#1
Turns out, there was a family history of acute intermittent porphyria, which can in fact cause hallucinations with hormonal changes! So, in their family, hallucinations were a normal part of puberty!
#2
#3
I kinda thought she was being a little dramatic about the peppermint taste of the toothpaste until she straight up had angioedema before she even finished brushing. She had great dental hygiene though. It's [annoying] having to silently deal with something you don’t even know is a thing. We called her husband and sent him out to buy her some natural toothpaste and all was right again on the unit.
PsychoTricks explains an interesting phenomenon called the "normalcy bias," where people tend to downplay or ignore potential dangers, assuming that things will continue as they always have or that nothing is serious as they pose to be. However, they explain that his mindset can make people dismiss warnings or delay action during crises.
They also highlight that bias typically unfolds in three stages, which are denial, deliberation, and eventual action, but by the time people reach the final phase, it’s often too late to respond effectively. Essentially, normalcy bias prevents people from recognizing the seriousness of a threat until the consequences are unavoidable.
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#5
In my late 20s, I decided to start biking to work, and realized over an hour after sitting at my desk, I still couldn't take a deep breath without coughing, and I was hacking up multiple globs of mucus. Yeah, I have exercise-induced asthma. Hot+humid is best for my lungs, cold and dry is worst. So shoveling always made me want to die, but swimming in an indoor pool was absolutely fine. But now, I really am fat and out of shape lol.
#6
In this context, we can then see that patients or their parents may sincerely view concerning symptoms as harmless, but this is due to psychological and perceptual factors. According to Positive Reset, this happens when ordinary bodily sensations or mild discomforts are misread as non-serious, especially if past experiences with similar symptoms didn’t lead to major issues.
They note that limited health knowledge can also reinforce this false sense of reassurance. Since the body frequently produces sensations that feel unpleasant but aren’t dangerous, people may grow accustomed to overlooking them, mistakenly assuming that every unusual feeling is just part of their "normal."
#7
#8
I gently informed her that it was not all good and we discussed pelvic floor PT, which she was thrilled about!
#9
In fact, Stepcare emphasizes that downplaying symptoms as "normal" is a common thing in today's world, although not the best, as it can lead to delayed diagnosis and treatment. They further note commonly ignored symptoms like sudden confusion or personality changes, persistent fever lasting more than a week, unexplained bleeding or weight loss, and severe, sudden headaches.
They point out that other red flags, like frequent infections, slow healing, or noticeable changes in bowel or urinary habits, are often minimized as routine issues. And in the case of the OP, even rare conditions such as enzyme deficiencies affecting medication metabolism can go unnoticed when patients assume their reactions are typical.
#10
They were just floored that she was so calm.
#11
We mentioned to the hospitals in that system multiple times about the etomodate issue, but they would never note in his chart or on his allergy and reaction info. I was finally like “Well, if he beats the s**t out of you, don’t say we didn’t warn you.”.
#12
Still, as in the case of the OP, some patients are aware of the conditions and may choose to withhold important health information from doctors for a variety of reasons. The Pharmaceutical Journal notes that common factors include fear of judgment, embarrassment, being lectured, as well as a desire to maintain autonomy over their care.
Some patients may also avoid sharing details because they distrust the doctor’s attitude, want additional tests first, or believe the information is irrelevant. However, these behaviors can complicate diagnosis and treatment, highlighting the importance of trust and open communication in healthcare.
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#15
So this Scoutmaster comes in with an obvious comparatively recent median sternotomy scar and chest tube scars. I blinked, said to myself, Hmmm, I didn’t see that on his health form, and looked again. Nope, not there. So I asked, “Did you have open heart surgery?”
“Oh yeah, I had an aortic valve replacement after I saw him.” On cardiac meds, etc., etc., also not on health form …
And you didn’t think to mention this as potentially significant at camp? Oy.
At the heart of these stories, what seems "normal" to one person may not necessarily be. These anecdotes aren’t just entertaining; they also highlight the importance of paying attention, asking questions, and understanding context when it comes to health and medicine.
Some patients and families shrug off unusual reactions, others underestimate risks, and some simply don’t realize the significance of what they’re describing. Reading through these experiences is a reminder that perspective matters, and that what one person calls normal can be eye-opening, shocking, or downright dangerous.
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#18
poor kid though, must be rough if everything knocks you out for a thousand times longer because your body can't process it quickly.
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