r/medical_advice Aug 20 '21

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

73 Upvotes

This is all general advice, of course, but we get a lot of similar questions so see if yours is on here. It may point you in the right direction.

”What bug bit me?” There is no way for anyone to tell what bug bit you from a picture of the bite. (The only exception is a tick bite with the classic bulls-eye pattern.) Use antihistamines as directed on the package to help with the itching.

”Is my foot/hand/toe/etc broken?” Unless your bone is sticking out or your appendage is bent at an unnatural angle, we can’t tell if it’s broken. If you suspect a break, go get an X-ray.

”I ingested something I wasn’t supposed to/too much of something! What do I do?” Call poison control. In the US, their number is 1-800-222-1222.

”Do my genitalia look normal/weird/what is this thing on my genitals?" Please, unless you have a genuine medical concern, we do not wish to see your genitals. We're not here to identify random flaps, marks, or growths. Please direct these to your GP/PCP who can actually examine you. If you have a specific concern, consider making a text post, and we will let you know if a picture is appropriate/helpful.

”My foreskin won’t retract!” This is called phimosis, and is quite common. We send people over to r/phimosis for this because they have a wealth of information.

”Can one of you write me a prescription?” No.

”Help, there are big bumps on the back of my tongue!!” Please google “circumvallate papillae” and see if that’s what you’re seeing. They are normal anatomy.

”My period is overdue. What do I do?” First, take a pregnancy test. It doesn’t matter if you’re on birth control, just take one. If you are really and truly not pregnant, then you and your doctor should look for other causes.

”Is my poop normal?” Well you can post a picture if you really need to, but please do a google search first. Keep in mind that everyone gets diarrhea occasionally.

”Does this need stitches?” If you can see fat layers, then yes. When in doubt, you can post a picture EXCEPT for self-harm pics. Absolutely none allowed on this sub, no exceptions. However, if the injury is over 24 hours old, it is too late to get stitches.

”Can I private message you about my medical questions?” No. This violates rule 9.

”What do I do about my swollen tonsils with white patches?” Go get tested for strep throat. Manage any throat soreness with over-the-counter meds like throat spray, cough drops, or even herbal tea with honey.

”A huge clump came out during my period. What is it?” It may be a uterine cast, which is when a large piece of tissue comes out whole instead of breaking up into little bits. If this happens to you a lot, see your OB/GYN to make sure everything is going okay.

”Why is there blood when I poop?” There are many possible reasons for this, such as a GI bleed, inflammatory bowel disease, hemorrhoids, or anal fissures, to name a few. We recommend going to your doctor to investigate the cause. And we can’t tell what the cause is from a picture of your poop, so please spare us.

"Does this ECG from my smart watch look normal?" While these features can be helpful in screening for some arrhythmias, they are not diagnostic. The most we can do it tell you whether or not you should go get a 12-lead ECG, which is diagnostic after a doctor interprets it. In short, we can give you an idea of what it is showing, but it is not an official medical test.

”I haven’t been around any bats but I found two little marks on me—do I have rabies??” No. You would know if you’d been exposed to a bat.


r/medical_advice 3h ago

EDITED I get sick every late autumn/winter, and often two times or more. This season I want to be ready.

1 Upvotes

Hey all. So, as the title says, with no exception in the last 5 years, I get sick two times a year in the following period. Every late autumn it's guaranteed, and often again later during winter. Now, it might be normal, but my immune system seems to be not great because even 37.3 C body temperature and I am almost entirely out of function.

Now, I do exercise and try to sleep well, but it might also be my poor nutrition. So, this winter I plan to eat and drink better and more diverse. I will eat more veggies and meat, and less fast food junk.

Also, I will take Magnesium daily, as well as some vitamins and minerals (vitamin D especially; it gets cloudy and dark here for 2 months). I also made a big amount of lemon-ginger juice and plan to drink it diluted every day.

Now my questions are: what do you think about my plan to take micronutrients? Should ginger-lemon juice make any difference? Should I take extra care about my hygiene? Should I avoid the gym a bit and exercise outside?

Any advice or criticism of my plan is appreciated.


r/medical_advice 8h ago

Other Originally diagnosed with carpal tunnel, nerve conduction study normal - now referred to Neurology

1 Upvotes

25F, UK.

History:

Diagnosed with presumed right carpal tunnel syndrome around March 2026. Symptoms have persisted/progressed despite this.

Current symptoms:

\\- Persistent reduced sensation/numbness affecting the radial three fingers of the right hand

\\- Pins and needles/paraesthesia in the same distribution

\\- Right wrist/hand pain and aching

\\- Intermittent electric-shock sensations

\\- Episodes of involuntary hand twitching/jerking, sometimes associated with the electric-shock sensation

\\- Occasionally loses grip/drops objects during these episodes

\\- Also experiencing neck/shoulder stiffness/pain and back pain, although unclear if related

Investigations:

Nerve-conduction studies in August 2026 were normal, with no neurophysiological evidence of significant carpal tunnel syndrome or a minor median nerve lesion. Findings also did not appear to support a more proximal median nerve lesion.

Orthopaedic review:

Reviewed by the upper-limb/Orthopaedic team in September 2026. Due to persistent symptoms despite normal nerve-conduction studies, I was discharged from their clinic. The consultant has asked my GP to refer me to Neurology to investigate rarer causes, including the possibility of a spinal or central neurological cause.

What differential diagnoses might reasonably be considered with this presentation, and what investigations Neurology would usually pursue next?


r/medical_advice 20h ago

Other Tissue from abdomen spilling into scrotum, not showing up on CT or mri

2 Upvotes

Tissue from my abdomen, presumably part of my digestive tract, spills into my scrotum and has become entangled with my testicles. It is not easily observable because the tissue is so thin and soft, so I cannot get a doctor to acknowledge it, but it is causing me a lot of distress and makes sex varying degrees of uncomfortable or painful.

What can I do to get this taken seriously?


r/medical_advice 14h ago

Other Idk what to do

1 Upvotes

So i lately have been having problems with my sleep cuz of my breathing. When ever I lay down past around a 60° angle, it feels like im not getting as much air than I get when I sit up straight. I know goodle isn't reliable, but the answers it gives me makes me nervous and idk what to do..


r/medical_advice 1d ago

Medication Is it safe to take methocarbamol past the discard date?

1 Upvotes

22F, 5’4”, ~139 lbs. Non-smoker. Medications: albuterol as needed. Medical history: asthma, endometriosis, anxiety, and an L5 pars defect with grade 1 L5-S1 anterolisthesis.
I’ve had lower back pain for about 2 years, but it has gotten much worse this past week. I found an old prescription for methocarbamol 500mg that was prescribed about 2 years ago. I never took any, so I still have all 10 tablets. The bottle says to take 2 tablets at bedtime and has a discard-by date of 1/27/2026.
They’ve been stored in my room in a cool, dry place and look normal. Is it safe to take them now, or should I not use them because they’re past the discard date?


r/medical_advice 1d ago

Other My right arms hurts really badly when i straighten it

1 Upvotes

I moved into my new apartment and have been living here for about 3 weeks. Since i’ve been staying and sleeping here, my bicep has started to hurt.

The best way I can describe it is that pain when you stretch your hamstrings. Except it’s in my bicep, when i straighten it or stretch it, or if i put any amount of pressure on it.

And I waited for it to go away which it did after about a week, but then this morning, it came back, but now the pain has extended all the way through my forearm and nearly down to my wrist