I really need some advice from anyone who’s dealt with something like this! Over three years ago, I took a nasty hit to the head when I slammed into an open car trunk. It was right above my forehead, dead center—the skin split, there was plenty of blood, and I ended up with this massive bump that felt like the bone itself might have been damaged. For a long time, you could only really feel the lump, but after about eighteen months, things started getting weird. The bump began to swell, and this little soft, reddish sphere appeared right on top of it—it looks almost shiny and translucent if you look closely. My husband kept insisting it just looked like a giant pimple, but it didn't hurt like one, and you couldn't squeeze it at all. My primary care doctor told me it was likely just some scar tissue from the impact that had become inflamed, and she mentioned she’d give me a referral to a plastic surgeon this fall. Well, today, this little sphere on top actually started leaking something sticky, kind of like resin, and as soon as I applied a bit of pressure around it, this dark yellow pus mixed with blood just squeezed out like something from a tube. A good amount came out, and now, when I press it, only a little blood oozes out. I’ve already cleaned the whole area with disinfectant. Honestly, the main bump seems a bit smaller now, but that red little nub is still there and looks sort of like a skin tag. The problem is, my doctor isn't in the office right now, and since it's the weekend, I'm spiraling a bit wondering if I should have just gone straight to the ER. On one hand, it feels like I'm overreacting to something minor, but on the other... Help!!
Lately, my facial skin has been an absolute disaster. It’s peeling off in these tiny little flakes everywhere, and honestly, nothing seems to touch it—not even the heavy-duty hydrating creams or the thickest moisturizers I can find. On top of that, I’ve noticed these weird white patches popping up on two spots on my hand, and some people tell me those show up when you're running low on certain vitamins. Does anyone have any clue which vitamin might be the culprit here? I mean, I eat pretty much everything—plenty of fruits and veggies every single day.
Jacob Lewis said:Since I’ve got a doctor's appointment coming up in just a few days, I was hoping someone could weigh in on why these specific numbers are flagged high:
HEMATOLOGY: WBC 10.9 H (3.4-9.7) unsegmented neutrophilic granulocytes 3.0 H (0-2)
BIOCHEMISTRY: Total bilirubin 31 H (3-20)
Everything else seems to be sitting right within the normal range...
What kind of issues could this point toward?... thanks...
Looking at those bilirubin and white blood cell levels, I'd say you might be looking at some kind of liver inflammation.
Honestly, I think you could really use a breather and just step away from work for a bit. Between planning a wedding and dealing with a job where it looks like you're drowning in tasks without a single second to yourself, anyone would lose their mind. A friend of mine went through a nearly identical situation and ended up with such bad neurodermatitis—basically her skin just revolted because of the stress—and she actually had to push back her entire wedding because of it. Nothing catastrophic is going to happen if you just slow down for a minute.
My brother was dealing with some elevated GGT levels recently, and his doctor laid it out pretty plainly: in about 90% of cases, those numbers spike because of alcohol consumption. He wasn't even a heavy drinker—just someone who would grab a few drinks on the weekend when he was heading out with his buddies—but it was enough to mess with his labs. Since he decided to cut out the booze entirely, his levels have already settled right back down to normal.
By the way, if you’re dealing with an emergency or some kind of sudden issue, most OB-GYNs will squeeze you in right away—just give them a quick call beforehand to let them know you're headed their way.
It’s possible some glands have flared up, but honestly, having that many feels a little off to me. I really hope you’ve already had a chance to sit down with your OB-GYN and get some actual answers about what's going on there.
Honestly, I think my way is the absolute best—just squeeze the juice from a single lemon, stir in a spoonful of honey, mix it up, and take it by the teaspoon every once in a while. My old man insists on tossing in a tablespoon of olive oil too, but personally, I just can't stomach that part.
Walter Cox5 said:So, I’ve run into a bit of a situation. I used to have such great skin—really supple and soft... But over the last couple of years, things have gone totally haywire!! No matter how gentle I am, even just touching my face leaves these nasty red marks that look awful and take forever to fade. On top of that, my skin will get incredibly dry and rough, only to flip overnight and become super oily and covered in tiny red bumps. My doctor insists that all these changes over the past two years are just stress-related. Personally, I have a nagging feeling it might be something more than just being stressed out. I also saw a dermatologist, and it was the usual routine: "you have sensitive skin"... "use gentle cleansers"... "avoid soap"... "make sure you use Sorbolen."
Quick question for everyone: has anyone else dealt with something similar, and how did you fix it? Also, does anyone know of any good natural skincare remedies? Thanks!
My mom dealt with stuff just like this. It dragged on for years, and she tried every single thing under the sun, bouncing from one specialist to another, until finally, a doctor correctly diagnosed her with rosacea and put her on the right treatment. Things have improved massively for her since then.
I’m no medical expert by any stretch of the imagination, but please, for the love of God, stay far away from those Visine eye drops. It might seem like they work at first because they constrict those blood vessels and make your eyes look clear, but it's a total trap. It’s just like using a rubber band that you keep stretching and snapping back; eventually, those vessels just lose all their elasticity, get completely worn out, and end up looking even more swollen and red than they did before you started.
ironsurfer8 said:A biopsy doesn't necessarily have to be painful; if you aren't already dealing with discomfort, there shouldn't be much lingering soreness after the procedure, I understand what you mean regarding PCOS, but I’m assuming you didn't experience any abdominal cramping following the exam itself. I suppose everyone has a different pain threshold, but personally, if I had gone through what Rebecca Williams3 went through during her exam, I would have looked for a new doctor immediately.
I haven't had to undergo a breast exam from a gynecologist yet, though they did send me for an ultrasound as a precaution before starting birth control.
Nothing hurt me afterward; it was literally just micro-bleeding that showed up right when I wiped away that pink fluid they used to soak everything. And that moment she was palpating for the PCOS? It only hurt at the exact second she applied pressure, then nothing else. My mom used to always have her breasts checked during her appointments, until the second-to-last time when the doctor actually had the nerve to ask, "Ma'am, who else is checking your breasts for you?" Instead of actually doing the exam, she just suggested my mom pay out-of-pocket for a private ultrasound—what an absolute jerk! Since then, she doesn't even bother checking them anymore; it's basically become a "pay to play" situation where you either pay for the ultrasound or you're just left to wonder.
By the way, does your OB-GYN actually bother checking your breasts during an exam? I’ve never had one do that, and if I remember correctly from my doctor visits, it’s supposed to be a standard part of the whole routine—unless I'm totally off base here.
I once noticed a tiny bit of spotting in the exam room right after my checkup, and my doctor just brushed it off, telling me it was totally normal and nothing to worry about. Honestly, she probably just nicked something while she was sliding that speculum in, or maybe the Pap smear itself was just a bit too aggressive. On top of that, I’ve had some pretty intense pain during pelvic exams on my left side because I deal with PCOS, and let me tell you, that really stings.
I totally blanked on mentioning that his ultrasound back in the 12th month showed a slightly enlarged liver, though it was honestly almost negligible. But the whole thing kicked off late in October, and we’re still dealing with the fallout today. I can't help but think that since you're an athlete, you're probably slamming a ton of protein, and let's be real—that's not exactly a love letter to your liver, much like pushing your body through intense physical training.
First, his ALT shot up to 47, then hit 55, then climbed all the way to 85, and now he just got his latest labs back and it’s right back down to 47—keep in mind his threshold is 33 since he's only 18. His AST was hovering slightly above the limit too, but that’s finally normalized completely. The GGT was also a bit high, but that cleared up the second he stopped grabbing drinks with the guys out on the town. Back when he was in the military, they were feeding them absolute junk and pumping them full of all sorts of stuff; before that, he was on some acne medication, but his levels were totally fine back then, only for this mess to show up a year and a half after he finished the meds. Plus, during his service, he was cleaning toilets every single day without gloves and hygiene standards were pretty much nonexistent, so we’re all sitting here worried he might have picked up some kind of hepatitis. Honestly, nobody even knows the cause right now. He's currently being tested for two other less dangerous, curable types of hepatitis and mono. You might want to try Silymarin; you can find it for about $20, but you should definitely talk to an internist first.
Hey everyone, I just wanted to hop on here and let you know I’m rooting for you all in this brutal fight. I know what it’s like to deal with this kind of heavy stuff, even if my situation looks a little different from yours. My dad has been battling a severe, incurable illness for 16 years now—it’s left him completely disabled—and he barely managed to pull through last summer by the skin of his teeth. It’s just one year after another like that. Hang in there, stay strong!
Those ALT levels and the bilirubin definitely point toward some liver issues, though I can't say for sure about those other two markers. My brother went through a similar scare where his ALT was elevated, and then his next set of labs looked even worse because his AST and GGT spiked too. It got so bad he actually went in to get tested for Hepatitis B and C, but thankfully, both came back negative. After that, he completely panicked—he quit smoking cold turkey and gave up alcohol entirely, while also taking Silymarin, which eventually helped get things back under control. He used to be in the military and lost a ton of weight while serving, but once he got home, he packed on quite a few pounds, and his internist suggested that rapid weight fluctuation might have played a role in all this. Have you been on any heavy-duty medications over the last year or two?
electricjackal14 said:So, I just got back from seeing my dermatologist, and it turns out I have a comedogenic cyst right by the corner of my mouth. The doctor mentioned that if I want it gone for good, I'll need to see a surgeon. I have two big questions for you all: First, has anyone here actually gone through this process before? Second, would it be smarter to book an appointment with a plastic surgeon instead? Since this is right on my face near my lips, I’m really nervous about leaving behind a huge, noticeable scar. Thanks for the help!🙂
A buddy of mine had something similar on his cheek a few years back and went to some high-end private plastic surgeon to get it fixed. Honestly, he ended up with a noticeable scar and had to deal with wearing a bandage for ages. Then, about a year and a half later, the whole thing popped right back up in the exact same spot. He finally went to the Democratic Party hospital to get it handled properly, and man, they sorted him out perfectly—you can't even tell anything happened.