In a viral TikTok video, a woman shares how she was dangerously misdiagnosed at the ER because doctors didn’t believe her—twice
Any person (and especially any woman) who has tried to advocate for themselves at the doctor’s office knows what a frustrating experience it can be. Finding a doctor who not only listens to your concerns but also takes them seriously can feel impossible. That was shown all too clearly by a woman’s viral TikTok, where she documented going to the ER for suspected appendicitis (TWICE!) only to have two separate doctors not believe her.
“In today’s episode of, ‘doctors should believe women,’ I went to the doctor 3 weeks ago with extreme right side abdominal pain and my doctor sent me to the emergency room with suspected appendicitis,” Amanda Buschelman started her story. Sounds pretty normal so far, right?
Except when Buschelman got to the ER, a doctor there told her she didn’t have appendicitis, she had an ovarian cyst. That diagnosis will make sense to anyone who’s ever had an ovarian cyst—those suckers hurt! But for Buschelman, there was just one problem.
“I don’t have any ovaries, and I haven’t had any for 10 years,” she said she told the doctor. That seems like something a woman would know about her own body, right? Except the ER doctor didn’t believe her. He insisted she was suffering from an ovarian cyst, explained that she probably only had her uterus removed and not her ovaries, and sent her home. To make the whole situation even more infuriating, Buschelman looked up her chart afterward to see that the doctor who didn’t believe her also noted that she was “anxious presenting.” If you feel like you could scream right now, you’re not alone.
Women’s pain has been a sticky thing in medicine for a long, long time. Studies have shown that women regularly suffer more pain than men without any medical intervention because doctors simply don’t take women’s claims about pain seriously. And on the subject of how Buschelman’s doctor called her “anxious presenting?” A recent study showed that women who presented to ERs with chest pain were twice as likely to be diagnosed with a mental illness than men. Yikes.
After being sent home from the ER, Buschelman suffered for a few days, then went back because her doctor still suspected she had appendicitis. She saw a new doctor, who once again diagnosed her with an ovarian cyst. After looking up her records and seeing that she definitely had her ovaries removed, they finally diagnosed her with a tumor, and when Buschelman had surgery to remove it, well, surprise.
“Guess what,” she said. “I had appendicitis the whole time, and I had my appendix taken out along with that little tumor that isn’t an ovary!”
Women are going viral on TikTok for “pregnancy nose”—here’s what you need to know about this common, harmless phenomenon
If you’ve spent any time on Mom TikTok recently, you’ve probably noticed a new trend: women are sharing before-and-after photos of their “pregnancy nose.”
In the videos, women will share photos of their faces, particularly their noses, before getting pregnant. Then, with a sudden, scary shift in the music, they show themselves in late pregnancy or just after giving birth. All of the women have “pregnancy nose,” which has caused their noses to get noticeably bigger during their pregnancies.
According to experts, the truth is that pregnancy does, in fact, cause some women’s noses to grow.
“The underlying reason is because of the hormones that are increased in pregnancy and those hormones cause dilation in vessels, which can result in more blood flow going to certain areas — and that’s because we need it for the uterus,” Dr. Christine Greves, an OB-GYN in Orlando, Florida, told Today.com. “It’s not necessarily selective. So, some areas of our body that have mucous membranes do experience increased flow and your nose is one of them.”
The bottom line is that pregnancy nose is temporary and, for most people, totally harmless. For some women, it might come with side effects that can include swelling, congestion, nosebleeds, and discomfort. But Dr. Greves said it’s all temporary and will go away soon after giving birth.
“It goes back to your normal within six weeks (of giving birth),” she said. “I tell people to give yourself grace and expect it to be back to normal. But the timing of it just depends.”
One important caveat is that if you experience quick swelling or bloating during pregnancy, you should check in with your doctor because this can be a sign of preeclampsia.
“Rapid or significant swelling that may occur in the face, hands, and feet may be related to preeclampsia,” said Dr. Eran Bornstein, the vice chair of OB-GYN at Lenox Hill Hospital. “Patients that have significant swelling and experience symptoms, such as headache, blurry vision, abdominal pain or nausea/vomiting should contact their provider immediately to be evaluated for preeclampsia.”
As with most changes that occur during pregnancy, pregnancy nose is (mostly) nothing to worry about. Check with your doctor if you’re especially concerned, but for most women, it’s just one more item to add to the list of bodily changes to look forward to.
Endometriosis is an often painful disease that is estimated to affect more than 6.5 million women throughout the United States. It causes tissue similar to that which normally lines the uterus—the endometrium—to grow outside of the uterus, with symptoms that may include excessive menstrual cramps, abnormal or heavy menstrual flow, and painful intercourse.
Endometriosis usually affects the ovaries, the tissue lining the pelvis, and the fallopian tubes. The endometrium outside of the uterus thickens, breaks down, and bleeds—as it would in the uterus—during menstrual cycles. Endometriosis can result in cysts, scars, and adhesions that cause pelvic tissues and organs to stick together. Endometriosis causes pain and problems; however, endometriosis growths are not cancerous.
It is estimated that 11% of women ages 15-44 in the United States have endometriosis. Especially common among women in their 30s and 40s, it can make getting pregnant difficult, potentially causing infertility.
Though you can’t prevent endometriosis, there are some things you can do to reduce your chances of getting it. These include ensuring that any hormonal birth control you are taking has low doses of estrogen, avoiding excessive consumption of alcohol and caffeine, and exercising regularly.
As an obstetrician, I’ve delivered more than 6,000 babies, some to women who had endometriosis. Endometriosis is a somewhat mysterious disease that, if left untreated, can prevent women from getting pregnant. Being informed about endometriosis is key in detecting and treating this disease that is debilitating for many.
Q: How does endometriosis get triggered in the body?
A: Over the years there have been various explanations. The generally accepted answer is that endometriosis is spread by retrograde menstrual flow. This means that at least some of the menstrual flow goes backward, up the fallopian tubes and out into the tissue surrounding the ovaries, instead of down and out the uterus. Why this would happen is unknown; however, it is widely believed that a predisposition for endometriosis is hereditary. So, if your mother or your grandmother had it, you may get it, too,
Q: What happens if endometriosis is left untreated?
A: Endometriosis can cause pelvic structures to adhere to each other. There are different courses endometriosis could take if left untreated. Infertility and pain are among the first symptoms. The disease can eventually cause ureters (the tubes bringing urine from the kidneys to the bladder) to close, possibly ending in kidney failure. This is why it’s important to diagnose and treat endometriosis as soon as you can.
Q: What are the early symptoms of endometriosis?
A: Pain would most often be an early symptom, but there is not always a correlation between abdominal pain and the degree of endometriosis. Some women with the most severe endometriosis have no symptoms, while others with minimal endometriosis have debilitating pain. Other symptoms include painful intercourse, infertility, bleeding between periods, gastrointestinal issues, and lower back pain.
Q: Can you have a healthy pregnancy and birth with this condition?
A: Pregnancy can occur with endometriosis. Sometimes surgery and anti-hormone medications such as Lupron can help with pregnancy. The issue of whether endometriosis interferes with pregnancy hasn’t been resolved. Some say up to 80% of pregnancies in people with endometriosis result in miscarriage (loss of pregnancy before 20 weeks). Other studies indicate miscarriage is more frequent with early endometriosis. Still others have concluded there isn’t an increased rate at all. The definitive study has yet to be done.
It’s important not to suffer in silence if you are experiencing the symptoms of endometriosis. Your doctor can help you find treatment, and potentially reverse infertility. If you are having excessive menstrual cramps, painful intercourse, or bleeding between periods, be sure to seek medical advice as soon as possible. Many women who have experienced this disease continue to live happy healthy lives. You are not alone.
An obstetrician and maternal mortality expert, “Rural Doc” Alan Lindemann, M.D. teaches women and families how to create the outcomes they want for their own health and pregnancy. In nearly 40 years of practice, he has delivered around 6,000 babies and achieved a maternal mortality rate of zero! Visit LindemannMD.com
The berries were packed between May 28 and June 9 and you can identify a problematic package by the UPC code or the product lot code (see the FDA release for the full product lot code list). Four UPC codes are affected:
0 71430 01154 6
0 71430 01151 5
07143001150 8
071430011155 3
If you find a package with one of these codes in your home, discard it immediately. No other Dole products are affected by this recall. If you have any questions, you can call the Dole Consumer Center at 1-800-356-3111, which is open 24 hours a day.
Fortunately, no illnesses have been reported yet in association with the recall.
HGTV stars Erin and Ben Napier are expecting! The couple recently announced the pregnancy—and this May their family will grow from three to four.
2020 was a busy a year for the Napiers. While most of the country was stuck inside working from home, the husband and wife celeb pair was filming two shows at the same time: Home Town in Laurel, Mississippi and Home Town Takeover in Wetumpka, Alabama. Not only did the couple spend the fall working on two shows simultaneously, in September they also found out that Erin was pregnant.
In an interview with PEOPLE, Ben said, “The last six months of 2020 really, you know, it was rough. It’s all a blur.” Erin added, “We were like, ‘Ooh, this is going to be tough, but we can do it.’ We don’t remember anything, but I’m glad somebody was filming all of it.”
Erin and Ben officially announced the pregnancy on Home Town in a very special double reveal. Along with Erin’s baby news, they also shared another family pregnancy. Ben’s brother Jessie and his wife Lauren were featured on the episode as the couple’s clients—but that wasn’t all. They also announced their own pregnancy too.
Despite doubts that she could conceive, following a decade of abdominal pain brought on by a perforated appendix, Erin learned she was expecting the couple’s first child Helen in May of 2017. Four years later, in May of 2021, the family will welcome their second child!
Check your veggie bins. A salmonella outbreak that has infected more than 500 people in the United States and Canada has been traced back to onions grown in California. Thomson International Inc. of Bakersfield, California is recalling Red, Yellow, White, and Sweet Yellow Onions shipped from May 1, 2020 through the present.
The onions are being recalled because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.
Onions were distributed to wholesalers, restaurants, and retail stores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Canada.
The onions were distributed in 5 lbs. carton. 10 lbs. carton. 25 lbs. carton. 40 lbs. carton, 50 lbs. carton. bulk, 2 lb. mesh sacks, and 3 lb. mesh sacks, 5 lb. mesh sacks, 10 lb. mesh sacks 25 lbs. mesh sacks, 50 lbs. mesh sacks under the brand names Thomson Premium, TLC Thomson International, Tender Loving Care, El Competitor, Hartley’s Best, Onions 52, Majestic, Imperial Fresh, Kroger, Utah Onions and Food Lion.
Consumers, restaurants, and retailers should not eat, sell, or serve red, white, yellow, or sweet onions from Thomson International, Inc. or products containing such onions. If you cannot tell if your onion is from Thomson International Inc., or your food product contains such onions, you should not eat, sell, or serve it, and should throw it out.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, along with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Newport infections that may be linked to these onions, so Thomson International is recalling the onions out of an abundance of caution. As of now no specific source of contamination or contaminated shipment has been identified, and FDA is also investigating other potential sources of contamination and has not yet reached a final conclusion.
Infections have been reported in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Illinois, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
Consumers who have any Red, Yellow, White, and Sweet Yellow Onions under the above brand names, or who cannot tell if their onions are from Thomson International, should immediately discard these products and disinfect any surfaces that came into contact with the onions.
Gluten-free food products dot the grocery aisle shelves and for many, adhering to a gluten-free diet is a necessity. Why? Celiac Disease, an immune mediated disease, can affect as high as 1% of the population in North America, according to Dr. Nasha Khavari, is a clinical associate professor and the director of the Stanford Children’s Health Celiac Disease Center. We recently asked Dr. Khavari about Celiac Disease in children and what parents can do to better identify and manage the disease (beyond only going gluten free). If you have a hunch someone in your family may be affected by Celiac Disease or want to learn more regarding proper diagnosis and treatment, read on to hear from Dr. Khavari.
Can you tell us what exactly Celiac Disease is and its instance in children? At what age are kids usually diagnosed?
Dr. Khavari: Celiac Disease is an immune mediated disease in genetically predisposed individuals. It can be triggered by eating/ingestion of gluten-containing foods, including wheat, rye, barley, and oats. The incidence of Celiac Disease may be as high as 1% of the population in North America.
What are the proper steps and procedures for determining a Celiac Disease diagnosis in a young child?
Dr. Khavari: If a child has either symptoms concerning for Celiac Disease or is at risk for Celiac Disease (a family history of a first-degree relative or other related disease), we ask that they are screened for Celiac Disease. The disease can present and range from no symptoms at all to significant malabsorption, failure to thrive and weight loss. Our Stanford Children’s Health Celiac Disease care team would begin with an initial visit, followed by the diagnostic work up with laboratory testing. If this testing results are concerning, diagnosis is usually confirmed with a procedure called an upper endoscopy.
My five-year-old complains about tummy aches. Is this a sign of Celiac Disease? Is there anything I can look out for to know if this is normal or if there’s a reason to be concerned?
Dr. Khavari: Abdominal pain can be a sign of Celiac Disease. It can also be very common symptom in children without Celiac Disease. However, some of the more traditional ways Celiac Disease presents include symptoms of abdominal pain, diarrhea, bloating, and problems with gaining weight or height.
With that said, some children with Celiac Disease have no symptoms at all making it very important to be tested if your child is in a higher risk category.
With the New Year, I want my family to eat healthier and am considering cutting out gluten our diet. Is this a good idea for my family’s overall health? What are the negative factors to consider before we eliminate gluten from our child’s diet?
Dr. Khavari: As pediatricians, we really like to encourage healthy, diverse diet, with minimally processed foods and significant fruits and vegetables. Many of the naturally gluten free foods, for example, fruits and vegetables, are important to incorporate into a child’s daily diet.
Unnecessary exclusion of foods from a child’s diet can be stressful and detract from their overall quality of life. Negative factors to consider before eliminating gluten from your child’s diet include the possibility of missing a diagnosis of Celiac Disease as laboratory testing may not be accurate once you have eliminated gluten from your child’s diet, quality of life effects on the child, and the higher cost of purchasing some of the processed gluten-free foods. It is also important to keep in mind that many of the more highly processed gluten-free foods are higher in sugar content which can have adverse effects on children.
If we find out our child does have Celiac Disease, what are our options and what sort of care will she need to receive?
Dr. Khavari: We recommend that your child see a pediatric gastroenterologist, as well as nutritionist with expertise in navigating the gluten free diet.
Are there medications they can take?
Dr. Khavari: There are no current medications for the treatment of Celiac Disease.
Is this something they’ll live with her whole life?
Dr. Khavari: Celiac Disease is thought to be a lifelong autoimmune disease in most diagnosed individuals.
How important is nutritional coaching/training for my child post-diagnosis?
Dr. Khavari: This is probably among the most important aspects of Celiac Disease after making the diagnosis. Providing your child with the proper nutritional support and education is key to their success in managing this disease. Our Celiac Disease team supports patient care specific to Celiac Disease, from the newly diagnosed through ongoing lifestyle maintenance, offering families the resources and valuable steps to ensure your child’s overall health and well-being.
My five-year-old son has Celiac Disease. What are some useful tips to help us navigate school snacks and lunches once he enters Kindergarten?
Dr. Khavari: We usually recommend sending a letter to the teacher and school staff explaining what Celiac Disease is, and why a student needs to eliminate gluten from their diet. We also recommend a stash of gluten-free foods for the classroom for those days when other children in the class may bring a gluten containing treats to share with the class.
What is the best way to manage this when he is away from our home, and for example, on playdates or at birthday parties?
Dr. Khavari: If you are close with the families of playdates and others having a conversation with the family about what foods they are able to eat is really helpful. Sometimes packing a gluten-free snack for your child, or for them to share with friends, can also be really helpful. While the gluten free diet is the most important aspect of treatment of Celiac Disease, balancing this with a good quality of life for children and allowing them to socialize, interact and eat (in a safe, gluten-free manner with others) is also a very important aspect of treatment.
Dr. Nasha Khavari is a clinical associate professor and the director of the Stanford Children’s Health Celiac Disease Center. She received her medical degree from University of Minnesota Medical School in 2003 and has been in practice for 16 years. Dr. Khavari completed her pediatrics residency at Stanford Children’s Health followed by a fellowship in pediatric gastroenterology at Harvard’s Boston Children’s Hospital. Dr. Khavari specializes in treating conditions in children like chronic stomach pain, ulcers, diarrhea, reflux, cancer, Crohn’s disease and Celiac Disease.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently announced a voluntary recall for select vegetable products produced by Mann Packing Co. due to a potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination concern. Representatives from Mann Packing Co. did not immediately return Red Tricycle’s request for comment.
If you have these products in your home, read on for important recall information.
Recalled Product Description: Vegetable Products
The current recall includes a number of different Mann Packaging Co. vegetable products sold under HEB, HEB Organic, Hungryroot, Kroger Organic, Compliments, Mann’s, US Foods, Mann’s Family Favorites, Mann’s Organic, Mann’s Snacking Favorites, Marketside, Marketside Organic, O Organics, Signature Farms, Sysco Imperial, Trader Joe’s and Del Monte brand names. For a full list of recalled products visit Mann’s website here.
Why the Vegetables Were Recalled
The recall was issued due to the possible presence of Listeria monocytogenes. According to the FDA, “To date, public health officials have not reported any illness associated with these products.”
Listeria monocytogenes can cause abdominal pain, diarrhea, headaches, high fever, nausea and stiffness. It can also cause miscarriage or stillbirth in pregnant women.
How to Tell If Your Vegetables Were Recalled
Consult the full list of recalled products here for applicable UPC Codes. All products have a “Best If Enjoyed By” date of Oct. 11, 2019 to Nov. 16, 2019.
What Consumers Can Do
Do not eat the recalled products. Throw the vegetables away and contact Mann Packing Co. at 1-844-927-0707 or email the company at consumers@mannpacking.com.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently announced a voluntary recall for Wawona Frozen Foods frozen raspberries and frozen berry mixes containing raspberries due to possible Hepatitis A contamination. The berries were sold at Aldi Grocery Stores and Raley’s Family of Fine Stores under each retailer’s private label brand. Representatives from Wawona Frozen Foods did not immediately return Red Tricycle’s request for comment.
If you have these berries in your fridge or freezer, read on for important recall information.
Recalled Product Description: Frozen Raspberries
The recalled products include frozen raspberries and frozen berry mix containing raspberries sold under Aldi Grocery Stores and Raley’s Family of Fine Stores private labels. These include Season’s Choice Raspberries and Season’s Choice Berry Medley in Aldi stores and Raley’s Fresh Frozen Red Raspberries in Raley’s stores.
Why the Berries Were Recalled
The recall was initiated after the potential for Hepatitis A contamination was detected. Hepatitis A is a virus that can cause serious liver disease. The illness can last from a few weeks to several months and has symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, dark urine and jaundice.
As of now there are no reported cases of illnesses due to the recalled berries.
How to Tell If Your Berries Were Recalled
The frozen raspberries included in the current recall are:
Aldi: Season’s Choice Raspberries (frozen): 12 ounce bags, “best by” date of June, 10, 2021, August 1,2021 and August 23, 2021. “Product of Chile.” UPC Code: 0 41498 12419 9. Season’s Choice Berry Medley (frozen) containing raspberries: 16 ounce bags, “best by” date of July 17, 2021, July 20, 2021 and July 22, 2021. “Product of USA, Chile.” UPC Code: 0 41498 31344 9
Raley’s: Raley’s Fresh Frozen Red Raspberries: 12 ounce bags, “best by” date of June 5, 2021 (lot code:20156A04), August 1, 2021 (lot code: 20213A06) “Product of Chile.” UPC Code: 46567 00754
The affected berries were imported from Chile.
What Consumers Can Do
If you have the recalled products, don’t eat them. Throw the berries away or return them to the place of purchase for a refund. Consumers with questions can contact Wawona Frozen Foods at 866-913-0667.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently announced a voluntary recall for 2,297 cases and two bulk bins of McIntosh, Honeycrisp, Jonathon, Fuji, Jonamac and Red Delicious apples sold under the Great Lakes and North Bay Produce Pure Michigan brands due to a potential Listeria monocytogenes concern. Some of the apples recalled were also sold in unbranded clear plastic totes, white paper totes and individually in retailer displays.
According to a press release from North Bay Produce, “The recalled apples were shipped between Oct. 16th, 2019 and Oct. 21st, 2019 from one North Bay facility to wholesalers, retailers and brokers in Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, North Carolina, Texas and Wisconsin.”
Recalled Product Description: North Bay Apples
The recalled products include McIntosh, Honeycrisp, Jonathon, Fuji, Jonamac and Red Delicious apples sold either in plastic bags with the brand names Great Lakes and North Bay Produce Pure Michigan or clear totes, white paper totes or individually under no brand name. The apples were shipped to wholesale and retail facilities in Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, North Carolina, Texas and Wisconsin between Oct. 16 and 21, 2019.
Why the Apples Were Recalled
The recall was initiated out of a Listeria monocytogenes contamination concern. Listeria monocytogenes can cause headaches, fever, nausea abdominal pain and diarrhea, with more severe effects in young children, elderly adults or anyone with a compromised immune system. The microorganism can also cause miscarriage or stillbirth in pregnant women.
As of now there are no reports of illnesses from the apples.
How To Tell If Your Apples Were Recalled
According to North Bay Produce’s press statement, “Apples purchased at retail prior to October 16th are not affected by this recall, and no other North Bay Produce products are affected by this recall.”
For a full list varieties, brands, UPC codes, PLU numbers and item numbers, visit the FDA’s website here.
What Consumers Can Do
If you have the recalled apples, don’t eat them. Throw the apples away or return them to the place of purchase. To contact North Bay Produce with questions call 1-231-929-4001, Monday-Friday, 8am––5pm ET or visit the company’s website at northbayproduce.com.
—Erica Loop
Photos: Courtesy of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
