Is it safe to suddenly stop using Betnovate steroid cream after using it for a skin allergy, or should I gradually reduce the dosage before stopping altogether?

July 30th, 2024

I have noticed upper flank pain or spasm that occurs when my back is hot, and it subsides slightly with a cold patch. I also have a lower back problem with a bulging disk at L5. What could be causing this and what should I do?

December 19th, 2023

I have had soft and hard lumps on my abdomen for about a year, primarily on the sides. An ultrasound and CT scan were normal, but the lumps have grown and become painful. One is very hard, and the ones on the left side have been hurting a lot recently. The doctor initially thought they were lipomas, but they've grown and become painful since then. Could these lumps be cancerous?

July 22nd, 2024

I have been on a methadone program for about 9 years. About 5 years ago, I started experiencing episodes where I suddenly feel intense nausea and vomiting, followed by disorientation and dehydration symptoms. During these episodes, I can't take methadone and resort to snorting heroin, which I barely manage to do. The episodes last about 4 days and recur once or twice a year. I have been tested for physical issues like gallbladder problems but found no cause. My doctor won't treat me further if they know about my drug use, but I don't think it's withdrawal since I still take methadone during the episodes. What do you think could be causing these episodes?

February 6th, 2023

I am a 38-year-old with Crohn's disease, a colostomy bag, a history of opiate and heroin use, and I am a syringe user. I have regular blood checks for hepatitis C and HIV, all of which have been negative. Every morning, my feet and hands are swollen, a condition that has persisted for over 10 years. My GI doctor once prescribed water pills, but they had to be discontinued due to dehydration from my Crohn's disease. I recently spent 75 days in jail, where I was drug-free, yet the swelling continued. My hands swell more quickly in warmer weather, and even with minimal salt intake, the swelling persists. My hands are so swollen that I can't touch my pinky to my thumb, and sometimes my face also puffs up. I am not overweight, smoke cigarettes occasionally, and have good blood pressure, sometimes even on the low side. What could be causing my hands and feet to swell every morning until midday, and sometimes even at night?

October 24th, 2024