Hi there, 30 yo East Asian female with a family history of type 2 diabetes and hypertension. I went to the doctor this Oct to be more proactive about my health due to my family history and I'm in the obese range (93 kg 164 cm). My blood pressure is high (home readings averaged in the 140/90 range) and the doctor ordered fasted blood tests, urinal tests, and ultrasound to see my kidneys. There weren't any abnormal results except for my blood tests - iron deficiency anaemia, moderate vitamin D deficiency, and a high Aldo/Renin ratio which is now an ongoing investigation as a possible cause for my hypertension.

My doctor explained to me that I am not diabetic given the results. After the appointment, however, I noticed that the report also stated because of the low haemoglobin level, the HbA1c value may be inaccurate. My endocrinologist mentioned that sometimes anaemia could lead to lower HbA1c values, but did say because my fasted glucose was within a normal range I am not diabetic at this stage.

Being a worry head I just wanted to triple check. Even though my levels are normal they seem to be on the higher side? And if anaemia can make the values lower than it seems, could I be prediabetic?

Thanks for your help.

Blood test results:

Haemoglobin - 98 g/L
MCV - 67 fL
MCH - 19 pg
MCHC - 281 g/L
RDW - 20.2
Platelets - 486 x 10*9/L

S Iron - 3 umol/L
S TRF SAT - 4%
S Ferritin - 7 ng/mL

S GLU (fast) - 4.7 mmol/L (within normal range; 3.6-6.0)

S 25OH VIT D - 17 nmol/L

*hbA1C (NGSP) - 5.5% (within normal range; 4.4-5.6)
*hbA1C (IFCC) - 37 mmol/mol (within normal range; 25-38)
*eAG - 6.2 mmol/L

Aldo/Renin Ra - 101

Curious if anyone has any ideas on what could cause my throat to be sore for a year. I'll get mucus on a daily basis. My throat feels puffy at times and sometimes scratchy. I've had the following done. It does feel worse when eating acidic foods.

• upper endo with samples taken (everything looked good)

-manometry (everything looked good) -bravo ph testing ( no signs of reflux) -turbinate reduction on my nose with balloons. -I've tried zrytec tablets. Azelastine (didnt notice a change), ipatropium (only on day 3, haven't noticed a difference yet) nasal spray prescriptions

• STD Test (clean)

-I've tried antacids (zantac, prilosec) and they didn't work either ( this was before the bravo testing)

My ent was recommending seeing a larynologist.

I am going to see an allergist as well. Going to get mold testing done.

Does anyone have any other ideas or routes I should pursue?

25M slim, overall healthy lifestyle

Edit: I also run a humidifier at night and sleep with my head elevated.

So I was told today that my wisdom teeth aren’t causing my pain, that I’m grinding a lot in my sleep and that’s causing the pain, BUT I know I don’t grind my teeth enough at night to be this painful throughout the day and the pain is in the exact spots where my wisdom teeth are, I got my bottom ones out almost 2 years ago and they said I had around 2 more years to take the tops out or they would cause me issues, my new dentist is saying that she wouldn’t recommend it but if I’m being honest my whole experience there felt like they didn’t want to really deal with me?? Idk but I could use advice if I should go ahead and get these pulled or not.

Teen here, I recently went camping for 2 nights and once I got back home I have this weird rash I thing? It was bleeding and it started to hurt quite a bit I left it for a couple of days but it's still hurting.

Any advice?

So, a few months back I realized my big toenail wasn’t growing at all. I thought it was odd, but didn’t think much of it. I realized later that it was also discolored and started to suspect a fungus. I googled a bunch of things and couldn’t find anything that looked exactly like what I have, so I decided this week to go to urgent care. They told me it didn’t look like fungus (especially cuz fungus tends to make your nails grow thicker. Not stop growth altogether), and it could be a number of things, including cancer. They referred me to a podiatrist that I saw today. He also told me it didn’t look like fungus. He asked if I had banged it against anything, or if I’m active (could be trauma from walking a lot). I told him I haven’t hurt it at all and I’m not that active. He decided to take a clipping to test for fungus. He was barely able to get any cuz the nail was so short. It doesn’t hurt at all, but it did a bit when the clipper went under the nail. I took a closer look today, and it’s red in one spot under the nail (where it hurt when he was clipping). I didn’t mention the possibility of cancer, cuz I figured if he thought it could be, he would’ve mentioned it. But I did ask “If it’s not fungus, what else could it be?” And he said “I honestly don’t know.” So now I’m coming here to see if anyone has any idea of whether or not I should be worried. And what I should bring up at my follow up appointment. Thanks!

Hello! I’ve had this weird chest pain for about a month now and I’m getting a little worried.

It fist struck me during a deadlift at the gym (the initial pain was so bad that I thought I was having a heart attack). It kinda got better in 15-20 mins, but it hasn’t fully left me since. I can feel it most intensely when I get up from laying on my back (doing abs - for instance).

Also, my chest started cracking/popping??? I didn’t even know that was possible. Don’t get me wrong, I crack/pop nearly every bone in my body on a regular basis, but the chest was never on my bucket list.

Anyway, it doesn’t hurt as bad now. It feels more like a minor cramp. I’ll attach a picture to point out the exact location of the pain. (center and a little to my left - right above where my boobs start).

Anyone experienced this? Any tips??? I really hope that it’s just a muscle injury atp.

Please note that it’s not constant, only when doing certain movements that force my chest to close up or contract.

Anxiety and TSH

Hello! Can anxiety and stress raise your TSH level? I know the TSH is produced from the hypothalamus - pituitary - thyroid axis and many doctors use the TSH to test thyroid function.

I go through stages where my anxiety is very high and sometimes my TSH is a little high on my yearly physicals. It will be around 4.9 to 5.5ish. So just slightly high. The normal limit for the TSH from my doctors is 4.5, so mine is slightly elevated. My T3, T4, totals and free are always normal so I've never been diagnosed with any thyroid issues. I was tested for TPO antibodies and that came back normal so I don't have any of that.

But I do know I have tons of anxiety usually based around my health. I am in my late 30s, male, no prior health issues, blood tests are always great. I've had CT scans of my abdomen and I had a colonoscopy last year and both were normal and clear. I am in great health but my anxiety makes me feel awful.

So can anxiety raise the TSH levels slightly?

I've done research on the vagus nerve, anxiety, and it's effect on the body. When I am very anxious I'll get tightness in my abdomen which will lead to constipation or sometimes flat stools.

How do you deal with patellar tendinitis?

I (24m) want to start this by saying I know other people go through much more than knee pain in life, but I’m just expressing how I feel.

I have been depressed the last two years due to daily knee pain. It’s the only thing I can think about. It’s taken away the energy I have always had. I’ve always been healthy and in pretty good physical shape, but it’s just made me not want to move off the couch. It makes me not want to spend time with anyone or anything. I’ve lost focus on my work because I’m 24 with chronic knee pain.

I’m about to be married to my best friend and all I can think about is the pain I’m going to feel standing at the alter. It is all I think about in any scenario.

I’ve stretched like my physical therapist asks (I will say I’m not the most consistent stretcher, but I have been doing better).

It feels like doctors think I’m just coming in for pain meds bc I’m 24. I don’t want medicine I just want the pain to go away. I’ve done X-rays and seen multiple doctors who say I just need to stretch and ice my knees. They’ve cleared me to do basically anything.

My biggest concern is the pain is so much more intense than I show, I don’t like to make a huge deal about things so I express how painful it is when asked, but throughout my day I just put my head down and work through it.

I miss hiking with my dog and playing pickup basketball, I miss climbing trees just because. I understand as you get older things become harder to do but I’m 24 that’s nowhere near an age to be this physically ill.

Sorry for writing a pity novel on myself and to be honest I could write a ton more, I haven’t expressed this to anyone so it’s probably poorly written and very redundant. I’m sorry for that but I’m just looking for any help on my knees. I miss my old life. It’s really taken a toll on me mentally.

I didn’t proofread this, sorry if it’s poorly done!

Thanks for any help provided!

Hey everyone,

I'm reaching out for some advice or similar experiences. I've been dealing with persistent heart palpitations for over a year now, and I'm starting to get really worried.

Here's a quick rundown of my health history:

• Had a baby via emergency C-section December 2022 (not sure if relevant but maybe)
• August 2023: Severe COVID infection, followed by post-COVID complications (lung infection).
• Recovery: Frequent heart palpitations, dizziness, and pins and needles.
• Cardiologist Referral: Diagnosed with high thyroid levels and LFT issues. Put onto Indobloks- they said heart issues were due to my thyroid.
• Endocrinologist Referral: Diagnosed with Hashimoto's disease.
• May 2024: Second COVID infection, less severe but triggered a return of palpitations.
• Current Treatment: Beta-blockers (Atenolol) for the past 3 months.

While the beta-blockers initially helped, I've recently started experiencing the palpitations again. It's frustrating because I've made lifestyle changes (regular low-intensity exercise) and haven't altered my medication.

I'm concerned about the underlying cause and the potential risks. My cardiologist keeps saying my heart is physically healthy but "fragile." I'm not sure if I should seek a second opinion or if there's something else I should be doing.

To be noted: my thyroid has normalized for now and LFT levels are normal as well

Does anyone have similar experiences or advice? I'm open to any suggestions or recommendations.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Hi, 17m and a smoker (tobacco and marijuana).

I've been having this problem for a couple of months now where sometimes whenever i take full deep breath in and hold it in for a few seconds, probably around 5, my vision fades and goes fully black similarly to whenever you stand up too fast. i also feel like im going to pass out whenever this happens but i never fully have as i do start taking shallower breaths which makes me return to normal after a few seconds. it doesn't really effect my daily life but i am curious as too the reason why and it is just a bit weird how quickly it happens lol.

Was told it is asymptomatic however I have seizures, cognitive impairment, and movement issues

I've been having Diarrhea as of late, and I had some fruit punch Gatorade on top of eating a lot of toast to help with it. When I went to use the bathroom earlier it came out red. Is this because of the Gatorade?

Had a sore throat, looked in my mouth and saw this white lump? I’m scared it’s cancer

A had a cuticle infection which has now stopped the inflammation phase. But it has produced this mass. Can anyone tell me what’s going on? Am I growing a new nail or something?

I was using a fluocinonide topical solution prescribed to me by a dermatologist to help a fungal infection in my scalp and a little of it got into my eye. Right now my only symptoms is that it burns a little, should I be seriously concerned? Will this cause permanent damage? What else should I do other than rinse my eye with water

So the reason I'm asking on here is because my leg is not that of a normal person and Google doesn't get that specific. I'm 21 and have a femoral antiversion in my left hip which is not the immediate issue. (Currently my hip has Mild fraying of the anterior labrum and Peritendinous edema about the insertional fibers of the gluteus medius and minimus as well as the vastus lateralis originating fibers about the greater trochanter according the the MRI i recently got) Starting a few hours ago I've been getting sudden sharp pain in my left knee (lower ish center of the kneecap ig) and when it's not a sharp pain it's a dull pain. It just randomly comes when I'm sitting and even laying down in addition to walking. Should I worry and how do I make it not hurt. Thank you in advance

Update: I've taken the meds I was prescribed for my hip to see if that will help, it hasn't been that long however my knee is now throbbing in pain

I went to urgent care after it happened and got antibiotics to prevent bone infection, ibuprofen 800s and some Rx ointment. My question is.. Should I take biotin or something to help the nail grow back? Or just let it come in naturally? Any other tips/tricks to help make sure the nail grows back as close to normal as possible?

it only itched for the first minute or two i realized it was there and doesn’t really burn either

So, I (36F) feel really stupid for asking, but this morning as I was washing my face I was squeezing gunk out of my pores. I pinched at a pore on the bottom side of my nose (next to my right nostril). This pore has been bugging me for years and I don’t know what possessed me to go at it this morning but I did. I didn’t get anything out of the pore, but I feel like I felt something pop, though I didn’t think much else of it. It’s been about 8 hours and now my sinuses on the right side have felt stuffy and I have a headache on the right side as well. It’s not unusual for me to get headaches, but with my sinuses feeling stuffy I’m a little worried about popping a pimple or infection in the triangle of death on my face. There’s no redness or swelling to my face or even around the sight. Should I be seen by a doctor for this? I think I’d feel so stupid if it was nothing more than me just being tired and overreacting.

Yesterday I smashed up my wrist an hand pretty bad while building something. It hurt like hell when it happened and for a while after. I had a dull pain the rest of the day and sharp pains when doing things like pinching to pick up my fork or holding my phone. Today it hurts. It burns. It stings. It aches. It just sucks.

Here’s the thing. There’s very minor swelling and some small bruising that is increasing throughout the day. I have most my mobility except flipping my hand over and flexing in.

Is this worth checking out with an X-ray? Is there anything that will be needed that a brace can’t do? Really my only concern is getting surgery if it is needed. Would prefer to do that immediately before my busy work season.

Thanks!

Hey just wondering if you can have damaged caused by paracetamol missuse but basic liver function tests are fine? Im wondering wether to push with docs or if im being my usual paranoid mess. Im struggling badly with my mental health (not recieving help due to being too sick for gp but cmht have flagged me as an attention seeker and wont see me after i refused cbt after 2 previous courses that did nothing) and have actually been hospitalised twice this year due to intentional painkiller missuse, the problem is although im not taking as much at a time as i was i have regularily continued to do so as a coping mechanism/ wanting to harm myself due to my mental health for a long time now and i now have permanent sharp stabbing pain in my upper right (that sides worse) and also left quadrents but as my basic LFT is ok docs aint concerned and are only conserned about my vitamin and mineral levels as again really bad mental health and im rather malnpurished. I want to stop with the meds but its a daily battle that i lose at least once a week if not twice but i have managed to half my intake from 32+ at a time to 16. But just wondering can it do damage that doesnt show up in bloodwork or is the pain just psychosomatic?

Oh im a mid 30s female in the uk that smokes and is overweight.