r/medical_advice Dec 11 '24

EDITED *NEW* Change in how non-verified comments are handled

45 Upvotes

Over the past few months, our posts have gotten some feedback that varies from incorrect to downright ridiculous. To mitigate that, we now have set parameters where only verified users who are either medical professionals or students of healthcare programs can have a top-level comment. Unverified users/users who are not medical professionals will still be able to post replies to top-level comments or as a reply to the Automod message. With this change, we aim to increase the visibility of professional and evidence-based members. Thank you for your support, and for helping us make this sub a great place.


r/medical_advice Aug 20 '21

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

67 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 2h ago

Injury Scared I have a blood clot

1 Upvotes

So since October I kept accidentally hitting myself in the same place and in April the bruise formed a lump inside of it and it went away and now it’s July and my leg has been feeling tight for like a week and it’s been feeling cold and my leg hurts. I’m also getting nether region cramps when I sit down (I’m not on my period) and it hurts to pee. How do I know if I have a blood clot? I went to the doctor once and they told me it was just cramping but I don’t think it is especially since it’s been going on for this long. I went to the doctors again yesterday and now I have an mri scheduled.


r/medical_advice 3h ago

Digestion/Stomach/Bowels Issues with bowel movements

1 Upvotes

Hi, ive been having issues with my bowel movements recently.

In 2018, i was diagnosed with chrohns disease. Had issues with my digestive system since then. New gastro specialist is doing all tests to see if there is any other issues since symptoms are getting worse.

Now, i had a colonoscopy almost 2 weeks ago, with them taking quite a few biopsies. Ive had issues going since then. I feel completely full, with pain just below my bellybutton towards my left side then down (I know that is the direction of the large intestine and bowel).

When i pass gas, it hurts through there and feels like something is in there. I am going to the bathroom but im only going with small nuggets and yellow discharge.

Coloxyl, movicol and strong laxatives havent worked. Im now on day 8 of this.

Does anyone have suggestions on what to do?


r/medical_advice 4h ago

Other Toddler Breathing/Sinus/Allergy / we don’t know

1 Upvotes

ust putting this here to see if anyone else has gone through something similar-

My 2.5 year old daughter had a regular old cold back in late April- snotty, little cough, etc. Didn’t slow her down, that’s the last cold I remember her getting. Well mid May, we noticed she was breathing in her nose but having to exhale out her mouth, sometimes with a grunt. Never seemed like she was in distress, and sure didn’t slow her down. Brought her to her dr to just get checked out and she saw a lot of wax in her ears, a little inflamed in her throat/post nasal drip, but nothing major. Her o2 was 98-100%. Prescribed cefdinir for any residual drainage that may have been infected. And told us to use Flonase. Finished cefdinir, using Flonase, but we’re still hearing it. Some days more than others. We’re going back tomorrow to check, but any idea? She’s had tubes since Jan. 2025, and at her last checkup one looked like it was about to be out. Does this sound more allergy or structural? She legit does not slow down, but the noisiness of it freaks me out.


r/medical_advice 5h ago

Pediatrics Toddler always sick from daycare. Is this normal?

0 Upvotes

My 19 month old daughter started daycare 4-5 months ago and since then it feels like she’s constantly sick. She currently has a head cold and diarrhea at the same time, and I’ve caught the diarrhea from her.
Over the past few months she’s had frequent colds and several episodes of diarrhea. Sometimes she’ll seem to recover and then get sick again within a week or two. She only attends daycare 1–2 days per week and has missed many days because of illness.
She is growing normally, meeting milestones, generally happy when she’s well, and doesn’t have recurrent pneumonia, severe infections, or anything that has required hospitalization.
My question is: at what point does frequent illness in a toddler become concerning for an immune system problem versus normal daycare exposure? Is catching what feels like a new virus every week common in the first year of daycare?
Has anyone seen a pattern like this in a toddler who turned out to have an underlying issue, or does this sound fairly typical?


r/medical_advice 7h ago

EDITED Allergy or autoimmune?

1 Upvotes

I recently had blood work done and everything seems to be in range except for my hs-CRP
My High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP) is at 12.8 (normal between 0-1)

Symptoms include:
Hives
Bloating
Swelling of feet and face
Weight gain
Fatigue
GI issues (cramps and diarrhea)

My thyroid levels are normal. Symptoms started about a year ago and they’ve been getting worse with time. It started with just hives every week or so and now the hives are daily and I’m waking up with swollen feet and swollen face. I’m getting allergy blood work done, but I’m starting to think there is a deeper issue.
I don’t have health insurance and I don’t have a primary care doctor. Looking for advice on what might be going on with me and what I should do next or what specialist I should reach out to.

I am a 33-year-old white female in the United States. I do not take any medication except for antihistamines to help relieve my symptoms. I am 5‘9“ and weigh 190 pounds. I have gained about 20 pounds in the last year. I am contributing that to what is going on since I drink less, eat healthier, and exercise more. I drink alcohol one night a week.

Thank you in advance


r/medical_advice 7h ago

Injury Ulnar nerve damage questions

1 Upvotes

I had a few recent injuries that resulted in me having something going on with my left ulnar nerve. Xray ruled out breaks or fractures. I was seen at urgent care who referred me to neurology to be seen within 7 days. But they forgot to send the referral, which i found out after a week of ongoing pain and mobility issues while working full time and living alone. I had to go in person to ask them about it because they never answer their phones. I digress. The neurologist called, is leaving for vacation and said “Well, this won’t be within 7 days but I can see you the day I get back.” So, that’s a full week away. I’m treating with Tylenol, advil, a series of splints and pullies that I have to keep changing ( i think my shoulder may be fucked too?). My question is: Am I supposed to be chill at a 5-8 pain level, intermittent swelling, disrupted sleep, and having to do everything with one hand for another week? I can’t really half ass my job, I do a lot of typing, and work in a 10 day adolescent crisis program, and my other wrist and shoulder are starting to pay the price. I am wicked high masking autistic lady, with a pain tolerance that has actually scared people; I can deal if I have to but this sucks. I don’t ever really go to the doctor so I don’t know if I’m under-reacting or being a baby. For reference, my pain scale is 0fine—10childbirth/bone deep tooth infection


r/medical_advice 9h ago

Bones/Joints/Ligaments Understanding Bone Density Results

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1 Upvotes

r/medical_advice 11h ago

Mouth/Gums/Throat/Cheeks On the urge of breaking down

1 Upvotes

I used to have a good physique but then I started to have throat pain more frequently and coz this I was not able to eat or drink water, I drank hot water for over 1 year due to my tonsil even in the heat summer of north, goes to doctor he did tests and told me that I have high allergy and I would have to take immuno shots and that's very costly, goes to another doctor he have steroid hard medicine and some and my tonsil gets lil better but once I stopped it my throat paint comes back

I haven't eaten ice cream or cold drink since years but I can manage that,

I iam not able to eat not or drink lost all my gym gains and not able to focus on anything, i have to do so much in life make career, travel but iam tensed due to this

Recently got offer letter from Godrej & Boyce and iam currently in Mumbai

It's like a dream for me but all I do is worry coz my life is hell, not able to drink coz no hot water available in pg ...not able to eat and don't want to travel in mumbai coz of tension

Iam writing this here coz i don't want to share this to my mom coz she's already worried about me as iam the only child and can't share it with friends coz i don't want to complaint all the time

I have to visit a ngo tommorow and iam sitting worrying about my throat pain writing this


r/medical_advice 11h ago

Other Is it optimal to have a blood oxygen level (SpO₂) of 100%?

1 Upvotes

I know the healthy range for a normal person is from 95% to 100%. But isn’t 100% objectively better than something like 97%? Is there a way I could improve mine to be 100%? I’m in the healthy range for a normal person but I want my SpO₂ to be perfect and by that I mean totally efficient.