more than 6 months ago i had a questionable hookup, i was in a bad part of my life and made a stupid decision. recently i started experiencing flu-like symptoms and of course i started panicking. i had almost every symptom of HIV except thrush and rashes. i genuinely thought my life was over. i just took a oraquick HIV rapid test today.. finally pushed myself to do it….. and i came out negative. not even a faint line on the test. checked it like 5 times just to make sure and even took a picture.. right now.. i still can’t even believe it. i’m negative. i’m okay so far and will never make that dumb mistake again. last thing i gotta do, schedule a regular STD test and make sure i’m completely okay. tbh, none of them worry me like HIV worried me. so.. point is… don’t spend weeks on your phone googling symptoms and getting depressed. just go get tested. everything will be okay.

I 22f performed unprotected oral sex on a male on 1st of May (17 days ago). The guy in question is a well sorted individual. I've known him since February. We moved forward with each meeting in terms 'moves', we took one step at a time and discussed everything beforehand. He has performed oral sex on me twice before May 1st and I was fine. On May 1st, I expressed my desire to do the same with him. We discussed doing it with condoms on (I didn't like the idea and neither did he). This led to us discussing his sexual history (I am a virgin). He is bi and has never had sex unprotected. Cool, I give him the BJ. I had to fly back home the next day. 8 days later I have swollen throat. I freak out, I text him. I book an appointment with two doctors both diagnose me with acute tonsillitis the doctor tells me that I am genetically pre-disposed to tonsillitis (which is true, my mom and cousin have to bear this every other year). I tell them about the sexual experience, they say no. The infection clears up after a treatment of antibiotics. The day antibiotics get over, I start itching. There are those spots you see after mosquito bite. Mostly concentrated in palms and soles of the feet. Some on my forearms and thighs. We have decided that he will get tested regardless. But my mind is racing at a million miles per hour. HIV? Chlamydia? Syphilis? I am googling symptoms online and going insane. Otherwise I am fine physically. (P.S. I have hypothyroidism and I am also a chronic overthinker)

I hooked up with a long term friend recently. He needed a place to stay for the night after getting into some trouble- he’s kinda rough and not a blue collar guy. He’s a hustler and has been through some ish!!! Well it was an out of the blue thing, we hooked up and I instantly regret it. I got a whiff of his cock about 20 seconds in and almost gagged. He reeked of fish, and just smelled nasty!!! I instantly regret it and hopped in the shower and cleaned myself out . We had sex for maybe a minute… than we each took a shower. Well later that night we hooked up again this time for 30 seconds maybe a minute before he said he was gonna cum and I pushed him off of me. I’ve had the weirdest symptoms since… a rash with red dots all over my chest and neck… my leg bones ache and I’ve been getting horrible migraines etc. it’s hard to decipher the symptoms because my kids and I have all had a coughs for 2 weeks with congestion and idk if it’s related to that or my sexual encounter but it’s been a month now since we joined up. He gave me trich and it pissed me off because he told me he was clean. I am so paranoid he gave me hiv. I’m a white female 27, and he’s a black male 31… I told him I was concerned about hiv because he gave me trich and he called me crazy and told me that’s a strong accusation. He also ducked me after giving me trich. He never apologized and just ducked me entirely. The worst part is I’m a hypochondriac and he knows getting trich was literally torture for me to go through. I was having panic attacks everyday on the meds and by myself in the matter. HIV would ruin my life. I’m 27, a single mom of two boys and about to graduate college. My anxiety is debilitating without it. I can’t imagine the panic attacks I’d go through daily waking up with that status. We had sex for less than 2 minutes combined, if I ended up with HIV I’d literally have the worst of luck. I know sex workers who don’t even have it after years of working on the streets.. I feel like I make the dumbest decisions.

DAY: MAY 16, 2024

• 5-16-2024MEN AT GREATER RISK OF MAJOR HEALTH EFFECTS OF DIABETES THAN WOMEN, STUDY SUGGESTS Men are at greater risk than women of the major health effects of diabetes (types 1 and 2), proposes a long term study published online in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health. Rates of cardiovascular disease, leg, foot, and kidney complications, and the sight-threatening eye disease diabetic retinopathy are all higher in men, regardless of whether they had diabetes for more or less than 10 years,
• 5-16-2024LIKELIHOOD OF KIDS AND YOUNG PEOPLE SMOKING AND VAPING LINKED TO SOCIAL MEDIA USE The more time spent on social media, the greater the likelihood that children and young people will both smoke and/or vape, suggests research published online in the respiratory journal Thorax. Clocking up a weekday tally of seven or more hours was associated with a more than a doubling in risk among 10 to 25-year-olds, the findings indicate, reinforcing concerns about the marketing clout of these platforms,
• 5-16-2024FIRST US TRIAL OF VARENICLINE FOR E-CIGARETTE CESSATION SHOWS POSITIVE RESULTS The first U.S. trial of varenicline for e-cigarette cessation shows promising results and warrants larger-scale trials, the researchers say. Researchers from Yale Cancer Center and MUSC Hollings Cancer Center published the results of their clinical trial of varenicline to help adults to stop using e-cigarettes
• 5-16-2024NEW FINDINGS ON THE EFFECTS OF GLUTEN Celiac disease is a chronic autoimmune condition that occurs in around 1% of the world’s population. It is triggered by the consumption of gluten proteins from wheat, barley, rye and some oats. A gluten-free diet protects celiac patients from severe intestinal damage
• 5-16-2024MANY PEOPLE ARE NOT AWARE OF THE HEALTH RISKS Many people are concerned about residues of chemicals, contaminants or microplastics in their food. However, it is less well known that many foods also contain toxins of completely natural origin. These are often chemical compounds that plants use to ward off predators such as insects or microorganisms. These substances are found in beans and potatoes, for example, and can pose potential health risks.
• 5-16-2024EXERCISE SHOULD BE PRESCRIBED FOR PEOPLE WITH PARKINSON’S No pharmacological medication currently available can cure or slow down Parkinson’s disease. However, based on an extensive literature review researchers from Aarhus University conclude that physical exercise should be a significant factor in the treatment of Parkinson’s patients. “Based on current evidence, we propose a paradigm shift: Exercise should be prescribed as medicine for people with early-stage Parkinson’s alongside conventional medical treatment
• 5-16-2024LONGER SCREENING INTERVALS ARE SAFE WITH LOW BASELINE PROSTATE-SPECIFIC ANTIGEN
• 5-16-2024US PROPOSES RECLASSIFYING MARIJUANA AS LOW-RISK DRUG US President Joe Biden’s administration formally proposed on Thursday reclassifying marijuana as a less dangerous drug, a historic shift that would bring federal policy more in line with public opinion. “No one should be in jail merely for using or possessing marijuana. Period,” Biden said in a video statement. “Far too many lives have been upended because of a failed approach to marijuana
• 5-16-2024WHO SHOULD BE SCREENED FOR SKIN CANCER? Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the U.S. Each year, more than 6 million adults are treated for skin cancer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dr. Collin Costello, a Mayo Clinic dermatologist, says anyone can get skin cancer, but some people are at higher risk. So how often should you be screened?
• 5-16-2024CONSISTENT EXERCISE CHANGES HOW SATURATED FAT IS USED BY THE BODY, STUDY FINDS An active lifestyle can change how the body burns saturated and unsaturated fat according to new research from the University of Aberdeen. In the study, published in Nature Communications, researchers investigated how different types of fat are used by the body, depending on the individual’s level of physical fitness.
• 5-16-2024SIMPLE LEARNING TEST MAY BE USED TO DIAGNOSE AUTISM AT JUST SIX MONTHS OF AGE Researchers has discovered what might be a marker for autism that could diagnose a child as young as 6 months. In their study, published in PLOS ONE, the group tested infants believed to be at risk of developing the disorder and compared their results with infants not at risk and then monitored them for two years
• 5-16-2024STUDY INDICATES THE RAPID IDENTIFICATION OF STROKE TYPE IS KEY TO IMPROVING OUTCOMES Early identification of stroke type could be key to harnessing the benefits of very early in-ambulance blood pressure lowering treatment in patients with suspected acute stroke
• 5-16-2024CREAM CHEESE FROM ALDI, HY-VEE STORES RECALLED DUE TO SALMONELLA RISK Two major supermarket chains, Aldi and Hy-Vee, are recalling brands of cream cheese because of a potential risk for salmonella. No actual illnesses linked to the products have yet been reported, but Hy-Vee said it’s announcing the recall of Hy-Vee Cream Cheese Spread “out of an abundance of caution due to the potential for contamination with salmonella.” Another Hy-Vee product, bulk-packaged Cookies & Cream Mix, is also being recalled for the same reason
• 5-16-2024STUDY INVESTIGATES CARDIAC CELL REGENERATION IN SEARCH OF NOVEL THERAPEUTICS
• 5-16-2024EXERCISE DOES NOT ACCELERATE ARTERY PLAQUE BUILDUP MORE OFTEN SEEN IN FITNESS ENTHUSIASTS Exercising, even at extreme levels, does not accelerate the calcium buildup in arteries more often seen in marathoners and fitness enthusiasts, according to new research published in JAMA Cardiology from UT Southwestern and the Cooper Institute. The study, which analyzed more than 8,700 participants from 1998–2019, provides important insight on whether people whose heart scans detect higher calcium should modify their exercise regimen to slow the plaque buildup in arteries. A person’s calcium level helps predict risk for heart attack and stroke from a cardiovascular condition called atherosclerosis
• 5-16-2024CANCER IS INCREASINGLY SURVIVABLE—BUT IT SHOULDN’T DEPEND ON YOUR ABILITY TO ‘WRANGLE’ THE HEALTH SYSTEM
• 5-16-2024THE BRAIN MIGHT ALSO HAVE A MICROBIOME—WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
• 5-16-2024WHAT IS PREP? WILL IT STOP ME GETTING HIV?
• 5-16-2024RISK OF ‘GENETIC DISCRIMINATION’ BY INSURANCE COMPANIES IS RUINING PEOPLE’S TRUST IN VITAL MEDICAL SCIENCE
• 5-16-2024CLIMATE CHANGE IS A NEW HURDLE FOR CHILDREN’S PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LEVELS IN CANADA
• 5-16-2024RESEARCH REVEALS LIFESTYLE MAINTENANCE TIPS FOR INFERTILE INDIVIDUALS
• 5-16-2024STUDY UNCOVERS NEW TARGET FOR BREAST CANCER MEDICATIONS
• 5-16-2024UNIQUE BRAIN CIRCUIT IS LINKED TO BODY MASS INDEX
• 5-16-2024PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES HAVE SEX TOO—SO WHY DO SOME DOCTORS THINK OTHERWISE?
• 5-16-2024SUNSCREEN WON’T STOP YOU MAKING VITAMIN D—HERE’S WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
• 5-16-2024PATIENT ‘CHRONOTYPE’ COULD IMPACT BEST TIME TO TAKE BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICATION
• 5-16-2024NEW POSTPARTUM CARE RECOMMENDATIONS TARGET CVD RISK
• 5-16-2024‘SOCIAL JET LAG’ LEADS TO WEIGHT GAIN AND INCREASED BLOOD SUGAR IN MICE
• 5-16-2024RESEARCHERS IDENTIFY IMPORTANT GENE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST PROSTATE CANCER
• 5-16-2024COMBINING TWO TUMOR MARKERS CAN HELP TRACK DOWN COLORECTAL CANCER SUBTYPES
• 5-16-2024WHY DO WE OVERINDULGE? STUDY EXPLORES HOW DISTRACTION AFFECTS ‘HEDONIC CONSUMPTION’
• 5-16-2024STUDY SHOWS LISTENING TO MENTAL HEALTH PODCASTS REDUCES STIGMA
• 5-16-2024STUDY FINDS TAKING CORTISONE WITH ANTACIDS CAN DIMINISH BONE DENSITY IN RHEUMATISM PATIENTS
• 5-16-2024EXPERTS SHARE TIPS FOR INCORPORATING THERMAL THERAPIES AFTER AN INJURY OR EXERCISE
• 5-16-2024TURKEY’S ‘MAD HONEY’ APHRODISIAC THAT CAN KNOCK YOU FLAT
• 5-16-2024FRUIT FLY STUDY REVEALS BRAIN-CELL CIRCUITRY THAT COULD UNDERLIE HOW CREATURES LARGE AND SMALL SEE WAVELENGTHS OF LIGHT
• 5-16-2024FDA SAID IT NEVER INSPECTED DENTAL LAB THAT MADE CONTROVERSIAL AGGA DEVICE
• 5-16-2024DESPITE ITS ‘NOTHINGBURGER’ REPUTATION, COVID-19 REMAINS DEADLIER THAN THE FLU
• 5-16-2024DOCTORS SAW YOUNGER MEN SEEKING VASECTOMIES AFTER ROE V. WADE WAS OVERTURNED
• 5-16-2024STUDY FINDS GLP-1 RECEPTOR AGONIST USE INCREASES LIKELIHOOD OF ANTIDEPRESSANT PRESCRIPTION
• 5-16-2024STUDY CONFIRMS A NUMBER OF DOCTORS DON’T UNDERSTAND MENOPAUSE
• 5-16-2024AI-INFORMED HEALTH APP AIDS DIABETES OUTCOMES
• 5-16-2024JUDGES AND PHYSICIANS HAVE DIFFERENT VIEWS ABOUT APPOINTING A LEGAL GUARDIAN FOR PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA, FINDS STUDY
• 5-16-2024BIOMARKER COULD IMPROVE PREDICTION OF RESPONSE TO IMMUNOTHERAPY IN MELANOMA
• 5-16-2024NEW GENE DELIVERY VEHICLE SHOWS PROMISE FOR HUMAN BRAIN GENE THERAPY
• 5-16-2024RESEARCHERS DISCOVER NEW PATHWAY TO CANCER CELL DEATH FROM CHEMOTHERAPY
• 5-16-2024UNDER STRESS, STUDY FINDS AN OBSERVER IS MORE LIKELY TO HELP THE VICTIM THAN TO PUNISH THE PERPETRATOR
• 5-16-2024GENETICS, ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH DISPARITIES LINKED TO INCREASED STRESS AND MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES DURING ADOLESCENCE
• 5-16-2024DIABETES MEDICATION RISK IN AGED CARE REVEALED
• 5-16-2024STUDY SUGGESTS HIGH-FREQUENCY ELECTRICAL ‘NOISE’ RESULTS IN CONGENITAL NIGHT BLINDNESS
• 5-16-2024ABORTION BANS MADE MINNESOTA A HEALTH CARE ISLAND. COULD THE SAME HAPPEN WITH IVF?
• 5-16-2024UNINTENTIONAL DROWNING RATES HIGHER IN 2020, 2021, 2022 THAN 2019
• 5-16-2024THESE PARENTS WON’T HAVE ANOTHER
• 5-16-2024HEP C INFECTION POSES GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH THREAT TO REPRODUCTIVE-AGE WOMEN
• 5-16-2024FDA APPROVES FIRST SELF-TEST COLLECTION KIT FOR HPV
• 5-16-2024NEUROPLASTICITY STUDY SHOWS HOW SINGING REHABILITATES SPEECH PRODUCTION IN POST-STROKE APHASIA
• 5-16-2024MINIATURIZED OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY IMAGING PROBE TAKES PICTURES INSIDE CEREBRAL ARTERIES
• 5-16-2024THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RHYTHMICITY OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM FOR TUMOR GROWTH
• 5-16-2024END-OF-LIFE SYSTEMIC TREATMENT FOR PATIENTS WITH ADVANCED CANCERS DOES NOT IMPROVE SURVIVAL, FINDS STUDY
• 5-16-2024RISK PERCEPTION INFLUENCED LESS BY MEDIA THAN PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT: STUDY
• 5-16-2024MACHINE LEARNING METHOD FOR PREDICTING GLIOMA MUTATIONS SHOWS PROMISE FOR PERSONALIZED TREATMENT
• 5-16-2024EXAMINING THE MECHANISMS AND CLINICAL POTENTIAL OF A PROMISING NON-OPIOID PAIN THERAPY CANDIDATE
• 5-16-2024STUDY IDENTIFIES ‘HOT-SPOTS’ OF HIGH RATES OF DEPRESSION LINKED TO DEPRIVATION
• 5-16-2024MANY CARDIOVASCULAR DEATHS ARE DUE TO AN UNBALANCED DIET, STUDY FINDS
• 5-16-2024PROGRESS IN GENETIC TESTING IN CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE
• 5-16-2024ADVERSE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH LINKED TO TREATMENT-RESISTANT HYPERTENSION IN BLACK AMERICANS
• 5-16-2024RISK PERCEPTION INFLUENCED LESS BY MEDIA THAN PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT: STUDY
• 5-16-2024MACHINE LEARNING METHOD FOR PREDICTING GLIOMA MUTATIONS SHOWS PROMISE FOR PERSONALIZED TREATMENT
• 5-16-2024EXAMINING THE MECHANISMS AND CLINICAL POTENTIAL OF A PROMISING NON-OPIOID PAIN THERAPY CANDIDATE
• 5-16-2024STUDY IDENTIFIES ‘HOT-SPOTS’ OF HIGH RATES OF DEPRESSION LINKED TO DEPRIVATION
• 5-16-2024MANY CARDIOVASCULAR DEATHS ARE DUE TO AN UNBALANCED DIET, STUDY FINDS
• 5-16-2024PROGRESS IN GENETIC TESTING IN CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE
• 5-16-2024ADVERSE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH LINKED TO TREATMENT-RESISTANT HYPERTENSION IN BLACK AMERICANS
• 5-16-2024RISK PERCEPTION INFLUENCED LESS BY MEDIA THAN PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT: STUDY
• 5-16-2024MACHINE LEARNING METHOD FOR PREDICTING GLIOMA MUTATIONS SHOWS PROMISE FOR PERSONALIZED TREATMENT
• 5-16-2024EXAMINING THE MECHANISMS AND CLINICAL POTENTIAL OF A PROMISING NON-OPIOID PAIN THERAPY CANDIDATE
• 5-16-2024STUDY IDENTIFIES ‘HOT-SPOTS’ OF HIGH RATES OF DEPRESSION LINKED TO DEPRIVATION
• 5-16-2024MANY CARDIOVASCULAR DEATHS ARE DUE TO AN UNBALANCED DIET, STUDY FINDS
• 5-16-2024PROGRESS IN GENETIC TESTING IN CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE
• 5-16-2024ADVERSE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH LINKED TO TREATMENT-RESISTANT HYPERTENSION IN BLACK AMERICANS
• 5-16-2024STUDY SHOWS VICIOUS CYCLE OF PROTEIN CLUMPING IN ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE AND NORMAL AGING
• 5-16-2024GLOBAL STUDY REPORTS ASSISTED REPRODUCTION TREATMENTS ARE SAFE IN YOUNG BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS WITH HIGH-RISK GENES
• 5-16-2024OFFERING BOTH COLONOSCOPY AND AT-HOME TESTS TO STUDY PATIENTS DOUBLED COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENING
• 5-16-2024RESEARCHER DISCUSSES CHANGING THE PREGNANCY CULTURE TO ‘EATING FOR YOU,’ NOT FOR TWO
• 5-16-2024DISCOVERY OF A MASTER NEURON THAT CONTROLS MOVEMENT IN WORMS HAS IMPLICATIONS FOR HUMAN DISEASE
• 5-16-2024RESEARCH LOOKS AT HOW LONELINESS AND MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS ARE INTERCONNECTED
• 5-16-2024EXPERTS PROVIDE DISPARITY-SENSITIVE MEASURES FOR TRANSPLANT CENTERS
• 5-16-2024NUMBER OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING POOR HEALTH, EARLY DEATH FROM METABOLISM-RELATED RISK FACTORS HAS INCREASED SINCE 2000
• 5-16-2024GLOBAL LIFE EXPECTANCY PROJECTED TO INCREASE BY NEARLY 5 YEARS BY 2050 DESPITE VARIOUS THREATS
• 5-16-2024PRIMARY HEALTH COVERAGE FOUND TO HAVE PREVENTED MORE THAN 300,000 CHILD DEATHS IN FOUR LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES
• 5-16-2024QUALITY IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVE BOOSTS EARLY HPV VACCINE RATES
• 5-16-2024TOBACCO CORPORATION ATTEMPTS TO GAIN PUBLIC TRUST IN ITS SCIENCE ARE HAVING SUCCESS, NEW RESEARCH FINDS
• 5-16-2024STUDY USES MACHINE LEARNING TO PREDICT OPIOID USE DISORDER TREATMENT INTERRUPTIONS
• 5-16-2024REVIEW EXPLORES CELL-BASED IMMUNOTHERAPIES FOR SEPSIS
• 5-16-2024EVALUATING A MOBILE APP AS A TRAINING TOOL TO DETECT SKIN DISEASES
• 5-16-2024IMAGING FIBROUS STRUCTURE ABNORMALITIES OF THE WHITE OF THE EYE IN MYOPATHIC PATIENTS
• 5-16-2024MAUI RESIDENTS FACE HEALTH DECLINE, ACCESS STRUGGLES AFTER WILDFIRE, NEW REPORT FINDS
• 5-16-2024STUDY FINDS BRAIN WIRING PREDICTED ADOLESCENTS’ EMOTIONAL HEALTH DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC
• 5-16-2024LINK BETWEEN COVID-19 VACCINE COMPLICATION AND RARE ‘COMMON COLD’ BLOOD DISEASE
• 5-16-2024RESEARCH EXPLAINS NEW METHOD TO ENGINEER IMMUNE CELLS THAT COULD TREAT MULTIPLE CANCER PATIENTS
• 5-16-2024‘TROJAN HORSE’ WEIGHT LOSS DRUG FOUND TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE THAN AVAILABLE THERAPIES
• 5-16-2024RESEARCHERS IDENTIFY IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE PATHWAY THAT HELPS NEWBORN HEARTS REGENERATE IN MOUSE MODELS
• 5-16-2024RESEARCHERS DEVELOP THEORY ON TRAVELING WAVES OF ACTIVITY IN THE HUMAN BRAIN
• 5-16-2024RESEARCHERS PROFILE CLINICAL, GENE AND PROTEIN CHANGES IN ‘BRAIN FOG’ FROM LONG COVID

I’m 20 male, a week ago I went to a barbershop to get a haircut. I was the only customer and after 15-20mins my haircut was done and the barber finished up by using a razor to trim my side and back of my head. It did not bleed but i feel a little pain at the back of my head, I did not see the barber changed the blade. After 4 days i have a mild fever around 37.5 to under 38*C, i felt very tired and i have a mild diarrhea that went away after two days. There were no rash or swollen lymph nodes. I went to the doctor yesterday which is the 8th day after my haircut and tested negative for HIV but i’m still scared cause it is still early. What are the chances of getting HIV from uncleaned razor and in my case specifically. Thank you everyone!

https://ibb.co/tzPMyxM https://ibb.co/dbvkLG3
hey guys. i had a protected encounter on march 18th (vaginal and oral). i don’t know if the condom tore or slipped but i don’t think it did bc i would have noticed. i’m not sure ab her status and that’s why im a little worried. it was very safe and didn’t really last long (maybe 10-15 mins). i’m scared that i’ve got something like HIV or caught something. i don’t feel ill or like i have a fever, my tongue is a little white but it’s honestly could be bc my oral health maintenance has declined so much lately due to stress and exams. i’m just a little scared guys. my arms and hands are itchy, my legs a little too, there’s a white patch on my back that i’ve never seen before :( do you guys think these symptoms are due to stress and me overthinking due to the encounter being safe?

Hey Reddit,
Really hoping you can help, I’ve been struggling with chronic pain for about 2 years that’s got increasingly worse since spine surgery (c5-c6 disc replacement) Jan ‘23. I just got back the weirdest x ray of my sacrum with a “an interestingly, seemingly completely resorbed coccyx” (which is weird, because I fractured it in 2018??)
Anywho, tried to sum it up below.. (obviously failed wow)
Female, 30yo, 5’2 103lbs
History of coccyx fracture (‘18) and cervical spine surgery ‘23). Acute injury (without fall, while moving boxes) in Dec ‘24 showed bulges at l4-l5 and l5-s1, rupture at l4-l5 and moderate to severe stenosis at l5-s1. Recent diagnoses of ehlers danlos, pots, osteoarthritis, si joint disfunction, health anxiety, and (also) daily struggle with chronic pain. Historical diagnoses of high blood pressure, skin rashes / sensitivity, shingles in back of neck & aural migraines (‘19), PTSD, etc etc
Medications: Adderall 15mg 2x daily (debating stopping as I am p underweight) Gabapentin 600mg daily Botox for migraines every 3mo Heavy nightly medical marijuana user / sometimes dabbler in NyQuil (sleeping is really hard since Dec..) Methocarbamol 750mg as needed
Supplements: Vitamin C gummy’s, K2D3, NAC, Magnesium Glycinate, inositol, B complex
Do I just need to get strong and weigh more?! I am so tired of being in pain, I know I also need to change some things in my personal life that’ll contribute to me feeling better but I am just at a loss. And also maybe the answer is therapy (which I start next week) lol
Many thanks in advance🙏

I have finally received a diagnosis of pachychoroid neovasculopathy (PNV, also called idiopathic CNVM, polypoidal CNV and choroidal neovascularization in other places). And I have something very interesting to report as an observation for potential treatment. But first a bit of history:
When I was 24 and very weakened with sprue after travelling overland from Australia to London, I had what was then called a detached retina and spent some weeks in London Eye Hospital before flying home to recover. Fast forward, and 3 years ago, aged 73, I observed a growing fuzzy grey spot in the centre of my vision, worse in low light, in the same eye that was affected years ago. This was diagnosed as AMD (acute macular degeneration) and treated with Eylea VEGF (aflibercept) injections monthly, which rapidly reduced the sub-retinal fluid leakage problem although by then I had lost the yellow register and some light-gathering ability in that eye. But I was not happy with the diagnosis and sought a second opinion - by the time I got a second diagnosis, my first eye surgeon had changed his views to match mine and the professor concurred, I had central serous retinopathy CSR. This was good news because that disease may run a course and stabilise, unlike regressive AMD.
Still the Eylea injections continued monthly for 2 years and I was unable to lengthen the time between them. Eventually I had read the science and started saffron capsules daily and got out to 6 weeks. Then I went trekking in Nepal and came back apparently without any need for a further injection. Had the CSR run its course? Or was it taking Diamox (acetazolamide) for altitude acclimatisation (there is some scientific evidence for this), or hard effort at altitude? Or some other factor?
At this stage my trusted eye surgeon suggested that I had PNV and did not require further Eylea injections, but after about 4 months I observed some lack of focus and received another Eylea shot which did not improve matters at all. It was clear that my vision was deteriorating and I was becoming very concerned at the rate of loss in that eye.
And here is the observation: 4 weeks after the last Eylea injection I started taking 200-400mg of magnesium supplement a day for a totally unrelated tendon issue. Within 24 hours my vision had improved. Within a week I had gone up an entire line on the eyechart. My eye surgeon did a dilated scan and said he had never seen such a clear retina in a PNV case - there appeared to be no sub-retinal fluid at all and even reduced drusen where it had been before prior to the last Eylea injection.
I am largely vegan although in Nepal we had to eat eggs and a lot of other foods that we do not normally eat, although not meat. Could that have increased my magnesium intake and caused the marked improvement I observed?
I would love to hear from others about this, particularly if you have a similar diagnosis and even more so if you try a magnesium supplement!

Fluoride is a mineral widely recognized for its role in dental health. It is used in various forms, including in water supplies, dental products (like toothpaste and mouth rinses), and professional dental treatments. Here are the uses, risks, and potential side effects of fluoride:
Uses of Fluoride:-
Dental Health:
Cavity Prevention: Fluoride helps to remineralize tooth enamel, making it more resistant to decay.
Strengthening Teeth: It integrates into the tooth structure during development, creating a stronger enamel layer.
Reducing Bacteria: Fluoride can inhibit the growth of bacteria in the mouth that produce acid, which is responsible for tooth decay.
Public Health Measures:
Water Fluoridation: Adding fluoride to public water supplies is a common practice aimed at reducing the incidence of dental cavities in the population.
Professional Dental Treatments:
Fluoride Varnishes and Gels: Applied by dentists to provide a high concentration of fluoride to protect teeth.
Fluoride Supplements: Prescribed for children in areas where the water supply is not fluoridated.
Risks and Side Effects of Fluoride:-
Dental Fluorosis:
Cause: Overexposure to fluoride during the early years of life (typically up to age 8) when teeth are developing.
Symptoms: Causes discoloration and mottling of the teeth, ranging from mild white spots to severe brown stains and surface irregularities.
Skeletal Fluorosis:
Cause: Long-term exposure to high levels of fluoride, typically from drinking water with excessively high fluoride concentrations.
Symptoms: Can lead to pain and damage to bones and joints.
Potential Toxicity:
Acute Toxicity: Ingesting a large amount of fluoride at once can be toxic, causing nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. This is rare and usually associated with accidental ingestion of high-concentration fluoride products.
Chronic Toxicity: Long-term ingestion of high levels of fluoride can lead to more serious health issues, including effects on bones and possibly the thyroid.
Other Side Effects:
Gastrointestinal Issues: Ingesting too much fluoride can cause stomach upset.
Skin Reactions: Some individuals may experience skin rashes or irritation from topical fluoride products.
Balancing Benefits and Risks:-
Optimal Fluoride Levels:
Water Fluoridation: The optimal fluoride level in drinking water recommended by health authorities is generally around 0.7 parts per million (ppm). This level balances the benefits of preventing tooth decay while minimizing the risk of dental fluorosis.
Dental Products: Using the right amount of fluoride toothpaste (a pea-sized amount for children) and ensuring children do not swallow toothpaste can help manage fluoride exposure.
Monitoring and Education:
Public Health Surveillance: Regular monitoring of fluoride levels in water supplies and dental health outcomes.
Education: Educating the public about the appropriate use of fluoride products and the importance of supervised brushing for children.
Conclusion
Fluoride is a valuable tool in promoting dental health and preventing cavities. When used appropriately, the benefits of fluoride in reducing tooth decay significantly outweigh the risks. However, it is important to manage fluoride exposure carefully, especially in young children, to prevent potential side effects like dental fluorosis. Consulting with dental professionals can help individuals and communities make informed decisions about fluoride use.

Hi, apologies for the long post but I just wanted to clear some things up
4/5/24 - Was prescribed 10x500 moxifloxacin for suspected acute bacterial sinusitis.
12/5/24 - After taking 9th pill, started feeling tingling in both calves. Stopped taking antibiotic.
13/5/24 - Visited doctor in Sapa, Vietnam. By this point, symptoms were tingling in feet, legs and slightly in hands. Some numbness in toes, on and off headaches and lightheadedness (was getting this with sinusitis so not sure if still have it). Doctor suggested it could be peripheral neuropathy, would have to go to Hanoi, Vietnam for further testing. Started taking magnesium, CoQ10 and probiotics.
14/5/24 - travelled to Hanoi, where I had EMG, blood tests (B12 and thyroxine). EMG and bloods returned normal
15/5/24 - received spinal tap. Waiting on results for this.
16/5/24 - currently resting, symptoms are:

• [ ] Neuropathy in legs and feet, slightly in hands
• [ ] Cold feet
• [ ] Loose bowel movements
• [ ] Intermittent rash on chest
• [ ] On and off headache (could be from sinusitis)
• [ ] Clicking of some muscles/joints when I move about
• [ ] General feeling of weakness
• [ ] A degree of lightheadedness when moving about (again, could be that I still have the sinusitis, but not sure)

Just wanted to check that these onset of symptoms are normal? I am not too worried at the moment and I am aware that this is most likely not something that goes away quickly, but it would be nice to have some clarity if anyone else experienced this in early stages.

Last week in a post-deleted by the OP, there was discussion about how there is no point in stockpiling antibiotics and any attemps for lay people to practice any form of health care in a widespread grid down disaster was a waste of time
Myself and some colleagues wrote: Survival and Austere Medicine
Edit. New link. in a post below.
We are slowing working on a 4th edition with some new material and minor corrections - but it is taking longer than we thought!
But I thought given the above post, I would take the opportunity to post the introduction - which address the "why bother" question for a major long-term grid down situation. Apologies for the formatting and length
"There is a sense, when considering the issues around survival medicine practice, that everything is overwhelming, that it is impossible for lay people to provide a high level of medical care and maintain a high level of population health.
We don’t think this is the case at all. We believe that intelligent lay people with some basic medical knowledge, skills, and equipment can deliver high quality health care. While it is obviously impossible for lay people to safely and competently deal with every medical problem, and there remain many complicated diagnoses requiring equally complicated or technologically advanced treatments, for 80- 90% of the health problems afflicting humanity, simple things done well are all that is required to preserve life and limb and help alleviate suffering.
Consider the following:
1. Remote Medicine Practice:
Below are the results of one of our author’s experience in the provision of health care in various remote and austere locations (some third world, some first world) to nearly four thousand people over a cumulative 30-month period (spread over 18 years) – with more data there are few minor changes from the 2005 2nd edition, but the list is essentially the same – which is interesting. The record keeping was a bit unreliable at times, but the following summary is reasonably accurate.
Top 20 presentations (representing > 95% of consultations):
1. Minor musculoskeletal injuries - ankle sprains most common, included many minor fractures which didn’t require more than diagnosis and simple care
2. Upper respiratory tract infections
3. Allergic reactions/Hay feveAnaphylactic reactions/Rashes
4. Minor open wounds – included a mix of lacerations needing closure, many needing
cleaning and advice only, and some infected wounds
5. Gastroenteritis/Vomiting/Diarrhoea
6. Mental health problems
7. Sexual health/Contraceptive problems
8. Skin infections/Cellulitis
9. Dental problems
10. Abdominal pain - 4 confirmed acute appendix (2 treated with IV antibiotics and
subsequent delayed appendix removal / 2 required evacuation) + 1 gangrenous gall bladder. Many were "no cause found". Of the remainder with a clear diagnosis the most common were renal or biliary colic)
11. Fever /Viral illness
12. Chest infections
13. Major musculoskeletal injuries (fractures/dislocations)
14. Asthma
15. Ear infections
16. Urinary tract infections
17. Burns – mostly partial thickness within the realms of management in the environment the
patient was in. Several required evacuations. Several required rehabilitation due to location and sub-optimal initial treatment.
18. Chest pain
19. Syncope/Collapse/Faints
20. Early pregnancy problems
Major trauma was uncommon but was seen including several fractured femurs and a dozen cases of multi-system severe trauma resulting in a mix of in-country surgery and evacuations
Top 12 prescribed drugs (representing >90% of medications prescribed):
1. Paracetamol (Acetaminophen)
2. Loratadine (and other assorted antihistamines)
3. Diclofenac (and other assorted antiinflammatories)
4. Combined oral contraceptive
5. Flucloxacillin
6. Throat lozenges
7. Augmentin (Amoxycillin + clavulanic acid)
8. Loperamide
9. Nystatin (and other antifungals)
10. Hydrocortisonecream
11. Ventolininhalers(Salbutamol/Albuterol)
12. Morphine
What is of note here is that the clear majority of problems dealt with are simple and straight forward – there is still potential for serious consequences but there is scope for a well-informed lay person with a basic knowledge and access to a reasonable collection of reference books to provide reasonable care. Equally the vast majority of medication prescribed are from a very narrow well defined list – despite the fact 1000’s of drugs are on the market – the list of core lifesaving or comfort preserving ones is relatively brief.
2. Why children die
The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified the following conditions as having contributed to >75% of worldwide deaths in the under 5-year age group (in no particular order):
Pneumonia Pneumonia is an infection of lungs. Prevention of this condition is somewhat limited – although good nutrition, clean and warm housing, and a reduction in the exposure to respiratory irritants (smoke) all can help. However, the most common bacteria which cause pneumonia are frequently sensitive to penicillin – which is discussed later in the book and can be produced in a low-tech environment.
Diarrhea Death from diarrhea (dehydration) is almost 100% preventable with appropriate use of oral rehydration therapy. Dirty water or poor food handling causes much diarrhea – this can be virtually eliminated by proper hygiene practices and care with drinking water.


Pre-term delivery While we are limited in the direct interventions available in an austere environment to mitigate this problem contributing factors to early labor are young age, malnutrition, smoking, poor maternal health, so there is scope for indirect intervention based on optimizing mum’s health and environment. For babies who are born prematurely the necessities of life are warmth and breast milk. With attention to detail for both things, it is possible for infants as young as 33-34 weeks to survive without high-tech intervention.
Malaria. Prevention is better than a cure, knowledge about clearing stagnant water, mosquito nets and long sleeved clothes can significantly reduce the risk. Equally quinine is derived from the bark of the Chincona tree and the Chinese have been using the herb, Artemisinin, effectively for the treatment of Malaria for years. So, while not as easy to treat or prevent as diarrhea, there is still scope for significant reduction in death rates in low-tech ways.
Blood infection Blood infection or septicemia is rapidly fatal. The ability to intervene depends on the cause of the infection and antibiotics available. Broadly, infections causing septicemia can originate from the skin, the lungs, the kidneys or bladder, and the abdominal contents. While specific treatments for these may be lacking in an austere environment – all have prevention strategies and basic low-tech treatments that can be lifesaving when applied appropriately.
Lack of oxygen at birth Of these problems, this is the one with probably the least scope for impact. Unfortunately, even if foetal distress is detected during labor (with heart beat monitoring or signs of distress like meconium), without the ability to deliver the baby quickly options are limited. That said, a caesarian section is not a massively complicated operation (and discussed in Chapter 10), and in parts of the third world is performed by trained lay people with safety and success.
Measles Again, there is limited scope to intervene directly with the disease. Measles is always around and while vaccination reduced the incidence of epidemics, sporadic cases still occur. In the absence of vaccinations epidemics of measles every few years will be inevitable. There is however some scope to minimize the spread during an epidemic with isolation and respiratory precautions during outbreaks. While some of the serious neurological complications are unavoidable in a
Prevention is better than a cure, knowledge about clearing stagnant water, mosquito nets and long sleeved clothes can significantly reduce the risk. Equally quinine is derived from the bark of the Chincona tree and the Chinese have been using the herb, Artemisinin, effectively for the treatment of Malaria for years. So, while not as easy to treat or prevent as diarrhea, there is still scope for significant reduction in death rates in low-tech ways. small number of patients, basic care such as maintaining hydration can also prevent complications such as dehydration.
Neonatal tetanus The prevention of neonatal tetanus is easy. You don’t let the site where the umbilical cord attaches to the baby get dirty. It is as simple as that.
HIV/AIDS Prevention of maternal infection is the key to prevention of infection of newborns. The steps required to prevent exposure to the HIV virus are widely known: abstinence (not undertaking sexual activity), monogamy (maintaining a single sex partner rather than multiple) and if neither is a palatable option, then safe sexual practices.
Most the conditions above have an element of either preventability or the ability to be treated to some degree in an austere environment and significant improvements in mortality and morbidity can be made.

3. The greatest advances in medicine
Several years ago the British Medical Journal ran a poll trying to identify top medical advances of the last 200 years. The following is the top 12 from that poll:
Sanitation 1st Antibiotics 2nd Anaesthesia 3rd Vaccines 4th DNA 5th Germ theory 6th = The oral contraceptive 6^th = Evidence based medicine 8th Imaging 9th Computers 10th Oral rehydration therapy 11th Smoking cessation 12th =
Just as with our discussion above about the causes of childhood deaths, this list is introduced to show just how much impact a very basic health care knowledge can have in terms of optimising health in a post-disaster or austere situation.
Of the biggest advances of medicine in the last 200 years, between 7 to 9 (depending on your knowledge and available resources) of the 12 can be applied to care in a austere situation. In particular, the knowledge of sanitation, germ theory, oral rehydration therapy, and simple manufactured antibiotics and anaesthetic agents all have the potential to be able to be continued to be applied in a post-disaster situation and to continue to contribute to a high quality of low-tech health care. In the same way that we can substantially reduce childhood death rates in a low tech post-disaster situation, we can still continue to have access to some of the biggest advances in medicine even at the end of the world.
4. Surgery in the third world
A non-specialist surgeon working at a isolated bush hospital in Papua New Guinea published his experience of Emergency Surgery over a 14 month period (similar articles have been published with similar data):
Emergency Surgery 243
Tendon repair 33 Open orthopaedics 32 Dilation and curettage 31 General surgery 29 Incision and drainage 26 Laceration repair 26 Obstetrics 23 Manipulation under anaesthesia 15 Urology 15 Gynaecology 9 Ear, nose and throat 2
Emergency anaesthesia 243
Ketamine – spontaneous breathing 166 Local anaesthesia 33 Ketamine – ventilated 16 Spinal anaesthesia 12 Propofol / thiopentone 10 Epidural 5 Epidural / GA 1
The point of this reference is to help illustrate what someone can achieve in primitive conditions with no formal surgical training and no dedicated anaesthetist. We are not suggesting that the average layperson can safely practice to this extent or breadth of surgery, but it does demonstrate that a non-surgeon can achieve much. It also shows that most anaesthetics for surgery in an austere situation can be done under local or ketamine anaesthetics.
Why this is relevant?
Each of these four references gives you insights, one way or another, into low-tech austere health care. First, it gives you an insight into the likely clinical problems that you may see in a survival situation, and how much can be dealt with in that sort of austere environment. Second, it demonstrates how medically speaking it is the small things and simple knowledge which save lives and some of the biggest killers can be mitigated with these relatively low level interventions or strategies.
In our opening summary – “Medicine at that end of the world”, we describe a pretty bleak medical reality post-SHTF. Will million’s really die from lack of access to modern heath care as we have alleged?
The short answer is yes – many will die much sooner than they otherwise would have, from disease and injury, which currently are not immediately fatal. But the answer is not nearly that simple nor bleak. The reality is that while cancer, diabetes, malnutrition or serious injury may claim many of its victim’s sooner than with today’s health care, most health problems can be treated or mitigated to a degree in a low- tech environment, with a narrow range of medications and interventions – including some cancers, non- insulin requiring diabetes and many major traumatic injuries.
Most medical problems are relatively mundane and not life threatening. Truly catastrophic problems in medicine are fortunately rare. You should focus on learning and preparing to deal with the common problems, and doing common procedures well, and you will save lives, and possibly also improve the quality of those lives.
There will be a significant change to health care but with knowledge and some preparation it isn’t quite as dire as many (including our own opening paragraph) predict. "

So I’ve already made a post about the fact I had unprotected sex and the symptoms but I’m still non the wiser as to whether it’s HIV as the first test I took too early and my gp just advised me to take another test through the same sexual health health charity so I won’t get the results for another 2 weeks. I know I shouldn’t get ahead of myself but I think hiv is the most likely outcome as I had most of the early symptoms: flu, headache, nausea and diarrhoea and a mild rash. However I have also had period like cramps but no period and discomfort down there so think I could also have gonorrhoea or something similar- I am also going to take a pregnancy test soon to rule that out.
My main concern is the fact that I think the guy who has potentially passed something onto me often has unprotected sex as although I also should’ve remembered to use protection, it was my first time and I was nervous so it slipped my mind, were as it wasn’t his and the fact it didn’t even seem to cross his mind suggests he often does this. In which case it would be even more likely he has an sti and so I feel responsible for letting him know what my test results are. However, when I messaged him concerned about my symptoms he at first said it’s probably nothing as it’d been too long afterwards for them to show up (it had only been about 10 days when I had the first symptoms) and then blocked me. He’s actually from a different country and was only in England for that week and as we only had that night together I know barely anything about him so have no idea how to contact him if it is something as serious as hiv. I don’t want to get a head of myself but I guess I’m lucky that hiv is liveable now, especially if found early, yet I’m worried that he could have it for years and not know and be passing it around.

Thousands of years ago, there was a man who was infatuated with a woman in his tribe. His father was a chief and arranged for them to be married, but things were rough. The girl was manipulative and took advantage of the obsession of the boy to gain the food he hunted and a room in his hut. He came back from hunting one day and did not see her in his hut, so he went to ask his father. To his horror, he found his wife sleeping with his father, and dragged her out by her hair to be shunned by the tribe. However, all of the men simply laughed because they had all already slept with the woman. The man became furious and went into the forest to make a deal with an evil god of bacteria. He slaughtered a monkey, an ibex, and a cow then fed to the spirit their bones, flesh, and dung. In exchange, the evil god would cause the girl a contagious rash that caused red bumps and pain to her and all who would engage in sex with her. He fled the town and made sure never to return so he would not catch the curse.
However, over thousands of years the curse put on humanity continued to spread until it became common. Modern medicine has not created a cure but ways to manage it. Many people died of the curse in primitive times, but the virus has evolved over so much time that it is now perfectly adapted to hide in the body and spread without causing the death of its host. Some magicians have said they are able to cure herpes and HIV through supernatural methods, but this may be somewhat difficult to do consistently or replicate on a larger scale and likely requires involvement of powerful love deities such as Venus or Aphrodite.

Symptoms can be discussed any day, but Symptom Sunday is a recurring post to spark discussion about past or current symptoms.
Did you have a maculopapular rash as a part of your illness? Did you get neuroinvasive disease? Did you have to rehab your walking after the acute infection? Do you still struggle with brain fog or fatigue? Did you acquire headaches or migraines?
What else? Everything's welcome!

Infant Male Circumcision: An Ethical Dilemma
Male circumcision (AKA male genital mutilation) is a controversial topic with people debating the proposed medical benefits, social impact and perception, cultural expectations and norms, religious practices, and moral/ethical standards. Circumcision involves excising the foreskin of the penis. Four main topics of contention relating to male circumcision include cleanliness, tradition, aesthetic, and social acceptability (Murray and Allen). Personally, I think the debate boils down to the ethical concerns regarding the violation of bodily autonomy. An infant cannot consent to the permanent modification of their sexual organs. Just as female circumcision is wrong and a clear violation of human rights, so is the male equivalent. I am passionate about this topic because I do not believe it should be up to the parents to decide what happens to their son's penis and I detest any and all arguments suggesting religious or cultural justifications.
What is circumcision and what does the procedure entail? Circumcision, when performed on an infant male, requires the infant to be restrained "on his back on a board called a circumstraint, [preventing] the child from moving" (Solomon, 219). Then, the foreskin is separated from the glans which is "done by inserting a hemostat into the non-retracted foreskin, and then turning this probe-like device around the circumference of the glans" (Solomon, 219). An "incision line" is made along the foreskin using a "scissor-like clamp" and the foreskin is cut and peeled away from the glans. "The procedure is painful, and due to the risk of infant overdose, many circumcisions in the United States are performed with either minimal or no anesthesia" (Solomon, 219). The result is a screaming, crying, and traumatized baby who had to experience having a section of their most sensitive body part forcefully surgically removed, typically without pain relief or control.
Many proponents of male infant circumcision proclaim that a circumcised penis is more hygienic. "If left unclean, the foreskin can develop infections from trapped bacteria and secretions," says a participant from a data analysis study regarding opinions on male circumcision (Murray and Allen). According to Thomas E. Wiswell, evidence shows that "infants who are not circumcised have a higher rate of UTIs during infancy, and that adults are more likely to have penile cancer and certain (but not all) sexually transmitted diseases later in life" (Solomon, 220). The issue with claims of improved hygiene lies with the notion that circumcision is the only way to maintain proper cleanliness and that without the procedure, infections are more likely to occur. This concern is disingenuous and oversimplified and suggests that parents are incapable of teaching their children how to properly care for their normal (and healthy) body parts without drastic measures such as genital mutilation. The idea of lopping off parts of the body in the name of cleanliness is laughably ignorant and fallacious. I personally think that the purported benefits of circumcision (reduced risk of penile cancer, HIV, HPV, STDs, and UTIs) are irrelevant when discussing the ethical complications of overriding a person's right to bodily autonomy (Solomon, 220). According to a booklet from The Duke University Health System, evidence shows that circumcision does reduce the risk for UTIs and penile cancer, however, "it also mentions that both of these conditions are rare and that proper hygiene 'likely prevents penile cancer as much as circumcision does,' and "it does not give a similar non-amputation prevention tip for UTIs" (Solomon, 224). Arguments in support of infant male circumcision with the reasoning of cleanliness are rooted in a fundamental misunderstanding of how hygiene works and rely merely on the convenience of a permanent and largely unnecessary cosmetic surgical procedure to fix a simple case of willful ignorance and general laziness.
Tradition and religion are very important to many people and help them feel connected to their ancestors, loved ones, and communities, but should not ever be used as an excuse to override bodily autonomy. A participant in the aforementioned analytical study, mentioned that, "most parents decide to circumcise their baby boys merely because their religious faith dictates it, because the father was circumcised, or because it's a traditional practice common to a majority of males in this country" (Murray and Allen). This mindset is particularly common for people of the Jewish faith, where the procedure is considered a rite of passage and has been performed on boys for generations. According to the study, "other participants shared they support the freedom of individuals to make decisions based on their own beliefs and that they respect differing religious perspectives on circumcision" (Murray and Allen). The major point missed by the participants in said study is that the "freedom of individuals" to make religious-based decisions unabashedly overrides the individual freedom of the infant males who have no say in what happens to their bodies. I support religious freedom up until the point it affects people other than the individual making the choice. A big part of freedom of religion is freedom from religion- that is, the right to be protected from other peoples' beliefs and not have them dictate your own life. There's a huge difference between raising your children in a particular faith and mutilating their bodies because your holy book demands it. Genitals are such a private and intimate thing and I can hardly think of anything more violating than someone else choosing to alter my genitals when I am at my most vulnerable state because of their own selfish commitment to tradition or faith.
When it comes down to popular opinion, studies show that "the pervasive concern with social acceptability" is a major factor for whether or not parents decide to circumcise their sons during infancy, despite knowing the valid medical concerns in regards to the purpose and safety of the procedure (Murray and Allen). According to the analytical study already referenced, "social factors may be equally or more important than medical factors for parents during the decision-making process" (Murray and Allen). That leaves us with an important question that must be asked: what kind of parent makes permanent medical decisions regarding their child's health and body based significantly on the expectations and perspective of society? If American society said that females were more attractive without their labia and clitoris, would medical professionals be allowed to perform routine female circumcision (read: genital mutilation) simply because it were socially acceptable and even expected? Or should actual medical justifications be the only reason any sort of surgery on minors should ever be performed? Many- if not most- proponents of infant male circumcision make the choice for personal reasons and without properly understanding the risks and consequences of the choice they're making on behalf of their vulnerable and helpless baby boys. "Despite [the] lack of discussion or formal education on the topic, most of the emerging adults did express strong opinions in favor of circumcision based on their personal experiences and social interactions" (Murray and Allen). Parents who circumcise their sons are doing so with more respect to appearances than their own son's physical and mental wellbeing. The fear of society's disapproval and fear of rejection and bullying from peers is not a sufficient reason to permanently alter a child's body without their consent. Elective cosmetic procedures such as lip-filler, botox, breast augmentation, and rhinoplasty (nose jobs) are not rationalized and performed on non-consenting children, so why is circumcision any different? The answer is because of cultural and social acceptability.
It is also important to understand where the practice of circumcision came from and why it has become so popular. "Infant circumcision was recognized in the United States around 1900" (Ahmed and Ellsworth). The theory connecting germs and disease resulted in a widespread "germ phobia" and an increasing concern and "[suspicion] of dirt and bodily secretions" (Ahmed and Ellsworth). "The penis was deemed 'dirty' by association with its function, and as a result, circumcision was seen as preventative medicine to be practiced universally" (Ahmed and Ellsworth). Historically, "circumcision was also viewed as a method of treating and preventing masturbation" (Ahmed and Ellsworth). This is why context matters: circumcision derives not only from religious/cultural tradition, but also excessive paranoia surrounding germs and cleanliness and a desire to control another's sexuality. Even historically, the practice focuses on violating bodily autonomy and taking away a person's right to choose.
When considering a potential medical procedure (especially one that permanently alters the body), it is absolutely vital to fully understand the risks and benefits of said procedure before making the choice to go through with it. There is a pervasive problem with parents nonchalantly deciding to let doctors cut off their son's foreskin for superficial, self-serving, and unethical reasons and without proper regard for the genuine risks and potential complications. It's important to face the reality that routine infant male circumcision is an elective cosmetic procedure that is unnecessary the majority of the time and that the few purported benefits can equally be achieved through safer, less permanent and less invasive means. "The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has noted benefits of circumcision but has not suggested requiring the procedure" (Murray and Allen). Many arguments against circumcision are routinely "brushed off using a number of rationalizations" (Murray and Allen). There are many potential complications that can and have occurred to infants during this unnecessary surgery. Acute complications include "bleeding, hematoma, urethral laceration, incomplete circumcision (removal of too little tissue), penile degloving (removal of too much tissue), infection/sepsis, and injury to glans and frenulum," while late complications include, "penile skin bridge, preputial adhesions, poor cosmesis, meatal stenosis, buried/concealed penis, trapped penis, and urethrocutaneous fistula" (Ahmed and Ellsworth). Additionally, "circumcision, like any surgery, carries the risk of death" (Solomon, 230). Is even a very small risk of death or permanent disfigurement to a previously healthy baby boy worth a "clean-looking" penis or adherence to religious dogma? I don't think so. Physical damage, dismemberment, and death aren't the only risks involved with infant male circumcision. Opponents of the practice also mention "loss of penile shaft mobility, the loss of the protective covering of the foreskin, and decreased sexual sensitivity" (Solomon). Overall, the suggested "health benefits are fairly minor and routinely overstated" (Solomon). With these things in mind, the only right choice to make is to respect your child's right to choose for himself when he is old enough. Instead of risking his life and comfort for what is essentially a cultural and social ritual, teach him how to properly care for his body- don't mutilate it.
In conclusion, the numerous risks involved with routine infant male circumcision make the surgery not only unnecessary, but logically unsound and irresponsible in cases where there is no legitimate medical justification. If a parent is willing to risk such serious consequences for their infant child in the name of convenience, tradition, faith, or fear of social perception, it begs the question whether or not they are competent to make such permanent life-altering decisions for their innocent and vulnerable child. At the end of the day, any alleged benefits procured from the removal of the foreskin in non-consenting minors is overrode by the obvious unethical violation of bodily autonomy and the many serious (while uncommon) risks and complications that can occur during the unnecessary cosmetic procedure. The excuses of "hygiene, tradition, religious belief," and/or "aesthetics" and "social acceptability" are entirely moot in the face of ethical considerations and the crucial and imperative importance of the right to choose what happens to our own bodies.
Works Cited
Ahmed, Asma, and Pamela Ellsworth. “To Circ or Not: A Reappraisal.” Urologic Nursing, vol. 32, no. 1, 2012, p. 19, https://doi.org/10.7257/1053-816x.2012.32.1.19. Accessed 11 Oct. 2022.
Murray, Michelle M., and Katherine R. Allen. “Emerging adults’ perceptions of male circumcision in the United States: Facts, fictions, and future plans.” American Journal of Sexuality Education, vol. 15, no. 2, 11 Mar. 2020, pp. 180–200, https://doi.org/10.1080/15546128.2020.1737290.
Solomon, David. “Informed Consent for Routine Infant Circumcision: A Proposal.” New York Law School Law Review, vol. 52, no. 2, Oct. 2007, pp. 215–45. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=31268614&site=ehost-live.

So I contracted syphilis sometime after the 28th of last month. I think I’ve had one partner since my last test so I must have caught it then. I got SUPER fucking sick. Ended up at the hospital and they thought I had meningitis or encephalitis so they did a spinal tap (lumbar puncture). Fucking a that shit hurt like hell!! I was laid up for a week after that.
I also had EXTREME fatigue. I fell asleep swimming with friends and I fell asleep at a bar with my buddies and don’t drink, haven’t had a drink in almost 5 years. I’m sober. I also had severe headaches, mild confusion, I read a lot of books and I had trouble with comprehension, had an itchy rash on the tip of my dick for 3 weeks. They thought I had herpes but the culture came back negative so they said it was severe balantis which is a yeast infection for uncut dudes and ya, I keep my shit clean btw. My back ached before the spinal tap. Was bedridden for about 3 weeks. One Dr thought I had mono.
I finally went I planned parenthood because I wasn’t getting better and my dick was so itchy and inflamed (graphic, I know). They ran so many tests. Negative for everything including herpes BUT I came back positive for syphilis. They double checked the lab work and I absolutely had it. The state called me asking for numbers and/or addresses for the guys I’ve been with.
Since I’ve been hooking up out of town (live in small town suburbia) I didn’t have anyone’s phone number and it was kind of embarrassing to explain that. The woman who called me would’ve informed my former partners anonymously had I gotten any of their numbers. I felt so irresponsible after. That was not a fun phone call.
I’m sober and only have two gay friends and none of us really go out or go to drag shows or brunch or anything like that. I really don’t know where I fit in with the gay community. I go by “queer” because after my time living in a gay neighborhood in a major city here in the PNW, I faced a lot of rejection and had a hard time making friends since I’m a sober dude who’s into hiking and books. The city is notorious for being standoffish. My buddy from NYC always calls me a lesbian.
Anyway, I got my shot if penicillin the other day and had a major allergic reaction to it later that day. Hours later I was already at the hospital because urgent care wouldn’t take me and the nurse I spoke to on the phone recommended getting immediate attention because of my weird neurological symptoms. Got to the hospital and ended up in anaphylaxis. Had a huge rash all over my body and my throat was closing up. By the time I saw the dr I could barely get any words out. Now I’ve got a few epipens because it’s likely I’ll develop another major allergic reaction within 3-5 days of my first anaphylactic episode.
The penicillin is working really well and my energy is coming back, fatigue is dissipating rapidly, headaches are nearly gone, and my dick cleared up a while back when I started using a cream on it regularly. I’m unemployed rn and I’m really glad I was because I would’ve lost my job because I couldn’t work. I told the doctor at planned parenthood about all my symptoms and she was adamant that my illness was from the STI. So I’ve had a rough 3 weeks all because I stuck my dick in the wrong dude. Since I was recently infected I had no idea I could’ve gotten that sick. I’m doing better now.
I’ve been thinking about not only what I get from hooking up but also from chatting with boys and always checking Grindr and shit like that. I’ve realized how much energy I’ve been putting into these random chats that usually lead to nothing. I think it’s been affecting my friendships and I’ve apologized to a few friends for being on my phone so much around them. I’ve decided to take a break from that world and after getting so sick I don’t see myself hooking up with a stranger again. I’ve been hooking up for years and ya i’ve had my time being a hoe and have had plenty of unfortunate calls from the clinic but I’ve never been so sick in my life.
I think using Grindr and sex to cope with loneliness. I’m semi-newly sober (drugs not booze) so I’m not working and I’m living with family taking a breather from life. Again, I’ve decided to stop hooking up and I won’t be having sex for a long time.
I really would like a boyfriend and I lean towards monogamy personally. I’ve had sex with tons of couples and I’ve had sex and flings with boys who are in open relationships so I do not judge. I’m looking for reasonable monogamy, free passes, occasional threesomes stuff like that. But I’m not gonna go through this again.
While I’m laying low and working on myself I’m not going to be with any boys whatsoever. Not until I’m back in the city, sober and stable. Even then I’m only having sex if I’m dating someone and I’m probably going to need him to get tested and agree to be exclusive before I have sex with the guy from here on out. My whole view on sex had completely changed.
Syphilis rates are up 80% nationally especially in the MSN (men who have sex with men) community. Be careful out there boys!! PrEP is an amazing tool but it only covers HIV and syphilis is a really big deal. Without treatment people develop dementia and wake up blind. I had no idea one could get that sick from the STI.
Have your fun boys but understand that healthy people can get really sick super fast from this thing. There’s also a penicillin shortage according to NPR where in TN clinics only give penicillin to pregnant women. I have to get retested in 6 months to make sure my treatment was successful and those results will be send over to the Department of Health, same folks who called me, because syphilis is slowly becoming an epidemic again. Pfizer can’t even keep up with the demand. I’m lucky I had access to treatment. Again, this whole ordeal has changed sex for me forever. Stay safe out there boys!!

https://ibb.co/XysLRJr
Hi all, I am currently so anxious. I already did a HIV 4th gen lab test on day 18, 25, 28, 44, 52, 60, 71, 78 all negative. On day 75 I realise these rash on my back that disappeared the day after (faded away) and I am also having a sore throat and swollen lymph nodes on neck started at around day 49-56 ish. On day 75 I have also started having shortness of breath until now, chest xray shows lungs is clear. Currently it’s day 83 for me.
I don’t have access to HIV RNA test.
Am i safe or should I do a test at the 90 day mark?
Do my rash look like a HIV rash?
Thank you all for reading and responding🙏. I am so anxious right now and so depressed.

My 7 month old has a rash on his mouth for >week<2weeks. Maybe foot and mouth? Thats my best guess. He has no acute symptoms. No rash elsewhere on his body. He is currently teething with his first lower central incisor. He is crawling and we are in a new house in the last month. No medical hx. NKA. No maternal hx. Mother was GBS neg at birth. Father (myself) has hx of eczema and asthma. I work in a NICU but occasionally help in the PICU with OBS pts. We were all sick about 1.5-2mo ago with something likely viral but had no panels done. Thanks for any help!

DAY: MAY 9 2024

• 5-9-2024DO YOU KNOW YOUR RISKS FOR BREAST CANCER? The reminders are everywhere. When a woman turns 40, doctors say she should begin receiving yearly mammograms to detect breast cancer. You see it on posters, ads and buttons. Doctors beat the drum forcefully and often because the stakes are high. While both women and men can develop breast cancer, the disease occurs far more often in women. Breast cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer death in women, according to the American Cancer Society. About 42,250 women in the United States will die from it this year
• 5-9-2024HERE’S THE ROLE EXERCISE PLAYS, FROM PREVENTION TO TREATMENT Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. In Europe, almost 3 in every 10 adults were diagnosed with a form of cancer in 2022. With the recent revelations that three members of the royal family have cancer, many people may be thinking about their own risk of developing cancer—and wondering if there’s anything they can do to prevent the disease. Cancer is a complex condition, with many factors that may increase a person’s risk. But research shows exercise may actually play an important role
• 5-9-2024HOW TO SPOT FAKE PRODUCTS AND REPORT THEM Counterfeit versions of Botox have been found in multiple states, including California, according to the California Department of Public Health. The health agency is warning consumers and medical providers to be wary of the counterfeit products, which have caused “hospitalizations and other serious reactions in people who received injections in non-medical, unlicensed settings.” “Counterfeit or incorrectly administered Botox, even in small amounts, can result in serious health problems and even death
• 5-9-2024STUDY SHOWS HOW NIGHT SHIFT WORK CAN RAISE RISK OF DIABETES, OBESITY Just a few days on a night shift schedule throws off protein rhythms related to blood glucose regulation, energy metabolism and inflammation, processes that can influence the development of chronic metabolic conditions. The finding, from a study led by scientists at Washington State University and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, provides new clues as to why night shift workers are more prone to diabetes, obesity and other metabolic disorders.
• 5-9-2024BABY BORN DEAF CAN HEAR AFTER BREAKTHROUGH GENE THERAPY A baby girl born deaf can hear unaided for the first time, after receiving gene therapy when she was 11 months old at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge. Opal Sandy from Oxfordshire is the first patient treated in a global gene therapy trial, which shows “mind-blowing” results.
• 5-9-2024GROWING BODY OF RESEARCH SHOWS IMPORTANCE OF ADDRESSING LONELINESS, SOCIAL ISOLATION Too much time alone can take a toll on the mind—and for older adults, the consequences can be particularly severe. “Individuals who experience isolation have higher levels of negative cardiovascular outcomes, functional limitations, cognitive health, and a 30% increased mortality risk as indicated in certain studies,”
• 5-9-2024AMGEN PLOWS AHEAD WITH COSTLY, HIGHLY TOXIC CANCER DOSING DESPITE FDA CHALLENGE When doctors began using the drug sotorasib in 2021 with high expectations for its innovative approach to attacking lung cancer, retired medical technician Don Crosslin was an early beneficiary. Crosslin started the drug that July. His tumors shrank, then stabilized. But while the drug has helped keep him alive, its side effects have gradually narrowed the confines of his life, said Crosslin, 76, who lives in Ocala, Florida: “My appetite has been minimal. I’m very weak.
• 5-9-2024HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT HELPS TRANSFORM ‘CRAZY IDEA’ INTO A MODEL THAT CAN PREDICT NEUROTRANSMITTERS
• 5-9-2024STUDY SHOWS NOT ALL ULTRA-PROCESSED FOODS ARE BAD FOR YOUR HEALTH In recent years, there’s been increasing hype about the potential health risks associated with so-called “ultra-processed” foods. But new evidence published this week found not all “ultra-processed” foods are linked to poor health. That includes the mass-produced wholegrain bread you buy from the supermarket. While this newly published research and associated editorial are unlikely to end the wrangling about how best to define unhealthy foods and diets
• 5-9-2024KETO DIET BOOSTS LIFESAVING ANTIFUNGAL DRUG IN MICE In the United States fluconazole is commonly used to treat yeast infections and thrush, but in other parts of the world—particularly sub-Saharan Africa—it’s also the only drug available to combat life-threatening fungal infections associated with AIDS. For the roughly 150,000 AIDS patients who come down with a life-threatening infection called fungal meningitis each year, there aren’t many options
• 5-9-2024LOW-COST MRI PAIRED WITH AI PRODUCES HIGH-QUALITY RESULTS First introduced five decades ago, MRI scanners are now a cornerstone of modern medicine, vital for diagnosing strokes, tumors, spinal conditions and more, without exposing patients to radiation. A magnetic resonance imaging device built with off-the-shelf parts and paired with AI matched the performance of high-end MRI machines, according to a study published Thursday that could pave the way for greater access to the life-saving tools.
• 5-9-2024HOW ‘BUCKET LISTS’ HELP CANCER PATIENTS HANDLE LIFE AND DEATH In the 2007 film “The Bucket List,” Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman play two main characters who respond to their terminal cancer diagnoses by rejecting experimental treatment. Instead, they go on a range of energetic, overseas escapades. Since then, the term “bucket list”—a list of experiences or achievements to complete before you “kick the bucket” or die—has become common.
• 5-9-2024UNRAVELING THE LINK BETWEEN THE MICROBIOME AND ESOPHAGEAL CANCER Microbiota changes in esophageal cancer. The microbiota of the distal esophagus was influenced by acid reflux from the stomach. Acid reflux leads to inflammation and mucosal damage, resulting in the change of microbiome in the distal esophagus. This process allows the columnar epithelium to replace the original squamous epithelium of the esophagus, which can then progress to BE and EAC
• 5-9-2024WHAT MAKES A PUBLIC HEALTH CAMPAIGN SUCCESSFUL? The highest performing countries across public health outcomes share many drivers that contribute to their success. In recent years, the EGH program has begun to identify and study positive outliers when it comes to global health programs around the world
• 5-9-2024HUMAN BRAIN MAP CONTAINS NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN DETAILS OF STRUCTURE
• 5-9-2024THROMBECTOMY LINKED TO BETTER OUTCOMES FOR ACUTE STROKE, LARGE INFARCT
• 5-9-2024GI PROCEDURES CAN PRODUCE DANGEROUS LEVELS OF SMOKE
• 5-9-2024UNDER 4-MINUTE MILERS’ LONGEVITY SHOWS THAT EXTREME EXERCISE DOESN’T SEEM TO CURB LIFESPAN
• 5-9-2024STUDY FINDS RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DEPRESSION SYMPTOMS AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LIKELY GOES BOTH WAYS
• 5-9-2024STUDY FINDS ASSOCIATION BETWEEN NEIGHBORHOOD DEPRIVATION AND DNA METHYLATION IN AN AUTOPSY COHORT
• 5-9-2024RECALL NOTICE AFTER MORE THAN 200 INSULIN PUMP USERS INJURED DUE TO APP MALFUNCTION
• 5-9-2024RECALL NOTICE AFTER MORE THAN 200 INSULIN PUMP USERS INJURED DUE TO APP MALFUNCTION
• 5-9-2024THE BEGINNING OF BECOMING A HUMAN—INSIGHTS FROM RESEARCHERS
• 5-9-2024HOW ANTIBODY LEVELS CAN PREDICT WHICH CHILDREN WILL OUTGROW THEIR PEANUT ALLERGY
• 5-9-2024INTEGRATING SOCIAL CARE INTO A SAFETY NET HEALTH SYSTEM
• 5-9-2024SCIENTIST PARTNERS WITH COLLEAGUES AROUND THE GLOBE TO MAKE GENE THERAPIES MORE EFFECTIVE AND WIDELY AVAILABLE
• 5-9-2024DEEP LEARNING-BASED WHOLE-BODY PSMA PET/CT ATTENUATION CORRECTION UTILIZING PIX-2-PIX GAN
• 5-9-2024RESEARCHERS INVESTIGATE THE PRINCIPLES GOVERNING THE BIOLOGY OF EARLY, PRECANCEROUS LESIONS
• 5-9-2024PROVIDING END-OF-LIFE CARE AT HOME HAS ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS, SAYS STUDY
• 5-9-2024PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC LUNG DISEASE WHO LIVE FARTHER FROM A HOSPITAL FOUND TO HAVE POORER SURVIVAL RATE
• 5-9-2024‘SMART’ CONTACT LENSES COULD SOMEDAY ENABLE WIRELESS GLAUCOMA DETECTION
• 5-9-2024OLDER VETERANS WITH COGNITIVE DIFFICULTIES COULD MISTAKENLY BE DIAGNOSED WITH ALZHEIMER’S WHEN PTSD IS ROOT CAUSE
• 5-9-2024RESEARCH CALLS FOR TRANSLATION OF AGED CARE ASSESSMENT TOOLS FOR CULTURALLY, LINGUISTICALLY DIVERSE COMMUNITIES
• 5-9-2024DURING PEAK OF COVID-19, SOME LACKED ACCESS TO SAFE WATER AND LAVATORIES
• 5-9-2024SOCIAL NETWORKS PROVIDE CRUCIAL SUPPORT FOR OLDER ADULTS LIVING WITH HIV, STUDY FINDS
• 5-9-2024TRAFFIC INJURIES TO LOW-INCOME NYC RESIDENTS FELL 30% IN FIRST FIVE YEARS OF ROAD SAFETY PROGRAM, STUDY FINDS
• 5-9-2024NEW TOOL STREAMLINES NURSE WORK ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH
• 5-9-2024THE IMPACT OF ESCALATING ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL CHALLENGES ON OUR BRAINS AND THE PLANET
• 5-9-2024MUSK’S NEURALINK SAYS ISSUE IN BRAIN IMPLANT FIXED
• 5-9-2024STUDY FINDS DISCRIMINATION MAY ACCELERATE AGING
• 5-9-2024BULLYING SIGNIFICANT ISSUE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN AFTERMATH OF EYE CANCER, STUDY SHOWS
• 5-9-2024OLDER SINGAPOREANS WHO VOLUNTEER PERCEIVE A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE, FINDS STUDY
• 5-9-2024SYMPTOM BURDEN PREVALENT IN CHILDHOOD CANCER SURVIVORS
• 5-9-2024ADOPTION STUDY LINKS CHILD BEHAVIOR ISSUES WITH MOTHER’S TRAUMA
• 5-9-2024RESEARCHERS IDENTIFY HIGHLY DRUG-RESISTANT INFECTIONS FROM STEM CELL TREATMENTS IN MEXICO
• 5-9-2024RESEARCH FINDS GENETIC VARIATION THAT COULD LEAD TO INCREASED RISK OF VIRAL INFECTIONS
• 5-9-2024NAVY GROWLER JET NOISE OVER WASHINGTON STATE’S WHIDBEY ISLAND COULD IMPACT 74,000 PEOPLE’S HEALTH
• 5-9-2024PREDICTING AND DETECTING ABUSE IN SUPPORTED LIVING FOR PEOPLE WITH A LEARNING DISABILITY AND AUTISTIC PEOPLE
• 5-9-2024AUSTRALIAN STUDY FINDS LARGE SUPPORT FOR BLOCKING ONLINE ALCOHOL CONTENT
• 5-9-2024COLORECTAL CANCER CASES MORE THAN TRIPLED AMONG TEENS OVER TWO DECADES, DATA SHOW
• 5-9-2024ENDOSCOPIC PROCEDURE BURNS STOMACH LINING TO REDUCE ‘HUNGER HORMONE’ AND LEAD TO WEIGHT LOSS
• 5-9-2024RADIOTHERAPY WITH HORMONE THERAPY CAN HELP SOME ADVANCED PROSTATE CANCER PATIENTS AVOID CHEMOTHERAPY
• 5-9-2024REMOVING GUT BACTERIA’S POTENTIAL ‘SAFE HOUSE’ MAY LOWER RISK OF COLORECTAL CANCER SUBTYPE
• 5-9-2024NEW AI TOOL USES A SMALL SET OF INTERPRETABLE VARIABLES TO RAPIDLY ASSESS SELF-HARM RISK
• 5-9-2024A MOTHER’S LOSS LAUNCHES A GLOBAL EFFORT TO FIGHT ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE
• 5-9-2024HOSPITALS NO LONGER MUST REPORT COVID DATA TO CDC, SPOTLIGHTING CLUNKY SYSTEM
• 5-9-2024NEW TREATMENT COULD REVERSE HAIR LOSS CAUSED BY AUTOIMMUNE SKIN DISEASE ALOPECIA AREATA
• 5-9-2024NEW DRUG REDUCES VASCULAR LEAK AND ENDOTHELIAL CELL DYSFUNCTION IN MICE WITH SEPSIS
• 5-9-2024GPS-LIKE SYSTEM SHOWS PROMISE AS HIV VACCINE STRATEGY TO ELICIT CRITICAL ANTIBODIES
• 5-9-2024SUPERCHARGING IMMUNE CELLS TO BATTLE BLOOD CANCER: ADVANCES IN CANCER IMMUNOTHERAPY
• 5-9-2024STUDY SHOWS THAT ASTROCYTES INTEGRATE INFORMATION ABOUT PAST EVENTS IN THEIR SOMA
• 5-9-2024OLDER ADULTS WITH AGGRESSIVE BLOOD CANCER ARE RESPONSIVE TO TREATMENT AND SHOW PROLONGED SURVIVAL: STUDY
• 5-9-2024STUDY IDENTIFIES PRIMARY CAUSE OF SENSORY HYPERSENSITIVITY IN A MOUSE MODEL OF AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER
• 5-9-2024CARIBBEAN RESEARCHERS INNOVATE TO PROTECT CANCER PATIENTS FROM COMPOUNDING DISASTERS
• 5-9-2024STUDY INTRODUCES HYPERSPECTRAL DARK-FIELD MICROSCOPY FOR RAPID AND ACCURATE IDENTIFICATION OF CANCEROUS TISSUES
• 5-9-2024STUDY FINDS PATIENTS WITH LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY HAVE POORER EXPERIENCES WITH VIRTUAL HEALTH CARE
• 5-9-2024AI ADVANCEMENTS MAKE THE LEAP INTO 3D PATHOLOGY POSSIBLE
• 5-9-2024NEW CELLS COULD BE KEY TO TREATING OBESITY
• 5-9-2024SCIENTISTS PINPOINT NEW VACCINE ADJUVANT THAT PROMOTES POTENT ANTI-TUMOR IMMUNITY
• 5-9-2024RESEARCHERS ESTIMATE VACCINES HAVE SAVED 154 MILLION LIVES OVER PAST HALF-CENTURY
• 5-9-2024SCIENTISTS DISCOVER HOW DEADLY SKIN CANCER EVADES THE HUMAN IMMUNE SYSTEM
• 5-9-2024RESEARCHERS INVESTIGATE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PERCEIVED GLOSSINESS AND PUPILLARY RESPONSES
• 5-9-2024TELEHEALTH GROUP SESSIONS CAN BENEFIT CLINICIAN-PATIENT RELATIONSHIPS
• 5-9-2024ARIZONA’S NOW-REPEALED ABORTION BAN SERVES AS A CAUTIONARY TALE FOR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE ACROSS THE US
• 5-9-2024ASTRAZENECA’S COVID VACCINE WITHDRAWN—IT WAS A VICTIM OF MISINFORMATION RIGHT TO THE END, RESEARCHER SAYS
• 5-9-2024BRAIN STUDY IDENTIFIES A COST OF CAREGIVING FOR NEW FATHERS
• 5-9-2024SCOPE OF MATERNAL SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER CRISIS IS DRAMATICALLY UNDERESTIMATED, SAYS STUDY
• 5-9-2024STUDY HIGHLIGHTS MATERNITY CARE MODEL’S SUCCESS
• 5-9-2024RESEARCHERS DISCOVER BENEFITS OF ADDING IMMUNE-BOOSTING AGENT TO PERSONALIZED CANCER VACCINE
• 5-9-2024NEW STEM CELL RESEARCH MAY HAVE IMPLICATIONS FOR LIVER TRANSPLANTATION
• 5-9-2024SOME BRAIN TUMORS MAY BE LINKED TO HEAD INJURY, MOUSE STUDY SUGGESTS
• 5-9-2024STUDY DETAILS HOW MAJOR ADVANCES HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED IN INTENSIVE DIABETES MANAGEMENT
• 5-9-2024COLLABORATION UNCOVERS AN ENTIRELY NEW COVID-RELATED SYNDROME
• 5-9-2024STUDY REVEALS HOW GENDER AFFECTS LIVER TRANSPLANT SUCCESS IN CANCER PATIENTS
• 5-9-2024HOW ULTRASOUND AND MICROBUBBLES COULD DELIVER IMMUNOTHERAPY TO THE BRAIN
• 5-9-2024BARIATRIC SURGERY TIED TO HIGHER SHORT-TERM RISK FOR VENOUS THROMBOEMBOLISM
• 5-9-2024SIMPLE ‘SWISH-AND-SPIT’ ORAL RINSE COULD PROVIDE EARLY SCREENING FOR GASTRIC CANCER

Two days ago my cat (9F) started acting very strange. She was suddenly chewing on everything, acting crazy, then vomited three times in the span of 2 hours. Her ears went down and she started pacing around the house. It was clear something was very wrong. I left it overnight, hoping that whatever it was would go away, but by the morning she was still acting weird like she was in pain, and then vomited again, so I took her to the vet.
I had just taken her to the vet like 2 months ago for annual checkup, plus some other weird issues (hair loss and infection or rash on her face, plus some vomiting that I later learned was from my other cat 🤦‍♀️) and they did a blood draw at that time and diagnosed her with hyperthyroidism. So we got some pills for that, took me a long time to figure out how to administer them, and I’ve been successfully giving them to her for like 2 weeks.
When I took her to the vet yesterday they did an exam and an ultrasound and basically said it could be pancreatitis. She is definitely sensitive in the abdomen area. The snap test is $100 and I already spent $300 just bringing her in and getting the meds they gave, plus the hyperthyroid meds and the previous visit just a few months ago. So I didn’t opt for the snap test. Could it also be a reaction to the hyperthyroid meds?? I haven’t given her any of those meds since two days ago … when I brought her yesterday, they just gave her anti-nausea meds, IV fluids, 3 cans of “bland diet” food, and sent me home with some opioid pain relievers. Is there anything else I can do for her???
Now, 24hr after the vet visit, she seems like she’s getting better, but she is definitely still in pain 😢. How long should this last until she’s back to normal, if it is pancreatitis?? They didn’t even explain to me if it could be acute or chronic or what the difference is. She hasn’t puked since but she is VERY hesitant to eat or drink anything. She hasn’t had anything to eat or drink yet today. I can’t get her to. I only gave her 1 dose of the pain meds yesterday and I’m hesitant to give more because her pupils got huge and she just seemed high AF and wasn’t really sleeping. She was wide awake. They said it would make her lethargic and sleepy, but it didn’t. She was just sitting in one little hidey hole and staring wide eyed at everything. It’s also so hard to assess how she’s doing if she’s doped up.
Please, any advice you can give would be so appreciated. I’m panicking and very scared for her!!
PS - I am currently 7months pregnant after a traumatic second trimester loss last summer. As much as I love my kitty, I’m just feeling overwhelmed by this and it’s really not what I need right now! Let alone the money. I’m spending way more money on her care and treatment right now than I am my own, Which is nutso.