asksrandomstuff

What were your earliest symptoms where you felt something was amiss? What made you decide to go visit the doctor? How long did it take the doctors to diagnose Acute Myeloid Leukemia?

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I hope you get better and are able to pursue your dreams! BTW, don't hesitate to ask people to wash/sanitize their hands, especially when you are at high risk for infection.

Thanks for your reply. It's unfortunate that it took 4 months for your official diagnosis, especially with cancer!

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I think some clinicians can be too dead set on finding common diagnoses instead of zebras) and would rather get the evidence to fit their preconceived conclusion. It is important for them to take a step back, look at the big picture, and reconsider their assessment, especially when you were getting worse despite following their treatment plan.

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Thank goodness you persisted in trying to figure out what was actually going on. I definitely agree with you doing this IAmA, and as you said in your original post, letting people your age know that they do have a voice!

Space headaches sound terrible. I can't imagine trying to work through that.

That's interesting. I wonder if gravity in addition to body posture may play a significant role in the glymphatic transport.

Speaking of gut microbiomes, are astronauts screened for pathogens before flight? It would be a nightmare trying to disinfect the ISS for C. difficile.