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The human body is an amazing thing. It heals itself, fights off sickness, and somehow manages to store a lifetime’s worth of memories. Honestly, its capabilities seem endless.
But let’s be real, it’s also kind of weird. And nowhere is that more obvious than on the r/Medical subreddit. There, doctors share unusual cases, people post their impressive recoveries, and others ask for advice that sometimes leaves everyone raising an eyebrow.
Scroll down to see a variety of the most interesting posts from the community—but be warned, some of them aren’t for the squeamish.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
If My Icu Patients Forget For Just A Few Minutes That They're Stuck In Icu Over Christmas, Then It Was All Worth It
RELATED:
#2
Is That Actually True?
Brian Droste 1 month ago
It will probably end up costing $100,000 or more a shot to use it the way US pharmacies and hospitals charge for things.
Earonn - 1 month ago
Well, it lets us with proper health care live. Too harsh? D**n, you guys vote all the time for one of two parties who support this shyte.
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General Anaesthesia 1 month ago
Refining it to ignore healthy brain tissue is a really nice touch.
Chich the witch 1 month ago
It *is* the little things that count, isn't it :p
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Robert Beveridge 1 month ago
Findlay? Like, Ohio? I didn't even know Findlay HAD a college of pharmacy! (This is the second "I had no idea this little Ohio town had its own institute of higher learning" I've run across this week and I LIVE here!)
#3
Sooo Guys We Did It I'm Cancer Free
Nikki Sevven 1 month ago
Whatever AI BP is using, it clearly doesn't know the meaning of either "bizarre" or "unsettling."
The Medical community on Reddit reveals just how much is happening both inside and outside of us.
From the way our bodies look to how our organs work, they’re full of surprises. Some of the things shared there are ones we rarely see, like unusual illnesses or conditions that most of us wouldn’t normally come across.
But when you think about it, even the everyday stuff we experience is pretty strange once you break it down and ask yourself why it happens.
#4
I Had A Stroke Last Week, Walking With A Cane Now. 30 Years Old. Happy To Be Alive
Samantha H 1 month ago
Hope you carry on with a good recovery, all the best to you and any other Men or Women who have had one.
Robert Beveridge 1 month ago
Keep going, my man. Ex's new husband had one in his late twenties. Impossible to tell these days unless you know what you're looking for (he's somewhere in his mid-forties now).
Sarah Bailey 1 month ago
Thank goodness you're a survivor, prayers for you. You face an unknown future that is completely different from the one you have day dreamed about your whole life. You will experience emotions that you didn't know existed. It will be hard, it will sneak up on you sometimes, it will feel extremely lonely, and it's possible you might actually loose some friends along the way. But you will settle into acceptance, and learn your body's new limits and figure out new routines, learn how to utilize the disabled options that are available in public. I wish you the best. Take care of yourself and don't be hard on yourself.
Samantha H 1 month ago
Hi VickyG, sadly people can have strokes at any age, I met a man who had one at age 8. When I visited my then Husband in rehabilitation there were many young people who had one.
Load More Replies... #5
Soldiers Saluting To Doctors Returning From Wuhan
Michael MacKinnon 1 month ago
Canadian immigration officials went to from Beijing to Wuhan to process the evacuation of Canadians / Permanent Residents and their families (and got flown out on the last flight). They got crapped on by the Chinese government for making "Wu-han Clan" t-shirts.
David 1 month ago
Chinese doctors did a lot, the CPC even punished and jailed doctors who exposed how bad the outbreak was as a warning. Remember, Wuhan is where the CPC failed by spending months covering up and lying, before in Dec 2019 admitting there was an outbreak (only after it spread beyond China borders) and then lied about their data to the world, leading countries to do things that turned out to be incorrect.
#6
One Year Ago Today I Got A New Heart! Forever Grateful To My Donor & Donor Family. To My Heart Transplant Team, Doctors And Nurses., You Rock!!!
Michael None 1 month ago
If I got a new heart the very last thing I would do is get on a motorcycle. Motorcycle accidents are where they get a great deal of those transplant organs from. I worked at a trauma hospital for many years and whenever they called in a motorcycle accident the transplant team always got ready.
Big Chungus 1 month ago
my mom got her new heart a year ago in August, she is doing so good you would never even know she was almost dead
DC 1 month ago
It's so funny when motorcyclists die... And here we go again, hahaha, donorcycle, hahaha! If I could, I'd limit those qualified to receive my organs to fellow motorcyclists. Because I'm sick of those sick jokes. But, if you are among those oh-so-funny people who find that oh-so-funny - have you looked at dead childern already? It's hilarious, exactly your kind of joke, just that it is exactly as much of a joke as dead motorcyclists are. How about suffocating to ... laughter? Go ahead. So funny. Hope the heart recipient will spend lots of hours riding, without being squished by one of those uncaring AHs of car drivers. Who, then, even find it so funny. Somebody dies, and laughing is the only reaction. Rearview mirrors aren't the only ones your sort of supposed human being is missing, is it?
BlueFire 1 week ago
I don't know why you are being downvoted. I don't see how the motorcycle joke was funny either. Death is never something to laugh at. I upvoted you. xx
Load More Replies...Take brain freeze, for example. What a random thing to experience, right? One quick sip of an ice-cold drink, and suddenly it feels like your skull is under attack.
As Rush University Medical Center explains, that sharp pain happens when something freezing touches the roof of your mouth. The cold makes your blood vessels rapidly constrict and then expand again, which triggers nearby nerves to send an SOS signal to your brain. The result is instant agony, though usually short-lived.
Thankfully, you can fix it by pressing your warm tongue to the roof of your mouth or just slowing down on the milkshakes.
#7
17m : Was Diagnosed With Ewing’s Sarcoma. Going To Get A Port A Cath In My Arm On Monday As Well As A Bone Marrow Biopsy And Will Hopefully Start Chemo On Tuesday. Wish Me Luck!
Colleen Glim 1 month ago
The arm catheter/PICC line makes chemo just a little bit easier if you have horrible veins and need regular treatments
S Bow 1 month ago
I had a port implanted in my chest that led directly into my heart for chemo. Would much rather have had it in my arm. I had to have regular MUGA scans to make sure the chemo wasn't wrecking my heart.
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#8
This Came From My Girlfriends Nose And She Coughed It Up, What Is This??
It's a nasal polyp.
#9
Doctor's Handwriting, In A Nutshell
Never Snarky 1 month ago
I had a doctor whose handwriting was so good that it was questioned if he was a real doctor!
Justbecause 1 month ago
We had a dr who's handwriting was so bad when we called them they would answer the phone with "oh no did I write on something." At least they were pretty good at using the computer and not doing hand written orders.
Then there’s snoring, the nighttime soundtrack that no one asked for. According to pulmonologist Sujay Bangarulingam, MD, it’s one of the most common sleep issues around.
It happens when the airway narrows as we sleep, causing soft tissues in the throat to vibrate. And that’s how you get that unmistakable rumble. Around 90 million Americans snore, and while it might seem harmless, it can seriously mess with your rest or your partner’s patience.
Sometimes the fix is as simple as changing position or cutting back on alcohol, but for others, it’s a sign to visit a sleep specialist.
#10
Ever Wondered What A (Esophagus) Tumor Looks Like? 7 Rounds Of Chemo, And This Is The Progress
#11
My Friend With Allergic Reaction Due To His Hay Fever (He Calls This Condition Fish-Face)
Nuku Nyara 1 month ago
I also react this way when I have hay fever as well
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Colleen Glim 1 month ago
I am violently allergic to hay itself. This is what I look like at every fall fair
#12
Thought You Good People Might Like To See My New C5/C6 Disc
Speaking of involuntary sounds, let’s talk about hiccups. I’ve always wondered why they exist, and it turns out there’s a pretty simple explanation.
Gastroenterologist Frances Puello, MD, says that hiccups usually come from overeating, fizzy drinks, or sudden temperature changes in your stomach. Basically, your diaphragm gets irritated, contracts, and forces air up in a quick “hic!”
Most hiccups are harmless, but persistent ones can sometimes signal deeper issues. For the typical case, though, holding your breath or sipping cold water usually does the trick.
#13
It Just Works
#14
Doctor Told Me That My Raynaud’s Should Be In A Medical Textbook
Stephanie Did It 1 week ago
That's what mine looked like just before the necrosis started. I hope OP gets help for this condition which can definitely be life threatening.
#15
My Dads New Leg, One Of Australias First, The Nut Is Screwed Into His Bone Inside His Leg,
Colleen Glim 1 month ago
Is there something he needs to do as far as keeping the sight clean or some such? This seems l8ke an infection waiting to happen
And what about when your fingers prune up in water? Scientists still aren’t entirely sure why it happens, but they have a few good ideas.
Family physician Sarah Ahmed, MD, says one theory is that it actually helps us grip wet objects better. A study published in Biology Letters found that people were faster at picking up wet items after soaking their hands in water for 30 minutes compared to when their hands were dry.
As for how it works, the leading idea is something called digital vasoconstriction. That’s when the blood vessels in your fingers and toes narrow after being submerged, causing the outer layer of skin to wrinkle. It’s all triggered by an involuntary nervous system reaction.
#16
An Anatomy Pinball Machine
Lorrie Rothstein 1 month ago
I want to know how the who and Elton John can make a pinball song about this.
Michael Largey 1 month ago (edited)
Peter Townsend would probably like your idea.
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VickyG 1 month ago
That's the bifurcation of the abdominal aorta into the common iliac arteries.
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A Dissection Display Of The Entire Peripheral Nervous System
#18
My First Hearing Aid That I Got 7 Years Ago!
Some bodily quirks are even more surprising. Ever heard someone say their joints can predict the weather? They’re not just imagining it, there’s real science behind that claim.
“When a storm front moves in, the atmospheric pressure drops. Major joints’ sensory nerve endings register a relative increase in joint fluid pressure, resulting in increased pain,” Orthopedic surgeon Robert Tait, MD, told Woman’s Day. In other words, your knees might just be a built-in weather app.
#19
Gnarly Skin Rash I Got From Taking Antibiotics For Mono
Razill 1 month ago
And that is why we dont give antibiotics for viral infections. Someday, hopefully the system will learn (but frankly after fighting this battle for 20 years im not optimistic)
MaggieMay85 1 month ago
When I was a lab tech in the 2000s mrsa wasn’t that common, now there’s vrsa. We are doomed.
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Batwench 1 month ago
I have the exact same reaction to penicillin or any of its derivatives/derivations. Also get a reaction, though not as bad to blue cheese mold. The worst though, it the problem breathing.
LillieMean 1 month ago
Same here. When my late cat bit me while trimming her nails, there was no other sensible option than to take the least allergenic penicillin derivative and take a double dose of the allergy medications prescribed to me. I still got a full-body rash.
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Marianne 1 month ago (edited)
I had a rash like that once (from moisturizer I had used before, but never directly after shaving my legs it seems). I wasn't flattered when my doc wanted to take pictures, because "you rarely see something like that in real life".
Colleen Glim 1 month ago
I get a rash like that using hair removal creams. Never have been able to use them
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Colleen Glim 1 month ago
I’m not allergic to sulfa d***s. I just have hella bad side effects. Headache, nausea, vomiting, all the fun things. Found this out the hard way when I was about 10 and on a sulfa d**g because of an infection. Three day raging headache and couldn’t keep anything down
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Littlemiss 1 month ago
Got a little of that and huge welts from my pencillan allergy. Took a little over 2 weeks for it to work through my system. Swelling on the soles of your feet is horrendous.
#20
Thought You Guys Would Enjoy My Brusitis, Since Every Person That Looked At It In The Hospital Strangly Enjoyed It
#21
Update: Reddit Called My Scoliosis With My Ribs! Went And Got An Xray And The Doctor Confirmed. Ive Got Physiotherapy Tomorrow. Thanks Reddit :)
BrownEyedGrrl 1 month ago
My ribs look exactly like that! I've had back issues my entire adult life.
Toni Osorio 1 month ago
But did you go to checkups as a child and physicals as an adult? My kids and my doctor check our backs at every annual visit.
Load More Replies... Your eyes, too, have their own fascinating ways of reacting to the world. They can, for example, let you know when your body’s too cold.
“When hypothermia becomes severe, blood vessels in the eyes constrict to conserve energy,” Rupe Hansra, OD, senior director of eye care at LensCrafters, told Woman’s Day.
In certain cases, this can even cause temporary vision loss, something model Kate Upton once experienced during a swimsuit shoot in Antarctica, when temperatures dropped to –20°F.
But your eyes can also sense the coming of spring—itching and watering when pollen counts rise before the weather even warms up.
#22
Cottonmouth Snake Bite Resulting In Medi Flight To Ou Medical Center
martymcmatrix 1 month ago
I hope you didn't Pepsi and this is »just« hematoma and not beginning necrosis...🤔
#23
GF Said Y’all Might Be Interested In Seeing What Infected Poison Ivy Looks Like
Debby Keir 1 month ago
That looks like it's 'tracking' (toxins or infection spreading upward) and needs immediate attention.
The Mom 1 month ago
I hope you sought medical intervention. All 3 of my kids had it and it never looked like blood veins. Their was whelps and blister on EVERY inch (had to see their doctor for that one).
RomanceRadish 1 month ago
An infection can cause loss of limb or death. Get help quickly if this happens to you.
TwiggyTheTree 1 week ago
Dude... Hospital... Now! You've got a serious case of spreading! That can k**l you.
#24
A Story Of Awesome Dental Photography By Dr: Carlosdecarvalho
martymcmatrix 1 month ago
Excuse me Miss, but do you mean the inventor / creator of biomechanics as an art style? 🙋🏽
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When you put all this together, it’s clear: our bodies are like living laboratories, full of strange reflexes and hidden talents we don’t even realize we’re using.
From hiccups to brain freeze, from weather-predicting knees to wrinkle-prone fingertips, every odd thing we do has some story behind it, even if scientists are still figuring out exactly why.
#25
My 9 Year Old Daughter Broke Her Arm. The Doctor Said She Will Heal Fine. Should I Get A Second Opinion?
Colleen Glim 1 month ago
I would. But be aware that the length of time between the ER visit and the second opinion appointment may mean her arm has to be rebroken to be set properly
Learner Panda 1 month ago
That is not a greenstick fracture, but one that needs splinting, possibly after an operation to realign the bones.
Learner Panda 1 week ago
Both bones are broken and one is completely out of alignment. The doctor is a fool.
Barbara Hill 1 month ago (edited)
Yes. and see if he will let you break his, so he can see how it feels and how hard it will be do anything without pain.
#26
Banged My Knee With Full Force Right Into This Metal Edge. I Didnt Cry, You Cried!
Ace 1 month ago
That's bad. I do hope they went to have the resulting haematoma drained. Would be vivid black/purple/yellow in a day or so.
dollh h 1 month ago
Didn't drain mine, it waa just as big after an accident. It did subside eventually.
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Roos Dillema 1 month ago
I once had that whilst iceskating, fell onto a block of ice. Hurt for decades
#27
Fell And Woke Up Like This
LillieMean 1 month ago
I've had at least as impressive a bruise, but on the outside of my thigh and lower leg. I decided to take a shortcut to my friend's house while I was a bit tipsy over a concrete fence. On top of the fence I realized my skirt was too short for such an activity and I fell sideways onto the asphalt, luckily on the right side of the fence. Even my gynecologist the following week praised my colossal, impressive deep blue-red bruise.
Samantha H 1 month ago
That is some severe bruising. When I worked as an EMT I was horrified at the bruising some Seniors had from falling out of a bed (not even a high one)
Chich the witch 1 month ago
I had bruising like that and worse at one point when I had leukemia. Just had to lightly brush up against something.
#28
Photoshop Reconstitution Of Visual Deformation I Had Today In Both Eyes. Colors Was Pulsating And It Lasted 10mn
Wyrdwoman 1 month ago
I get these - kaleidoscope vision is a temporary visual disturbance that causes you to see fractured, colourful, and geometric patterns, similar to looking through a kaleidoscope. If its not a stroke, its a symptom of an aura migraine.
Ace 1 month ago (edited)
Mine are monochrome and uniform, spreading out in a circular pattern from a starting point that may or may not be central. And in both eyes, which is how you know that it's not actually a problem with the eye itself. Yes, it clears in half an hour or less, so not a big deal, although I once had to pull over when I had one while driving.
Load More Replies... lightlywhispereddestruction 1 month ago
Please see a doctor. Could be a stroke, not your eyes.
NapQueen 1 month ago
In the UK, you can pay a bit extra with opticians now who look out for anything to do with the brain. If there's something urgent they can see, they automatically send you to hospital, or at least send a referral to the correct department.
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Paul White 1 week ago
Ocular Migraine with Aura. I get these but don’t get the colors, wish I did it would make what’s comes next more tolerable. Was diagnosed at 42 out of the blue. If I don’t do my shots i will get them daily.
Learner Panda 1 week ago
Yup, that's the first sign of my migraines. Time to take my medication.
#29
I Had Heart Surgery In December And They Put This Heart Monitor (Pictured Left) Under My Skin. I Just Think It’s Cool/Creepy Looking
CB 1 month ago
My bf had sepsis and then developed A-fib (190 bpm). Right before they were going to shock his heart back into a normal rhythm, his heart went back to normal on its own. After he was released, he had to have that device inserted into his chest for a year and had to keep a machine by his bed that would download all the info and send it in. He had an episode or two each month, but nothing alarming and then had it removed.
#30
Blood Collected From A 34 Yo Man Today
MaggieMay85 1 month ago
It was spun down, there is a separator between the red blood cells and the serum. Serum is suppose to be clear and yellow. High triglycerides usually cause this.
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#31
My Adorable Kidney Stone I Passed On Tuesday January 1st 2019
#32
A Doctor From My Work Invented A Way To Test Covid-19 Patients Without Needing Much Personal Protective Equipment
Leah Woodard 1 month ago (edited)
Not changing gloves/protective apparel between patients spreads disease.
Rinso The Red 1 month ago
The second image shows disposables over the protective gloves.
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WubiDubi 1 month ago
You do not want viruses on your clothes. COVID can survive a few days on surfaces.
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#33
Tried Donating Plasma Saturday And Was Turned Away After Getting Jabbed In Both Arms, Next Day Wake Up Like This…
Colleen Glim 1 month ago
I have horrible veins. Am sure to apologize to every phlebotomist ahead of time. They’re small, they’re deep, and they will slide away from the needle. I hear ya
Nizumi 1 month ago
I had a nurse go through that to get an IV in me. Once she got it in, she practically mummy wrapped my arm with tape to make sure it stayed put because she was "NOT going to go through that again."
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WalterWhiteSavannah 1 month ago
Hoping to get out of hospital today, but I'm lucky to have great veins. Every single phlebotomist has commented they wish everyone had veins like mine. Makes my life and their lives so much essier lol.
S Bow 1 month ago
Yay for getting out! Hopefully you can start eating solid food now.
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Barbara Hill 1 month ago
if you do it again asked for someone that's really good at sticking patients. and maybe send tis picture to your doctor.
#34
The Time My Toddler Swallowed One Of My Rings, Shaped Like A Butterfly
Auntriarch 1 month ago
I don't think I'd ever feel the same about that ring
Load More Replies... #35
My Son Has Russell Silver Syndrome
When Your Child Has A Very Rare Condition Hospitals Like To Run Tests And Perform Studies To Better Improve Their Knowledge On Rare Conditions. Each Study Makes It Closer To Fully Understanding Rss. Today They Will Perform An Endoscopy Procedure.
Learner Panda 1 month ago
Russell-Silver syndrome (RSS) is a rare growth disorder characterized by being born small for gestational age, poor postnatal growth, and a relatively large head size with a prominent forehead.
#36
Moncton City Hospital Youth Psychiatric Ward
martymcmatrix 1 month ago
It's interesting to see how many young people are trying to get in there...🤷🏽
RomanceRadish 1 month ago
My first thought was paint from arts & crafts. Then I realized.... oh.
#37
Do People With Polycoria (2 Pupils In One Eye) See Double With That Eye?
Robert Beveridge 1 month ago
This can be read VASTLY differently depending on whether the muppet in question is Beaker, Animal, or Miss Piggy...
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#38
92yo Grandmother With Massive Fracture: Docs Won’t Operate And Will Stop Giving Pain Meds
AnnaB 1 month ago (edited)
Why in the world would they STOP giving pain meds? I think you may have gotten that backwards.
Robert Beveridge 1 month ago
If this is taking place in America, it is unfortunately likely accurate and being ordered by the insurance company.
Load More Replies... Colleen Glim 1 month ago
Not operating kinda makes sense. She’s 92 and probably won’t heal properly. Stopping pain meds is just cruel. Just because she’s old doesn’t mean that doesn’t hurt like a b*tch
JoNo 1 month ago
My grandma fell and broke the very upper part of her femur when she was 99. She was operated on and healed well. When she heard if she didn't walk again she would have to go to a nursing home, she d**n well walked with the help of rehab! She moved into a nursing home at 101 for reasons unassociated to her broken leg. What is the cut-off age for operations on elders, giving pain medication and rehabilitation? And who makes that decision? Treatment should be case-by-case not because someone is old!!
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Big Chungus 1 month ago
My grandma tore her ligaments in her knee completely (also over 90) and they won't do surgery because of the risk, so she cannot walk anymore, but they never stopped giving her the medications she needs
Leg less In Minneapolis 1 month ago
If they can set the bone well and immobilize it won’t hurt much. Pain from broken bone is from them moving around
Debby Keir 1 month ago
My, then 98, MIL had valve replacement surgery, and recovered well - now 100 and going strong - still lives alone with just a cleaner once a week for assistance with the heavy stuff.
Bianca Van Deventer 1 month ago
It must be illegal to refuse to operate to repair a fracture, and also to refuse pain meds to a frail old lady???
#39
Struggling To Breathe For Years. Doctors Don't Help Because I'm "Too Young" To Be Having Issues
Debby Keir 1 month ago
Black is 'clear' it's the white bits you don't want. Breathing issues due to a curvature of the spine.
Load More Replies... Lady Eowyn 1 month ago
You're never too young for almost anything. Freaky things happen all the time.
Barbara Hill 1 month ago
Get another doctor and another until you get one who will help you. Better still, see if you can get into a family clinic. with residents, who will do their best to get you the help you need.
#40
Is This Vitiligo Or What Another Disease Turns Your Eyebrow White?
#41
Any Idea What This Purple Red Rash Might Be From? Yes, We Have A Doctors Appointment. No Fever Came On Suddenly And Has Spread To Over 70% Of His Body
WindySwede 1 month ago
OP's(wife?) "He is. He was examined in person today. The theory is that it is an auto immune response to a virus. He is taking prednisone and has a steroid cream. What seems to help the most is Aloe vera gel of all things. The bedsheets hurt. Clothes hurt. Rubbing the cream on him hurts. It is painful and itchy. I googled symptoms and read if he experiences, shortness of breath or a high fever. That is an emergency room trip for sure."
Mickel Beckett 1 week ago
He just has overly sensitive skin. I have the same thing. Just not that bad.
#42
I'm Here For My Turkey Sandwich And Ginger Ale
Robert Beveridge 1 month ago
Same basic reasoning behind going to the ER for routine care. People who do not have proper access (in this case, an inability to drive) will use the tools available to them for emergency situations. The people in question should never be criticized for doing what they have to do to get treatment. The problem is 100% on the American health insurance system. (Source: I worked in it for 13 years.)
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