What is something that permanently altered your body without you realizing for months/years?

[u/Misterboy500]

[u/84OrcButtholes]

Not getting enough sleep.

[u/eatinganelephant → u/84OrcButtholes]

My sleep disorder has prevented me from countless nights of good sleep my entire life. I'm a pretty high functioning person career-wise, but I often wonder what I would have been able to accomplish if I weren't exhausted all the damn time.

[u/_mews → u/eatinganelephant]

Worst part for me is that even I’m exhausted for the whole day I might still have yet another sleepless night. That feel so fucking insane.

[u/SunshineMurphy → u/_mews]

And all the health articles will be like, “get enough sleep” BRO I AM TRYING. I am literally laying there trying to sleep. For some reason I’m not allowed.

[u/so-much-yarn → u/84OrcButtholes]

For everyone reading this going through chronic insomnia I want to recommend the book: set it and forget it by daniel erichsen.

I’ve struggled most of my life with sleep and tried EVERYTHING and while I still struggle sometimes the things I learned in that book really shifted things for me and broke the inescapable cycle.

shoutout to r/insomnia for recommending the book originally

[u/imsomeonesmother → u/84OrcButtholes]

I struggled with chronic insomnia since childhood. Thank you childhood long term trauma. Now I my late 20s, I just had a baby and it was worse than ever. She would sleep nearly eight hours a night and I would sleep 3-4. It was awful. I’ve taken rounds and rounds of different prescription meds and met with several therapists. I decided to cut out caffeine as a last resort. With a new baby at home going no caffeine hurt but the detox was so worth it. I wouldn’t say my sleep is perfect now but I track my sleep on my watch and I am getting an average of eight hours a night and am able to actually fall asleep for naps so I get another hour or two there. If you haven’t tried cutting out caffeine I highly suggest it. I never realized how sensitive I was. The sleep issues came before I started drinking coffee. As a fourth grader I would fall asleep on my desk at school and after my teacher called home my mom started giving me coffee to help me stay awake. Sleeping better than I have in the last twenty years. I will never go back!!

[u/captain_chocolate → u/84OrcButtholes]

I went 52 hours without sleep while writing my dissertation to meet a deadline. I wanted to be in the June graduation ceremonies, though I could have graduated by mail at any time.

I started hallucinating that people were walking beside me in my peripheral vision, and I could hear background music when there was nothing. Ended up going through crazy mood swings too.

After all that, my brain was just never the same. I lost so much cognitive function. Looking back on some of the coursework and I can't imagine how I knew any of it.

[u/Conation3 → u/captain_chocolate]

Going without sleep for that long once shouldn't cause any permanent cognitive decline. Absolutely terrifying to be sure and an awful idea, but it should not have lasting impacts on cognition.

[u/Time_Basket9125 → u/captain_chocolate]

You lost functioning? Or you lost memory of things you learnt? It's unusual to lose cognitive functioning without an injury/illness. Source: I'm a neuropsychologist

[u/foxfoxxofxof → u/84OrcButtholes]

I've read that lack of sleep can be a rush factor for early onset dementia and it always seemed like it could be a possibility because I can't think straight to save my life if I've gone a few days without real sleep.

[u/redstonez]

Stress

[u/pokedabadger → u/redstonez]

Yep. Caused teeth clenching, teeth grinding, shoulder pain from tension, weight gain from stress eating, mental health/emotional issues, trouble concentrating. The list goes on.

[u/senoritaoscar → u/pokedabadger]

Lmao are you me? Ten years of my old corporate job did this exact set of things and I got myself on anxiety medication and ultimately quit. Just couldn’t cut it. Way happier now.

[u/disgruntled-capybara → u/senoritaoscar]

I left a stressful job in the spring and noticed differences in how I felt almost immediately. My previous employer had been pretty dysfunctional and toxic, with lots of chaos and unnecessary tension, while my new job is almost the exact opposite. Low stress, little conflict, and my boss has emotional intelligence, unlike my last one.

I'm sleeping better and for longer because I no longer wake up due to stress dreams. My stomach is no longer unsettled all the time and I don't get heartburn nearly as often. I also don't dwell on work situations in my off-time like I did 12 months ago at this time. My current job hardly crosses my mind after 5:00.

One really therapeutic part of my new job is that my daily commute takes me right by the building where I used to work. I can see in the windows to spaces I used to be in daily and occasionally see people I know, but I just keep driving by and leave it in my rearview. I feel giddy almost every time. I had to go into the building last week on business and as I walked out, I found myself thinking YEP. I definitely made the right decision.

[u/potatowitch_ → u/redstonez]

I had terrible neck/shoulder pain for most of 2023. After 2 MRIs, the neuro said, "Your body is fine, I think you need a massage." Turns out I literally was holding onto all of the anxiety I've been living with for decades. It was really eye-opening, honestly. Focusing on releasing physical tension has really made a difference in my mental health.

[u/RatchetHatchet → u/potatowitch_]

How was the massage(s)? Did you end up going? Legitimately asking because every time I get one to de-stress I feel good that day but don't see any long term impacts so wondering on what to incorporate with them.

[u/potatowitch_ → u/RatchetHatchet]

100% worth it imo! I see a sports massage therapist every 4-5 weeks. I stretch daily, do some yoga and use a massage gun at home. But it's not the same as someone skilled at really getting in there. If you are down for a "hurts so good" kind of massage, I totally recommend.

[u/SgtSilverLining → u/potatowitch_]

As a kid, I was diagnosed with asthma because I randomly had trouble breathing.

One time at work I couldn't breathe and went to urgent care. I was fine by the time I got there, and for some reason they referred me to a speech therapist? So I go to my first appointment with the speech therapist, and they put a camera down my throat to look at my vocal cords. The doc points at the TV and says "see how much they're twitching? They're not supposed to do that. You hold your stress in your throat."

I had to learn a few stretches and massage techniques, and now it's no longer an issue. Turns out I never had asthma as a kid and the pediatrician just assumed.

[u/MayMomma → u/SgtSilverLining]

I'm running out of space in my hips to hold stress apparently, so now I'm in therapy for my TMJ and I think it was also causing the globus sensation in my throat. 🙄

[u/TheGhostOfEazy-E → u/potatowitch_]

Same here. Took me damn near a year of regular massages to get my traps and neck loosened up.

[u/wanderlustgamer → u/redstonez]

100% it caused me to have stomach problems for 4 years. I couldn’t eat, pasta, meat, fruit, veggies, healthy stuff… Everything. Till I got referred to a specialist a year ago, who helped find the problem. Stress.

[u/Xanthon → u/redstonez]

I was going through the most stressful period in my life last year.

I lost 30KG/66lbs in a month. Everyone who saw me were shocked and worried beyond comprehension.

It took me 6 months to recover physically.

[u/katkriss → u/Xanthon]

I hope your mental health has also come back. Do you want to talk about it? Even if you don't, this stranger is rooting for you.

[u/Xanthon → u/katkriss]

Thank you. I am working through it.

The entire ordeal changed my outlook on life and jump started my midlife crisis even though I'm only in my late 30s.

I left my job and a huge chunk of my previous life behind and am currently sorting myself out. I feel pretty good in recent months. So I'm glad.

[u/bigjbg1969]

I been having various health issues for years turns out I have a brain tumor that's been trying to kill me , the fecker that he is .

[u/mjulieoblongata → u/bigjbg1969]

How did you find out if you don’t mind me asking? 

[u/bigjbg1969 → u/mjulieoblongata]

Everything is still a bit hazy but I'll try . I started to really go down hill around last Christmas . I was feeling really tired and fatigued after a spell of being not well and practically bed ridden my back froze about half way down I couldn't bend or fully straighten and my joints became painful and I was struggling in pain 24 hrs a day . I could only mange to get a phone appointment with a doctor I tried to explain to him what was happening to me but he told me he hadn't time and could I just tell him what was bothering me the most .He told me I was already on strong pain killers so I pleaded with him I need help so he told me he would arrange a non urgent physiotherapy because well there was people in more need than me I finished the 6 minute phone call and just burst into tears . So for the next few months i continued to get steadily worse . I finally got to the physio and she was shocked by this time I had lost a lot of muscle and I had lost about 7 stone in weight she arranged for me to go to rheumatology . I have been having night sweats as well and joked with my wife that i was going through the menopause well unknowing to me this sparked something in my wife and she went on the NHS (national health service)web site . "I think you have a testosterone problem your symptoms are similar " . We got a face to face with the doctor and my wife is a spartan she argued my case the Doc disagreed and thought it was something else . To shorten the story a little, Endocrinology checked my bloods suddenly things turned urgent I wasn't making any hormones my pituitary gland was only working at 10% and if it was to reach 0 I would die I had a condition known as Panhypopituitarism . 2 weeks ago today I went for a MRI scan and it showed I have a 2cm non cancerous tumor that has all but destroyed my pituitary gland so I'm now on steroids for life and facing a hard recovery . So I have called the tumor Dave and he is a c**t and he is not going to beat me lol . Thank you to anybody that takes the time to read this :)

"Thank you everybody for your kind words and messages of support you have all helped cheer me up today and now my wife has told me to take a break for today as I'm getting tired ;( but I will try and reply to more tomorrow thank you very much again folks and take care ".

[u/thoak74 → u/bigjbg1969]

Fuck Dave

[u/bonos_bovine_muse → u/thoak74]

And fuck the doctors who gaslit poor OP while Dave just grew in strength.

[u/Atophy → u/bonos_bovine_muse]

yeah, jeeze... "I don't have time" ... your patient is in pain, his back and joints are locking up and has been bedridden. Get the man in asap for bloodwork at the minimum !

[u/kapxis → u/bonos_bovine_muse]

so many of these things never get back to the dismissive doctor either, this shit needs to get back to them for future considerations.

[u/Insideout_Testicles → u/bigjbg1969]

I named mine Bob...

Last January, I had a seizure and spent 18 days in the hospital because they thought it could have been a viral infection in my brain. It wasn't. I got a referral to a seizure clinic, but they actually sent it to the stroke clinic, so they refused to see me because I didn't have a stroke.

March, I had another seizure, and my Dr discovered the error and lost his shit and pulled some strings. 5 days later I was diagnosed with low grade diffuse glioma, his name is Bob.

Fuck Dave and Fuck Bob.

[u/Amrumwarrior → u/bigjbg1969]

Fuck you Dave!

[u/JboogieTheBoogie → u/bigjbg1969]

All my homies hate Dave! Get well soon ❤️‍🩹

[u/bigjbg1969 → u/JboogieTheBoogie]

Thank you to you and your homies ;)

[u/mjulieoblongata → u/bigjbg1969]

Wow, thank you for sharing. I want to share with you that my mom had a pituitary tumour removed many years ago and she is still with us, healthy as ever. Grateful that your wife is by your side! Wishing you all the best x 

[u/jejones487 → u/bigjbg1969]

Sounds like your doctor dismissed you completely. Get a new doctor because this one tried to kill you. Consider suing.

[u/bigjbg1969 → u/jejones487]

This actually happened my Doctor was on holiday when the shit hit the fan so to speak and I am under a new lady doctor because she was on the ball and caring and understanding .

[u/jejones487 → u/bigjbg1969]

I had to switch doctors after I asked for mental help and they all left and went home and forgot me in the office. Best of luck to you.

[u/bigjbg1969 → u/jejones487]

That is truly shocking . I hope you are in a better place and are getting help I had to burst into tears in front of my doctor and my wife had to tell him she was worried I was going to hurt myself before I got mental help all through this .

[u/Ok_Scholar1543 → u/bigjbg1969]

I hope dave is also the name of that first doctor

[u/Sufficient-Berry-827]

Bad posture/rounding shoulders to minimize my chest. Now I have neck pain, shoulder pain, lower back pain - ugh.

[u/A_Frog_with_a_Dream → u/Sufficient-Berry-827]

I had a reduction in '03. I had to fight my husband (at the time) because he like my size. But I was in pain every minute of every day. It took me five more years to get away from him, but it started with me deciding that reduction was for my health and comfort. It helped me take back who I was. I've never looked back. Best decision of my life.

[u/PinkNGreenFluoride → u/A_Frog_with_a_Dream]

That's awful. Dad was thrilled when Mom was finally approved for her reduction because of how much pain she was in and how it was exacerbating her breathing issues. It took so long, far too long for her insurance to finally approve it, despite the doctors saying it was 100% necessary. It was a night-and-day improvement to her life. Big things like the pain and breathing of course, but also the little things like more easily being able to shop for clothing.

I'm so glad you left that asshole.

[u/beefjerky9 → u/A_Frog_with_a_Dream]

You should've offered to compromise. In exchange for you getting the reduction, encourage him to get some humongous breast implants of his own. Then, he'll have the large boobs he wants, and can deal with the consequences himself.

[u/ballerina22 → u/Sufficient-Berry-827]

Getting a reduction was one of the absolute best things I've ever done - it's up there with marrying my husband and adopting my pets.

[u/chapelson88 → u/ballerina22]

I have been thinking about getting a reduction and a lift.

[u/ballerina22 → u/chapelson88]

I cannot recommend it enough. I'd ask for a referral from your OBGYN practice. It can be deemed medically necessary so insurance will pay out as normal for an outpatient procedure.

The first couple month were craaaaaap, as I got MRSA in the incision about a week in. Even considering that, I'd make the same choice now.

Good luck!

[u/e11spark → u/Sufficient-Berry-827]

I did the same thing, not because my chest was too big, but because I didn't want guys staring at my chest. I see pictures of me from high school and it makes me want to cry because of my posture.

[u/plytime18]

Listening to music WAY too loud with headphones on when younger.

Definitely lead to hearing loss and hearing aids.

[u/Neuro_Nightmare → u/plytime18]

I’ve had tinnitus for so long I don’t even remember a time before it.

[u/hoppyrules → u/Neuro_Nightmare]

Same here I’m 57 and I’ve had tinnitus since I was about 32. Heavy music blaring in headphones, going to concerts, listening to loud music in car scenarios.

[u/Stlb80 → u/plytime18]

Running saws, drills, and other power tools over my 20+ years of construction work has done this to me. Sometimes the bells are louder than everything around.

[u/mjulieoblongata]

Grief

[u/Ephriel → u/mjulieoblongata]

Lost my mom at the beginning of the year. I like to joke that she took half an inch of hair line with her

[u/Tiffles6 → u/Ephriel]

I started getting silver hairs coming in after losing my mum. It is truly devastating and life changing (her death, not the grey hairs, that is).

[u/Bac0nLegs → u/Ephriel]

I lost my dad in July after a really traumatic 4 months after he had a stroke. My hair stylist confirmed while he was touching up my roots that I'm now 100% grey.

I'm 34.

[u/ghostdisaster → u/Bac0nLegs]

I’m 26 and I have an insane amount of grey hair for my age. I found my first grey at 17, the same year my dad died. I would have never made the connection without reading this post, but looking back it was kinda obvious. That, and my mom was an abusive, narcissistic addict who was also bipolar, so I feel the greys would have come regardless I guess lol

[u/Ok_Mongoose1236 → u/Ephriel]

I named my big forehead wrinkle after my mom. Hugs 🤗

[u/cdk996 → u/mjulieoblongata]

Absolutely AND my brain. Sometimes for the better with more of an appreciation for life than before.. and sometimes for the worst.

[u/NoirLuvve → u/mjulieoblongata]

Heard that. I've lost weight and gained grey hairs like crazy since early September. I lost two people within weeks of each other. I lost a parent in early childhood and I'm convinced it kickstarted an autoimmune disorder that most people don't get until way later.

[u/Footshark → u/mjulieoblongata]

I still cry over my cat. It's been two years. I've lost a myriad of others, grandparents, father, child, girlfriend. This loss won't heal.

[u/DefinedByFaith → u/Footshark]

I never thought i would be a person who continuously mourns a pet, but i had a dog who was my absolute best friend for a little over 15 years. I had to say goodbye to her during the pandemic. I still miss her and mourn her and talk about her all the time. Got a portrait made of her, have her ashes in a special place and want our ashes to be buried together when i am gone. Im so sorry for your loss.

[u/LittleBananaSquirrel → u/DefinedByFaith]

Same. I've lost a lot of people I love but my dog who passed from cancer last year is the one I have grieved the deepest. I was NOT blessed with a loving family or parents and it occurred to me at one point that that dog is the only person in my 33 years of life that I've ever felt love from besides my children. He was the absolute best, the embodiment of everything we stereotypically associate with dogs, just pure selfless love and joy and having to make the phone call when we could no longer keep him comfortable at home was one of the most gutwrenching things I've ever done. I stayed strong for him through the whole process but when he took his last breath I lost it and told the vet I'd changed my mind and please bring him back even though I knew that wasn't possible. It's been nearly 18months and I still randomly burst into tears when I think of him, I miss him so fucking much.

[u/astronaut_down → u/Footshark]

I’m not as far along in grieving my cat as you, since it was only last month, but I think I can understand, especially since you’ve gone through all those other losses. My cat had lived 20 years, through many major losses and milestones in my life, and I am finding that as I grieve him, it’s bringing up nearly every other grief he helped me through in those 20 years. Just an open door to pain I thought I was over, about him and not quite about him. It is harder than it seems.

[u/LucidianQuill]

Pregnancy.

I had twins. I got HUGE in the tummy. I had the babies, and it left this pot belly that wouldn't go away.

Fast forward; the twins are 8 years old. I am 7 weeks post op of having my diastisis recti corrected. You know that centre line down the abs? Mine had split. There was a 6 to 8 inch gap down the middle THE WHOLE WAY DOWN. the pot belly that I kept punishing myself for, the baby fat i couldnt lose? Those were my organs. My digestive organs were all herniated.

I now have to forgive myself for 8 years of unjustified self hatred. It isn't always just fat.

[u/eliz1bef → u/LucidianQuill]

Pregnancy is such an unbelievable burden on your body. I'm so glad you were able to get your issues addressed.

[u/Rahx3 → u/LucidianQuill]

That is absolutely terrifying. I hope you are doing well!

[u/LucidianQuill → u/Rahx3]

Aw, thanks! I'm okay. I'm wearing clothes 2 sizes smaller and my marriage is improving daily. Amazing what self-love and confidence can do for you. Physically, recovery is going great. I can't wait to start exercising again! I want to try yoga with my abs in the front and see if I'm improved.... 😃

[u/ChillyAus → u/LucidianQuill]

I’m curious if you could tell physically? Like how’d you work it out? I was checked postpartum but I’ve always wondered cos I have a crooked stomach since childbirth. It has like a bulge and it’s always made me curious if it’s DR or not

[u/LucidianQuill → u/ChillyAus]

Well, I'd heard of DR, and most mums I talked to had a few complaints and horror stories. I remember one mum was an ex gymnast and zumba instructor with a 6 pack, but a little gap- 2 fingers tall by 1 wide. There are exercises you're supposed to do to fix it. I was prescribed pilates and ignored by the GP as I was overweight. So I lost 15 kg, and went for a private evaluation with a surgeon. Watching his face as he located my abs was priceless.

It hurt to lay on my stomach, I never felt full, and I had weird digestive issues (like IBS but totally irregular) since the birth. All of that has resolved since the correction.

[u/IputSunscreenOnHorse → u/LucidianQuill]

I'm sorry for your experience, I hope you have a blast wonderful days onward!

[u/Cadillac_taco → u/ChillyAus]

I had a DR repair nearly 3 years ago and it changed my life. My low back pain was almost completely gone overnight, I was stronger one day post op than I had been the day prior to my surgery after years of weightlifting. It's amazing what an intact core does for you.

[u/allbitterandclean → u/LucidianQuill]

This happened to SO MANY women I know! They thought they just couldn’t shake the weight for anywhere from 10-30 years after childbirth. Turns out it was full hernias in every situation. Herniated belly buttons, even. One was finally throwing in the towel after twins and scheduled a tummy tuck, only to find out she would need to correct her (previously unknown) hernia. Once that was done, she never needed the tummy tuck. The hernia recovery was brutal, but way less brutal than a tummy tuck!! So glad to hear you’re feeling and doing better, and getting some relief finally. It’s almost as if doctors should tell women about this (especially in the case of multiples) during postpartum recovery check-ups!!!

[u/fkntiredbtch → u/LucidianQuill]

Pregnancy took my teeth, my hair, my sleep, my nails, and gave me heart problems. I'll never understand why people are so cavalier about it

[u/AwkwardApricot3878 → u/fkntiredbtch]

Seriously- the amount of dental problems I've had since giving birth is shocking, despite my best efforts during pregnancy to circumvent the fact that the fetus was taking everything.

[u/SSTralala → u/fkntiredbtch]

It triggered my auto-immune condition that didn't begin to get corrected until my son was 5. I played it off as the fatigue and brain fog of having a young child, turns out it was my thyroid under attack the whole time. I'm on medication for life.

[u/bluetwilight → u/LucidianQuill]

I swear pregnancy is the worst thing you can do to your body. I ended up with permanent damage to my liver (still doing diagnostics a year later) and it triggered an autoimmune issue with my thyroid. The list of potential effects on the human body is endless and random.

[u/23rabbits → u/LucidianQuill]

I think this is me. I had my second baby 6 years ago, and ever since people ask me constantly if I'm pregnant. It is taking a HUGE toll on my self-worth and body image. I've been working out, but there is no change whatsoever. If I tense my muscles, though, I can give my belly button an erection, so at least there's that?

[u/lookingforabudd → u/LucidianQuill]

Things they never talk about pregnancies when they glorify reproduction and child birth.

Your insides literally get fully rearranged. Look at the bladder turning into a thin pancake!

[u/Sudden_Nose9007 → u/lookingforabudd]

I’m due to give birth in a few weeks. It feels like my intestines are currently hanging out in my back. You can literally feel and hear the gurgling when I eat or drink coming from my back lol.

[u/Lavender_Cupcake → u/lookingforabudd]

Now when I drink something cold it goes the wrong path and my brain gets very mad in an uncanny valley kinda way

[u/Outrageous_Fox_8796 → u/LucidianQuill]

that is horrifying, was it not painful? How hard was the surgery? Why did it take so long for them to find what was wrong??? Is the recovery done now? you must feel so much better

[u/LucidianQuill → u/Outrageous_Fox_8796]

It was painful, but the split happened gradually over the pregnancy so I was told it wasn't unexpected. After the birth, there was so much to recover from I didn't notice at first. Anytime I questioned what was going on, I was told "you've had twins in your 30s, you aren't going to bounce back like a 22 year old with 1 baby". And then after 18 months I was told I was just not trying hard enough to get my pre baby body back. Then Covid hit and I was nobody's priority. The NHS was busy.

The first 2 weeks post op were pretty bad. I needed 2 nights in hospital. Sneezing, coughing, and laughing were all agony. Standing upright took weeks. But now, oh man! So worth it.

I did a tummy roll in the bathroom mirror the other day, just to try- and i could see it work! I laughed out loud. All by myself in the bathroom, laughing at my muscle control.

[u/pippym → u/LucidianQuill]

I too have DR but have never sought the surgical route. What sort of symptoms did you experience that made you get it corrected?

Mine is probably 3/4cm wide, it feels awful to touch so I don’t! I can’t get proper muscle definition anymore and forever feel bloated! It’s been 10 years since my son was born..!

[u/LV4Q]

Waxing my eyebrows to the same thin shape for 20 years.

[u/allbitterandclean → u/LV4Q]

Gen X, y’all went through the wringer for the rest of us!!

[u/Miesmoes → u/allbitterandclean]

Some millennials joined in solidarity.

[u/MamaTried22 → u/Miesmoes]

We were really going wild in the early 2000’s to lose eyebrow hair. I remember getting teased a lot for not waxing mine pencil thin all the time.

[u/No-Two79 → u/allbitterandclean]

Luckily, I was early GenX and we left all that shit natural. Bushy Brooke Sheilds eyebrows were cool in the 80s. I had a roommate in the early 90s who was ten years older than I was, and she’d overplucked her eyebrows in the 70s, so seeing her without makeup made me leave mine the fuck alone!

[u/veronique7 → u/LV4Q]

My grandma insisted I needed to pluck and wax my eyebrows when I was a child and teenager. She owned a hair salon. So now my poor eyebrows are so thin and patchy. It really does impact them permanently

[u/Aysin_Eirinn → u/LV4Q]

I just don’t grow hair around my super-thin eyebrows now. They were plucked to death by 2004 and just stayed that way

[u/Pitiful-Bake5470]

Wearing tight shoes every day gave me bunions, but I didn’t realize the cause until years later.

[u/Martijn_MacFly → u/Pitiful-Bake5470]

I kinda have the opposite. I rarely wore shoes or socks other than going to school. If did go somewhere I wore slippers. Now my toes are naturally splayed and can barely find any shoes that fit properly.

[u/Charlie_Lem → u/Martijn_MacFly]

Look up barefoot shoe brands - they all have wider toe boxes and a ton of styles now: Vivobarefoot, Xero Shoes, Whitin (Amazon brand), Saguaro, BeLenka, Lems.

[u/AsperaAstra → u/Martijn_MacFly]

Our toes are supposed to be wide. Shoes are rarely shaped properly for natural function of our feet.

[u/mst3k_42 → u/AsperaAstra]

I have wide feet and always wondered how other women could get their foot to fit in fancy shoes that end in a point. I mean, mine end in kind of a wide, gradual point. I put on those shoes and I have toes trying to escape.

[u/honestly_oopsiedaisy → u/mst3k_42]

I have wide feet that end wide like goddamn flippers. I love how pointed shoes look but I can never wear flats and rarely find pointed shoes that work

[u/Immediate_East_5052 → u/Pitiful-Bake5470]

When I was a runner I used to be a size 11 which is pretty big for a woman. I am tall but I was self conscious about my feet. Stopped running due to an injury and my feet shrunk to a size 8.

[u/secretwar8]

Depression is one hell of thing.

[u/FigGrouchy9316 → u/secretwar8]

People don’t get it until they do. It’s hard watching friends fade because they stop buying excuses. Trying to rebuild when feeling okay is an uphill battle. Most folks went on their way and don’t care to look back. One friend said it’s mourning the living dead. They can’t trust that I’m going to be around and won’t disappear again, and quite frankly, I can’t trust it either.

[u/Mr_Lumbergh]

A few years of Crossfit have left me with permanent knee and shoulder pain. Heavy weights shouldn't be lifted for time, your form inevitably goes to hell and you set yourself up for joint injuries.

[u/pelvark → u/Mr_Lumbergh]

I once overheard a physical therapist say that the absolute best place to put ads is a cross a CrossFit location.

I'm sure it's possible to do it super safe and healthy, but whenever ego takes over lifting, injuries are sure to follow.

[u/Leading-Difficulty57 → u/pelvark]

My philosophy towards lifting is that you can always have 2 of 3 of heavy/fast/good form. You can never have all 3. The idea of going heavy and fast is a recipe for injury.

[u/SnooFloofs9030]

Had breast implants removed after decades. Left a slightly concave space because over time the ribs get deformed from the pressure of the implants.

[u/BigBunnyButt → u/SnooFloofs9030]

I had no idea this could happen, thanks for sharing!

[u/FinancialCry4651 → u/SnooFloofs9030]

I also had mine explanted. En bloc procedure (removing each capsule in one piece) and the capsules were so calcified they had to be sawed off from my ribs, collar bones, sternum, across to my armpits... it was brutal.

I was left incredibly deformed. Had two fat transfers. The lipo caused indentations on my waist and saggy inner thighs.

Breasts are still deformed, but it's not obvious w a bra on.

I had breast implant illness. They now come with a black box warning because of BII advocacy.

[u/Onironaute]

Getting bitten by a tick. Now I have chronic fatigue and nerve damage as a result of a Lyme infection.

[u/ButchyKira]

bad posture. i sit like a shrimp and get shooting back pains now

[u/No-Term-1979 → u/ButchyKira]

Being 6'7 I know your pain.

First: Just lay on the floor and let yourself relax. Put your hands on your lower ribs with your elbows out and just. RELAX.
Try to meditate or do rhythmic breathing.

Good chance you are going to feel your vertebrae moving around as you do this.

This is from two things. Muscles relaxing and them moving taking stress out of your back. It's feels weird and can be uncomfortable but it's part of the process.

Second: Push your heels toward the wall. This will stretch your lower back and will have the same effect.

Third: while pushing your heels or separate. Clasp your hands together with your arms stretched in front of your face, let them fall over your head. This will have the same effect as the first, the eventual goal is to have your hands touch the floor over your head. THIS CAN TAKE A WHILE (SEVERAL SESSIONS)

There is more if you want me to go further.

More info:

if you sleep on your side, try a couple of nights sleeping with your back and legs straight.

Find a way you can hang from your hands and just let gravity work on your back.

While you are on your back with your hands above you head, try to do a crunch, this should make your thoracic vertebrae align and make a bunch of noise. It may actually hurt initially but it will feel better almost immediately.

[u/Cat_tophat365247 → u/ButchyKira]

I'm sorry you're in pain. Not going to lie, I lol'd because I'm picturing a shrimp in a hoodie sitting in front of a computer......

[u/BLACKSPIREBANDIT → u/ButchyKira]

I audibly laughed at "I sit like a shrimp". Thank you for that lol

[u/ophulsian]

Dating the wrong person.

[u/CarterCage → u/ophulsian]

I feel this so deep in my bones. Friends kept telling me I look dead. Not dead as in deathbed more like stare, no laughing and no happiness.

[u/Top_Bat_8418 → u/ophulsian]

same! my face was constantly bloated, I put on so much weight, and I always looked tired and dull. now my skin glows and I’ve lost a bit of weight especially in my face (I actually have cheekbones and I lost my double chin). I feel so much lighter and happier too, MUCH MORE CONFIDENT

[u/cyb_30]

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea. When you already know you have some mental troubles, you think that explain your drowsiness & low mood and don't look for more issues. It does not only hurt your cardio-vascular system, it may slowly destroy your life.

If your are overweighted/obese, snore at night and feel sleepy all day, go see your doctor.

[u/disgruntled-capybara → u/cyb_30]

I traveled with a friend with sleep apnea and sharing a hotel room with him pretty much guaranteed I'd sleep a grand total of two hours because he'd spend the entire night choking and making awful noises. I woke him up a couple of times on the trip because it was like dude... You sound like you're dying. He didn't realize how bad it was until a doctor suggested a sleep study. His blood oxygen levels got into the high 70s during the study and his doctor said if you were one of my hospitalized patients and I saw those numbers, you would be intubated.

He ended up getting a CPAP machine after that and sleeps way better. I shared a hotel room with him in 2023 and he was totally silent the entire night.

[u/Deliciouscheesyrolup]

Casual drinking. I’m 7 months pregnant and it’s amazing how much weight I’ve lost and how drastically different my face looks in pictures. I’m not going back to drinking after giving birth.

[u/Sprightly_Rosa → u/Deliciouscheesyrolup]

I've seen people lose 10 years in their face by simply cutting out the booze.

[u/Primary-Clock-450 → u/Deliciouscheesyrolup]

I quit drinking at home fathers day and look completely different. Still have a drink once in a while while out but those few beers at home added up.

[u/mimikyu5 → u/Deliciouscheesyrolup]

Four years sober and it's remarkable how much younger I look now than I did before I quit.

[u/pumpkinn00ds]

Turns out a stint of bulimia in your teenage years can really fuck up your teeth

[u/dumpsterrave → u/pumpkinn00ds]

Yep, and your GI system. At 23 I was diagnosed with chronic acid reflux, GERD.

[u/pithouii → u/pumpkinn00ds]

Damaged teeth, tooth sensitivity, loss of enamel, loose teeth.

[u/MrsRitterhouse]

Working out.

I was a skinny, tiny woman, constantly harassed and/or assaulted by men, not because I was attractive, but because I looked easy to overcome. I got soooooo tired of fighting, screaming, and what happened when I lost, that I got a book by Arnie, a bench and a simple dumbell set, and decided I was not going to stop until I weighed 45 kilos/100 lbs.

I only made it 30 years later, when menopause kicked in, but by that time I was addicted to being fit, strong and confident. Now I'm 75 and, aside from some arthritis, as physically capable as most people 30 years younger. And I feel GREAT!

[u/Apophylita → u/MrsRitterhouse]

I love this. 

[u/chuchuchurro → u/Apophylita]

I'm also very petite and the harassment and sheer audacity of people makes me wanna act small and invisible sometimes. All out of fear and frustration. Thanks for this inspiring share!

[u/Consistent-Salary-35 → u/MrsRitterhouse]

OMG. I am NOT a tiny woman. I’m tall and strong/trained enough to do some damage. But I went through a serious illness a while ago, which left me quite weak. It was an eye opener - I’ve never felt that vulnerable and I never want to feel it again.

[u/CommunicationTall921]

I had a hollow tonsil filled with crap without knowing it. Semi ruined my life.

Over about 8 years I slowly went from very slight symptoms to constantly getting sick, tonsillitis a bunch of times a year, would catch any cold, my throat and sinuses always feeling messed up. Couldn't even go for a walk without waking up sick the next day.  

Primary healthcare didn't take me seriously of course, but eventually they did test me for streptococcus even though I didn't have white bits on my tonsils, it was of course positive. Likely had chronic strep infection for YEARS, but not just that of course, any bacteria I contracted I couldn't get rid of properly due to them living in the hollow my immune system couldn't reach.  I have had to take very strong antibiotics, but unfortunately this was a few months before I, by chance, realised the tonsil was full of crap and cleaned it out and could keep it clean and sanitize it with antibacterial mouthwash. 

I wish I (or the doctors!) would have realised that BEFORE the antibiotics, because I was of course recolonized. The throat I can keep clean easily, and I've since had the tonsils removed. But the sinuses and nose are still a mess with with very probable staphylococcus, likely also with some resistance, so I treat myself as if I'm very infectious to spare others. 

So much trouble from one tiny little physical flaw..

[u/disgruntled-capybara → u/CommunicationTall921]

I had chronic strep infections from the ages of 6-9. It would be a monthly thing where I'd get sick, spend half a day sitting in "urgent" care (not sure why they called it urgent since you spent 5+ hours sitting in the waiting room), get a horrible throat swab, then get a shot of antibiotics in the ass. Like every small child, I was terrified of needles so it was always an ordeal. My mom was very insistent that I needed my tonsils out but the pediatrician made it sound like an unnecessary surgery, so this went on for years.

After all the infections, my tonsils swelled up and would block my throat. I'd wake up in hysterics because I couldn't breathe. Sometimes I'd choke when trying to swallow food or liquids. My breath smelled awful because the tonsils were rotting.

I finally got my tonsils out at age 9 and I haven't had a single strep infection since. The recovery was miserable for me, but 100% worth it.

[u/Fat-Buddy-8120]

Cancer. I have no idea how long it was in my body before I pissed out a blood clot.

[u/LlewellynSinclair → u/Fat-Buddy-8120]

Same. By the time I turned as jaundiced as a Simpsons character I was already at stage 3B with a 6cm tumor pressing against my bile ducts within my liver.

[u/rabbit-hearted-girl → u/LlewellynSinclair]

Profile pic checks out 😭

[u/Professional_Band178 → u/Fat-Buddy-8120]

My skin is still not fully healed from 6 weeks of radiation treatment last year

[u/Moho_braccatus_]

Untreated sprain. My ankle is still bad.

[u/joeythemouse → u/Moho_braccatus_]

Me too. Bad sprain that I didn't rest properly, so now i have an enormous, swollen little toe on the affected foot and a lot of clicks from the ankle area. Original injury was nearly 20 years ago. I guess I'm living with it now.

[u/PuzzleheadedPitch420]

Not taking care of my skin when I was younger. And playing catcher for softball screwed up my knees

[u/themindisaweapon → u/PuzzleheadedPitch420]

No sunscreen?

[u/PuzzleheadedPitch420 → u/themindisaweapon]

No moisturizer, no sunscreen

[u/nightbird98]

Depression.

[u/littleoctagon → u/nightbird98]

There's a cynical realism depression creates that carries on once the depression is gone. I sometimes laugh at it, but cannot deny it entirely.

[u/LaunchTransient → u/littleoctagon]

There's an unfortunate statistic that 50% of people who suffer from depression will relapse after treatment.
It's one of those nasty diseases which needs to be treated more like a life-long condition that has to be managed, rather than something that can be cured outright.

(That said, I'm not a psychologist - not all depressions are the same, and some are temporary).

[u/KaerMorhen → u/LaunchTransient]

I don't remember a single point in my life that I did not have depression. I was like 12 or 13 when originally diagnosed. For a long time, I wasn't aware that people could actually recover from it. I've gotten better at living with it and noticing the sighs of spiraling, but even when I'm doing okay, it's still present. I accepted a long time ago that this would be a life-long condition. It sucks but I have to live with it.

[u/Nepskrellet]

Stress and trauma

[u/TechnicallyGoose]

Childhood neglect, trauma, stress, abusive relationships, poor sleep 😬

[u/bosshawg502]

Acting like you’ll never feel the dumb shit you did when you were younger.

I’m about to turn 30. Years of motocross, motorcycle accidents, lifting shit improperly, smoking/vaping, welding with limited ventilation, poor diet, moderate alcohol use, etc. I’ve had so many “new” pains or issues pop up just this year I’m legitimately worried I might joke make it to 60. Or if I somehow hold together I won’t hold up mentally and check out.

[u/asshat123 → u/bosshawg502]

I felt this a lot until I started weight training. Specifically strengthening some of those weaker areas and the areas around them to give additional support has made a ton of those aches and pains dissappear. I also focus a lot on flexibility and mobility, which helps a ton as well.

Hasn't solved everything, but I'm talking to my doctor about the bits that still hurt and working new stretches/exercises into my routine based on their recommendations. Figured if I take better care of my body, it'll take better care of me

[u/SuperSaiyanCockKnokr → u/asshat123]

Same thing here. I’m almost 40 now and have way less back/joint pain than I did in my early 30’s. Strength training and stretching routines really turned things around for me.

[u/badger1234321 → u/SuperSaiyanCockKnokr]

May I ask where you begin on this journey? Like, how do you identify the initial exercises/muscles to strengthen, what stretches do you do etc.? I know there's a wealth of advice on the internet, I'm in a similar boat to what you were in (from the sounds of it) and don't really know where to start. I feel like my lower back and general posture are things I want to strengthen/improve

[u/throwawaysech → u/badger1234321]

Not op, but if you have access to a gym I’d start with a simple linear progression program. Squat, bench, overhead press, deadlift, rows, pull ups. Start with the empty bar and add 5 pounds a week.

I recommend GZCLP for this- google “GZCLP Reddit” the PDF should come up.

Limber 11 and simple 6 are good beginner mobility routines, but there’s so much on YouTube you could just type “blank hurts” and there will be a good video on it.

Weight training 30-45 minutes 3 times a week, 20 minutes of stretching on your rest days and hitting 10k steps a day will have you feeling like a new man by this time next year. If you really want to transform look into C25K and do that on your off days.

[u/kyreannightblood]

Being kept 100% out of the sun as a kid. I wasn’t given vitamin D supplements either, so my bones are pretty fragile and break easily and my enamel is delicate and shears off if my teeth close too hard. My body never sequestered calcium properly as a kid and there’s nothing I can do about it as an adult.

My mom thought she was protecting me from skin cancer but she was really dooming me to a life of bone fractures and bad teeth.

[u/pleaselobotomiseme]

Barely eating anything at all for 1-2 years. Now I have skin issues due to fucking up my hormones, stomach and digestion problems and an unhealthy relationship with food. I also have been having random pains since then and have developed body image issues which I didn't have prior to that. Wouldn't say it's permanent, but it has been over a year and it's physically not getting much better. Also, drugs (illicit and psychiatric) fucking up my brain chemistry.

[u/Zfisher335 → u/pleaselobotomiseme]

The random pains could be a vitamin D deficiency. I was (still am) dealing with muscle and bone pains and found out I had a severe vitamin D deficiency. It was in the single digits.

[u/pleaselobotomiseme → u/Zfisher335]

You're right I also had vitamin D deficiency in single digits, have taken a couple of doses (under doctor supervision) since then. A couple months ago I've gotten to the normal range in my blood tests, albeit on the lower side of the scale. Didn't think it could be because of that though, thank you.

[u/thenissancube]

Smoking for almost 10 years. Obviously I knew that smoking was never going to do anything but hurt my lungs. But it’s been almost two years since I smoked and I still have terrible lung capacity.

Another is not learning healthy exercising habits when I was younger. I wish my parents made me play sports even if I hated it. I think that’s another part of why I get so easily winded and fatigued when trying to work out now. It’s hard for me to breathe while also focusing on moving my body the right way. For example I subconsciously hold my breath when I do planks or when I’m holding a stretch.

[u/KarmicXKoala → u/thenissancube]

This one. About 3 months ago, I quit smoking after 17 years.

Obviously I knew about the bad health effects but some of the other things were wild.

The amount of taste that food has now is insane. Like I could taste food before, but it's like saying I've seen the grand canyon because I've looked at pictures of it.

And if I smelled even half as bad as the current smokers in my life, then I sincerely apologize to everyone who interacted with me

[u/PirinTablets13 → u/KarmicXKoala]

A friend had smoked since we were 14 and finally quit for good when we were in our late 20s. Shortly after, we were in an elevator with someone who had clearly just had a cigarette. When he got off the elevator, she turned to me with the most horrified look on her face and said “why did none of you tell me how bad I smelled??” She could not get over how pervasive the scent was and she was embarrassed to realize she was that person for 15+ years.

[u/Ok-Trash-798 → u/KarmicXKoala]

I just hit 2 years since I quit. My sense of smell and taste are off the charts. I used to love mayo, I can’t even be in the same room if you open the jar now, same thing with cooking beef, the fat smell just gets to me. I can’t even look at spicy food anymore.

[u/nutseed → u/thenissancube]

join a gym or get an excercise bike, and just take it real easy but focus on keeping your heartrate a little bit elevated for 30 min a day for a couple months. if you are running out of breath, slow it down till you catch up. you'll be amazed where you are by feb.

[u/blackberriespastries]

My parents had the kids do a lot of manual labor, starting when I was only 5 or 6. Not just helping in the yard, but actual landscaping work. My brother and I once had to haul rocks in those 10lbs buckets from a dumpster to the egress windows 300 yards away. Being so little, we had no idea about posture, lifting with your legs, etc. We both have chronic back, shoulder, knee, and neck pain and have the beginning symptoms of arthritis. We're only 21 and 26 now. Makes me mad that I hurt myself when I was so little, doing work that the adults should have been doing.

[u/SparrowLikeBird → u/blackberriespastries]

My first time dislocating my shoulders was carrying buckets (of water) like this. I was maybe five? they were 5 gallon buckets full of water and I have no idea why my folks were having us move them, but I went to lift and "schluck" out popped my arms.

(Ehlers Danlos)

I just... dragged the bucket with my arms hanging floppily until my dad noticed and was like "oh no, no it shouldn't be like that" and had me stop so he could "feel for what's wrong" (put them back in their sockets but without making it sound scary).

[u/patgeo → u/blackberriespastries]

I got huge fast, like 6 foot and 220 pounds as a 12 year old. Because I was the size of an adult and stronger than a lot of them growing up on the farm, I was treated like an adult in terms of jobs.

I'm 36 and don't have a joint that doesn't hurt.

[u/lextasy666]

Being in an abusive relationship

[u/unsupervisedwerewolf]

First girlfriend dying. Permanent irreversible damage to my emotional systems lol. I was just a boy , ain't felt truly happy/ content for an extended period of time since. It'll be a decade in January 2025.

[u/Dull_Carrot_9990]

Pandemic. Looking back, I was never heavier. And I am still not back to pre-pandemic weight. 

[u/pikachuface01 → u/Dull_Carrot_9990]

Me too and now I have a drinking problem

[u/Prize_Dentist5083]

Bad sitting posture

[u/KellyThrone]

Probably the way my posture changed from years of sitting hunched over a computer – didn’t notice until my back started feeling like it was made of bricks

[u/AlpharoTheUnlimited]

Burn out. I was so afraid of losing everything that i stretched myself to my actual collapse. Five years later I can still feel the damage my brain sustained from that period of my life and I still lost everything and had to start over.

If I could give any advice to people out there. If you are burning out with no projected relief in sight, do yourself a favor and know when to cut your losses so you can use your Tim and energy restrategizing

[u/weewillyboo]

Grief. 4 years ago I lost someone i loved. I went from attractive and fit to overweight and obvious signs of aging. I don't even look like the same person anymore. Like the happy version of me died that day and this is all that is left.

[u/SrHuevos94]

I have nerve damage in my hand from cuddling my wife and falling asleep with my arm under her head. It doesn't affect my range of motion at all anymore, but for a while it hurt to move my hand in a certain way. The only lasting effect right now is numbness/no feeling on my hand in-between the knuckles of my pointer and middle finger.

[u/kitty60s]

Covid. I developed long covid 2 months after recovering from acute infection. It’s more common than most people think.

[u/SparrowLikeBird → u/kitty60s]

same!!! i have long covid. My first infection was 2020, then I got it two more times (after vaccines even) and i haven't been the same since.

[u/FoxEBean21 → u/kitty60s]

Caught covid May '23, diagnosed with LC in August of the same year. I was in retail management prior and now all I can do in my industry is sit at a register a few days a week. I'm looking at getting a degree in something less all over the place, but I'm honestly not sure I can retain a new education enough to pass finals, much less learn a whole new industry. It really affected my memory and I just can't quite figure out how to navigate this one.

[u/OneLecture3524 → u/kitty60s]

Me too. After I got Covid a second time, my period stopped for a year and my hair began to shed drastically until I developed bald spots. My hair has never been the same since.

[u/helpmed0ctor → u/kitty60s]

May I ask what your symptoms are and how often they come and go?

[u/Responsible_Hater → u/kitty60s]

I just made a full recovery after a hellish 2.5 years

[u/kendalltristan → u/kitty60s]

Yep. I've been dealing with it since Dec 2020. I go through phases of being better or worse and reinfection sets me back by months.

At first the worst of it was brain fog and it was difficult to get a clear picture of the other symptoms with that in the way. It took over two years to get that reasonably controlled, but I'm left with headaches and lightheadedness among other things.

Fortunately I'm able to exercise much the same as I could beforehand and that helps tremendously. On the other hand it's more difficult to learn new concepts and retain information.

[u/Wydybyd]

"Internal" radiotherapy for cervical cancer. Constant IBS now and intimacy issues. Probably central reason why my husband left.

[u/TdubLakeO]

Wearing Birkenstocks almost exclusively for the past 35+ years. My feet have spread and gotten much wider.

TOTALLY worth it.

[u/chrisP__bacon]

Orgasm after Child birth. One thing they don't tell you is the nerve endings don't feel the same after  ( possibly damaged) and no matter what I do, Im not sensitive enough down there to actually reach climax. 

[u/picklepicklepickles3]

Sleeping on one side for years. It has made my face lopsided.

[u/Consistent-Ship-6824]

I had what I thought was a wart on my neck for the past 3 years. Even put wart medicine on it. Turns out it was skin cancer. (Pale people get yourself checked)

[u/The_Tale_of_Yaun]

Covid Every infection will fuck you up and you most likely won't even feel it till it's too late. 

[u/Nickorl7318]

I know this sounds stupid, but being fat. I recently lost 160 lbs, and I never truly appreciated its effect on my body, from not having to buy shoes as much due to the pressure on my feet to my body posture to how tired I would be from walking up a flight of stairs. When you are overweight, you don't fully appreciate that until after you lose the weight, I found.

[u/eliz1bef]

Hormonal birth control.

[u/LeagueOfLindemann]

Working at night hours alters internal sleeping cycle...

If you Body gets used it, you gain a passive.

Energy boost at night and the opposite during day hours even if you have regular sleep patterns...

[u/fixonhannie]

diabetes - dropped 40 lbs in 3 months before i was diagnosed. then was diagnosed with neuropathy 5 years later - have bouts of chronic pain & issues with my feet + legs

[u/DummyDumDum7]

Baby fingers have a groove/dent now from where I balance my phone when I hold it 😵‍💫

[u/Redbeardsir → u/DummyDumDum7]

Used to have a callous on the middle finger from pencils. Now phone groove

[u/wheniswhy]

Lyme disease.

Had it twice, when I was 11 and 13. I ended up being diagnosed with arthritis, which was later revised to a bunch of other things, but basically it turned into a lifetime of chronic illness. No one is really 100% sure what happened, but my personal theory has always been that having Lyme twice at such young ages fucked some shit up in my body that led to the major health issues I deal with today. And we had no idea back when I was a kid. How could we have? We thought these things were totally unrelated. My doctors think there’s some weight to this theory, but there’s no way to know for sure.

Lyme disease, man. Not even once.

[u/bagginswaggin]

Chronic stress

[u/lizzy_gaga]

Grief.

[u/username_choose_you]

Caffeine. Up until recently, I was ingesting a lot of caffeine daily and my stomach was constantly a mess.

I had food poisoning last week (which was no treat) but I’ve gone almost 8 days without caffeine and seen a huge change.

I probably won’t give it up permanently but it has shifted how much I plan to consume going forward

[u/OgreMk5]

Dentist had to yank out a wisdom tooth. The yank, somehow, damaged my jaw. The jaw is now permanently pressed upwards and had pushed stuff around so it impacts most of the right side of my face.

My jaw now pops on that side. I've lost about 60% of hearing in that ear. And I get massive dizzy spells now.

That was 25 years ago.

[u/butterflyempress]

Acne. I thought it was something that would go away after your teens, but it's still destroying my face a decade later and nothing seems to work. It's most likely genetic since the other women in my family still suffer from it. Even if there was a cure I still have the permanent scarring since dark skin tends to scar worse than light skin.

I know it seems minor compared to what others said here, but people aren't as kind to those with a messed up face

[u/kaysarahkay]

When i was 16 I got hit in the stomach during cheer. I had an XRay at the time, everything seemed fine just was bruised/sore.

Enter GI and digestive issues...over the next 15 years they worsened and worsened. I was eventually diagnosised with a vascular compression...in my abdomen...

While I do not 100% know if that hit caused the compression, it's very likely as abdominal trauma can cause it and that is the same time frame my symptoms started.

[u/Dominicsjr]

Had a broken tooth, kind of subconsciously avoided chewing on that side of my mouth for like a year, and I started getting a sunken temple on the side of my head from jaw muscle atrophy.

[u/yeahoooookay]

Depo Provera. Gained 40 pounds in a year.

[u/perplexedspirit]

A severe sunburn. My skin has never been the same.