r/AskDocs • • 2d ago

Weekly Discussion/General Questions Thread - October 19, 2026

1 Upvotes

This is a weekly general discussion and general questions thread for the AskDocs community to discuss medicine, health, careers in medicine, etc. Here you have the opportunity to communicate with AskDocs' doctors, medical professionals and general community even if you do not have a specific medical question! You can also use this as a meta thread for the subreddit, giving feedback on changes to the subreddit, suggestions for new features, etc.

What can I post here?

  • Questions or general health topics that are not about specific symptoms or personal medical issues
  • Comments regarding recent medical news
  • Questions about careers in medicine
  • AMA-style questions for medical professionals to answer
  • Feedback and suggestions for the r/AskDocs subreddit

You may NOT post your questions about your own health or situation from the subreddit in this thread.

Report any and all comments that are in violation of our rules so the mod team can evaluate and remove them.


r/AskDocs • • 8h ago

Physician Responded Im a dancer and a move i do on stage messed up my spine

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826 Upvotes

I am 24F, i do not take any meds.

I am a dancer, and a move I do on stage messed up my spine pretty bad. I lay on my back for this move and bend it, making the center of my spine hit the floor pretty hard. I have had this bump before, but it hasnt been this big. They usually go down. I havent taken anything to help with swelling or pain.

I am posting because I have had people tell me to get it checked, but I do not have insurance. I think ill be fine in a week, as thats what usually happens, but would like opinions just in case.


r/AskDocs • • 9h ago

Physician Responded Update HSV1 infection

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500 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

I’m a 23F, 159cm, 63kg, don’t smoke, diagnosed with DM1 in 2020, discoid lupus in 2022, investigated for SLE multiple times but didnt test positive for the specific SLE markers, but on a strong autoimmune regime. I posted about my severe HSV1 infection a few weeks ago, for which I was hospitalized 12 days, and currently am still being treated. However, the reason why I’m posting today is because a lot of people pointed out I’m very immunosuppressed, which is true. On Monday, my treatment plan was reevaluated and they concluded that I’m out of options for my lupus (I’m NOT in the U.S.). As mentioned before I’m currently on 35mg prednisone, 2000mg cellcept, 200mg hydroxychloroquine, 4mg baricitinib, 100mg minocycline, and I’m still having issues with my lupus. Over the past week, I’ve contacted among other Mayo Clinic, Stanford, Hopkins, Harvard and Cleveland for second opinions in terms of treatment plans, but personally I feel like getting a round of cyclophosphamide would be my best bet, as my disease is so severe. However, this would be very off label and drs here refuse to use biologicals or Cytoxan for my case as it’s not lupus nephritis or encephalitis. Does anyone know what my chances are of getting such treatment approved by any American treatment hospital for my case? I’m at my wits ends. Anyone good recommendations for American teaching hospitals that are likely to take my case?


r/AskDocs • • 5h ago

Physician Responded Warning trigger possible miscarriage NSFW

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34 Upvotes

Trigger warning possible miscarriage 33 years old, Female, 5’7, 200lbs , smoker, methadone only medication, healthy over all for the most part . Last known menstrual about 3/4 months ago. It stopped randomly and I kept taking pregnancy tests but they were all negative. For weeks I still took tests bc I was nauseous and boobs tender but negative still even 2 months after sex.
What I thought was my period came 2 days ago
WORST cramps ever followed by eventually passing this.
After I passed it the cramps immediately subsided and I felt better.
Sent to my PCP and she made room for me to come in tomorrow but in meantime I’m freaking out. Any ideas what this is?


r/AskDocs • • 20h ago

Physician Responded what am i looking at?

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428 Upvotes

this is my boyfriends xray, anyone know where’s the fracture here? i don’t see anything. he’s 24M 5’6 70kg got into a motorcycle accident he was going over 270 and broke his arm fractured his pelvis and now he has a possible tear in his brachius plexus and some injuries in c5-c8 this is off the top of my head i’m sorry if im wrong. he can’t walk rn but is expected to soon he can feel his fingers but rn can’t lift his broken arm that has the brachius plexus tear. will he be able to recover from the fracture is a brachius plexus tear bad??? i’m just concerned and he’s not telling me much to not worry me but that’s not working.


r/AskDocs • • 3h ago

Physician Responded 29F, Pregnant & Just Found Out I have Uterus Didelphys

13 Upvotes

I am a high risk pregnancy due to my uterine abnormality. Initially, doctors thought it might be septate uterus. Then potentially bicornuate. Well today, it has been officially diagnosed as a uterus Didelphys. I am 17 + 4 if that matters. 2 separate uteruses found and 2 cervix found.

Anyway, I asked the high risk pregnancy doctor there if this meant I could potentially be pregnant with two babies (1 in each uterus), and he told me absolutely not and that it wasn't possible in humans. Of course, he is the medical professional, but I could have sworn I read a rare case of a woman with UD having a "Superfetation" pregnancy. I am also seeing it is possible on the internet by googling superfetation.

My question is more so asking for a second opinion to ensure I properly practice abstinence with my husband. Luckily, we have been voluntarily abstinent this entire pregnancy so far because I had a miscarriage before and I just worry about hurting the baby, even if it is safe to have sex. I also plan on asking my regular OB this question. Thank you!

LT;DR: 29F who is pregnant (17 + 4) and diagnosed with uterus didelphys. High risk doctor told me it is "impossible for me to become pregnant with two separate fetuses in my two separate uteruses" quite literally. He said the word "impossible." However, I have read it is possible and have googled "Superfetation pregnancy." Is it impossible or just improbable? Thank you.


r/AskDocs • • 17h ago

Physician Responded Why was I [29F] naked after the surgery?

175 Upvotes

Hi, three weeks ago I had a surgery on my leg, around the knee. I chose total anesthesia. When I was admitted to the hospital, they gave me a gown and disposable socks and underwear. I put them all on before the surgery.

Then, before the anesthesia, they asked me to remove the gown and covered me with a blanket.

Then, when I woke up, the gown was back on, but my underwear (which I didn't remove before the surgery) was gone. It made me feel uncomfortable and disoriented, but I didn't ask anyone. The thing is, years ago, I had an experience of being sexually abused when unconscious (not by doctors) and now the uncertainty of what happened during the surgery and why was my underwear gone keeps bothering me.

Is it a normal procedure to remove the underwear once the patient is unconscious either during or after the surgery?


r/AskDocs • • 17h ago

Physician Responded What infection could this be?

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145 Upvotes

Sex: Male

Age: 38

Height: 175cm

Weight: 50 kg

Known medical issues and medications: none

Just to be clear the individual pictured is not me but a friend whom I am trying to convince to get to a hospital before he loses one or more of his legs.

I have a friend who is going through an emotionally charged period right now after a dramatic relationship breakdown; that involves the police and the courts. I will not go into the details of his relationship breakdown because I don't know all the details and it is not my story to tell.

The end result has been him being in a deeply emotionally damaged state. He is not taking care of himself properly, he takes a shower or a bath maybe once in a few weeks, and he is filthy. He does not eat properly and needs to be checked on every few days to ensure he is eating something substantial. His room is filthy with trash everywhere; where I clean it up for him 1 to 2 times a week when I visit but it is covered in trash every time. I don't understand how a man can live like that or how it is possible for a room to get that filthy in only 2 or 3 days.

So onto the medical parts of the state of things. The man has developed some kind of infection in both of his legs that have caused swelling and the discharge of fluids through open tears in his skin; where 1 time I saw yellow-green discharge dripping down his legs. This is a cyclical infection where his legs swell with cyst like structures developing that will burst causing exceptionally painful discharges of puss and blood and then the swelling subsides, and the pain stops. The cycles appear to be 2 to 3 weeks long where on some weeks he will be perfectly fine with mobility and other times he will be in debilitating pain reducing mobility to next to nothing; where he is unable to walk more than 5 or so metres at a time. This has been going on for about 3 months now.

I and other friends have tried to convince his to go to the emergency department but he refuses. I had asked 2 mutual friends who are lawyers about having him involuntarily committed to a hospital for physical and mental health treatment but under our local laws that is a no go unless he is violent, or has lost consciousness. So unless he attacks someone and the police get involved or just passes out becoming incapable of making medical choice and we can get him on an ambulance he is in control of his own medical choices.

About where he might have got the infection I am guessing that he got one or more small cuts in his legs and contracted something from the filthy environment that is his room which spread all over his legs. My deeper concern is that it is a bacterial/viral/fungal infection all over his body that has thus far only visibly manifested in his legs. I pray that this is only a dermatological issue.

I would like to try to identify what infection he has and try to talk/scare him into going to see a doctor. In our country we have free healthcare so cost is not the problem. I just have to convince him to sit in my car for 5 mins or so to get to the nearest hospital.

Thanks for the help.

Edit to add: I remember that he had mentioned about 12 months ago that he had cirrhosis of the liver.


r/AskDocs • • 3h ago

Complications following hysterectomy

9 Upvotes

my wife (48f, 5’8, around 140 lbs? no smoking, no alcohol, no medications) gave birth to our youngest child on the 15th at 24 weeks. there were complications with bleeding during the c section and they had to do a complete hysterectomy. my wife seemed okay afterward and was recovering okay, but yesterday night complained about feeling dizzy, began bleeding heavily and while they were trying to get it under control, she coded (sorry if these aren’t all the right medical terms, I’m trying to absorb things from both the nicu team and now my wife’s team) and stopped breathing/her heart stopped beating because of the blood loss. they did get it back but she’s in critical condition, intubated in the icu now. the next 48 hours or so will give us a better idea of what the outcome will be. our baby also suffered a brain bleed this morning (she’s stable now and doing ok) so stressful day for me, plus I still have to think of our 3 older girls at home.

My question is: how common is this to occur? What are the recovery chances? What if anything can we do to improve that?


r/AskDocs • • 14h ago

Physician Responded Did I see a dead person in the ER?

64 Upvotes

43F, diagnosed with pneumonia Dec 25.

This is a weird question I know. In December last year I went to Emergency with bad coughing / asthma and fever. I ended up being diagnosed with pneumonia. But my question isn’t about me, it’s about someone I saw in the ER while I was being wheeled to the X-ray rooms.

I was looking around as they transported me and in one cubicle, I saw a person laying in a bed with a towel covering their face. The towel was branded with our state health department logo, so it was a hospital towel. They appeared to be completely motionless, flat on their back, with their arms loose at their sides. The lights were off in the cubicle but the curtain was drawn open (obviously, as I could see in).

I had my chest xray and was wheeled back, all within the space of around half an hour. On the way back I looked again and they were still there, exactly the same position, with the towel still completely covering their face.

It very much seemed to me that this was a recently deceased person who was covered for privacy. But it doesn’t really make sense. Why would they leave the curtain open for all to see? Why would they still be there half an hour later? And would they really use a towel to cover them rather than a sheet?

But also: what other possible reason could there be for a seemingly unconscious person in the ER to have a towel over their face in a darkened cubicle? It’s a mystery that keeps popping into my mind ever since, as it really disturbed me at the time, especially being seriously ill and feverish myself.


r/AskDocs • • 8h ago

Physician Responded Finger burn. NSFW

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22 Upvotes

My mom 50F, 55 kg, 5'3 her fingers got burnt yesterday. She tried to pull the polyester bedsheet which caught fire leading to the burn. She's applying coconut oil mixed with dyer's alkanet and camphor. In some fingers water has filled inside. There's no pain. What ointment can heal it quickly? I'm from India.


r/AskDocs • • 40m ago

Physician Responded 19F throat problems

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• Upvotes

hi im a hypochondriac and i have sensorimotor ocd and have felt like there is mucus stuck in my throat on the right side about halfway down my neck for 2-3 days now. I have been excessively both clearing my throat and coughing very hard trying to release it and nothing has soothed my discomfort, im only sore from the coughing. tonight, I started spitting this up every time I can make myself cough hard enough, but t’s not consistent with every cough-and-spit. what’s wrong with me? please help


r/AskDocs • • 5h ago

Physician Responded Ectopia Lentis - How common?

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12 Upvotes

43/f. 5’3” 205 lbs. never smoked. I had surgery in May for Ectopia Lentis in my left eye and recently noticed similar but mild vision issues in my right eye. I visited my ophthalmologist and the lens in my right eye is now dislocating. Surgery is scheduled for next month. I do not have Marfan’s, I had genetic testing and have a gene mutation for Marfan’s on one gene but my surgeon told me that does not mean I have the syndrome.

I have had no trauma to either eye. I just noticed my vision started to blur slightly that progressively get worse until I couldn’t see clearly out of the eye.

I wanted to ask if this is something that is common for people that do not have a Marfan’s diagnosis or could there be another cause for this issue. The only explanation that I’ve had is that I have (had) fewer zonules holding my lenses in place and the structure wasn’t as strong as it should be so they snapped.

Picture of left eye 1 month before surgery.


r/AskDocs • • 1h ago

Physician Responded Sorry bad picture but do these stitches look well done? I felt the whole thing and she was not very confident. Just making sure.

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• Upvotes

23M 5’10 195lbs

She initially used the wrong stitch and she gave me lidocaine but i guess it didn’t work all the way because it still hurt pretty bad every time she put the hook through. She wants to check up with me tomorrow and she had to redo stitches like 4 seperate times so I’m just making sure I’m good. Sorry for the bad picture it’s all i got before they put bandaids on that they said i can’t take off


r/AskDocs • • 1h ago

Physician Responded Cuticle infection? Should I see a doctor?

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• Upvotes

Cuticle infection? Should I see a doctor?

I used flash to see the discolouration better, don't worry I don't normally glow like a nuclear reactor.

It's been like this for almost 3 days, throbbing pain, can't apply any pressure to it.

I'm in the UK, so buying anything with proper antibiotics is prescription only and getting an appointment takes awhile, there is no "see a doctor today" option near me.

I've been doing warm saltwater bathing, but nothing else.

M33, no history of diabetes


r/AskDocs • • 3h ago

Is this the right protocol for treating alcohol withdrawal?

7 Upvotes

Context: I'm a 28 year old male, chronic alcoholic, drinking everyday for 9 years, physically dependent on it for at least 4 years, had around 6 medical detoxes previous to that and one episode of delirium tremens in 2022. Went on a bender where i was drinking 24/7 for 50 days straight, around 2L of vodka every 24 hours.
Family made an intervention on me, and i was sent to the hospital, they "detoxed" me with the following protocol:

-chlorpromazine every 8 hours

-Lexapro - Once a day

-haloperidol 5mg intramuscular injection every 8 hours

-promethazine - Once a day

-dexmedetomidine 6ml/h

-Diazepam 10mg - Every 6hrs(i remember they reduced to every 8 or 12 hours after the second day)

I was having mild withdrawals when i arrived, but i kept getting worse and worse, first the nausea, sweats and shakes.

Day 1: I was shaking and dry heaving constantly, waves of sweat

Day 2: Lots of sweat and i started to develop a fever, my blood pressure started to raise above 16/10, at the evening some auditory hallucinations started, i told the nurse, nothing was done about that. Around midnight i started to get confused and by now i hear people talking like they were at a party (I was in the ICU).

Day 3: Im confused, i want to discharge myself, now i've lost my mind, i don't know what day it is or what time of day it is, i was able to call a friend and ask him to come pick me up since someone needs to sign the papers for the discharge, according to my phone calls recordings it was around afternoon, now i convinced myself that the medical staff is trying to sedate me and i was going to die, i ripe my IV off, the nurses came, cleaned the mess that i did and put me back on bed(i'm very confused).
They inject me with haloperidol+promethazine + midazolam intramuscular + diazepam intramuscular and more oral diazepam, im in a delirium state, the whole scenario changed, now im not in a hospital im in a house and everything became a blur, i don't know if it was a dream or if i was hallucinating awake, after a while i start to get better, but really sedated, my friend came and i was able to run away from the hospital.

Called a psychiatrist who gave me a protocol of valium and instructions on how to detox.

Im currently sober for 24 days and off valium for 7 days, taking naltrexone daily with cymbalta to stay sober forever(i hope and wish).

Is the hospital protocol right for alcohol withdrawal? I'm in South America, i don't know if doctors here are as well trained for alcohol withdrawal as in the USA or Europe. I'm not a doctor, but i believe i entered in a delirium tremens stage and after ripping off my IVs they saw that i was not faking my symptoms.


r/AskDocs • • 1d ago

Physician Responded What and why is this and can i do anything about it

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1.2k Upvotes

I am f26 and have had these weird fat pockets under my boobs on my stomach for my whole life. I have been 100 pounds less and they are still there so please don’t just suggest losing weight as i know that can help them go down but they are still there no matter how much weight i lose. I have tried coolsculpting on them and it did absolutely nothing. Is the only way to get rid of it plastic surgery? And if you know what it is or what causes it that would be really cool to know. Thank you!


r/AskDocs • • 6h ago

What’s this in my throat?

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9 Upvotes

Hello I’m 26, 5.6ft 17.12stone female
I’ve had this and getting worse for the last 4-5 days. It really hurts to swallow, talk, drink, eat etc… I’ve tried diflam rinse and the longes you can get, salt water, pain relief. I had my tonsils removed when I was 8-10 years old can’t remember. Will
Post more photos in comments


r/AskDocs • • 5h ago

Physician Responded 26 Year Old male cholesterol

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7 Upvotes

I got my blood test and my cholesterol came back higher, I wanted to know if this really is a concern given my lifestyle. I basically eat eggs, steak, chicken, fish, cheese and drink milk on a regular basis and basically cook everything with avocado oil ( I get pasteurized for basically everything). I also eat carbs mostly with my lunch and dinner, for lunch i’ll have sourdough bread or potato (Sweet or rustic) and dinner is usually fruits and veggies like carrots, blueberries, grapes, and apples. I also am a hardcore lifter and weight-lift pretty heavy 5 days out of the week and get 10k steps a day. I know it’s because my diet is high in saturated fats, which is why my cholesterol is higher, but my question is if it matters as much since the saturated fats are all coming from whole foods. (Full blood test is in my comments)


r/AskDocs • • 1d ago

Physician Responded Follow up to “shaken baby syndrome” post from yesterday

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

399 Upvotes

10 week old boy. 12 lbs.

just wanted to post a demonstration video with my boy since everyone said it’s probably fine.

i was doing it sitting down before so it’s slightly different than with my teddy bear

i basically am swaying him side to side pretty fast to simulate flying and was worried about shaken baby syndrome. The times I’ve done it with him a bit faster or slower

disclaimer - I am only doing this again with baby because people said it’s ok and to show you guys he’s fine. I will up my zoloft for ocd.


r/AskDocs • • 1h ago

Physician Responded I have this thing on my clitoral hood

• Upvotes

So, I just saw it today, but I’ve seen stuff like it on my labia? It’s under my clitoral hood in those like folds of your inner clitoris. Theres two white bumps the size of a pin or pencil prick. I thought it was Smegma, but it didn’t wash off?? So I took a q-tip and poked at it gently. Nothing came off. I tried to pop them (ouch) but they wouldn’t pop even under pressure?? Once every few weeks I’ll do a deep clean of smegma (I do a simple wash with vagisil every day though) and I’ll find a hard pellet that looks like the exact same thing but it had popped out? What is it. Also, what is that part of the labia called?

Some background information: I’m a virgin so it can be an std (though I was sexually assaulted when I was younger quite a few times so maybe it is?) I clean my hands and whatever else before touching myself and I am on “linsessa birth control” Prozac, and pantoprazole. Any ideas??

The white things themself dont hurt, but it hurts to pee sometimes despite the “pimples” not being near my urethra.

age: 15
approximate height & weight: 160 cm ≈100lbs
gender: born female, identifies as male
medications you take: linessa birth control, Prozac, pantoprazole
smoking status: two years clean
previous and current medical issues: hemorrhagic ovarian cyst, gastritis
duration and location of complaint few months only realized today, on my vulva.


r/AskDocs • • 2h ago

Physician Responded 22 male body odor problem

3 Upvotes

Hello everyone sorry if my english is bad. No matter how hard i try(shower, wash clothes, brush teeth with all tools) i always smell like feces...my breath, sweat, even my stool smells horrible like flesh, chemicals and shit. Its been over two years and im going insane.Im still a virgin didnt have a gf in years i cant even go out with friends anymore.Im losing weight have, terrible shape stools i dont know what to do or what this is


r/AskDocs • • 7h ago

Physician Responded My Brother 16 years of age, Down Syndrome has Leukemia his Hema-Oncologist asking me to let my brother intubated

10 Upvotes

I really really need advice, my Brother has ALL type of leukemia downsyndrome and recently his Blood pressure drop without Nifedipine his BP dropping and he got Pneumonia the ER doctor said he got two (2) virus type of Pneumonia infecting him causing his Oxygen level to dropping to 75 but going up to 95..same scenario all day.. when the doctor saw it dropped her recommendation is to be intubated, do I need to permit them for intubation? with no guarantee he might survive being intubated.. please answer me, I want my brother to survive


r/AskDocs • • 31m ago

is this a normal allergic drug reaction?

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• Upvotes

23F, 5’8, 215lbs, history of hashimotos, chronic migraines & endometriosis.

I was in the ER on Monday (10/19) and given contrast dye for a CT and ended up having a delayed reaction of a full skin body rash. I went to urgent care the next day (10/20) where they confirmed it was a drug allergy reaction and most likely from the contrast dye.

Now, this morning (10/21) I started to get a cough and throat tightness. Nothing like I was choking, just uncomfortable. I then tried to eat this evening and noticed I could not due to severe mouth pain and looked in my throat and mouth to see mouth ulcers. On some areas of my skin rash – near my vagina, upper thighs, and stomach – there are small pin point dots that are non-blanching petechiae.

Is this something I should be worried about or is this a normal course for a drug reaction? Should I be reaching out to my primary?

Thank you!


r/AskDocs • • 48m ago

Possible Cervical Issue?

• Upvotes

Background: 28F, 150cm, 53kg. Non-drinker, non-smoker. Active. I take 0.5mg Abilify and 25mg Zoloft every day. I have taken them both to over a year.

Symptoms:
- Consistent neck and back soreness and pain.
- Dull daily headaches.
- Chest pressure and tightness with occasional air hunger.
- Ear and eye pressure, jaw soreness.
- Weakness in hands and legs.
- Feeling off-balance while walking.

I have been experiencing these symptoms for about two weeks, and they all came on at the same time.

Recently, I began lifting weights. I am not sure if I did something incorrectly to accidentally cause some of these symptoms. I did not feel any pain while exercising. Additionally, I was taking a skin antibiotic called Minocycline. I was told it can increase head pressure, but I don't know if it would be causing my problems. It has been a week since I stopped taking it.

I have visited a neurologist, general doctor, and an ENT. The neurologist did a brain MRI that was clear. He also did an x-ray of my head and neck, which showed that I don't have great posture but nothing serious. The general doctor did a blood test, which was all normal. The ENT checked my ears and sinuses, which were fine. They also did a dizziness test where they checked my eye movements and that was normal, too.

However, the biggest thing that leads me to believe I have a cervical problem came from this dizziness test. They bent my neck far forward while I was sitting down. I felt a burning pain go down my whole spine.

I don't know what is causing my symptoms exactly, and I don't know what kind of doctor to see and what to ask for. So far, the doctors just keep giving me painkillers and sending me away. But I am uncomfortable every day and I want to know what I need to fix.