People Describe The Strangest Medical Condition They've Ever Had That They Didn't Even Know Was A Thing
It's not hard to imagine most medical conditions.
Reddit user, u/Menardmildred13, wanted to know what surprised you when they asked:
What medical condition did you have that you didn't even know was a problem?
Allergies can hit you out of nowhere. While typical allergies, either seasonal or food-related, aren't that surprising, sometimes it's how they manifest that can be truly alarming.
Well, Then, Stop Eating Cheese?
"I have a cheese allergy and get the cheese coughs. Still totally eat cheese."
"Are.. are cheese coughs different from regular coughing? Because it sounds like you start coughing up partially digested cheese which is pretty horrific and I might have nightmares now"
"No. My throat is trying to close. Which I guess is also horrific considering how often I eat cheese."
Switching It Up
"I thought I just had extremely sensitive skin and was prone to rashes, especially around my eyes - always had a permanent domino mask of irritated skin around my eyes. When I switched doctors my new one had me take allergy tests. Turns out in the last 5 years or so I developed a severe allergy to laundry detergent perfumes. I switched to a hypoallergenic detergent and it all went away."
Sometimes a surprising medical condition can be lived with for months, maybe even years, without popping up. Then one day you'll be inconvenienced by something you didn't know you inherited from a family member a long time ago.
Not Responding How You Want
"Low thyroid hormone levels which isn't all that strange or dangerous and easily managed by a simple medication."
"However my thyroid condition did not easily respond to the medication and symptoms of severe thyroid dysfunction showed up and got worse. They checked for nodules like thyroid cancer just by feeling my neck. Didn't notice anything."
"Turns out I have a very rare and aggressive form of Lymphoma and it was lodged in my thyroid destroying it and spread to my brain and lymph nodes before anybody had the wherewithal to start sticking my with needles and scanning me."
Tearing Up Your Insides
"Celiac disease. I was having trouble with depression and chronic fatigue, so I got some blood tests which revealed that I had nutritional deficiencies related to the damage my intestines had sustained."
How Does That Even Work?
"Ovarian torsion. Found out about it this weekend-when I had to go to a&e with a suspected case. Thankfully it turned out not to be, but still yikes."
"I knew of the testicular version, which is kind of understandable as they are... more exposed. Never would have thought the ol' ovaries could go for a spin, too. Apparently, in rare cases they just decide too."
Passing It On
"Von Willebrands Disease! It's like a variant of hemophilia that acts on a different factor. Had pretty bad, hours-long nosebleeds my whole life. They started getting worse as I got older. When I was 18, I got them bad enough that they started hospitalizing me and I would bleed enough I would pass out. After a year of fighting doctors who fully believed I was overreacting, I got blood tests- turns out my blood just doesnt clot anymore! And something as simple as having a bad enough nose bleed or period could very well kill me! Now I have to have emergency clotting factor pills that cost 200$ a pill on hand at all times so I don't die if anything happens and a medical bracelet."
"Also, it's genetic! Turns out most people in my family had it too, and multiple women died from childbirth and complications with their periods and just never knew it."
Our bodies are embarrassing. You can be perfectly fine one day, then the next be told you have a weird shaped tongue. It's a shame, really.
That'll Do It
"I had skin cancer...on my butthole."
"Yep, that's right. I got skin cancer on a place that had never seen the sunshine."
"Apparently it can totally kill you, but mine hadn't spread so I just had a simple (yet embarrassing) surgery and went on with my life. I was only 21 years old at the time."
"How... how did they even catch this?"
"My butt started bleeding, so I went to the doctor."
Flipped The "Off" Switch
"During a routine examination of my throat the doctor accidentally hit a nerve with their instrument, after which my heart stopped beating and they had to revive me. When I got back I heard my wife sobbing loudly, and there were 3 doctors and 5 nurses struggling with me."
"I had never in my wildest dreams thought that something like that could happen. It was a simple routine examination that doctors do all the time!"
"The human body is a fascinating thing indeed."
"Did they explain why that happened? Because I'd love to know"
"Probably the vagus nerve. It courses down the outside of the esophagus into the abdomen ("vagus" means "wanderer"), and is also ennervates the heart. Activation of the nerve can cause the heart rate to drop quickly (sometimes called vagal-ing down), which can cause people to faint."
"Vaso-vagal syncope is a fascinating subject."
Hey, Your Tongue? It's Weird.
"I was told at a recent dentist visit that I had a mild case of something called geographic tongue. They asked if I had ever been told that I had it before, and then went on to say it was not a big deal if it wasn't bothering me and you can't really do a whole lot for it anyway. So I was just left with a fact for this thread, and the knowledge that my tongue is slightly discolored in spots."
Feeling even just the slightest bit off? Might be time to pay a visit to the doctor. Don't want that oddly shaped tongue to interfere with your life.
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We love movies.
Movies and entertainment save the world.
But some movies can send you into a messy place.
Some topics are just a lot to handle.
That is why some films, when done right and authentically, are just too real to experience.
No need to watch that again.
Redditor Kilo_616 wanted to discuss the films that have left us... SHOOK!!
"What’s a good f**ked up movie?"
I don't really seek out these types of movies, but one that stands out for me is 'Monster.'
Charlize and Christina are BRILLIANT!
Hopeless
"Threads. Depiction of nuclear war that is unanimously loved over in r/horror. A year later it still bothers me"
groovy604
"They showed this movie to us as kids in Elementary School. So yeah. Why have a childhood that contains hope anyway?"
rdewalt
AMAZED!
"Wasn't popular and reception was mixed, but I always enjoyed Cube. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cube_(1997_film)"
grilledcheeseburger
"Cube 2 hypercube wasn't that great but I love the title so much. Whenever I heard of any sequel that's the original name + 2 I always have to add the hyper in my head. Saw 2 - Hypersaw. It cracks me up an embarrassing amount."
ImaginaryStallion
"CUBE IS AMAZING. Nobody can tell me otherwise. And that Cube-esque multiplayer game that was made too."
spraynardkrug3r
"Cube is a 10/10 for me. I love that movie."
DesignerTex
Switch to Home Print
"One Hour Photo."
nueroticalyme
"I ran a one hour photo at CVS when that movie came out. There's a scene where Robin Williams is in full respirator PPE gear dumping out the chemicals. I was like 'I do that in my work clothes.'"
rob132
"That movie is crazy. First time I realized what a brilliant dramatic actor Robin Williams was."
TheFemale72
The French One
"Martyrs (the original french). Weirdly beautiful in a very morbid way."
Jabronis*ick
"That was my thought as well. This movie really just puts you in an uncomfortable place by the end. French horror is weird."
ProfessionalChampion
"I've not yet been able to watch Inside. Anytime I get close I just think of how I felt for weeks after Martyrs and put on a 10 hour animated video of the kittens in a marching band to soothe myself."
ResponsybilI
"I hadn't thought about Martyrs since I watched it ten years ago and just reading the title gave me anxiety. On my way to cat vids now!"
Blumpkis
Mitch?
"Pan’s Labyrinth. I was not expecting that at all!!!"
2kids2adults
"My favorite part is when the girl eats a grape and Mitch McConnell chases her."
RainbowCrown71
That Pan's creature is for nightmares only! I mean, Lord. I can't with that movie.
Insane
"Requiem for a Dream. The movie starts 'effed up and goes into a complete whirlwind from then."
FormerWordsmith
"You think it can't get worse and then it does. Again and again."
Kamyuwu
"I just watched this about a year ago for the first time, have watched it 2 more times and it's insane. The whole movie feels like you are actively doing drugs. Starts out with an amazing high and rush and then you just feel like trash. Loved it."
SubtleRedditIcon
THAT Movie
"We Need To Talk About Kevin."
clitorisaurunderscor
"Unbelievable that thus is so low. Tilda Swinton is phenomenal in it. She really nailed the part of 'person in close contact with Ezra Miller.'"
garboooo
WTF?!
"Incendies."
TocTheElder
"This is the first movie that came to mind. It was Thanksgiving. A few friends laying around, enjoying our turkey hangover, smoking a little, not paying close attention. And then, 'Am I seeing what I think I'm seeing?' Talk about a plot twist!"
Artistic_Tangelo2167
"This was my thought too. There are a handful of films that are great but I've never successfully recommended to anybody because I can't describe them in a way that makes anybody want to watch them. Incendies is one of those films."
kranker
Visceral
"Snowtown. It's a depiction of one of the most prolific serial killers in Australian history. It's very visceral. It all feels very real when you watch it."
NestedForLoops
"I just heard a podcast about the real story. I'm not sure I'm ready to watch that yet."
RoccoTaco_Dog
Nightmares
"Trainspotting. Make sure you also read the book."
blackcat211
"Trainspotting is a great movie, and I enjoyed the second one too. But in terms of f**ked-upness The Acid House is along similar lines but next level."
notmyidealusername
"The scene that really broke me was the 'toilet scene.' I'm really sensitive when it comes to human excrements so this disgusted me beyond belief. Absolute nightmare fuel. I will never watch that movie again, that's for sure."
Fiverocker
"I saw Trainspotting years ago in the midst of my own drug addiction (clean now 7 yrs) and actually loved it. I’m ashamed to say I had no idea there was a book but I’m definitely gonna read it now."
mle32000
I'm not sure about this list. But, I'll take a look. With the lights on. During the day.
People Break Down Which Things Rocked As A Kid But Suck As An Adult
When we're kids, being an adult and getting to do whatever we want often seems like the bestest, most awesome thing we could imagine.
But not everything is better as an adult.
Jobs, responsibilities, and that weird back pain you always seem to get when you sit at your desk too long are just part of getting older. A lot of things that were awesome as a kid just don't hit the same as an adult either.
Redditor Athompson9866 asked:
"What was f'king awesome as a kid, but sucks as an adult?"
Luxury Bones
"Losing a tooth"
- Content-Discussion56
"Oh yes! Can you imagine running around showing your family: 'Look! I lost a tooth! Doesn't it make me look adorable?'"
"And when you are a kid, a lost tooth makes you money. $ As an adult, it costs you way more than all the money the tooth fairy ever gave you."
- 4ninawells
It's All Junk
"Getting mail. I remember everyday begging my parents if I got mail. (I had pen pals). I got so excited when something came for me. Now I dread going to the mailbox because all that will be there are bills."
- Slowmechanic180
"Always bills 😞"
- Athompson9866
"And junk scams or advertisements"
- bsEEmsCE
Doughboys Cost How Much?!
"The State Fair. Especially now that I have to pay for everything."
- Lala6699
"My parents took us to Disney World for a week as kids. I went for 4 days with my husband a few years ago and wanted to go home with how expensive everything was. I went home and thanked my parents for that trip."
- jetsqueak
"'2 slices of pizza and 2 sodas? That’ll be $35 please.' —The County Fair"
- oiwefoiwhef
Get In, Get Out
"Going to the mall. I used to like browsing stores, but now I just want to get what I need and go."
- JumpyBomber
"I mean, most malls are also depressing vistas of empty storefronts bookended by a department store on life support these days"
- negativeyoda
"There used to be fun things at the mall. An arcade, stores with stuff in them to look at... now it's empty except for maybe a drug store and a grocery store."
- arvy_p
World Go Spinny
"Spinning in circles."
"I try to do that now while holding my little one and I do about two spins before I'm lightheaded and dizzy as a drunk."
- lamacake
"Turning my head too fast makes me dizzy and nauseated lol"
- Athompson9866
"I was soooo surprised by this as an adult! Spinning and rollercoasters are fun as a child. I tried that as an adult with my kids and felt like I was going to die. The dizziness takes so much longer to go away and you feel terrible the whole time."
- AgeOfJace
"Staying awake till 2 in the morning as a teen/young adult: 'Yea baby!! the possibilities are ENDLESS!!'"
"Staying awake till 2 in the morning as a 40-something: 'This is gonna hurt in the morning'"
- Significant_Map122
"My circadian rhythm is set so firmly that I know I'm still gonna wake up at 7 am no matter how late I try to stay up so I hate staying up past 1 am. I'm usually in bed by like 9:30pm these days just cause I'd rather get comfortable and play a game on my phone until I get sleepy."
"I'm 38 with the sleep schedule of a 4 year old but I don't care."
- JoeyJoJo_Junior
All Pain, All The Time
"No Pain! I could fall down, scrap my knee and cry for like 1 minute and then get back up and ride a bike, or play tag or whatever. Now, I fall down... I am staying down and may need Life Alert! I have to take advil, put my knee up with Ice, and complain to my wife how painful it is for the next week. That is if I am lucky and didn't break the whole thing."
- Ekecede
"So I'm like into jogging now and I wished I got into it when I was younger. After a run, I felt this weird pain, like a bruise, on the back of my right foot. Long story short, it's Haglund's deformity. I googled it and it said, 'it's a common injury that occurs to middle aged people who runs.'"
"I don't know what hurts more, my foot or my self esteem when I realize now I'm middle-aged."
- mymymissmai
🎶 Summer Breeze Makes Me Feel ... Blah
"Summer. When you’re a kid, it's three months of freedom from school. When you’re an adult, you still have to go to work, but now it’s sweltering hot and you’re sweating your balls off all day, every day."
- chadthundertalk
"This is the answer I was looking for. It’s even harder if you are a working parent - trying to give your kid that super awesome summer while trying to keep your job. That balance between 'I want to come play at the park with you' and 'I really don’t want to lose my job' is hard."
- kennedar_1984
Sick Days
"Staying home on a sick day."
"As a kid it was a huge victory, got to stay in bed all day, watch TV, and having a parent tend to your every need. Then as an adult you're just thinking about the work you're gonna have to make up for and how you hope you don't need to go to a doctor."
- -eDgAR-
"Hehe, now there's WFH so you can be sick AND still work! Got COVID? Well, we have to get this proposal out today and you have a laptop, right?"
- Thunderhorse74
Adulthood definitely isn't the sunshine and roses most of us thought it was going to be when we were little, that's for sure.
Life is full of mysteries. And while we seem to be cognizant of many of life's miracles, it's obvious there is still much to discover within the vastness of our existence.
Much of the world's known facts are fascinating–some even inspiring.
But there are some facts that are just downright ominous and unsettling to an extent where ignorance is bliss.
Curious to explore what these might be, Redditor Vacancier1807 asked:
"What are some VERY creepy facts?"
These medical anomalies are very unsettling.
The Right Match
"If you get a blood transfusion and get the wrong type of blood (A, B, O, AB) one of the symptoms is 'a sense of impending doom.'"
– DocMcCall
Don't Underestimate Beauty
"There's a tiny little jellyfish which can induce the same sensation of impending doom... Along with some serious pain and likely hospitalization. It's only tiny as well, about the size of a fingernail, although the tentacles are much longer, maybe about a meter long."
"It's called the Irukandji jellyfish."
– Red_Wolf_2
Rigid Nightmare
"There is a genetic disease called fibrodisplaysia ossificans progresiva. When tissue is damaged, it is replaced with bone."
"Growths form underneath their skin and their joints lock solid. So over time, those affected slowly become encased in a prison of bone just beneath their own skin."
"They usually have to choose between sitting or standing up for the rest of their life. By the end of their life they have to drink every meal through a straw and can barely move"
– Sythosz
Invincible Micro Killers
"Bacteria and viruses can be frozen for millions of years and still be viably infectious, and having never encountered humanity before, could have no end of catastrophic results should they be uncovered and manage to infect a person or animal."
"Not to worry though, it’s not like millions of ancient pathogens are currently trapped in permafrost which is now melting bit by bit each and every day..."
– gjs628
The unpredictable things people do are confounding.
Monster Among Us
"The Colombian serial killer Pedro Alonso Lopez, who is known as the Monster of the Andes, murdered over 300 girls from Ecuador, Peru and Colombia. However, after he was caught and imprisoned for 18 years, he was put in a psychiatric hospital. There he was reviewed, declared to be sane and was set free, in spite of his blatant avowal that he fully intends to kill again. Since he was released in 1998, nobody knows where he is or what he’s doing. ( He is supposed to be 71 years old at present).He is known for being the most prolific killer ever."
– ridhan3912
Creepy Statistic
"Over 90% of Serial Killers choose their victims through sexual desire. In fact, many serial killers have been caught because they returned to the body of their victims to pleasure themselves."
– BADH-STeelZzz
Rosemary Kennedy
"Rosemary Kennedy was JFK’s sister. She suffered from oxygen deprivation at birth and that unfortunately stunted her mental growth. She had a pretty decent childhood, but as she grew older she began to act out. Afraid that her behavior would risk his political career, her father, Joseph, agreed to have her lobotomized. Her mother, Rose, was against it and forbade him from doing it. So he did it behind her back when she went on a trip."
"After the operation, Rosemary’s already low IQ was lowered even further, to the point she could no longer walk or communicate. Her family had her locked up in an institution and basically disowned her. They never visited and never publicly acknowledged her anymore. Rosemary died at the age of 86. Her mother never forgave her husband for what he had done."
– [deleted]
Preference For Flesh
"Remember that bath salts cannibal guy from a couple years back?"
"He wasn't high on bath salts when he did that. That was just media speculation and bullsh*t. They only found pot in his system during the autopsy."
"We still have no idea why he flipped out."
– peezle69
Consider this perspective.
What Separates Us From The Animals
"Humans eyes dont reflect light at night like animals do. I like to say this fact to my wife at a camp fire."
– -----sky-----
Blinding Reality
"Your eyes have a separate immune system from the rest of your body. If they get damaged in such a way that it affects anything other than your eyes, your regular immune system can attack the damage and will not recognise them, meaning your own body can permanently blind you."
"What's worse, your body cannot tell the difference between either eye. If one of them gets infected or damaged, your immune system can attack your healthy eye and take away your sight entirely."
– TBroomey
I know for a fact that the creepiest thing in existence is the Island of the Dolls located in the channels of Xochimilco, Mexico.
It's an island where people have unceremonisouly hung dolls from the tree on the island.
No one really knows who and when it started. Legend has it the island's former occupant believed the dolls warded off spirits–including that of a girl who drowned in the waters near the island.
I won't be making a stop there on a river cruise anytime soon. Creepy.
People Debate If They'd Want The Ability To Speak Every Language Or Play Every Musical Instrument
People are often impressed by those who are multilingual–mainly because they can't imagine having the ability to communicate with others in different languages themselves.
Equally respected individuals are those who can play multiple musical instruments. Sure, playing the piano alone is impressive. But if a pianist can also play the bass and drums–essentially being their own one-person band–that is also a major wow factor.
So if you had the option to have the capacity for one or the other, which would it be?
That is the query Redditor MrJoelDude posed online, asking:
"Would you rather be the best at speaking every language or be the best at playing every instrument? Why?"
Things kicked off with wisecracks.
Musical Lingo
"does either skill require upkeep of any kind?"
"will these skills diminish if I don't keep them sharp?"
– dae_giovanni
As In "Be Flat"
"No they will Bb."
– wizecrafter
"Pack it up folks the comment section has been won."
– G-Mang
The Hits Keep Coming
"He's A natural."
– snakemaster77
"I C what you did there."
– Danysco
But, seriously, folks.
Here's what music lovers had to say.
An Introvert Responds
"Ooh, that's tough. Speaking every language would be so amazing, because you could communicate with literally anyone. You could talk to anyone on the whole planet, and I bet you could also get a fantastic, well-paid job with that skill."
"But I don't like people all that much. I'd find it much more personally satisfying to be able to be able to play any instrument. How amazing it would be, to be able to express myself with any instrument that exists. You could also be a musician and that would be way better for me than being an interpreter. So I'd have to go with that."
– IroniesOfPeace
Musical Dreamer
"As a professional translator with musical aspirations, this is one of the hardest questions for me. Obviously, the languages would make me the most useful person in the office and I'd be set for life, but being able to play every instrument has been a dream of mine since I was a kid and it would allow me to make all the music I've always wanted to but didn't know anyone with the right skills and interests."
– MrLuxarina
Solo Endeavor
"Instrument. I am scared of social interaction."
– Hannah_Halfblood
What Legends Are Made Of
"Also great to learn if you're highly social and want fans the world over. I don't think people realize the significance of this premise. You'd be the very best in the world at every musical instrument. Better than Hendrix, Page, Clapton, SRV, Chuck Berry, David Gilmour, Van Halen, Prince, Mark Knopfler etc. at the guitar."
"Better than Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Debussy, Thelonious Monk, Kieth Jarrett, Duke, Art Tatum, and every 9 year old prodigy ever at piano. Better than Miles at the trumpet and Coltrane at the sax. Better than Gene Krupa, Stewart Copeland, John Bonham, Danny Carey, Neil Peart, Buddy Rich, etc. at the drums. Better than Les Claypool, Jaco Pastorius, Mingus, Bootsy Collins, Wooten, Cliff Burton, Geddy Lee at the bass. All at the same time."
"You could easily make it as a studio or live session musician but if that musical ability came with a bit of songwriting/compositional talent/luck than you could release some of the greatest music ever. Nobody who has a legitimate discography of some of the greatest music ever remains a nobody for long—especially in the age of the internet."
"Obviously one could make an argument that songwriting ability matters far more than raw musicianship and that person would probably point to artists like The Beatles and Kurt Cobain who were far from the greatest musicians of their respective ages—or any age—but still managed to write timeless, classic, hit music, but raw musicianship can still go a long way in allowing one to manifest one's creativity."
– thebenetar
The art of language spoke to these Redditors.
Hear Me Roar
"Speak every language. I’ve always wanted to speak T-Rex."
– TannedCroissant
Ancient Manuscripts
"Language. If it's every language, it means I could speak dead languages and translate some of the oldest texts in the world. That would be super cool."
– Terradactyl87
The Benefits
"I am a world traveling professional musician. I can play a handful of instruments but I can only speak one language. To have access to a foreign language while abroad in say ,India where there many. Would be a super power. To sing to people in there own tounges everywhere I go would be a treasure to myself and my audience. The absolute hardest and most dangerous part about traveling the world is not knowing the language."
– GobNarley
Would Be Outta This World
"Every language because I would dress like C-3PO and mess with people."
– Complex49
Because I love to travel, I would prefer the ability to speak multiple languages.
But either way, the ability to speak different languages or play different instruments are great options.
Since communication has the powerful potential to bring people from different backgrounds together–whether through the universal appeal of music or through common language–it could greatly benefit much of humanity.