Concerns About Escalating Symptoms
Hello everyone, I'm a 19-year-old female diagnosed with PCOS. Just a couple of days ago, I began using powder sachets to treat a urinary tract infection I developed. During that time, I spent around five hours traveling on various trains. Currently, I’m staying at my boyfriend's father's house, who has recently experienced a stomach virus. Now that the context is covered, let me share what I'm dealing with: I’m experiencing mucus-like diarrhea that has some lumps, persistent nausea, a diminished appetite, cramping in my abdomen, and chills, despite having a fever. I’m unsure what this situation indicates, but I have a history of urinary or kidney infections and have been on antibiotics since April for several issues, mainly recurrent thrush or yeast infections caused by the medications. Does anyone have suggestions or insights? I'm genuinely feeling unwell—it’s 3 AM here and sleep has eluded me. Additionally, I should mention that I’ve already taken paracetamol, so I can’t consume more at the moment.
Answers (1)

7/1/2025, 2:10:39 AM
OpenHealth AI
I'm sorry to hear that you're feeling unwell, especially after your travels and recent health challenges. Your symptoms, including diarrhea, nausea, abdominal cramping, fever, and chills, can indicate several issues, including a possible gastrointestinal infection, especially considering your recent exposure to someone with a stomach virus.
Key Points:
-
Possible Causes: The combination of your symptoms may suggest a stomach infection (viral or bacterial), especially after travel and considering the exposure to your boyfriend's father. Your ongoing issues with antibiotics and previous infections may also be affecting your gut health.
-
Immediate Actions:
- Hydration: It's crucial to stay hydrated, especially with diarrhea and fever. Drink clear fluids like water, broth, or oral rehydration solutions if available.
- Dietary Adjustments: If your appetite is low, focus on bland foods such as bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast (BRAT diet) when you feel ready to eat. Avoid dairy products, spicy foods, or anything high in fat until you feel better.
- Monitor Symptoms: Keep an eye on your symptoms. If you notice worsening diarrhea, severe abdominal pain, blood in stools, or if fever persists beyond 48 hours, you may need to seek more care.
Next Steps:
-
Symptom Tracking: Write down when symptoms occur and their severity; this will help you identify patterns and provide useful information if you need to consult a healthcare professional later.
-
Rest: Try to get as much rest as possible, even if sleep is difficult. Your body needs energy to recover.
-
Avoid Irritants: Steer clear of caffeine and alcohol, as they can worsen dehydration and exacerbate symptoms.
Please remember that these recommendations are based on general guidelines, and your health can vary. If symptoms escalate, do consider seeking medical attention. Take care, and I hope you feel better soon!
Related Questions
Injury from a Rusty Horseshoe Nail
I am a 24-year-old female. My current medications include: - Adderall 15mg extended-release - Zoloft 50mg - Slynd 4mg for birth control Three days ago, while working at a horse barn and removing nails from horseshoes, I unfortunately cut myself in two areas—my pinky and index finger. The cuts are minor, and there was only a small amount of bleeding. Although I haven't updated my tetanus vaccination booster, I want to know if there's still time to get it and if I should be concerned about the risk of tetanus. I did clean the wound about 15 minutes after the incident, as I didn’t notice it immediately. Do you think I should seek treatment at urgent care?
Unexpected CT Report After Equipment Malfunction
Recently, I faced a concerning issue with a mass I've dubbed "Fred" residing on my right hip. Approximately six months ago, I became aware of it when I began experiencing significant discomfort in that area, which made it impossible for me to lay on my side. A month back, I woke up to agonizing pain in my hip—rated around a 7 or 8. For context, breaking or dislocating my thumb gave me a 6 on that scale, with 10 being an arm severed. Fortunately, the pain subsided the next day, but now the pain is centered around the mass, while the hip joint itself feels only mildly uncomfortable. As I type, an unrelenting burning sensation persists, occasionally easing, although I still can't rest on that side without sharp discomfort. I suspect the pain stems from the tissue surrounding the mass rather than Fred itself. This mass is deep-set and likely rests just above the bone surface. Its visibility is apparent when glancing at my hip, presenting as a firm, immobile entity that appears to be enlarging. My general practitioner measured it to be about 17 x 9 cm, and in recent weeks, its positioning may have shifted, encircling the back of my hip bone, causing discomfort when sitting or leaning back. I had scheduled a CT scan for Friday. Following the administration of contrast after initial scans, the machine suddenly malfunctioned, creating a loud explosion-like noise before emitting a burning plastic odor and starting to smoke. The staff hastily disconnected me while alerting others about the incident, assuring me that results would arrive soon. Today, I finally received those results, which left me puzzled and frustrated. The report stated there was nothing present, which was disappointing; I was at least hoping for a diagnosis of lipoma over something more severe. Multiple physicians have examined and palpated the mass, and my GP expressed some concern about it (hence the nickname Fred for its mundane nature). If not for the CT mentioning my intrathecal pump, I’d question if the report belonged to someone else entirely. Although I saw that my reproductive organs were classified as normal, and it indicated an umbilical hernia, I underwent a total hysterectomy and don’t have any known hernia. Interestingly, previous scans typically include notes on other procedures, such as staples from my gallbladder removal, but those details were missing this time. It makes me wonder if they merely copied standard templates and omitted crucial information since they knew which area to analyze. If the CT machine truly malfunctioned, would they still provide the report? I am uncertain about what steps to take next. Could my physique have obscured the mass's visibility? Was the malfunction responsible for the lack of findings? Waiting months for this scan to yield no answers is disheartening. To complicate matters, I learned today that my GP has a family emergency and will be unavailable for two months. As I am enrolled in an HMO plan, I’m uncertain of how to proceed. The office advised visiting the emergency room, but I feel this situation isn't critical. Should I just wait for two months until my doctor returns? What actions should I consider in the meantime?
Seeking Clarity and Guidance
I am a 22-year-old male, standing at 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing 175 pounds. Recently, I had unprotected sexual intercourse with my girlfriend. The encounter was brief, lasting only about a minute, and I did not reach orgasm. This occurred on the 11th day of her 28-day menstrual cycle. The following day, she took the emergency contraceptive, Plan B. Shortly after taking it, she exhibited signs indicating it might be effective, such as feeling fatigued and experiencing light spotting. Before our sexual activity, I had urinated at least two hours earlier and hadn’t ejaculated for a minimum of ten hours prior to that. I realize that what we did was unwise, and while I’m aware there’s a possibility of pregnancy, I am primarily seeking a medical professional's insight into my specific circumstances. What do you believe the likelihood of pregnancy is in this instance? Thank you for your assistance.
Deeply Anxious About My Son's Possible Lymphoma Diagnosis
My son, who is only 10 years old, has been experiencing significantly swollen lymph nodes on the side of his neck for the past few months. Initially, our pediatrician dismissed it as unimportant, but since there has been no improvement, we consulted a pediatric ENT specialist. Today, he underwent an ultrasound, which revealed several swollen lymph nodes, the largest measuring 2.8 x 2.3 x 1.1 centimeters. The report indicated that some of these lymph nodes seem to have lost their normal echogenic medulla and might possess peripheral vascular supply. I haven’t had the opportunity to discuss these findings with his doctor yet, but I am hoping to connect with them tomorrow. I am overwhelmed with fear and uncertainty about what this could mean. Any guidance, thoughts, or suggestions on how I should proceed would be greatly valued at this time.
Concerns on Health Issues
**I’m a 19-year-old female and I’m feeling quite anxious.** For the past nine months, I’ve been experiencing pulsatile tinnitus in my left ear. It began in August 2024 and it's now June 2025. I consulted an ear, nose, and throat specialist early on and received a diagnosis of an ear infection; however, the pulsing noise hasn’t fully dissipated. On a slightly positive note, there has been some improvement. Previously, I could hear the whooshing sound that resembles a heartbeat even during minor movements like sitting up. This has mostly diminished, and I now only perceive it during intense physical activity or running. I've also been facing intermittent headaches, occurring several times each month, but nothing concerning until recently. About five days ago, I experienced a more intense headache situated above my forehead and on one side of my head. Initially, I attributed it to allergies since my right nostril was congested, corresponding with the side of the headache. However, even after the nasal blockage subsided, the headache persisted. Subsequently, when my *left* nostril became congested, the discomfort transferred to that side, leading me to suspect a sinus issue. What’s truly alarming is that one day I awoke with a sensation of pressure in my forehead akin to sinus congestion. I have experienced similar feelings before, back when I was 16, but now, it's accompanied by a strange tingling or crawling sensation on my scalp, almost as if something is lightly pressing or moving atop my head. This unsettling feeling is intermittent but quite distressing. My anxiety has escalated, leading me to worry obsessively about the possibility of brain cancer. After researching, I stumbled upon information suggesting that having symptoms for over nine months could indicate a tumor, which sent me into a tailspin of worry. To complicate matters, I recently watched a TikTok featuring a girl my age who tragically passed away from brain cancer, and since then, it’s been hard to shake off those thoughts. I would really appreciate hearing from anyone else around my age who has experienced similar symptoms and turned out alright. I am making an effort to remain calm, yet my anxiety is overwhelming. Could someone please share whether this sounds concerning, or if I am likely to be fine?