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Concerns Over Persistent Symptoms Following Vitex Discontinuation

• Age: 33 years • Gender: Female • Height: Approximately 5’2” • Weight: Around 100 lbs • Residence: USA • Smoking: No • Alcohol Consumption: No • Recreational Substance Use: No • Current Medication: None Hello everyone — I'm reaching out to see if anyone has faced anything similar to what I'm going through. For nearly 11 months, I was taking a daily dosage of 500 mg of Vitex. As I neared the end of that duration, I noticed some troubling side effects. I discontinued the use of Vitex six weeks ago, yet I'm still dealing with: • Difficulty sleeping, particularly waking up early between 4:30 and 6:00 AM with feelings of adrenaline rushing (this started after I stopped taking all supplements) • A sense of unease in the evenings without specific anxious thoughts, accompanied by adrenaline spikes between 5:00 and 8:00 PM (this began in November, prior to stopping everything) • Occasional awareness of my heartbeat or feelings of jitteriness • Experiences of brain fog and trouble maintaining focus • Intervals of emotional numbness • Symptoms that appear to change in relation to my menstrual cycle During this timeframe, I was also using 18 mg of Concerta on weekdays and 50 mg of adrenal cortex, with about nine months of overlap between those medications and Vitex. I ceased taking Concerta and adrenal cortex in early to mid-November, while I stopped Vitex at the end of December. I’m curious if there could have been any interactions between these treatments or if my body is undergoing a longer-term neuroendocrine adjustment as a result of the combination. Have any of you dealt with lingering issues after stopping Vitex? If so, can you share what your path to recovery was like? Honestly, I'm worried that I might have caused some permanent effects. I realize no one can provide certainties, but I'm trying to determine if this feels more like a temporary imbalance or something potentially serious. I would greatly appreciate any insights you can share!

InsomniaAnxietyDepression
Male25-34
16 minutes ago

Persistent Abdominal Discomfort for a Month

**Age:** 39 **Gender:** Female (She/Her) **Weight:** 180 lbs **Height:** 5’6” **Smoking Habits:** 6 cigarettes daily **Current Medications:** - Zoloft: 150 mg daily - Alprazolam: 0.5 mg nightly **Medical History:** - Complex PTSD - Panic and anxiety disorders - Diagnosed with PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) On January 13, I was prescribed progesterone to induce menstruation, as it had been several months since my last period. I am not using any form of birth control. My most recent menstrual cycle lasted around 8 days, accompanied by significant pain and intense bleeding. Following its conclusion, I felt brief relief, only to find that a new wave of pain began, predominantly on my right side. For a week, the discomfort persisted and escalated. Concerned, I contacted my OBGYN, who advised me to visit the emergency room. After another week of taking Advil with no improvement, I reached out to my doctor once more, only to receive a phone call canceling my appointment and reiterating the need to go to the ER. Upon my visit to the emergency room, they conducted a CT scan and an ultrasound. The results indicated that my appendix appeared normal, and I had cysts on the left side, but no other issues were identified. The medical staff suggested that it might be a muscle strain, although I was certain that was not the case. They ultimately stated there was nothing further they could offer. I had hoped that the reassuring results would lead to alleviation of my pain, but if anything, it has intensified. I reached out again to my OBGYN office, where I was told that the doctors were away on vacation, just as I had been informed the previous week. I was once again advised to seek help at the ER. I feel like I am being tossed around with no consideration given to my plight. I ended up in tears during a call because my pain has impeded my ability to walk. Despite my distress, it seems no one has taken meaningful action to assist me. This echoes my previous experiences last year when, after suffering a traumatic event, I was met with insensitivity and inappropriate questioning, particularly from women in the medical field, which added to my sense of trauma and neglect.

Joint PainAbdominal PainMuscle Pain
Male25-34
16 minutes ago

Inquiry Regarding Ectopic Heartbeats

I’m a 36-year-old male, standing 6 feet tall and weighing approximately 270 pounds, of Caucasian descent. Last year, I received a diagnosis of ectopic heartbeats following a long history of unusual flutters and occasional skipped beats, which occurred sporadically—from several incidents each day to as infrequently as once a month. However, two days ago, I awakened at 6 a.m. to experience these episodes occurring roughly every 10 seconds. After just a few minutes of this, my heart rate surged and began to thump forcefully. Overwhelmed with anxiety, particularly with my three young children at home alone with me, I called for emergency assistance. While waiting for the ambulance, my heart rate normalized, but the frequency of the skipped beats persisted, continuing throughout the day. Upon arrival at the hospital, I underwent a chest X-ray, had blood tests conducted twice, and an ECG was performed. All results appeared normal. A doctor informed me that there were no skipped beats detected in the ECG during my ambulance transport, despite my observation and the paramedic's acknowledgment of their presence. Ultimately, I was discharged from the Same Day Emergency Care unit, and it was explained that an echocardiogram would be scheduled to ensure no heart damage had occurred. However, they attributed my symptoms to benign ectopic beats. Since my discharge, I've experienced fluctuations in sensations; at times, the occurrences have abated completely for several hours, while other times they become frequent again—ranging from once every few seconds to approximately once per minute. This situation is causing me growing concern, as the sensation is deeply unsettling. It’s been approximately four hours now, and I’ve also noticed that I become easily winded without engaging in any physical activity. I’m seeking your thoughts: do you find the actions taken by the hospital and my general practitioners to be satisfactory? Should I consider advocating for additional investigations, or is there reason to feel reassured? Thank you for your guidance.

NumbnessConcussionNeurology
Male25-34
16 minutes ago

Chronic Vulval Boils: A Struggle with Discomfort

**About Me:** - **Age:** 28 - **Gender:** Female - **Health Background:** I have a history of persistent migraines, recurring urinary tract infections (UTIs), hypermobility spectrum disorder, eczema, piriformis syndrome, and pelvic floor dysfunction. - **Current Medications:** I take Galcenzumab (Emgality), Candesartan, Pizotifen, Methenamine Hippurate, and Desogestrel. - **Supplements:** My regimen includes D-Mannose, magnesium glycinate, coenzyme Q10, riboflavin, cod liver oil, a multivitamin containing iron, vitamin D, and folic acid. - **Weight:** 78 kg - **Height:** 164 cm - **BMI:** 29 - **Issue Duration:** Over 2 years For a couple of years, I've been experiencing painful boils on my vulval area. These painful bumps arise on the labia majora (the hairy part) and the labia minora or the creases in between (the hairless area). Typically, I’ll develop 1 or 2 at once, beginning as an itchy patch that transforms into a tender red lump over 2 to 3 days. They persist for another few days, eventually bursting and discharging pus, and typically take about 2 to 5 days to heal after that, resulting in a total duration of nearly two weeks from the initial itch to complete recovery. Earlier, I would only encounter one boil every 3 to 4 months. However, lately, these have been occurring frequently back-to-back without much reprieve, leading to significant discomfort. This has notably impacted my intimate life due to their contagious nature. Occasionally, I also have boils appearing in my hairline at the nape of my neck, although these occurrences are less frequent and far less painful. Two years ago, a visit to my general practitioner led to a prescription of lymecycline for three months, which successfully cleared the infections during that period, but they returned shortly afterward. About a year ago, I attempted a decolonization protocol using a chlorhexidine wash, which provided relief for approximately 3 to 4 months, but now the frequency of the boils has escalated, with shorter intervals between outbreaks. I regularly cleanse the vulval area with chlorhexidine every other day to stave off new infections, but so far, this approach hasn't yielded effective results. I avoid shaving, opting instead to trim the hair in that region. I share my home with my husband and two cats. Interestingly, my husband also experiences similar boils around his hips and buttocks from time to time. We noted an improvement when using the chlorhexidine wash, although he currently has a few spots again. As for my professional life, I work in healthcare and occasionally care for my mother, who is a known carrier of resistant strains of carbapenem and methicillin bacteria. It’s likely that I acquired this issue through exposure at work or close contact with her. Despite my efforts to lose weight and maintain good hygiene, I’m still grappling with this problem. **My Questions:** - Based on my experiences, could this condition be recurrent Staphylococcus aureus infections, or is it more likely something like hidradenitis? - Are there specific tests, such as blood work or swabs, that would be beneficial in diagnosing my issue? - What management strategies would you recommend? Should my husband and I consider a more intensive eradication treatment (such as chlorhexidine combined with nasally applied cream), or is there an alternative solution? - How can I effectively eliminate Staphylococcus from my living environment? I have concerns that my home may be contaminated, increasing the risk of re-infection. Thank you for your assistance!

ArthritisInternal MedicineRheumatology
Male25-34
26 minutes ago

Understanding My MRI Results

In September, I sustained a mild knee injury, which prompted me to seek an MRI after my condition failed to improve. As a 20-year-old who is quite active, even a pain level of approximately 3 makes me anxious about its long-term effects on my lifestyle. I've consulted various online sources regarding my findings, and they seem to depict a dire situation; however, since the discomfort is manageable, I wonder if I am misinterpreting the details. Below is what I received from the radiology report: **BACKGROUND:** 20-year-old dancer experiencing several months of ongoing pain in the right anterior knee. **COMPARISON:** Previous X-rays dated January 20, 2026. **MRI SEQUENCES:** The knee was examined using a multiplanar, multisequence MRI adhering to a 3D protocol. **FINDINGS:** - **MEDIAL MENISCUS:** A horizontal signal is visible through the posterior root, spreading to the medial and posterior free edges. No extension onto the articular surface is seen. - **LATERAL MENISCUS:** There is no indication of tears or degeneration. - **ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT:** No tears detected. - **POSTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT:** Appears normal. - **MEDIAL COLLATERAL LIGAMENT:** Normal state. - **LATERAL COLLATERAL COMPLEX:** Normal intactness. - **EXTENSOR MECHANISM:** The quadriceps and patellar tendons are normal. - **BONE AND CARTILAGE:** - *Medial femorotibial compartment:* Exhibits mild chondral fraying and variation in structure. - *Lateral femorotibial compartment:* Shows minimal chondral fraying and structural differences. - *Patellofemoral compartment:* Manifests a shallow trochlear groove with a hypoplastic medial trochlear facet approximately 2.8-3 cm above the joint area. Mild fraying and fissures of the cartilage are present, along with a possible early osteophyte on the medial trochlear facet. The TT TG distance is within accepted parameters. - **OTHER:** No intraarticular bodies. - **FLUID:** No notable joint effusion. A minimal Baker's cyst measured at 2 mm in thickness. **SUMMARY:** - No clear acute abnormalities are present. - Possible patellar maltracking. - The increased signal in the medial meniscus, not reaching the articular surface, might indicate the aftereffects of a previous nondisplaced tear. - Signs of early degenerative changes across all compartments for someone of my age. I’m primarily anxious regarding the mention of "tricompartmental degenerative changes" and the "horizontal signal" in the medial meniscus. Online resources suggest I might have arthritis and a meniscal tear. Is this interpretation correct? Additionally, it's worth noting that I possess hypermobility, so I was aware that my joints might not be considered the strongest going into these examinations.

AsthmaArthritisInternal Medicine
Male25-34
26 minutes ago