Nobody likes getting sick. Whether it’s the seasonal flu or something way more serious and dangerous, there’s a reason people say that good health is everything. But some health crises are so bad that people almost wish they were knocking on heaven’s door.
Some people say that passing kidney stones is more painful than childbirth and thus the worst sickness a person can get. Others claim that there’s nothing worse and more debilitating than chemo destroying your body together with the cancer cells.
There’s no point in playing health crisis Olympics, but some people sure have gone through terrifying experiences regarding their health more than others. In a recent online thread, folks started sharing their worst medical emergencies after one netizen asked, “What's the sickest you've ever been in your life?” From mysterious illnesses and C. diff to serious infections and spinal fluid leaks, these people are sure lucky to have made it out alive.
#21
12 months ago I had a cerebral spinal fluid leak (csf leak). Basically I had brain juice leaking out of my brain lining that just happened to find a defect in my sinus bone and escape out through my nose! I didnt think anything of it at first, but after a few months of water stuff dribbling out of my nose, increased headaches and sometimes vomiting in the morning I ended up in ed. My brain was very unhappy not being adequately suspended in fluid. Had to be on some hard o*****s until they could do surgery. The pain k***ers took my pain from an 8 out of 10 down to a 6 at best. Then they removed the front of my skull to repair the leak and the sinus and put it all back together. 6 month recovery! Not much fun.
17points
#22
A while back in 2018, I cut myself shaving and some shaving cream got into the wound. About half an hour later I ate a banana. Earlier that same day I'd eaten a cheese pizza that tasted a bit off, I chalked it up to "natural flavor" and didn't think much of it.
The next morning I woke up with an unexplainable burning in my stomach, something I'd never felt before. I tried to eat breakfast but couldn't; my stomach felt way too tight. Even coffee was off the table. Any more than a small sip of water and I felt bloated. A few hours later I started feeling a mild internal burning sensation on my skin too.
Week 1: Felt like this every day. Ate almost nothing, just water. Caffeine withdrawal gave me brutal headaches on top of everything else.
Week 2: Started eating again, roughly 600 calories/day. The burning finally stopped and I could handle coffee again, but my stomach still felt small and tight.
Week 3: Started to feel more normal, but had zero appetite — capped around 1000 calories or less. My body would only tolerate carbs and soups: white bread, rice crackers, chicken soup, on repeat.
Week 4: Felt fine. Weighed myself 78kg. A month earlier I'd been 93kg. Technically "achieved" a weight loss goal, but not exactly the way I'd have chosen. Gained back about 5kg pretty quickly once I started eating normally again.
To this day I have no idea what actually caused it. I looked into it a bit and listeria crossed my mind, but I never got it diagnosed. Curious if anyone's experienced something similar.
The next morning I woke up with an unexplainable burning in my stomach, something I'd never felt before. I tried to eat breakfast but couldn't; my stomach felt way too tight. Even coffee was off the table. Any more than a small sip of water and I felt bloated. A few hours later I started feeling a mild internal burning sensation on my skin too.
Week 1: Felt like this every day. Ate almost nothing, just water. Caffeine withdrawal gave me brutal headaches on top of everything else.
Week 2: Started eating again, roughly 600 calories/day. The burning finally stopped and I could handle coffee again, but my stomach still felt small and tight.
Week 3: Started to feel more normal, but had zero appetite — capped around 1000 calories or less. My body would only tolerate carbs and soups: white bread, rice crackers, chicken soup, on repeat.
Week 4: Felt fine. Weighed myself 78kg. A month earlier I'd been 93kg. Technically "achieved" a weight loss goal, but not exactly the way I'd have chosen. Gained back about 5kg pretty quickly once I started eating normally again.
To this day I have no idea what actually caused it. I looked into it a bit and listeria crossed my mind, but I never got it diagnosed. Curious if anyone's experienced something similar.
17points
#23
I was a child in the late 1990s and my physician parents were working in Southeast Asia. I managed to catch dengue and malaria simultaneously.
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16points
#24
When I was 12 I my appendix almost burst. I spent 2 days in extreme agony because my father thought I was exaggerating. Doctors told me I was very close to having a severe infection since it was so close to rupturing when they took it out.
16points
#25
Two times: I got covid in December 2019 before it was a big deal, I had a 3 day fever, hallucinated, sweated profusely through my sheets and comforter and had a continued upper respiratory infection for over a month and a half.
Then I had my gallbladder become infected in September 2020, and had the worst pain I've ever had in my life. Fever, abdomen pain and shivers. Barely slept for a few days. Then i had my surgery and found out I'm allergic to betadyne, the antiseptic, after an additional week long stay in the hospital to figure out what caused my rash.
Then I had my gallbladder become infected in September 2020, and had the worst pain I've ever had in my life. Fever, abdomen pain and shivers. Barely slept for a few days. Then i had my surgery and found out I'm allergic to betadyne, the antiseptic, after an additional week long stay in the hospital to figure out what caused my rash.
16points
#26
March 2025...went to urgent care b/c I thought I had strep. Tested positive for the flu. Told me to go home, rest, & drink lots of fluids. Went back 3 days later b/c I was unable to swallow anything except water due to the pain. They told me I was sick and wasn't going to feel better quickly. 🤔 Went to the ER 3 nights later at like 3 AM...it was that or drive off a bridge. They gave me "magic mouthwash" which allowed me to eat soupy mashed potatoes & chicken broth and get relief from the pain. Ended up being referred to an ENT and discovered I had a virus which was causing me to have throat ulcers. As part of the discovery process, I even had a gland biopsy from my neck b/c one of the tests they ran indicates it could be cancer. I was sick March through the beginning of May. It was the worst I have ever felt and wouldn't wish it on anyone...even my enemies. Fun fact...the $1700 ER bill was totally worth it b/c of that d**n magic mouthwash. It was literally a lifesaver b//c the pain made me want to d*e.
16points
#27
I was 14, 5’6”, and 89 lbs from Crohn’s. Finished the last couple months of my freshman year drinking Vivonex because I refused to go to school with a feeding tube in my nose and with a tube in my side because one of the abscesses needed to be drained several times a day. The fluid from said abscess burned like fire. Had surgery the day after school let out. I really, really, really didn’t want to repeat freshman year.
16points
#28
First time getting COVID.
My cousin travels for work. She went near wuhan. Came back extremely sick and infected the extended family at an event shortly after. This was several weeks before it was really even being talked about much.
My wife was sick and went to the hospital for dehydration. I was by myself.
I s**t the bed. Not terribly bad, more like a shart. Anyway I couldn't get up so I laid it on helplessly for several hours until I could get up and change sheets plus shower.
I was probably a lot closer to d***h than I realized to be honest.
My cousin travels for work. She went near wuhan. Came back extremely sick and infected the extended family at an event shortly after. This was several weeks before it was really even being talked about much.
My wife was sick and went to the hospital for dehydration. I was by myself.
I s**t the bed. Not terribly bad, more like a shart. Anyway I couldn't get up so I laid it on helplessly for several hours until I could get up and change sheets plus shower.
I was probably a lot closer to d***h than I realized to be honest.
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16points
#29
I (35f) went on a Carnival Cruise and contracted Typhoid Fever while in Cozumel over Christmas 2019 - new year 2020.
I got out of work for 3 months, then went back for 4 days and Covid shut everything down. Loved the cruise; would absolutely cruise again.
I got out of work for 3 months, then went back for 4 days and Covid shut everything down. Loved the cruise; would absolutely cruise again.
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15points
#30
When I got shingles on my face and scalp at 27 years old. 2 months of hell.
I would give birth unmedicated 10x over again before I ever dealt with shingles again. I CANNOT imagine dealing with it in my 60s, 70s or 80s with how bad it was when I was in my 20s.
I would give birth unmedicated 10x over again before I ever dealt with shingles again. I CANNOT imagine dealing with it in my 60s, 70s or 80s with how bad it was when I was in my 20s.
15points
#31
Appendicitis in 2010, I was 23. I started going into shock in the ER, my lips turned blue. The doctor came in and took my blood pressure and it was 60/30, he said he didn't even know how I was still conscious and that I should be in cardiac arrest. What a comfort. Spent three days in the hospital and missed a music festival I was really looking forward to.
15points
#32
Ovarian torsion with secondary sepsis. That was next level pain and I was hospitalized for days. Has transfusions too.
The next worst was probably a bout of Noravirus I got two years ago. It was so bad I was dry heaving every 5 min for 8hrs straight. I remember it feeling like every muscle in my body was on fire. I finally passed out (on the toilet of course 🫠) and my heart rate shot to 160bpm and wouldn’t come down. A family member rushed me to the hospital and I don’t remember any of it. Two liters of fluids were bolused and I awoke like magic. I got very low blood pressure and could have d**d from dehydration. I stayed about a day in the hospital, then was discharged. I was still occasionally vomiting for the next 24hrs.
I had heard stories of people d**ng from Noravirus and always thought it was old people or kids. I’m a healthy adult and it kicked my a*s.
The next worst was probably a bout of Noravirus I got two years ago. It was so bad I was dry heaving every 5 min for 8hrs straight. I remember it feeling like every muscle in my body was on fire. I finally passed out (on the toilet of course 🫠) and my heart rate shot to 160bpm and wouldn’t come down. A family member rushed me to the hospital and I don’t remember any of it. Two liters of fluids were bolused and I awoke like magic. I got very low blood pressure and could have d**d from dehydration. I stayed about a day in the hospital, then was discharged. I was still occasionally vomiting for the next 24hrs.
I had heard stories of people d**ng from Noravirus and always thought it was old people or kids. I’m a healthy adult and it kicked my a*s.
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15points
#33
AFib after open heart surgery. Felt like s**t but I was also thinking "well, I had open heart surgery two weeks ago, I'm supposed to feel like s**t".
Went to the hospital after my watch finally picked up the AFib, they reset my heart, and I walked out of the hospital feeling a million times better and asked my wife if we could stop somewhere on the way back for something to eat.
Went to the hospital after my watch finally picked up the AFib, they reset my heart, and I walked out of the hospital feeling a million times better and asked my wife if we could stop somewhere on the way back for something to eat.
15points
#34
It's not *sick" per se, but right this second I have what my doctor thinks is [Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo](https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/vertigo/symptoms-causes/syc-20370055).
You know that feeling when you had a few shots too many, you finally lay down in bed, and the room just spins? That's about how I've felt for the past eight days.
The first few days were the worst. It really kicked in Thursday afternoon where I had to get in bed at 4:00 PM because I couldn't do *anything* without throwing up or falling over. Aside from an hour and a half either vomiting or kneeling next to the toilet about to vomit Friday morning followed by about an hour at the Doc-In-A-Box, I spent less than 10 minutes not lying flat on my back over the next three days (basically just quick trips to p*e). It was basically me either trying to sleep or listening (not watching) YouTube via my phone.
With medication, I've been getting slowly better. The past couple of days I've been able to sit upright (with my chair reclined and a pillow to keep my head steady) for growing periods of time (hence how I can answer this).
But even with d***s, the slightest movement sends my head spinning. Walking feels like my head is on a 10' pole with how every movement makes me sway and stumble.
But it's *exhausting*, I'm probably about to go collapse back in bed because it's tiring being DUI levels of dizzy all the time and if it weren't for the medication, I'd be throwing up every time I tried to move. And I probably have another week or so of this before. Assuming it goes away, otherwise it's MRI time.
You know that feeling when you had a few shots too many, you finally lay down in bed, and the room just spins? That's about how I've felt for the past eight days.
The first few days were the worst. It really kicked in Thursday afternoon where I had to get in bed at 4:00 PM because I couldn't do *anything* without throwing up or falling over. Aside from an hour and a half either vomiting or kneeling next to the toilet about to vomit Friday morning followed by about an hour at the Doc-In-A-Box, I spent less than 10 minutes not lying flat on my back over the next three days (basically just quick trips to p*e). It was basically me either trying to sleep or listening (not watching) YouTube via my phone.
With medication, I've been getting slowly better. The past couple of days I've been able to sit upright (with my chair reclined and a pillow to keep my head steady) for growing periods of time (hence how I can answer this).
But even with d***s, the slightest movement sends my head spinning. Walking feels like my head is on a 10' pole with how every movement makes me sway and stumble.
But it's *exhausting*, I'm probably about to go collapse back in bed because it's tiring being DUI levels of dizzy all the time and if it weren't for the medication, I'd be throwing up every time I tried to move. And I probably have another week or so of this before. Assuming it goes away, otherwise it's MRI time.
15points
#35
I had the OG Covid, SARS, in 2004 and had to have back to back lung surgeries. I was 4. Tubes in my side draining my lungs. 2020 felt like an attack from your biggest enemy…from beyond the grave.
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14points
#36
Second pregnancy, I had hyperemesis gravidarum. Throwing up every day several times a day, constant nausea, stuck in bed for months. At it’s worst I became dehydrated and had to go to the hospital because I couldn’t keep anything down. Worst 9 months of my life that resulted in one of the best things of my life lol.
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14points
#37
COVID at Christmastime 2022. Everyone in my house had it. AND I WAS TWICE VACCINATED…
For me, a 102.6 temperature and blood pressure sustained around 195/125. Pulse ox got as low as 91. Two weeks of coughing up thick mucus the color of butternut squash.
It’s possible I might not still be here if I hadn’t been double vaxxed.
For me, a 102.6 temperature and blood pressure sustained around 195/125. Pulse ox got as low as 91. Two weeks of coughing up thick mucus the color of butternut squash.
It’s possible I might not still be here if I hadn’t been double vaxxed.
14points
#38
I got an E. coli infection in the hospital while having my second baby. I was re-admitted with 105 degree fever. 9 IV antibiotics and a week later I got to go home to a two week old, a two year old, and a husband who worked contract and had no time off. I honestly don’t remember much.
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14points
#39
I got the flu in the early 2000s. I thought I was going to d*e. I just laid in bed and fell asleep from pure exhaustion. My sister made me some soup and I didn’t have energy to even drink it. I just woke up one day and got a little stronger but it took probably 3 weeks of surviving before I could eat and drink normally.
13points
#40
Advanced Lyme disease. I never got the bullseye warning and was later misdiagnosed. I never understood what exhaustion was until then, the arthritis was insanely painful from my shoulders to my ankles, and my temperature would hit 103 and then plunge down to 95. Oh, and the delirium in the middle of the night was wild.
13points