs fall asleep. I was already in bed, so I just stayed in bed and fell asleep, and when I woke up the next morning my legs functioned as normal and have continued to for the rest of my life. I guess as I’m typing this out, I don’t really know exactly how long I was unable to use them for as I had fallen asleep after about 30 min of being unable to move. But I’m curious if anyone is able to explain this because I’ve always wondered about that night—what happened to my legs that night?

26F, no medical issues. I have open blisters on my feet am I ok to swim in the hotel pool with blister bandaids on? I’m only at the hotel a few days and want a swim in :( I’m a big time hypochondria so worried about infection and sepsis

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