Hey everyone, I have been super hesitant posting on the thread about my medical mystery that has been ongoing for about 7 months now, I’m just at a loss and want to know if anyone has had any similar issues or advice.
Back in 2019 I had a hyperextension injury in my lower back, near my SI joint. Long story short, after scans were done, they found out I have spina bifida occulta, they told me that I’d have to live with the pain I was having and sent me on my way. Frustrated, I kept pushing through until the next issues occurred.
November 1, 2023, exactly 7 months ago now, I woke up one morning with a headache. Nothing out of the ordinary for me honestly, I’ve been told I suffer with a type of migraine disorder, but Tylenol always made it go away after a while. Skip ahead to now, June 1, 2024, and this headache is still here, I know it sounds crazy, but every single day I wake up with this headache and go to sleep with this headache, absolutely no medication has helped me, and trust me I’ve tried quite a few.
Along with this headache, I noticed a lot of other symptoms, and honestly so much has changed since then I can’t remember them all, but some include: weight gain, blurry vision (almost like a film over my eyes at times), extreme fatigue, extreme bruising out of nowhere, free bleeding every time I got even the tiniest scratch, not sleeping at night, random weakness and numbness in my hands, random entire body weakness, even more sugar drops than normal (I’m also Hypoglycemic), muscle cramps, dizziness, joint and muscle pain (more than usual), muscle cramps (more than usual), abdominal pain, extreme indigestion and heart burn, extreme bloating, TMJ flares 24/7, a knot on the side of my face located at my temple, major brain to speech delays that have almost made me speak differently now, brain fog, and the list could continue forever I feel like.
After what felt like forever with this headache and all the other issues, I go to my PCP hoping that they can help me somehow. They told me I was getting over a sinus infection and gave me antibiotics for fluid behind my ear, and muscle relaxers for my TMJ flare up which they said caused the knot on my temple as well. I didn’t think this was the issue, but did as told, and took the medications the course I was given, and to no avail, nothing changed. They said that they would refer me to a neurologist and stated that this could take a while and that they would also probably need a head CT for scheduling to accept me. No CT was scheduled and I hadn’t heard back from them in a while.
December 24, 2023, I ended up in my local ER with a debilitating headache, where I gave them my entire sob story over again, because at this point I felt so stupid coming to the ER for this. They done a head CT and gave me some IV meds that took the edge off the slightest, enough to where I could at least function some, but still in pain. They told me that my head CT was normal and that I needed to go to the neurologist after getting an appointment. So a wasted trip in my eyes because I’m still left in pain with absolutely no idea what is going on.
I get in with my now neurologist in the new year and start going to see them. They prescribed me a lot of different medications for a period of time over 3 months to see what would help, news flash, nothing helped, ever, it’s still here to this day. I have also had a brain MRI and a EEG done as well. They thought that maybe with my issues with spina bifida occulta, that I had a Chiari Malformation or some type of seizure disorder that had just made itself known. Guess what, all scans are normal, spectacular even as they all told me, my scans were the picture of health! Then why do I feel so bad every single day.
Fast forward to many appointments and medications and blood panels later. I have an appointment with my neurologist to go over what we should do next. I told them that I was also starting to experience major abdominal pain on my right lower abdomen. They assumed that maybe it was appendicitis, so we done some tests, they assumed that I was fine and sent me downstairs for bloodwork. Now,‘I’ve never had issues with getting bloodwork done, I’m a super nerd about everything medical and have absolutely no weak stomach to anything. I am getting my blood drawn and completely black out. I mean stopped breathing and had compressions started in the middle of the lab. When I finally came to, they checked all of my vitals, all normal, minus my bp was a little bit elevated. Everything else, even sugar, all normal. I was rushed to the ER that is closest to my neurologist, which is 2 and a half hours away from my house. They thought maybe I did have appendicitis and it burst. Or a possible ovarian cyst.
In the ambulance and in the ER waiting for a room, it almost happens a second and third time. I’m terrified at this point. They run an EKG, abdominal CT, bloodwork, urine sample, ultrasounds, the entire works. Guess what, all comes back normal, except they did find that my liver is slightly enlarged? Odd, but okay. I get set up appointments with a cardiologist, a GI specialist, an orthopedist spine specialist, and told to visit my OBGYN for the possible ovarian pain.
Now time for a speed round of these appointments: - OBGYN says my abdominal pain is pelvic floor muscle spasms, no reason why, gave me muscle relaxers, has gone away mostly - Cardiologist says I need a heart monitor to assess my heart palpitations, haven’t gotten that yet, so at a dead end with that for now - Spine specialist done X-rays, confirmed spina bifida occulta, also diagnosed me with degenerative disc disease (runs in my family and I done gymnastics my entire life to make it worse), I have Bilateral sacroiliitis, and Mild lumbar stenosis, sending me to PT and getting dry needling done, just had my first appointment yesterday, so ongoing. - GI specialist does an insane amount of bloodwork (yay finally), and now I’m scheduled for a fibroscan of my liver next month.
However, the following are the current bloodwork results: - High chloride - Low CO2 - Low Bun - High Alpha-1 Antitrypsin - High iron - High Transferrin - High AST - High ALT (almost double the normal amount) - Positive Antinuclear Antibodies (ANA) - ANA Titer value 1:80 - ANA Pattern Homogeneous
They also told me that even through I have had all of my hepatitis vaccines throughout my stages of life, that I am NOT protected against Hepatitis B and need to go get another round of the vaccine, however, have no active Hepatitis B infection.
And the little background I have: currently on birth control, Loryna® (Drospirenone and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets, USP) 3 mg/0.02 mg, for oral use, I have been on this since early 2020. And I was on Lexapro 10mg for a little over a year between late 2022 to very early 2024. I am no longer taking Lexapro.
I am stumped and confused and frustrated beyond compare at this point and don’t know where to turn to next. Has anyone had an experience even close to this or any advice for where I should turn next?

First of all hi everyone my English isn’t great. But I was diagnosed with sjogrens with a normal AnA and all other autoimmune tests . The test that diagnosed me was the lip biopsy but could it be something else? I have had no dry eyes or dry mouth. I only have neurological/neuromuscular symptoms. Muscle weakness, twitching, muscle loss, fatigue and bad breathing problems. I have been seeing like 10 different specialists since 2022 with no answers to my symptoms other than sjogrens and small fiber neuropathy. I was afraid for ALS kinda still am . What do yall think it could be and any recommendations are greatly appreciated thanks!

33F, 5’4”, 200lb… chronic cough for months. Initially provider thought cough was caused by heartburn but heartburn medication has not been helping. Cough produces white and yellow phlegm (mostly cleawhite—yellow in the morning). Friends, family, coworkers have all noticed my cough for months and wonder what is wrong. I finally decided to get looked at but it feels like my symptoms are being minimized.
Chest X-ray was normal.
Prescribed albuterol inhaler (by urgent care, not GP) and told to take mucinex DM by GP. Also taking Zoloft, Famotidine.
Symptoms: wheezing, shortness of breath, constant cough that isn’t helped with cough drops or suppressants, anxiety, depression, fatigue
Photo of spirometry results in comments. Do they look normal, as suggested by my doctor? Nurse had hinted at the time that they were below normal. Should I be seeking a second opinion?
I do occasionally smoke cannabis and have a high amount of allergies. Recently adopted a new dog as well and dogs are one of my top allergies. I take a daily Claritin.
Just really worried my symptoms are being minimized by GP. Of if I am sick, im worried I could have an infection or something that requires a steroid or antibiotic.

My child is having his third flare of what ER doctors diagnosed as Bells Palsy (during the first round in late 2022)
Though I suspect its NOT actually BP (and am working toward getting a diagnosis of Myasthenia Gravis)- would prednisone help during this 3rd week of symptoms? Or is it too late and if it is in fact BP, just wait for it to run its course?
First time- diagnosed with BP and given 10 days of small prednisone dosage Second time- undiagnosed but given 10 days of prednisone by new pediatrician Third time (present)- symptoms have been present for 3 weeks. No prednisone, as above pediatrician refused. Getting better but eyes droop, trouble chewing/swallowing, incoherent speech and general fatigue are all especially prominent toward nighttime.
My Q is-
If this is in fact BP, will prednisone help at this point? (going on 3 weeks) Can an Urgent care prescribe it for me since his pediatrician won’t?
Any help is much appreciated while we figure out what is truly going on 🙏🏼 and I’m sorry for anyone living with this condition.

So...this is likely going to be a long post, I apologize in advance as I kind of just have a lot of my mind to expand upon.
I am a 33 year old male, I first got Covid in late December 2023. It was rough, What complicates this for me is that I didn't feel good before Covid. For years I dealt with major fatigue issues, what some would consider similar to adrenal fatigue type symptoms, low blood sugar feelings every day, anxiety, all kinds of weird stomach/chest sensations, lack of energy, heat sensitivity, anxiety and more. The only things I previously had been confirmed to have that could have contribued to this were low Vitamin D and a hiatal hernia. Over the last few years I've had a batery of heart tests, stomach tests, all never really found much other than the hiatal hernia.
Covid was rough on me for sure. Had the worst cough I've ever had for weeks. Though oxygen remained normal, the worst muscle pains I've ever had, and stomach issues, frequent bowel movement. In the weeks following Covid I felt like my hiatal hernia had been made worse as I was just noticing symptoms in there more. I also feel sleepy way more than I did before Covid. The coughing stopped, but I dont know that any of it totally went away, there were periods of time where I forgot I had Covid and even thought I was totally over it a few times, but right now I am reconsidering it.
The last few weeks I have really been just not been feeling rough..and its nothing new to me totally but it all feels worse.
Muscle pains and soreness...I dont have horrible muscle pains, but I have pains that are just there that I didnt notice before, arms, legs, ribs, back, chest. Now weird feelings werent new to me, but its all so much more noticeable after Covid. Its almost like...My muscles are all just a little heavy/sore, like if I want to go on a walk, its like starting an old car, something at 33 I dont think is the norm, just sitting here typing this paragraph I've noticed a strain/muscle pain in my left knee, upper thigh, fingers, and left wirst. They are low on the pain scale like 2 or 3 out of 10, but they are there. It is similar to the muscle feelings you get when you are sick but not quite on that scale, just a lower level daily 24/7 version of it.
My hiatal hernia has felt so much worse in the last few weeks. I am noticing so much more pressure around it, its almost like a baby kicking in my lower chest/upper stomach when I move positions or lean wrong, or strain. I've had lots of nausea last few weeks also going along with it, it also goes along with the low blood sugar feelings I get which are fixed by foods (not sugar), and sometimes its hard to tell if I am sick or hungry or what.
Along with the theme of stomach issues, and this one gets a little more graphic...I haven't been normal with bowel movements since I had Covid. Atleast my usual. I was..pretty regular pre-covid. Every couple days, maybe once a day, but it was..simple..relatively the same...Since I had Covid, its extremely irregular, much more frequently it can be more diahhrea like, usually very soft, sometimes multiple times a day which used to be extremely rare for me, and where I used to be able to hold it before, it seems to come on much more suddenly for me now.
For a weird one, I feel like my anxiety is worse again since Covid...now I had anxiety for years which was actually caused by all the strange symptoms I had over the years. But it had been maintained and stable before Covid. Now it feels like any adrenaline release at all absolutely screws up my body. Good or bad energy. Watching a sporting event and getting excited = feeling bad...Even gaming...I am an eSports compeititor, mainly with sim racing, but I enjoy other games. I've noticed that if I play a game like Fortnite now, when I get done if its a tense game, I am borderline panic attack and my body freaking out for literally no reason, and it comes on out of nowhere once i'm done. Fortnite seems to do it worst of all games.
There are more things im sure I am forgetting but its very late, and this really hit me today that maybe somehow Long Covid is playing up all of these things after all. I did have an episode of my heart racing last month and they said it was POTS..I had an EKG while it was going, EKG was normal, Chest XRay was normal...I dont necessarily believe it was POTS but I also cant rule it out as I have had other POTS like symptoms before.

Hey everyone, I have a 5.5 year old with suspected MG. Symptoms are:
-Trouble speaking clearly, especially at night -Trouble chewing and swallowing to the point that he can only have soft foods -Ptosis in one or both eyes at a time (child sometimes looks ‘tired’ or ‘sleepy’ -Muscle weakness and fatigue. Appears to be clumsy, falling down while playing, groaning when he has to go up stairs, get out of bed etc
Quick background- -In late 2022/2023 the first symptoms (same as above) appeared after an unknown viral infection. After multiple doctors, ENT’s, ER’s- and “we don’t know’s”, he was diagnosed with ‘Bells Palsy’ and given Prednisone. Condition improved after several grueling weeks.
-Happened again in March 2023. Did not go to ER this time, asked his new PCP for prednisone which he gave & again- condition improved after several long weeks (late March to about May)
-FF to 5/17 of this year- started showing symptoms again after a really long cold. PCP is stumped and refused steroids. Gave referral for neuro but refused referal for rheumatologist. (We will be switching Pediatricians ASAP, I know)
Went to 2 ER’s including one in a childrens hospital. Bloodwork and MRI came out clean. Doctors shrugged and said they don’t see anything wrong and we only notice because we are his parents. Frustrating. Follow up neuro appt is AUGUST 28TH.
It has been about 3 weeks now and although symptoms are slightly improving, the ‘sleepy’ look, trouble swallowing, and muscle weakness is still there. Mornings/ early afternoon is not too bad and he can do light activities but at night he’s borderline incoherent with his speech.
My questions are-
-What steps would you take to get a diagnosis? -Can he test positive for MG even if his symptoms aren’t present at the time of his neuro appointment in August? -Would prednisone be useful again at this point during this ‘flare’? (going on 3 weeks as mentioned above) -If prednisone will help, what are his chances of getting it prescribed in the urgent care?
Please help. Any thoughts/feedback are greatly appreciated. We are at a loss here and extremely worried while we start our fight to get answers. 🙏🏼

hi, this is my first time posting so sorry if its not formatted/written very well & also sorry if i rambled too much
TDLR: thinking of mobility aids bc of joint pain & fatigue/lightheadness, not currently seeing any docs or anything, unsure how to speak to parents about it????
im not currently diagnosed w/anything or regularly seeing any kind of doctomedical professional, ive seen the physio about my left knee twice [once in 2023 and once last week, housemaids knee, i think? keeps coming back. got given a sheet of exercises for it]
i am also on the waiting list to see a cardiologist bc i have symptoms that seem more or less consistent with POTS? [palpatitions & high heart rate standing up, lightheadedness, vision going out, tempreture issues, nausea, etc. not self diagnosing just using to help give a picture of it] but i dont even have an appointment date yet
i have had blood tests done as well as an ecg regarding that ^^^^ & all the results were normal
i also have some kind of joint pain/issues [worst in my ankles/wrists, and my left knee & right hip], as well as fatigue and minor-ish balance issues. all of my issues are like, inconsistent in severity
i have been thinking about getting a mobility aid of some sort for a while, but recently much more, as ive been hurting my knee more, like basically any time i walk more than mile [or even less, sometimes].
& also because i regularly get tired/lightheaded and have to sit down [and usually end up sitting on the ground]. i find standing largely uncomfortable, and it usually becomes painful within 10 minutes
i try to exercise but its difficult all considered [also have a circadian rythmn disorder so im not regularly awake in daylight hours :/] & i think a mobility aid could help me? especially bc i find myself leaning on things a lot
right now i use knee & ankle supports semi-regularly, which has helped a lot in reducing the pain/keeping it from getting worse. imo im being more active since getting them
i am [kind of irrationally, maybe?] very nervous about talking to my parents
they have largely been supportive in the past about accommodating me & letting me persue my interests. everyone picked up fingerspelling & a couple signs bc i sometimes dont/cant speak verbally, for example
though its only in the past year that ive realised im physically disabled [had all the symptoms before, just didnt realise it was wasnt everyones experience], i did a lot of that discovery thru having conversations with them about it, & i regularly talk thru stuff with them to help get an idea of which things i experience are considered abnormal/concerning
they seem to understand, at least, that i have a lot of trouble with doing things. my mother is the one who bought the knee brace for me. shes also an occupational therapist [stopped practicing after having kids but recently re-registered], so she knows more than the average person about this kinda thing
they are not always immediately great about things, but theyre willing to discuss and actually listen, so a lot of times its about how well i can articulate myself when i explain. their general attitude is that i should be able to make my own decisions, and that if it helps me then its worth at least discussing
i have previously suggested that ive thought about the subject, but not necessarily for myself [spoken about my friends disabilities and mobility aids & stuff]. i'm unsure of how to bring it up & anxious even tho the worst thing theyre likely be is kinda skeptical, in which case its pretty likely i would be able to talk them into it?
for reference the things im most drawn to personally are forearm crutches and those canes w/the seats? not sure if theyre called smthn specific. a lot of places we go have pretty rough floors/no paths so it seems most practical to me. im also currently a minor [turning 18 next year], if thats relevent at all.
i am willing/would kinda prefer? to see a medical professional about it and get suggestions of what would be best first, so thats not an issue [except for actually getting access to that, bc nhs waiting lists are ridiculously long and private is so expensive]
but again id need to talk abt it first to be able to have my parents arrange that for me [have selective/situational mutism so need someone with me on doctors visits]
idk. thoughts?? suggestions on how to bring all this up? thanks for reading in any case & once again sorry this ended up so long!!

Hi, hopeful that an endo may be interested in responding to this. A little of my history; 34 y/o female, no surgical history. H/O pituitary microadenoma (was 13mm at 17 y/o and 5mm at 30 y/o), Lupus (stable on Plaquenil only), thyroid nodules (stable, TSH/T4 recently tested and mid range normal). Current ACTH is 5 (range is 7-63) and cortisol was 6.9. Today’s stim testing was baseline cortisol of 9, cortisol of 18 at 30 minutes, and 21 at 60 minutes so adrenals are working fine. C3-96 C4-20 CBC, normal CMP, only abnormal today was low potassium Random insulin (two hours post meal) was 3.5, glucose was 70 A1C is 5.4 (I have never seen my blood sugar elevated and test quite frequently 1-2 hours post meals) Urine sodium is 41, out of range high. urine osmolality is 309, blood osmolality is 290, normal range for lab ranges provided. Potassium is 3.2, so assuming this may be the reason for frequent urination mentioned below.
Current symptoms: weight loss of 15 lbs since February, loss of appetite, recurrent hypoglycemia (30’s-60’s occur weekly, no day without a reading of 60 or so—but rare fasting hypos), polyuria/polydipsia, intermittent diarrhea, fatigue, joint pain, back pain, night sweats, orthostatic hypotension with narrow MAP (96/84 for example) and heart rate ranging from 54-148 on average. Both slightly relieved, but not resolved, by Adderall 10-20mg BID (just so happen to have started taking this BID for this reason.)
Went to urgent care three weeks ago due to pretty significant symptoms and bad back pain— took a Toradol shot and Medrol dose pack for six days. For the first 3-4 days I had significant improvement in symptoms, slept better, had an appetite, no low blood sugar readings. I’ve never taken a steroid before, even with lupus. Today after stim testing felt more like my normal “pre-sick” self. Ate breakfast without gagging, no low blood sugar episodes all day. Had the energy to finish some documents for work and cook dinner.
God bless you if you’ve made it this far: Does this seem like very early secondary adrenal insufficiency? I am worried that my results are borderline enough to cause a watch and wait approach, but not sure I can handle feeling like this 24/7 when I know what it’s felt like to have cortisol in my system. I’m not naive to the harm of lifelong steroid requirements and do not want adrenal problems, but if I can feel better sooner I would like to. I have three kids and work an emotionally taxing job.
TLDR; pt with pituitary adenoma, thyroid nodules, borderline results for cortisol (6 and 9) and low ACTH (5), passed stim testing. Have classic SAI symptoms and feel better on a steroid/with acth stim testing.

I posted on here a couple months ago, explaining how back in March, I began experiencing constant pelvic pain and cramps, even off my period. Since then, it’s progressed into lack of appetite, constipation, and especially extreme fatigue as well as nausea and dizziness. The symptoms are so bad that my college threatened to revoke my diploma.
After a clear ultrasound, my gynecologist had ordered an MRI with contrast to get a better look at possible endometriosis. I just woke up and found that there was nothing. They found absolutely no sign of endometriosis.
I understand that sometimes these things don’t show on an MRI, however, I am terrified to ask about a laparoscopy. I don’t know if I can fight for something, just to be proven wrong yet again.
I am 22 and feel like my life has been stolen from me, yet have no diagnosis to back up what I’m feeling. I just woke up for the day, after only previously being awake (and nauseous) for 6 hours and found out the news that I might be crazy, and it might be in my head after all. This is incredibly frustrating and isolating. I just don’t know how to move forward

DAY: MAY 30 2024
5-30-2024

WHAT ARE NOOTROPICS AND DO THEY REALLY BOOST YOUR BRAIN?

Humans have long been searching for a “magic elixir” to make us smarter, and improve our focus and memory. This includes traditional Chinese medicine used thousands of years ago to improve cognitive function. Now we have nootropics, also known as smart drugs, brain boosters or cognitive enhancers. You can buy these gummies, chewing gum, pills and skin patches online, or from supermarkets, pharmacies or petrol stations. You don’t need a prescription or to consult a health professional. But do nootropics actually boost your brain? Here’s what the science says. What
5-30-2024

STUDY REVEALS IMPORTANT HEALTH MARKERS

BIPS has made significant progress in identifying health markers that are crucial for a long and healthy life. Led by Prof. Dr. Krasimira Aleksandrova and in close collaboration with the German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke (DIfE), the research provides valuable insights for healthy aging. In the study published in the journal Age and Ageing, Aleksandrova and her team analyzed specific combinations of molecular markers reflecting various biological processes as possible indicators of healthy aging. The focus was particularly
5-30-2024

STUDY SHOWS AI HEALTH COACH LOWERS BLOOD PRESSURE AND BOOSTS ENGAGEMENT IN PATIENTS WITH HYPERTENSION

Architecture of data transmission. Participant data were collected from Bluetooth-enabled blood pressure (BP) monitors, wearable devices, and a mobile app–based questionnaire. Data were uploaded through the respective application programming interfaces (APIs) to our app server, where the individualized analysis was carried out before delivering recommendations to participants. A new study in JMIR Cardio shows that a fully digital, artificial intelligence (AI)–driven lifestyle coaching program can effectively reduce blood pressure (BP) in adults with hypertension. This AI-based program leverages data from wearable activity trackers and
5-30-2024

SNAPPING PHOTOS OF OUR FOOD COULD BE GOOD FOR US, STUDY SUGGESTS

New Curtin University research reveals taking pictures of food isn’t just content for our social media feeds, but could be the key to improving people’s diets. The feeding study saw researchers measure the weight of meals, which were then provided to participants over a day for breakfast, lunch and dinner. “Accuracy of energy and nutrient intake estimation versus observed intake using four technology-assisted dietary assessment methods: a randomized crossover feeding study” was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Participants compared different technology-assisted methods to recall what they had
5-30-2024

PARENTS ARE INCREASINGLY SAYING THEIR CHILD IS ‘DYSREGULATED.’ WHAT DOES THAT ACTUALLY MEAN?

Welcome aboard the roller coaster of parenthood, where emotions run wild, tantrums reign supreme and love flows deep. As children reach toddlerhood and beyond, parents adapt to manage their child’s big emotions and meltdowns. Parenting terminology has adapted too, with more parents describing their child as “dysregulated.” But what does this actually mean? More than an emotion Emotional dysregulation refers to challenges a child faces in recognizing and expressing emotions, and managing emotional reactions in social settings. This may involve either suppressing emotions or displaying exaggerated and intense emotional responses
5-30-2024

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SHYNESS AND SOCIAL ANXIETY?

The terms “shyness” and “social anxiety” are often used interchangeably because they both involve feeling uncomfortable in social situations. However, feeling shy, or having a shy personality, is not the same as experiencing social anxiety (short for “social anxiety disorder”). Here are some of the similarities and differences, and what the distinction means. How are they similar? It can be normal to feel nervous or even stressed in new social situations or when interacting with new people. And everyone differs in how comfortable they feel when interacting
5-30-2024

EYE EXERCISES TO IMPROVE SIGHT—IS THERE ANY SCIENCE BEHIND THEM? AN OPHTHALMOLOGIST IS SKEPTICAL

You may have seen advertisements claiming to eliminate the need for eyeglasses through vision therapy or vision training—basically, eye exercises. These exercises include putting pressure on or palming the eye; eye movement exercises; or straining to read by using the wrong prescription glasses to “train” the eyes. As a professor of ophthalmology—and as an eye doctor who has seen thousands of patients—I can tell you that no study to date shows strong evidence that these exercises eliminate the need for glasses or offer any long-term significant benefits. The science simply
5-30-2024

HOW COMMUNITY STRESS AFFECTS BLACK AMERICANS’ MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING

Residential segregation is an example of the long history of structural racism in the United States. Black Americans are more likely to live in low-quality neighborhoods, which contributes to disparities in health outcomes. A new study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign looks at how community stress affects the mental and emotional health of Black men and women in the U.S. “Community stress refers to the effects of living in disadvantaged areas. This includes objective aspects, such as buildings in disrepair and lower median income. There is also a subjective
5-30-2024

GENE VARIANTS FORETELL THE BIOLOGY OF FUTURE BREAST CANCERS, STUDY FINDS

A Stanford Medicine study of thousands of breast cancers has found that the gene sequences we inherit at conception are powerful predictors of the breast cancer type we might develop decades later and how deadly it might be. The study challenges the dogma that most cancers arise as the result of random mutations that accumulate during our lifetimes. Instead, it points to the active involvement of gene sequences we inherit from our parents—what’s known as your germline genome—in determining whether cells bearing potential cancer-causing mutations are recognized and eliminated by
5-30-2024

PTSD, ANXIETY IS RISING AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS

America’s college students seem to be more stressed than ever, with a new report finding a sharp rise in cases of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and acute stress disorder (ASD) on campuses across the country. In a “national sample of U.S. college students, we found a notable increase in the prevalence of PTSD and ASD,”
5-30-2024

NIGHT OWL BEHAVIOR COULD HURT MENTAL HEALTH, SLEEP STUDY FINDS

Night owls, brace yourselves. A new study by Stanford Medicine researchers has found that following your natural inclination to stay awake until the early morning hours is a bad choice for your mental health. In a survey of nearly 75,000 adults, researchers compared the participants’ preferred sleep timing, known as chronotype, with their actual sleep behavior. They determined that regardless of one’s preferred bedtime, everyone benefits from turning in early. Morning larks and night owls alike tended to have higher rates of mental and behavioral disorders if they stayed up
5-30-2024

STUDY CONFIRMS EFFECTIVENESS OF ‘WATCH-AND-WAIT’ APPROACH TO PROSTATE CANCER

For a large percentage of men with prostate cancer, the tumor may be so slow-growing that doctors advise a “watch-and-wait” approach instead of active treatment. Now, a study of almost 2,200 patients followed for up to a decade finds that for most, that decision may be a wise one. “In this study, 10 years after diagnosis, 49% of men remained free of progression or treatment, less than 2% developed metastatic disease and less than 1% died of their disease,” reported a team led by Lisa Newcomb, a cancer prevention researcher
5-30-2024

RESEARCHERS HARNESS THE POWER OF AI TO MATCH PATIENTS WITH THE MOST EFFECTIVE ANTIDEPRESSANT FOR THEIR UNIQUE NEEDS

Researchers at George Mason University’s College of Public Health have leveraged the power of artificial intelligence (AI) analytical models to match a patient’s medical history to the most effective antidepressant, allowing patients to find symptom relief sooner. The free website, MeAgainMeds.com, provides evidence-based recommendations, allowing clinicians and patients to find the optimal antidepressant the first time. “Many people with depression must try multiple antidepressants before finding the right one that alleviates their symptoms. Our website reduces the number of medications that patients are asked to try. The system recommends to
5-30-2024

NEW CANCER-RELATED FATIGUE TREATMENT GUIDELINES URGE EXERCISE, TALK THERAPY, MINDFULNESS, TAI CHI

The clinical practice guidelines, which came about after an extensive review of 113 published clinical trials by a panel of experts, conclude that doctors should recommend exercise, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based programs, Tai chi, qigong, and American ginseng to reduce fatigue severity during cancer treatment. After completion of cancer treatment, the guidelines also suggest that exercise, CBT, and mindfulness-based
5-30-2024

STUDY FINDS THAT BETTER SLEEP IS ASSOCIATED WITH LOWER LONELINESS

A new study to be presented at the SLEEP 2024 annual meeting found that better sleep health was associated with lower levels of loneliness, and this association was stronger among younger adults. Results indicate that better sleep health was associated with significantly lower total loneliness, emotional loneliness and social loneliness. While better sleep health was associated with lower total and emotional loneliness across ages, this association was stronger for younger adults. However, age did not moderate the association between sleep health and social loneliness. “Loneliness is an urgent public health
5-30-2024

SOCIAL MEDIA USE AND SLEEP DURATION CONNECTED TO BRAIN ACTIVITY IN TEENS

A new study to be presented at the SLEEP 2024 annual meeting found a distinct relationship between sleep duration, social media usage, and brain activation across brain regions that are key for executive control and reward processing. Results show a correlation between shorter sleep duration and greater social media usage in teens. The analysis points to involvement of areas within the frontolimbic brain regions, such as the inferior and middle frontal gyri, in these relationships. The inferior frontal gyrus, key in inhibitory control, may play
5-30-2024

HOW DOES THE WORD ‘NOT’ AFFECT WHAT WE UNDERSTAND? SCIENTISTS FIND NEGATION MITIGATES OUR INTERPRETATION OF PHRASES

When we’re told “This coffee is hot” upon being served a familiar caffeinated beverage at our local diner or cafe, the message is clear. But what about when we’re told “This coffee is not hot”? Does that mean we think it’s cold? Or room temperature? Or just warm? A team of scientists has now identified how our brains work to process phrases that include negation (i.e., “not”), revealing that it mitigates rather than inverts meaning—in other words, in our minds, negation merely reduces the temperature of our coffee and does
5-30-2024

IS GUT HEALTH LINKED TO MENTAL HEALTH? WE KNOW THEY’RE CONNECTED BUT HOW REMAINS A MYSTERY, RESEARCHER SAYS

Rebecca Carrier, associate chair of research in the Department of Chemical Engineering, researches retinal and gut epithelial repair in the Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Complex on Jan. 24, 2023. It was an act of desperation: A woman with irritable bowel syndrome was looking for relief from her symptoms. She decided to try an at-home fecal microbiota, aka a “poop transplant.” Used to treat C. diff bacterial infections, this treatment can help introduce “good microbiomes” to the gut to ease gastrointestinal symptoms. But the woman told Netflix
5-30-2024

STUDY LINKS SLEEP APNEA TREATMENT AND HAPPIER, HEALTHIER RELATIONSHIPS

when individuals with obstructive sleep apnea use their positive airway pressure machine more regularly, it benefits their relationship with their partner. Results show that greater adherence to PAP therapy was associated with higher levels of relationship satisfaction and lower levels of relationship conflict. Higher sleep efficiency among patients also was associated with higher levels of relationship satisfaction as reported by both the patient and their partner. “Recognizing that sleep and sleep disorders have an impact on
5-30-2024

CDC REPORTS THIRD DAIRY WORKER INFECTED WITH BIRD FLU, RISK TO PUBLIC REMAINS LOW

Amid an ongoing outbreak of bird flu in dairy cows, there’s been a third case of H5N1 avian flu confirmed in a dairy worker, U.S. health officials reported Thursday. The previous two human cases—the first in Texas, the second in Michigan, where this latest case also occurred—involved only a brief discomfort of the eyes, linked to conjunctivitis (“pink eye”). However, this third case is the first to present with more typical respiratory symptoms, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted in a health update. “The patient reported upper
5-30-2024

RECOMMENDATIONS ISSUED FOR PALLIATIVE RADIATION THERAPY FOR SYMPTOMATIC BONE METASTASES

In a clinical practice guideline issued by the American Society for Radiation Oncology and published in Practical Radiation Oncology, evidence-based recommendations are presented for the use of palliative external beam radiation therapy (RT) for symptomatic bone metastases. Sarah Alcorn, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, and colleagues developed evidence-based recommendations for palliative external beam RT in symptomatic bone metastases. Five key questions regarding palliative RT were addressed. The authors noted that RT is recommended for managing pain from bone metastases and spine metastases with or without
5-30-2024

CAUSE OF COMMON TYPE OF HEART FAILURE MAY BE DIFFERENT FOR WOMEN AND MEN

Graphical abstract. Credit: Cardiovascular Research (2024). DOI: 10.1093/cvcvae070 A new study from the UC Davis School of Medicine found striking differences at the cellular level between male and female mice with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). The findings could determine how HFpEF is treated in women compared to men. With HFpEF, the heart muscle contracts normally but the heart is unable to fully relax and refill properly between beats. This condition is known as diastolic dysfunction. It can occur if the heart is too stiff or if the

5-30-2024

CANCER CAN BE CAUSED BY REVERSIBLE MOLECULAR CHANGES, STUDY SHOWS

Though 1 in 2 people will develop some form of cancer in their lifetime, there’s still much we don’t know about this disease. But thanks to continued research efforts, we keep learning more about the biology of cancer. One of these recent discoveries could even transform our understanding of how cancers develop. But before we talk about the new discovery, let’s first discuss the classical theory that attempts to explain why normal cells become cancer cells. This theory posits that DNA mutations are the primary cause of cancers. It’s well
5-30-2024

HOW THE IMMUNE SYSTEM DESTROYS THE CEREBELLUM

Neurologist Professor Dr Kurt-Wolfram Sühs has discovered a new form of severe cerebellitis caused by autoantibodies. Cerebellar ataxia is a neurological disorder of the cerebellum. This important area at the back of the brain acts as a conductor, so to speak, coordinating our movements and keeping us in balance. This ability is impaired in cerebellar ataxia. Affected people can have difficulties walking, speaking and grasping or even with controlled eye movements. In some cases, the damage begins gradually and develops over a period of years.
5-30-2024

PEOPLE WHO ARE EASILY ABSORBED IN AN ACTIVITY MAY HAVE BETTER MENTAL AND CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH

Have you ever lost all sense of space and time when redecorating a room? How about being so focused while playing an instrument that the worries that weighed you down a minute ago just evaporated? Then you’ve probably experienced “flow.” Flow is a term used in psychology to describe a state of heightened concentration, in which you are completely absorbed in an activity. It exists somewhere between boredom and stress—usually experienced during activities which are somewhat challenging but still meet our skill levels. When we experience flow, we tend to
5-30-2024

SCIENTISTS FIND ‘GOLDILOCKS’ BINDING STRENGTH DETERMINES ANTI-CANCER T-CELL EFFICACY AND FATE

Immunotherapy, treatments that reinvigorate immune cells’ anti-cancer activity or reprogram T cells to target cancer, has shown promise in treating leukemias but has not yet been realized in solid tumors. One reason for the stymied success is the conversion of potential cancer-killing T cells into an inactive “exhausted” state near the tumor. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital scientists found that how tight a parental T cell grabs a cancer
5-30-2024

IN THE BRAIN AT REST, STUDY INDICATES NEURONS REHEARSE FUTURE EXPERIENCE

Some dreams may, in fact, predict the future: New research has found that during sleep, some neurons not only replay the recent past but also anticipate future experience. The discovery is one in a series of insights afforded by a study on sleep and learning published in Nature by a team of researchers from Rice University and the University of Michigan. The research offers an unprecedented view of how individual neurons in the hippocampus of rats
5-30-2024

• 5-30-2024STUDY FINDS EVEN LOW LEAD LEVELS IN US WATER ARE LINKED TO LEAD POISONING AMONG SUSCEPTIBLE PEOPLE
• 5-30-2024STUDY PROMOTES DIGITAL HELP FOR ADULTS WITH ADHD
• 5-30-2024IN THE BRAIN AT REST, STUDY INDICATES NEURONS REHEARSE FUTURE EXPERIENCE
• 5-30-2024AI AND MATH CAN HELP PREPARE FOR NEW INFECTIONS IN CHANGING CLIMATE, NEW THESIS SHOWS
• 5-30-2024GUILLAIN-BARRE SYNDROME ‘MORE COMMON THAN EXPECTED’ WITH RSV VACCINE IN OLDER PEOPLE, CDC REITERATES
• 5-30-2024REWRITABLE, RECYCLABLE ‘SMART SKIN’ MONITORS BIOLOGICAL SIGNALS ON DEMAND
• 5-30-2024UNDERSTANDING PROTEIN MUTATIONS THAT AFFECT GENE EXPRESSION TO PROMOTE CANCER PROGRESSION
• 5-30-2024STUDY REVEALS THAT GASTRIC CANCER SURGERY MAY REDUCE HEART DISEASE RISK
• 5-30-2024STUDY SHOWS EFFECTIVENESS OF UPDATED COVID-19 VACCINES WANES MODERATELY OVER TIME, IS LOWER AGAINST CURRENT VARIANTS
• 5-30-2024SCIENTISTS FIND ‘GOLDILOCKS’ BINDING STRENGTH DETERMINES ANTI-CANCER T-CELL EFFICACY AND FATE
• 5-30-2024STUDY FINDS SUICIDE RATES AMONG CANCER PATIENTS ARE FALLING
• 5-30-2024EXISTING DRUG SHOWS PROMISE AS TREATMENT FOR RARE GENETIC DISORDER
• 5-30-2024STUDY SUGGESTS ASTROCYTES INDUCE SEX-SPECIFIC EFFECTS ON MEMORY
• 5-30-2024STUDY OF 16 COUNTRIES SHOWS HIGHER TAXES WOULD HELP YOUNG SMOKERS QUIT OR CUT DOWN
• 5-30-2024RURAL FAMILIES AND CLINICS FEEL MEDICAID CUTS
• 5-30-2024CANCER CAN BE CAUSED BY REVERSIBLE MOLECULAR CHANGES, STUDY SHOWS
• 5-30-2024NOVEL VACCINE CONCEPT GENERATES IMMUNE RESPONSES THAT COULD PRODUCE MULTIPLE TYPES OF HIV NEUTRALIZING ANTIBODIES
• 5-30-2024ANOTHER MICHIGAN DAIRY WORKER HAS BIRD FLU, THE THIRD US CASE THIS YEAR
• 5-30-2024COULD ULTRA-PROCESSED FOODS BE ASSOCIATED WITH YOUR INSOMNIA?
• 5-30-2024RESEARCHERS DEVELOP EASY-TO-USE SCREENING TOOL TO HELP IMPROVE FAMILY ACCESS TO FEDERAL NUTRITION PROGRAMS
• 5-30-2024‘STICKY AND STRAIN-GRADIENT ARTIFICIAL EPINEURIUM’ CAN HEAL SEVERED NERVES IN ONLY ONE MINUTE, STUDY CLAIMS
• 5-30-2024STUDY SUGGESTS IT’S A SAFE AND EFFECTIVE GENDER-AFFIRMING HORMONE THERAPY FOR TRANS MEN
• 5-30-2024STUDY EXAMINES PRESCRIBING PATTERNS OF DRUG ASSOCIATED WITH COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT
• 5-30-2024RESEARCHERS FIND KNOWLEDGE A FACTOR IN CLOSING BLACK-WHITE COVID-19 VACCINATION GAP
• 5-30-2024MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS IS ON THE RISE IN AUSTRALIA, BUT IT’S NOT ALL BAD NEWS
• 5-30-2024DRUGS CAN REDUCE RECURRENCE AFTER BOWEL CANCER SURGERY, NEW THESIS SUGGESTS
• 5-30-2024DEVELOPING HEALTHIER AND MORE CLIMATE-FRIENDLY PROTECTIVE FOOTWEAR
• 5-30-2024RESEARCHER FINDS INCREASED DEMENTIA RISK IN OLDER ADULTS WITH A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND
• 5-30-2024EXAMINATIONS OF MAJOR SALIVARY GLANDS AND HEART REVEAL PATHOPHYSIOLOGICAL PROGRESSION OF PARKINSON’S
• 5-30-2024RESEARCHERS IDENTIFY FACTORS THAT HEIGHTEN RISK FOR CATHETER-ASSOCIATED URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS AND SEPSIS
• 5-30-2024TELEHEALTH STUDY MAY HELP IMPROVE ACCESS TO AUTISM ASSESSMENTS
• 5-30-2024ACCESS TO TARGETED LUNG CANCER DRUG IS COST-PROHIBITIVE GLOBALLY
• 5-30-2024NEW AVENUES TO DEVELOPING PERSONALIZED TREATMENTS FOR SCHIZOPHRENIA
• 5-30-2024CALL FOR JOURNALS TO BAN RESEARCH BY THE FIRMS, THEIR SUBSIDIARIES
• 5-30-2024TINY WORM HELPS UNCOVER LONG-LASTING PRENATAL EFFECTS FROM AMPHETAMINES
• 5-30-2024NEW MEASURE OF VALUE CAN HELP ACCOUNTABLE CARE ORGANIZATIONS DELIVER BETTER HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR LESS MONEY
• 5-30-2024HOW THE IMMUNE SYSTEM DESTROYS THE CEREBELLUM
• 5-30-2024SYSTEMATIC SURVEY REVEALS UNANNOTATED HUMAN GENE THAT’S OVEREXPRESSED IN PITUITARY TUMORS
• 5-30-2024NEW ELECTROSTATIC SAMPLER BOOSTS INDOOR VIRUS DETECTION SPEED
• 5-30-2024MICROFLUIDIC ORGAN CHIP MODELS HUMAN CERVIX TO FILL KEY WOMEN’S HEALTH GAP
• 5-30-2024CAUSE OF COMMON TYPE OF HEART FAILURE MAY BE DIFFERENT FOR WOMEN AND MEN
• 5-30-2024TO AVOID INFECTION SPREAD, HOW LONG A QUARANTINE IS SUFFICIENT? IT DEPENDS
• 5-30-2024HYPERTENSION, ALBUMINURIA RISKS ARE NO WORSE FOR KIDNEY DONORS THAN FOR NON-DONORS: STUDY
• 5-30-2024CDC REPORTS THIRD DAIRY WORKER INFECTED WITH BIRD FLU, RISK TO PUBLIC REMAINS LOW
• 5-30-2024BIMEKIZUMAB YIELDS MEANINGFUL RESPONSE IN HIDRADENITIS SUPPURATIVA
• 5-30-2024STUDY REVEALS IMPACT OF ICU DEMAND ON COVID-19 PATIENT MORTALITY IN COLORADO
• 5-30-2024SCIENTISTS DEVELOPING AT-HOME SWAB TESTS FOR ENDOMETRIAL, OVARIAN CANCER
• 5-30-2024RESEARCHERS CREATE COMPREHENSIVE TRANSCRIPTIONAL ATLAS OF HUMAN ADENOMYOSIS
• 5-30-2024THE GUT MICROBIOME, POOP AND THE FUTURE OF MEDICINE
• 5-30-2024NEW STUDY REVEALS KEY PROTEIN THAT COULD HELP PREVENT EXCESSIVE BONE LOSS IN OSTEOPOROSIS
• 5-30-2024AT-SCHOOL VACCINATION BOOSTS HPV VACCINATION COVERAGE
• 5-30-2024RECOMMENDATIONS ISSUED FOR PALLIATIVE RADIATION THERAPY FOR SYMPTOMATIC BONE METASTASES
• 5-30-2024TEAM USES SURFACE-ENHANCED RAMAN SCATTERING TO CHARACTERIZE INFECTIONS IN BIOLOGICAL FLUIDS
• 5-30-2024DRUG RESISTANCE DISCOVERY COULD ‘MOVE THE FIELD FORWARD’ FOR BREAST CANCER TREATMENT
• 5-30-2024AN ANTIBACTERIAL PROTEIN PROVIDES A NEW THERAPEUTIC TARGET AGAINST PANCREATIC CANCER
• 5-30-2024TALKING ABOUT A TABOO—SURVEY REVEALS STIGMA AROUND WOMEN’S MENSTRUAL HEALTH PRACTICES IN BANGLADESH
• 5-30-2024RESEARCHERS TAKE STEP TOWARD DEVELOPMENT OF UNIVERSAL COVID-19 ANTIBODIES

Like the title suggests, when would you say it’s time to experiment with mobility aids and which one is good to start with if so?
While I’m not officially diagnosed with POTS or CFS (I have an appointment with a cardiologist in the future but my neurologist said its worth looking into), I do struggle with a lot of the same symptoms. Most notably, I get heart palpitations and fatigue easily and take frequent breaks which is really frustrating especially right now when I’m trying to pack for a big move. Like if I could sit and roll around or at least something while I packed instead of stand and walk, i would be so much less exhausted and fatigued PLUS I would have been done packing already and not be dreading move-in day so much!
So I’m debating if a mobility aid would help me but I’m worried I might be things “worse” somehow or that I’m exaggerating what little problems I have.
Essentially, what are some signs that a mobility aid might be helpful?

I (26F) have been doing bloodwork and screenings to track my thyroid function since November 2023. My TSH was 0.26 in November and has been gradually decreasing; I did repeat bloodwork two days ago and it is now <0.01. My T3 and T4 levels were in the normal range but two days ago they both came back very high, about double the reference range for each, so clearly my thyroid has become even more hyperactive. This is concerning because I was prescribed methimazole (2.5mg daily) about 2 months ago to try to slow my thyroid down, but it seems the opposite is happening, so maybe the dosage isn't high enough.
I was tested for Hashimoto's antibodies (TPO, Transglutaminase IgA) and have very high levels for both, but have not been tested for the Graves antibodies (TRAb, TSI). I plan to ask my endocrinologist to test me for those when I see her on Tuesday.
All of my symptoms and experiences track perfectly with Graves disease. Constant tachychardia, hair loss/thinning, heat and cold intolerance, digestive issues, unexplained body aches and inflammation, fatigue, brain fog, low stress tolerance. My neck constantly hurts and my lymph nodes on either side of my thyroid are always swollen like golf balls. That said, my blood panels also indicate Hashimoto's. I did a thyroid ultrasound in January which corroborated Hashimoto's/hashitoxicosis. I have an endoscopy scheduled in July to see if I have celiac disease.
Most people with Hashimoto's describe uncontrolled or unexplained weight gain.
I'm severely underweight (95lbs, 168cm). No matter what I do I can't seem to keep it on. In the last year I have NOT been able to break past 105lbs maximum. I'm aware of how much I need to eat to gain weight and it just feels like it's never enough. When I try to consistently eat high-volume, calorie-dense foods (while staying away from overly processed or sugary etc. foods that tend to trigger digestive pain and flare-ups), it's like my body can't handle it. I feel bloated, nauseous, and inflamed. It's a double-edged sword, I'm struggling to gain pounds but I can't eat at a surplus or eat "bulky" foods without my thyroid symptoms going crazy. Because I'm so underweight, my doctor has strictly advised me not to change my diet or restrict foods in any way until after I get the endoscopy. I'm trying to at least eat 'cleaner' (more meat and veggies and seafood, less gluten and dairy and sugar, etc.)
Like I said, I've been on methimazole 2.5mg for about 2 months. My doctor reassured me that the medication would help me gain, but I've lost 8 pounds over the course of a month. And my T3 and T4 levels have only gotten higher, not lower. I do not know what I'm doing wrong.
Over the last several years, the only thing that has helped me gain weight is consistent weight lifting/strength training, but ever since I started the methimazole I find myself intolerant to any kind of strenuous exercise. It legitimately *hurts* to lift weights in a way it has never been before. I try to do what I can, but all my muscles feel so weak. Even a short walk is enough to cause severe body aches and inflammation and keep me in bed for a day or two. Even stretching is really painful although I'm still limber and flexible. It's frustrating, because I love being active and I want to build muscle, stamina, and strength, but most days exercise just sucks the life out of me. I'm so tired of looking like a professional Gollum impersonator and constantly losing my weight gain progress, not to mention the endless comments from strangers about my weight, or the assumption that I'm intentionally starving myself, when I would sell my soul at this point to gain even 10-20 pounds.
I hear so much about weight gain with this disease but not a lot about struggling to gain. Does anyone have any personal stories or information to share? Thank you :)

(cross posted from the medical advice subreddit w/ some edits)
okay, i didn’t want to have to post here but i feel like this is the only place im going to get any actual advice.
i (bio female, early teenage years but uncomfortable sharing actual age. 5’3, white, 136 lbs) have been having. A lot of fucking issues that have become even more apparent since i caught covid for the first time back in february.
i am incredibly intolerant to heat, have a constant tremor in my hands and legs, a pulse that skyrockets to 110+ bpm when i stand up, chronic fatigue, and excessive hunger despite being able to eat little at all. I’ve always had the heat intolerance and tremor, i originally associated them with my adhd as my dad has similar symptoms.
i have lost 30 pounds since october of 2023, most of it being ~23 lbs between late february and now. i have been on 56 mg of concerta and an unknown dose of prozac (i think 20 mg or so?) for two years, and 10 mg of birth control (don’t remember what brand it is) for a year. I know it’s not my adhd meds, this has only become an issue recently and my pulse was usually around 80 bpm.
my psychiatrist and general physician are BOTH concerned about me having hyperthyroidism. i got bloodwork recently, but everything came back normal excluding low co2 levels (but that was due to my trypanophobia)
i’m so tired and i cannot function like this.

Hi all,
I recently commented on a post, but I think this deserves a post of its own. I’m a medical student with IH. I am not a doctor, nor am I your doctor. I will not give explicit medical advice.
I am sure we have all been frustrated with a primary care doctor seeming not to “do” much when we tell them we are tired, so I wanted to share what I learn as a student going into medicine.
First, fatigue is one of the most common reasons people come to see us (called a “chief complaint”). It also has the broadest set of diagnoses (called a “differential”) of any of the common chief complaints. I think many patients don’t realize how much we actually can tell with a good history and physical exam, and also how much we can rule out with the most basic of laboratory studies.
With a solid interview, physical, and CBC/metabolic panel/thyroid study we can rule out: cancer, thyroid disease, stroke or acute neurologic issue, neurodegeneration, liver or kidney disease, several endocrine causes, most GI causes, social contributions, and the dreaded “it’s just anxiety/depression.”
What we need to hear from you in addition to the closed ended (yes/no) questions is what your experience is. If you think your doctor is blaming your symptoms on psych stuff, they really do want to know “my fatigue is out of proportion to my mental health condition” for example. We want to hear what you are concerned about (do you think you’ve had a stroke? Did you have a family member with similar symptoms who has a diagnosis? Do you think we are wrong?). We want to know this either because it will clue us into something we need to consider or it will start a conversation about why we think a certain condition is more or less likely.
We care deeply about you and we do a lot of work while talking with you. We can tell a LOOOOT about your health by watching you walk in the room, move from the chair to the examination table, etc. We have a very good idea about the health of your brain based on our interview and physical exam. Chances are your physician has asked themselves if this person needs specialized imaging or referral to a specialist. They’ve answered this question and given themselves reasons. If you are wondering why something hasn’t happened, please ask. It’s ok to ask for an explanation too.
I guess what I’m saying is that even though we only have a very limited time to talk with you, we can get a lot done. Probably the most important things you can do as someone with a chronic condition are 1) try to keep with the same primary care provider unless they’re doing a bad job. 2) tell us when you are frustrated and why 3) tell us what you think is going on 4) share your experience living in your body.
Regarding 1) the best physicians are the ones who know you well. Medical records are often hard to find especially between different brands (this is a fault of the system), but also if you go to different people each time they may miss nuances that your last doc had thought about, but not fully explained in the record. We also get a lot more info from seeing how someone progresses over time.
Regarding 2) we should all want to improve ourselves, but we can’t help explain our thought process unless we know you are frustrated. Maybe it will reveal that we have explained something wrong. Maybe we misunderstood. Maybe everyone’s on the same page, but I’ve already ruled something in or out with a cheap screening test when you weren’t aware. The more we communicate the better our understanding of each other will be.
Regarding 3&4) you are the person that knows your body best. We all know the internet is a dangerous place to search for health information but it is a part of our world. If you are considering a diagnosis or treatment option it can actually be super helpful to hear that. It may put me on a different thought process or cause me to think about a different approach. I find that my patients who use the internet and suggest something (without demanding) and have a reason to explain why they thought this (not just “cuz the internet said”) are frequently at least on the right track. If they’re not I want to know what they’re most concerned about so I can help explain or definitively rule out their concern.
Anyways thanks for coming to my ted talk. We care deeply about y’all and the ones who don’t shouldn’t be in medicine. Also IH sucks and I wish I could fix us all. ❤️

I am 69 years old. I had an attack in 1998 and was diagnosed with "possible" MS (one small lesion on brain). It left my thumb numb. It also made it very difficult to concentrate and I slept constantly for about a year. Note that I had the classic Barbershop (L'hermittes) sign since about 1993 with no other symptoms and I ignored it.
No disease progression until 2012. I did not have an attack, but gradually felt my left leg getting weak. I had an MRI and there were a few lesions on the spine. No new ones in the brain. So, some progression. The extreme tiredness was back. Unable to focus. And, a new sensation in all my nerves, from head to toe, that felt dreadful. I still cannot accurately describe it and do not know what to call it.
Many of you may be familiar with Dr. Swank who studied MS his entire career. I was advised to read his book. He believed, in some cases, diet can cause or exacerbate the disease. Until 2012, to say I ate dairy is an understatement. I would eat a pint of ice cream about 4 times a week. Pizza. Milk. LOTS of cheese. Cookies and cakes. Indian food. French food. Italian pastas covered in cheese. Dairy was in almost everything I ate.
I heeded Dr Swank's advice and immediately gave up dairy. The nasty body sensations left after short while. So did the extreme fatigue and I was able to function again. I HAVE HAD NO DISEASE PROGRESSION SINCE 2012. I get yearly MRIs.
I now avoid dairy like the plague. But, a few years ago, I thought I was just better and maybe it was not the dairy so for two days I ate pizza and had ice cream. My body reacted and on day three I felt like crap – weak, tired, unable to focus and more. That was my last dance with dairy.
My current neuro believes that I am "likely" one that has diet-related triggers. She still advises me to start DMT. She says that "so far" I am one of the lucky ones.
Look, I know there are many, many people that will not be helped by changing their diet. But if you have not considered it, read Dr. Swank and consider his recommendations. You just might feel better.

Hi everyone. This is a last ditch effort as I am struggling a lot and I have no idea what's wrong with me. I am 18F and exhausted all the time. I do athletics in the mornings sometimes and used to find a lot of joy in doing them, and it even made me feel more awake later in the day. Now, I can't even get out of bed, and if I do, I very much struggle to make it to practice if I even end up going. Im just tired constantly, even though there hasn't been a lot of stress in my life or changes to my routine. I can also tell it's definitely not a mental health issue.
Here are my other symptoms:

1. Main one is fatigue. I've dealt with it for years but in the last few months it's become unbearable. I have a solid sleep schedule that's consistent (9 hrs of sleep) though.
   
2. Weight gain: I'm 5'2.5 and between 150 and 155lbs. I used to be 130, four years ago, but started taking lexapro. Went off of it 3 months ago and have lost abt 5lbs but Im not sure if its related. I don't know if the weight gain was because of lexapro or not, but over those four years the gain was slow and gradual. Besides those 5lb, its been impossible for me to loose weight too. Specifically in the stomach area. Even when I was exercising 10 hours per week of intense work outs/cardio and eating good, I could never loose weight or change the shape of my stomach. It's obvious that my legs have become way more muscular but my stomach is still very fatty. My arms are a bit bigger too. Also, my diet is pretty decent.
   
3. I've become very cold all of the time.
   
4. I am more irritable recently.
   
5. Baddddd head aches that aren't migraines but make me sensitive to light.
   
6. Joint pain and terrible recovery to workouts that aren't just cardio
   

Some other information about me is that I am American and white, no other physical medical issues, only medications is allegra and montelukast for allergies (and vitamin d supplements), and I do not drink or use anything.
My parents each have hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. I got tested but TSH was 1.24, FT4 was 1.38, T3 was 3.5, and Anti TPO was under 15. They checked vitamins as well and beta carotene and vitamin c were both on the very low ends, but within the normal range provided.
If anyone has any questions about specific levels of other vitamins I can answer. Feel free to ask about anything like lifestyle or diet too. I'm mainly just hoping someone can give me an idea or two as to why this might all be happening so that I can look into treatments, whether it's medical or not. I really just want to know what's wrong with me so that I'm not tired all of the time and can go back to enjoying life again without wanting to sleep through everything.

F, 25. I know this is going to sound like a lot of other posts, but -
1) I have had painful periods since menarche. Some would be more normal, some were so bad that I’d need to stay out of school. As I’ve gotten older the pain is worse on the first couple of days and then evens out. 2) In middle school I was put on the pill to attempt to manage passing very heavy clots. I stopped about part way through high school and went back on it for a while last year to try and manage hormonal acne. The estrogen made my migraines worse so I discontinued that. 3) Starting in high school, I have had persistent anemia. I usually can’t donate blood. This does not improve with diet changes or iron supplements. I have normal anemia related symptoms. 4) As of right now I would say I experience moderate pain and some clotting/moderately heavy bleeding during my periods. They are on time.
Developments in the past year which led me to go to a gyno for the first time: - I have never been sexually active with a partner. I do masturbate, usually without penetration. After completion I have very, very intense cramping almost every time. Sometimes it is delayed by 5 mins or so. The first time this happened I did throw up and almost considered going to the ER in case something had ruptured. I had light spotting afterwards. The cramping feels almost right on top of my pubic bone in the center, going slightly to the right. - I’ve developed constipation and bloating seemingly without food triggers. The bloating is significant enough that I can’t wear certain pants. Along with this, I have a frequent urge to urinate and don’t usually feel like I’ve emptied. - Fatigue. Not much else to say about that - One episode of a decent amount of blood in stool. Has not happened before but was not just on the tissue. - Feeling of fullness; I haven’t been able to finish a normal meal (for me) in one sitting in months.
TLDR: I have what I think are classic endo symptoms. At the same time, I’m experiencing what I’ve seen others describe as “imposter syndrome” - maybe my symptoms aren’t really that bad? Maybe this is actually a normal period? I am scheduled for a TV ultrasound on Tues. I am not with an endo specialist but the PA I am currently working with immediately suggested endo with my symptom presentation and said first step is the ultrasound, and did mention that laparoscopy is the gold standard diagnostic. I declined her offer to try alternative BC options to manage symptoms because I would like to identify any possible underlying problems first.
Has anyone had a similar experience? What were your steps after the TV ultrasound? Did you have to fight for the laparoscopy? Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Hi, all. I was wondering if someone could help me gain some clarify and calm on this. I'm supposed to start levothyroxine to get my TSH at a better level for conceiving and I'm very anxious about it!!!
If it's relevant, I'm 27F, BMI 18, no smoking or drinking. Currently preparing for IVF, but stopped taking prenatals and anything with biotin 5 days before my thyroid test.
My fertility doctor ran a full thyroid panel on me after an initial TSH test came in above 3. My clinic wants TSH to be below 2.5 mIU/L for conceiving. My full thyroid results came back and my results were:

• TSH = 2.8 mIU/L (ref range 0.40-4.50 mlU/L, but again, doc wants it below 2.5)
• T3 Uptake = 25% (ref range 22-35%)
• T4 Total = 11.8 mcg/dL (ref range 5.1-11.9 mcg/dL)
• Free T4 Index = 3 (ref range 1.4-3.8)

My clinic wants me to immediately start on levothyroxine 25mcg immediately to bring my TSH down and I'm freaking out. My questions are:

• Has anyone here ever been treated for high TSH (I realize my TSH is only high for IVF and would be otherwise normal) this way when their T4 was already high/normal? What turned out to be the cause of these weird results?
• Is it safe to start the levothyroxine even though my T4 is that high???
• If I take levothyroxine, won't it make my T4 too high and give me hyperthyroidism symptoms?
• Wouldn't too-high T4 also be bad for fertility?
• What could cause higher than optimal TSH and high-normal T4?
• If I take levothyroxine during IVF and pregnancy, does that mean I'll have to be on it for the rest of my life?
• Should I be worried about a tumor?
• My TSH went down from above 3 to 2.8--doesn't that mean that I'm not developing hypothyroidism and I shouldn't take the medication?
• Am I going to be okay if I start these meds? I'm having such a bad anxiety spiral. Please tell me if I'm going to be okay or if I should be worried....

In addition to my weird TSH levels, I've had some thyroid symptoms for a while, including extreme fatigue, cold intolerance, brain fog, attention issues, hoarse voice (severe), constipation (severe), high blood pressure, mild weight gain, extremely irregular periods (cycle ranging from 13 days to 50 days), joint pain (severe), and chronic vitamin-d deficiency that supplements don't seem to help, but my anxiety about taking medication still is discouraging me from taking the meds.
Thank you for reading all of this panicked rambling!!!

About a week ago, I desperately asked for advice on how to get rid of my candida overgrowth, including a white/yellowish coated back of the tongue causing bad breath. Many of you didn't hesitate to offer advice—thank you all for that!
Check it out if you want to
Here's an interim report on what I've learned, changed, and planned. I hope this helps anyone dealing with the same issues, saving you from extensive and depressing research.

What I've Learned: Don'ts

• Probiotics: Unnecessary unless you have a heavy antibiotic background. Ruminant meat provides everything your gut needs.
• Tobacco/Weed: Candida thrives on it. Stop smoking, including shisha and vaping.
• Dairy: Feeds candida like crazy. Avoid it.
• Tap/Treated Water: Avoid it. It can further disrupt your already fkd microbiome.

What I've Learned and Implemented

I've been conscious of my diet for 77 days (with 2 heavy fall-offs) as of this post, mostly eating cheap ground beef—sometimes mixed with pork—eggs, and butter daily.
Changes I'm Making: - Avoiding Pork, Eggs, and ButteGhee: These still contain potential allergens and carbs, which can be problematic. If you haven't experienced a full cure, eliminate everything except ruminant meats, salt, water, and possibly clean electrolytes. Redditors pointed out the Lion Diet, which has a 100% success rate for some, making this click for me.
Starting in June when I get my paycheck, I'll be on a HIGH-QUALITY LION DIET: ruminant meat and salted water, that's it.

• Upping the quality of meat: First things first, I’m not going to tell you to only eat grass finished beef because you certainly don’t have to if you can’t afford it. But I’m also not going to tell you that quality won’t change anything. I used to buy the cheapest ground beef I could possibly find because that’s what I was able to afford and I always felt good and slowly healed to a point where now only the back of my tongue is covered and stinks (at the beginning my whole tongue was covered with this stuff). I am sure that if I would have left out butter and eggs from the beginning I would have healed even faster or even completely by now (I’ll cut them out next month). So it’s probably not the meat’s quality fault at all. But I’ll up the quality anyway because my finances are allowing it now, I really want to support the sources of meat where the animals lived an actual good life and I want to see the contrast between how I feel and perform on conventional and pasture raised meat.

Temporary Exclusions: - Bone broth - Egg yolks - Organs, except maybe brain and heart

Salted Water (Plasma) Benefits

A Redditor recommended salted water to me, explaining its benefits. Salted water, if the ratio is correct, doesn't dehydrate you; it does the opposite. Regular or distilled water can flush out essential electrolytes. Salt (sodium) helps retain these. I use 5-10g of salt per 1L of water and don't recommend exceeding 10g/1L as it can cause internal drying. This creates a hydrating electrolyte drink that cleanses your blood.

"The second part of the equation is cellular hydration and cleansing the blood, done by consuming plasma (water + salt). The salt quality matters a lot; it needs to be unrefined sea salt containing all the minerals the body needs to hydrate our cells. Darko recommends 10g salt per 1L water and to drink 3L water per day minimum. His name is Darko Velcek on YouTube, and he has a blog: darkovelcek.wordpress.com."

Age of the Meats/Fats

Some people can't digest aged meat well. I always ate aged meat, but here’s what Mikhaila said in her FAQ on her website (liondiet.com):

"Aged meat increases histamine levels, which can be problematic if your immune and digestive systems are compromised. Histamines can lead to symptoms like headaches, nasal congestion, hives, digestive issues, irregular menstrual cycles, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting. You don't need unaged meat to start healing, but it might slow recovery if you're sensitive to histamines."

I'll try to get fresh/unaged products and experiment with raw fats versus tallow next month.

Grain-Fed vs. Grass-Fed

It's a confusing topic. Some studies claim grass-fed is vastly superior, while others see little difference. Some people swear by grass-finished meat, while others, like Mikhaila Peterson, actually prefer grain-fed.
But one thing is certain: grass-fed/finished wins the gold medal, while grain-fed takes silver. And silver beats everyone else below it.
So what I think matters more significantly is how the cow lived. "Grain-fed" does not always mean factory farming. Some grain-fed animals graze outside for 180 days a year and spend the rest of their time in spacious pens with hay lofts, plenty of space, and fresh air. They are fed freshly mown grass, with grain only as a filler. This is still high-quality meat despite being grain-fed.
I recommend talking to the farm/butcher where you want to buy your meat or checking their website to understand their practices better.

Final Thoughts

I can't wait for my paycheck so I can finally start the Lion Diet. Healing is achievable for everyone with the right approach.

Useful Links/Information

• Mikhaila Peterson's Website (great FAQs and recipes): liondiet.com
• Darko Velcek's Blog: darkovelcek.wordpress.com

Feel free to ask any questions or share your experiences!

i was diagnosed with hashimotos at 16 - i am now 20. i’ve had lab work done almost every year and my endocrinologist said that my levels don’t require medication.
i’ve dealt with chronic fatigue for almost 6 years now. i was falling asleep in class which prompted me to see an endocrinologist. the fatigue has only worsened throughout the years and i was put on antidepressants back in 2020 as this fatigue led to depression. i was then diagnosed with adhd in 2021 and put on a stimulant. i cannot survive without stimulants. on days i do not take them, i am a living zombie.
i thought maybe the adhd is causing fatigue but i never struggled with my attention span and was never “a mess” until i became chronically fatigued.
my lab work never proves to be alarming enough for thyroid medication… i’ve seen two endocrinologists now. could the fatigue be linked to the hashimotos? should i be requesting a full lab panel instead of just the few things the doctor checks off? do i even have adhd or are the symptoms linked with adhd something else?
if anyone has experienced anything similar , please lmk what you’ve done to address it. i’m honestly exhausted running from doctor to doctor and receiving zero answers.

I'm not really sure how to proceed since my first positive test. On May 22nd, I went to get tea with a friend. The very next day, I began coughing. I didn't think much of it at the time. On the 24th, I began experiencing extreme chills, body aches, and fatigue, but my menstrual period had also started that day (it causes me to regulate my temperature poorly anyway), so I still wasn't thinking much of it. That was also the only day/night when I had experienced symptoms as severe as those.
Then, like an idiot, I kept coughing and feeling off. I don't know why I didn't think to take my temperature sooner. I don't know why I didn't think to take an at-home test when the coughing persisted. But then the day came (May 29th), when my family suggested that I take a test. I was positive. We called a help line, who recommended that I go into urgent care that day because I had been coughing for so long as it was.
The doctor told me that for multiple reasons, I didn't qualify for any antivirals (I figured as such), but she prescribed a cough suppressant that I've been taking since. (I've also been masking and staying away from my family) I'm just at a loss for how to move forward. I spent all that time at home, just coughing. I live with my mom (who is immunocrompromised), my brother (he works outside of the house), and my dog (she hasn't been eating breakfast lately).
I just don't know what to do, everything feels like it's too little, too late. My brother tested negative on the day that I tested positive, but what if it's lying dormant in him? What if I infected my dog? What if my mom gets sick and it ends up really bad for her? The pain and fever are pretty much gone, but I'm still coughing and I'm not sure for how long I'll still be considered contagious. I'm not even sure when I should retest, considering how long I've been ill altogether.
If anyone has any advice or support, I'd appreciate it. All I know is that this is my fault.

Hey, sorry this might be a bit long. For background, I’m 24 years old and live with my brother, sister and mother. I had no real life friends and suffer from many troubles. I got very sick when I was younger so never went to school and haven’t left my house in 5+ years for anything other than doctor appointments. I’ve been struggling massively lately with stress and anxiety, going to the doctor multiple times etc. After getting an endoscopy, scans and more all come back clear I’ve managed to chill out a bit more and start a new diet for self improvement. I have severe anxiety that I’ve never been able to get ahold of. I was actually managing to get through days without too much struggle. Until now….
My cat passed away at the vet very unexpected. She was only meant to go in for a tooth removed and they found a tumour so she didn’t come back out. I’m beyond devastated. I’m broken. I can’t live without her, she spent all day with me and as mentioned before, I don’t go out or leave my house. She was my best friend and always there to cheer me up. I really really don’t know what to do.
All the symptoms I’ve had over the years have all come back, anything I managed to improve or work on instantly reset, all at the same time. My legs won’t stop moving and shaking, I have horrible acid reflux, nausea, fatigue, heart palpitations, butterflies, stomach problems and pains, trouble breathing, headaches etc. Just horrible horrible feelings that I can’t stand or deal with. I don’t know what’s ’normal’ anymore and I can’t see how I’m supposed to manage. I want it to stop.
As many people have told me, there is no normal with this kinda thing. People feel differently for different amounts of time. I wish I just knew how long this is gonna last and how to overcome this.
There’s multiple things on my mind apart from the fact that she’s gone such as: I told her she was going to get better so now I’m scared she’s mad at me and feels betrayed. I never got to say goodbye, I don’t even remember the last time I saw her as my mum was the one to take her to the vet.
I miss her so much and need her back. I can’t live like this, it’s all too much. The first couple days were bad but after crying a lot I managed to calm down and watch a movie or something. Today is just hell, i physically feel horrendous. All my symptoms are so bad and it’s too much for me. I tried eating and felt sick, i slept for 14 hours but im still exhausted, my whole body aches. I can just about manage the crying and mental side of this all but the physical symptoms are tearing me apart. I can’t do anything. All my progress I made has been completely reset. I truly don’t know where to go from here.
I was extremely depressed experiencing these symptoms by themselves. Constantly going to the doctor to get help. After doing research and many tests I managed to calm down a bit and I was working on a new diet, learning to cook and such. Now it’s all back to where it was, if not worse. I know I sound like a broken record but I just don’t know what to do. I sat outside in my garden sobbing, calling her name and praying she would just jump over the fence and come home.
I don’t want her to be mad or in pain. I want her to be happy. How on earth am I meant to recover when I was already sui- with just half these symptoms. Now them all together with the loss of her?
I’ve been to my doctor and she said I’m having an acute severe stress/anxiety attack. Prescribed me some Diazepam but I’m honestly scared to talk them. I don’t want to feel ‘high’ or completely out of it. I’m super autistic so have a STRICT schedule, if it were to make me super sleepy and i slept out of my normal times it would just add more stress. It also feels cheap and cheating to use them, It’s impossible to explain. I want the pain to stop but I don’t want something else masking it, I want to feel for her.
I’ve been looking for what’s normal and there is no real answers. Take the stages of grief for example, I’ve done research on them and they seem to last people for weeks/months before moving onto the best stage. But I swear I’m feeling all stages across the same day. I’ll go from crying to being angry to regretting things to denial all within a few hours.
Here’s a list of some symptoms I’m going through: Coldness/chills, depression, anxiety, nausea, headaches, legs shaking and won’t stop moving (even when I’m in bed sleeping they are going up and down subconsciously), intense stomach pains, no appetite, tight throat/lump in throat, shortness of breath/breathlessness, general aches and pain across my entire body, diarrhoea, acid reflux/heartburn, heart palpitations, horrible tingly feeling in my stomach and chest (like butterflies but slightly different and just worse), sore eyes from crying, fatigue and lots more I’m probably forgetting. All simultaneously.
I’m sorry this is so long and many things are repeated, I just had to really explain the best I could. Any help is appreciated.
Side note: I don’t currently have any kind of therapist and it would take way too long to get one I’m diagnosed with CFS, OCD, ADHD, ADD, autism, Tourette’s, severe depression and anxiety, agoraphobia, scoliosis, eating disorder (Yes a lot, I’m kinda messed up) I’m also a huge hypochondriac. Feel free to ask any other questions. Thank you!