Sore throat, headache, cough, stuffy, fatigue

I am quite an anxious person but I was handling the upcoming wedding well.
Now as from yesterday I got a tickle in my throat resulting in a nasty cough, nasal decongestion, sinus headache and overall I don’t feel great at all!!
I’m taking cold and flu medication and lozenges, but now I’m starting to worry that it won’t clear up for me. I can’t imagine having to face hundreds of guests feeling this way but I definitely don’t want to cancel the wedding.
Any support or suggestions will help

Does this typically happen as a result of whiplash, and if so, am I screwed!? I (23, Female, 5’3 )gave myself whiplash throwing my head back laughing and mistakenly thinking there was a head rest behind me when there wasn't. It hurt immediately. That was 3 days ago. Started as bad neck pain/headache and some stiffness. Sensitivity to light. Lots of fatigue. Now slowly getting burning lips/tongue, my teeth feel heavy and my throat feel sore. Also kind of a pinching raw pain on top of my hand that comes and goes and feels nerve related. The throat and tongue are scaring me the most. If it's CNS it won't heal. I don't know what to do. Is it muscles compressing nerves or did I damage the nerve directly? I’m utterly terrified

ETA: I forgot to talk about the 3 incisions! - 2 tiny half inch slits right above each hip, closed with that surgical glue stuff, mild dried blood/scabby, but very skinny & short. The navel - literally a tiny dot inside, my bestie looked in there tonight lol My navel isn't swollen or bloody, just a lil iodine residue I'm just gonna leave alone lol Not scabby or crusty or sensitive so far. Nothing is itchy or painful or tender yet. Just an occasional feeling of the mildest lil menstrual cramps here and there, nothing like the real deal though thankfully. No spotting at all immediately after surgery, and none now 9 hours later either btw. A lil pressure getting up & down out of bed, but no pain, and no assistance required for that or going up & down the stairs, just moving a lil slowegentler, still feeling decent 9 hours later! Still tired AF though, gonna hit the hay now!
Just had my bilateral salpingectomy today! I saw Dr. Charlotte Pickens in La Jolla, CA at USCD hospital btw. It was an amazing experience y'all! Much easier than I anticipated! Buckle up, it's a long one, and very detailed! But all positive for the most part LOL
I'm 34 and have never EVER had surgery aside from getting my wisdom teeth out at 16, and a colonoscopy at 24. Never even broken a bone or gotten stitches, nothing. I have a lot of medical anxiety, I was tripping out the most over sleep paralysis despite anesthesia LOL Wasn't even nervous about the actual surgery, just didn't wanna wake up during it and be mentally scarred for life 🤣 Saw a few scary stories on TV once about that phenomenon.
The office gave me Hibiclens at my consult appt to take home & scrub my abdomen with the last 3 showers leading up surgery. Yesterday morning, yesterday evening, and this morning. No deodorant, lotions, perfumes, nail polish or jewelry after my shower this morning.
I was NPO after midnight last night. They instructed me to drink an ensure between 9pm-11pm last night since my surgery was in the afternoon. I also took half an Ativan last night at 9pm to make sure I slept and didn't have anxiety insomnia lol They also instructed me to take my heart arrythmia pill this morning right upon wakening with a tiny sip of water. I had an echocardiogram a week ago, so yes, I got cardiac clearance lol I also had a pre-op transvaginal ultrasound and blood work 2 weeks ago.
When I got there, they called me back to the pre-op room. I got weighed, asked for my height, and had to pee in a cup first thing. They then had me change into my gown, skiddy socks & hair net. They gave me 2 Tylenol 500mg & a Celebrex (200mg - for preventative nerve pain) with a tiny sip of water. Then they took my BP/pulse ox, and started my IV in my left hand, and started fluids and some Ativan. They also put on the leg compression things, man they feel great lol They got me heated blankets, and even had a lil pack of lavender smelly stuff they taped to the top left of my paper gown for relaxation 😊
All the staff came in and introduced themselves while in pre-op, from the surgeon herself, to the anesthesia team, to the OR scrub nurses, to the surgical resident that'd be observing (with my permission of course.) They also asked if they had permission to let the surgical resident practice a pelvic exam on me while under anesthesia, I agreed. I've been employed in healthcare myself for 17 years, so anything to help with someone's education! I could've refused if I wanted, but I really appreciated them asking beforehand.
They then wheeled me back to the OR, and I was feeling goooood with the Ativan lol They also pushed a lil GI cocktail too before they gave me the gas. I had to scoot myself from my original pre-op bed to the OR table, which was easy, they leveled the beds together and helped me. They then masked me with the gas, and I was outttt like a light after about 4-5 deeeeep inhales!!!
I woke up in post-op an hour and a half later. Went in at 12 noon, woke up at 1:30pm, all done! They intubated me after falling asleep, and pulled it out before waking up, it's like nothing ever happened! No soreness, hoarseness or coughing. I'm clearing my throat occasionally here and there 7 hours later, just kinda feels like when you get "bubbles" (post-nadal drip basically lol) in your throat with seasonal allergies. Not often enough to cause soreness which is great, waaaay better then what I anticipated after reading about other people's experiences on here. They cathed me too since they gave me fluids, thankfully after I was out, and removed it before I woke up, so it hurts to pee just a little bit, not even as bad a UTI 🤣 Like, a 4 on a scale of 1-10.
They gave me ice chips & apple juice straight upon awakening too, which was great! I had no nausea at all, still don't hours later. I rested for about 30 mins, then they brought back my ride to hang out with me and go over discharge instructions. I got up to go pee, and then they wheeled me outside to the car, and even opened the door & helped me get in!! They have $5 valet services for 0-3 hours parking, so the car was pulled right up to the curb right outside the front doors!
We drove straight to IHOP afterwards. I took it easy with some Belgian waffles & a few strips of bacon, and a mango iced tea, and a few sips of my ride's cinnamon milkshake lol I then stopped by Walgreens to grab a few house things I forgot to pick up last night, my ride helped & carried everything 😊
The ride home was smooth, I didn't have any discomfort from the shitty ass bumpy roads on our 30 min drive home lol I did bring a squishmallow to put between my belly and the seat belt, which was a genius idea I picked up on here!
BTW, I'm an occasional recreational cannabis user. I was honest and disclosed my use to my anesthesiologist only (VERY IMPORTANT), I didn't want that ICD-10 diagnosis use code going to Tricare from my consult appt ahead of surgery & prior authorization for obvious reasons lol. I quit edibles 2 months ago, and vaping 1 month ago. My anesthesiologist said I would've been fine discontinuing use just 5-7 days prior to surgery (no ibuprofen 7 days before either lol), but I did a month + to be safe, I'm a bit on the heavier side, and I've heard edibles stick around in your system (fat lol) much longer than just smoking/vaping, so I wanted to be super certain that I'd be clear and not fuck up anesthesia for myself. For reference, I'm 5'6", 180lbs. I took 3-4 puffs of a vape 4-5 days a week, and 10mg worth of edibles once almost every weekend for a few months straight, so not a super heavy user.
I hope my experience can help others make the decision to take the plunge too before election day lol I called to set up the consult appt back in December, had the actual consult appt in February, and first available surgery was today, late May.
ETA #2 lol: My surgeon sent me home with pics from the operative report included in my discharge papers, so I have instant photograpic evidence of their removal! Total peace of mind walking out of there today ☮️🙏🏼
I am a generally super anxious person by nature, and had my bestie/coworker take me to my very first surgery. My family is 3k miles away on the east Coast and couldn't be here, so if my anxious ass can do it, literally anybody can do it! I literally have nobody out here but my bestie, no family, no nothing. My soon to be ex husband is on deployment right now out in the Pacific, and is unreachable at the moment, and frankly doesn't give a shit. He knows I had surgery today too, and I KNOW he won't call or email out of common human decency to at least ask how it went when he does get back in service/port. He asked for a divorce a week after my consult appt, which happened to be 2 weeks before deployment, how convenient, after saying straight to my face before & after the appt that he totally supported my choice, and was looking forward to the DINK lifestyle with me. Oh well.
Y'all are 💯 when you say men aren't ~truly~ childfree unless they've had a vasectomy, or atleast got one scheduled on the books soon lol My conservative family back on the east coast are losing their shit over this, they're all christofacist trump bootlickers, I'm so glad I got to move away from all that and experience personal freedom/a different & better way of life out here. I'm so thankful to be in a position financially & geographically to have been able to take care of this. My GYN back home wouldn't even put an IUD in me at 29yrs old cause I never had kid before, so my cervix wasn't soft enough 🙄 Whatever bitch, I left and got spayed in Cali at 34 with no pushback from my Drs out here, kiss my grits lol
Thanks for coming to my hippie TED talk, hope this helps others! ♥️

I’ve been having flu symptoms for the past three days. Today was the worse of symptoms, so I called off work. Other than work, I stayed local prior to getting sick.
It started with headaches, fatigue then eventually sore throat and diarrhea. Covid test came back negative. I read online that flu season is over.
Anyone else sick right now or recently sick?

I tested positive for Covid this weekend. Had all the Classic symptoms like body aches, headaches, sore throat, runny / blocked nose, cough, loss of taste and smell and absolute exhaustion like I’ve been hit by a truck. Even going to the bathroom is winding me. Now I’m starting to feel a bit better although still exhausted but have the worst stomachaches. And bloated and gassy. Does anyone else have tummy problems too?

Is anyone else not feeling well? Feels like I have a head cold. I got chills, lightheaded, dizzy, a low grade headache, sore throat and it feels like my sinuses are swollen. And I rarely get sick. Bf and friend from work was feeling the same way. Just curious if anyone knew what was going around.

Started taking antibiotics last Thursday for what the doc thinks was a bacterial infection (symptoms were sore throat, sinus headache, etc.). Not strep and did not test positive for another bacteria but the antibiotics seemed to help
Anyway I feel pretty much all better now but the antibiotics are destroying my stomach. What might happen if I don’t finish the prescription? Like what is the worst case scenario? At this point I think I’m willing to risk it for my stomach’s sake. Tomorrow will be day 7, and I was prescribed a 10 day dosage
I’m a 30 year old male. 5’10” 165 pounds, athletic if that matters lol

And a sore throat. It would be really helpful if I could have cough drops. Can I have some or do I need to take my trays out and then brush after?
I’m kind of miserable.
Thanks!

Female 34 YOA Fever of 102.4 Back pain Headache Fatigue Green/yellow snot
My 16 MO daughter caught a bug from daycare which presented as fatigue and a low grade fever on Sunday but she already appears to have fully recovered but my wife has really been hit since this morning. Started gradually with a bad sore throat (which has actually improved) but now these other symptoms. She is really worried about her temp, should we go to ER?

I'm a 26-year-old man, and I recently made a big mistake. On May 16th, around 3 AM, I had unprotected sex with a sex worker (F). She said it was her first time without a condom and assured me she was clean, but I have my doubts.
Later that day, I felt very unwell with body aches but no headache, sore throat, or fever. I thought it's nothing because I walked 30,000 steps in light rain. However, I became very stressed and anxious about possibly having HIV or HSV. I've been experiencing indigestion, and my lower belly felt uncomfortable for a few days. Now, it feels fine, though I never had a fever. Some days I felt better, but then I would feel unwell again.
On May 27th, my uvula felt dry, which worried me, but it hasn't turned into a sore throat, and I don't have pain when swallowing. I've had mild flu-like symptoms without a fever which it goes away after hours, and my penis looks normal (no discharge, no burning, sometimes poke feelings). The only issue is some itching around my anus sometimes, which might be from using a bidet.
Living with the fear of having HIV or HSV has been very tough. I've been obsessively researching symptoms online, and it's driving me crazy. My sleeping schedule is all messed up too. Can I get a full STD test after three weeks? I know it's recommended to wait three months for the most accurate results, but that wait is unbearable. How accurate would a test be if I take it in the third week?
I hope no one experiences what I'm going through. Now I understand how important it is to practice safe sex.

And also the symptoms. For example at first I didn't realise I was getting fevers as I just felt deathly tired. Then one day I had fever symptoms and got a thermometer and checked and sure enough my temperature was up. Over the years the fever symptoms got more and more extreme but still usually mainly include very extreme tiredness. Sore joints is also another main symptom. If you don't think you get them but suffer from tiredness I strongly suggest you start taking your temperature to check just in case. I managed to figure out my symptoms were at their worst when my temperature was up. Over time it became obvious they were fevers and I didn't need the thermometer but I don't know why the actual symptoms were subtle at first.
I am not taking about basal body temperature but I've considered tracking that again given that my daytime temperature changes so much. The temperature can also go down very low just before it jumps up, which is another sign of a fever. When I tracked my BBT, my temperature not long after puberty started did not change much, only what it is supposed to (about 0.4 at most, it then slowly kept creeping higher and got a degree higher every month although I forgot at what point). It would be considered a low grade fever though. It also depends what your normal temperature is, and how much it actually rises. It may be worth checking this. I'm not sure when it started but i'm pretty sure it didn't always happen, but who knows as I never used a thermometer except for this brief period.
Other symptoms include face flushing (suddenly red and hot then goes away when you stop) when angry or laughing (which doesn't happen normally and didn't happen before), sore joints, headache, cold hands and or feet either by itself or with very warm skin. Warm/hot skin. Hot urine. Too hot in bed. Unable to sleep (realised I had a fever later which was keeping me awake), and rosy red cheeks. Extreme fatigue and inability to move. (These are just my fever related symptoms, I have many many more!)
I honestly feel like there may be something to this as far as figuring out what PMDD actually is, the cause of the cure.

I remember having a bullseye type bite on my leg but didn’t know it could be Lyme at the time and never took antibiotics.
Does it eventually come out in the future and cause illness if you didn’t treat it right away?
I’m currently dealing with chronic Epstein Barr Virus and read that it usually comes out of dormant due to co-infections like Lyme. My dr tested me for Lyme but I read that blood tests that doctors run hardly show it as positive and that the igenex test is best.
Symptoms: (low grade fevers, extreme fatigue, headaches, brain fog, mild sore throat, feeling mildly sick on and off for the last 6 months or so)

I'm all up to date on my vaccines, so was hopeful I'd not get Covid again. The last time I had it I ended up in the hospital for a couple days with pneumonia.
This time I had initial symptoms that I didn't think were anything important. Started with some nausea, then I had what I assumed was an allergy flare. But, after a day of sneezing and runny nose I started getting worse. Last night I had a fever, so I decided it was worth testing. And I'm positive. Ugh.
Symptoms now are fever, body aches, watery eyes, headache, sinus congestion, cough, fatigue and loss of smell and taste. I'm hoping I don't end up with a secondary infection like last time. It's not good.
Hard to know for sure where I contracted it, but we were at a huge concert venue in Seattle on Friday, so that could've been it. I know a lot of people don't test anymore. Not sure why not, but we get the tests free, so I figure I may as well know what I'm sick with. I wish there were free at home tests for flu and RSV as well.

I stg 9/10 times I'm around my nephew I get sick after. Last week my sister, her two boys and I met at my parents house. Her 3 yo was coughing and had a runny nose. My sister said "it's just allergies"––allergies my ass. Two days later I wake up with a sore throat and have had a nasty cold for the past three days. This is by no means not the first time this has happened and because of that my parents have a rule that my sister can't bring her kids to family gatherings if they are sick. My sister keeps insisting that its just a normal part of having kids and that I just have to deal with it.

Chapter 1

Alyssa awoke with saltwater in her mouth and nose. She hacked and sputtered, only to realize she was sinking deeper into a pitch dark pool. She closed her eyes against the water's sting, and as her panic rose she flailed with arms and legs. She was desperate to regain bouyancy, even as she choked out the brine from her burning lungs. Determined, she broke to the surface again, gulping in air between ragged coughs as she fought to stay afloat.
Treading water, she opened her eyes and nothing changed. The darkness in the echoing chamber was complete, and she had to fight down another surge of panic as she took in the precariousness of her situation. The cold water sapped her strength, and her heart raced as a sudden scream of terror welled up from within.
Alyssa winced as her own scream echoed in her ears. She choked out the last of the salty water, then took a deep breath, trying to force herself to calm. "Okay, okay," she soothed herself, voice trembling slightly despite her efforts, "we're okay."
After another steadying breath, Alyssa began building a mental catalog of her situation. Her clothes were soaked through, but she wasn't finding treading water to be too difficult, yet; a future problem. Other than her lungs, nothing hurt, and those were recovering. She could still feel her toes and fingers on both hands, meaning no paralysis, that she could find. Nothing seemed to be seriously wrong, except that she had no idea how she'd come to be in a pitch dark echoing chamber filled with water.
Calmer, now, Alyssa tried to recall what she had been doing. The last thing she remembered was walking along the shoreline, feeling immensely lonely. The sound of the waves coming in, closer and closer, was still vivid in her mind. She could still remember the coarse feeling of the sand between her toes. The saltwater air had filled her lungs as she wondered how she could be in such a beautiful place, and still feel so sorry for herself. With a bitter laugh, Alyssa lolled her head back in the water and stared into the endless void. Well she certainly had reason to feel sorry for herself, now. Still, the memory of how she came to be here was distressingly absent.
Drip … Drip … Drop.
As her adrenaline faded, Alyssa could hear the slow, steady fall of water into the pool. Was the water level rising? She couldn't tell without knowing more about the chamber she was in. Determined to push back against her growing despair, Alyssa decided to explore her environment more thoroughly. A shiver coursed through her spine as she felt out to either side as far as her arms would go and couldn't find a wall, nor did she find purchase beneath her feet. After a moment of hesitation, Alyssa expanded her search. She swam forward, keeping her hands ahead of herself.
She didn't have to go far before she bumped into an uneven stone surface. Alyssa wasn't sure in the dark, but judging by the smoothness of the rock she guessed it was some kind of river stone. She followed the stone wall around for a ways before deciding it was curved inward. Pushing off, Alyssa turned and reached for the other side, then followed along the wall and repeated the crossing a few more times. She decided that the cavern was roughly circular, perhaps half again as wide as her armspan at its widest stretch, though without light she couldn't be certain she had ever crossed it straight. She considered her options as she clung to the side of the chamber.
Drip … Drip … Drop.
The steady sound was maddening in its repetition, and Alyssa let out a huff of annoyance. Thinking on it, though, she was sure the water had been steadily falling into the chamber the entire time she was here, and she didn't think the water level had risen. Not that she had any way to really know for certain, but if she was right, it implied there was some way for the water to get back out. Could she get out the same way? Taking a deep breath, Alyssa ducked beneath the surface and swam down. Her kicks were hindered by her sodden skirt, but following along the cavern wall as she descended, Alyssa felt the cavern floor after a depth of maybe twice her height. Ten feet wasn't even as deep as most home swimming pools.
Alyssa gulped down air as she returned to the surface, thinking hard about what she'd found. Another shiver coursed through her veins just before she dove down to explore the bottom further. Like the walls, it was uneven but smooth. She could feel some small cracks, and feel the water rushing past her fingers near one or two of these. That, then, was where the water was escaping to. Frustrated, she resurfaced one more and banged her fist against the stone wall. "Damnit." She knew she wouldn't be swimming her way out of here.
For the third time, Alyssa shivered, and she realised that she was starting to lose feeling in her toes. The water temperature wasn't frigid, but she could feel it sapping her strength. Was it ninety-six degrees for hypothermia? Ninety-five? She couldn't recall, but it wasn't important, without a thermometer. She was going to die, here, if she didn't find a way out, and soon.
Drip … Drip … Drop.
Straining, she tried to focus on the sounds around her once more. The incessant dripping of the cave was her only remaining hope of finding a way out, and she had no idea how to reach the ceiling. Alyssa squeezed her toes in an attempt to restore some feeling, while she thought about the problem. After a moment, she began exploring the cavern walls again, this time searching for something to stand on rather than just learning about her environment. After a few turns about the chamber, she found a small shelf just a few feet beneath the surface, large enough for her to put a single foot on.
She pushed herself up, trying to go slowly as she felt along the wall for anything to grip onto. She couldn't find purchase before her momentum carried her too far from the wall, but she did feel roughly how high the ceiling was just before she splashed back into the pool. "Yes!" she celebrated the small victory as she surfaced, fueling her hopes of an escape with that realization that she could probably wedge herself between the ceiling and the shelf if she was purposeful about it.
Returning to the wall, she tamped down on the urge to shiver again, then surged straight up, putting her hands above her to try and catch the ceiling. Water cascaded around her in a torrent, her water-logged clothing threatening to drag her back to the depths, but she held on until she was steady. Alyssa allowed herself a small smile for her success, though some part of her thought it felt more like a grimace, before she began feeling along the cavern ceiling with her hands. Like the rest of the chamber, the stone was smooth and uneven, but it had sharper protrusions here and there that might serve as handholds. Alyssa was reminded of the wall climb at the local mall. She'd never been great at it, despite her friends dragging her to try it every other weekend during high school.
As she continued exploring the ceiling, another involuntary shiver wracked her body, and she set her teeth against the growing chill. "I'm going to get out," she promised herself, just as her hand found open air where she'd expected stone. She nearly fell, but she caught herself and explored the edges of the hole. She couldn't even reach the entire thing from her perch! The ledge was rugged and sharp, and just barely far enough from the wall that she had to strain to reach it. She explored as far around the hole as she could, certain it was large enough for her to fit through. Excited, Alyssa grabbed onto the ledge with both hands and tried to pull herself up, but her grip wasn't solid enough. She immediately slipped back into the water with another splash.
Alyssa surfaced with a growl, feeling a surge of determination and stubbornness. Reclaiming her perch on the shelf, she pushed up to the roof of the chamber once more. This time she knew her target, so rather than wasting time and grip with exploration, she just focused on steadying herself, there. After a few breaths, she reached up to grab the ledge again, trying to find solid hand-holds.
As she swung out from the wall, her sodden skirt trailed through the water, weighing her down. She held on for longer this time, uttering a harsh noise as she strained to pull herself up. She managed to get her chin to her fingers before her grip failed her again, and the feeling of freefall sent her heart thrilling before she splashed into the cool water once more.
When she surfaced, Alyssa let out a frustrated growl. "I had it!" she admonished herself, before finding the ledge once more. A third time, her efforts were fouled and she fell into the water. In frustration, she peeled her skirt off her legs and abandoned it to the murky brine. With the drag gone, she had an easier time holding onto the ledge, and on her fourth attempt she nearly managed to pull herself all the way up before her arms gave out and she slipped back into the water with yet another scream of frustration.
She knew she was close, but she obviously wasn't going to make progress while her muscles were burning with fatigue. Floating on her back, Alyssa glared up into the darkness as her emotions swirled around her, threatening to drag her into despair. Hope and frustration warred within her, each trying to gain the upper hand. She clung onto the determination that she had almost made it, but as she dwelled on the problem above her, doubts began to surface. What if she couldn’t pull herself out? What if there wasn’t a way out above?
Anger surged through her at that thought, hot and fierce. She refused to accept that fate. Closing her eyes, she focused on the anger and used it as fuel for her resolve. She just needed a moment to catch her breath, relax her muscles, and try again. She was going to get out.
When she swung out for the fifth time, Alyssa’s fingers gripped tightly to the rock above. She pulled herself up into the black with a roar of determination and frustration. She got her chest over the lip, then reached one arm forward hastily in search of a better hold. She found purchase, then pulled a leg up and got one foot on the ledge. With a scream of exultation, she pushed herself the rest of the way out of the chamber and into the tunnels above.
With a feral noise of triumph, Alyssa slid onto the cool, damp stone of the tunnel, then rolled onto her back and lay gasping for air. Her muscles were twitching, and she was still cold, but she was no longer in the water, and that was a massive improvement, even if the dark and damp of the unknown was around her.
Alyssa wasn’t sure how long she lay there on the stone, but as her panting and muscle spasms gave way to shivering and goosebumps, she admitted to herself, “I have to move.” But it was hard to keep going; her body felt heavy and drained from the exertion of just climbing out of the chamber below, and she wasn’t even sure where to go next. With a groan, she pushed herself up to a sitting position, fighting the exhaustion and mounting sense of dread that threatened to claim her.
Carefully, she crawled forward on hands and knees, every movement an effort. She could feel the edge of the hole she’d just emerged from, but that was obviously a deadend. Instead, she pressed on, hunting for an alternative. The rough stone scraped against her palms and knees as she inched along, her progress painfully slow.
The cavern descended, and Alyssa's heart sank when her hand plunged into another pool of water. She pulled back, relieved that the bank was shallow enough she could easily get back out of this pool. Nevertheless, she paused to consider her options, then turned to explore in the opposite direction. After several minutes of fruitless searching, she realized that the water-filled passage was her only way forward.
Alyssa let out a heavy sigh of frustration as she lowered herself into the tepid water. She gritted her teeth as the cold crept back into her bones, but willed herself to keep moving. The tunnel continued its descent, and soon the ceiling plunged into the pool, forcing her to submerge if she wanted to continue. Alyssa hesitated, barely holding back her desperate tears. Swimming blindly through the flooded passage seemed like madness, but what choice did she have?
Taking a deep, gasping breath, Alyssa plunged beneath the surface and swam forward with powerful kicks of her legs. She kept one hand on the stone above and the other stretched out in front of her, searching for obstacles. As her lungs began to burn with the need for oxygen, panic threatened to overwhelm her. What if the tunnel never resurfaced? If she went much further, she was certain she would not be able to make it back. Still, she had no alternatives; no other way to proceed. So she swam forward into the unknown, gambling her life on an exit while desperately ignoring the growing panic in the back of her mind.
A subtle glow in the murky water caught Alyssa’s attention, and the tunnel veered sharply upward. Desperate for air, she kicked towards the light, discarding caution as she propelled herself forward and up with both arms and legs. Hope surged through her as she swam towards the surface.
When she emerged from the water, gasping and sputtering for air, Alyssa let out a cry of relief. Mushrooms! Glowing mushrooms filled the room, their glow dim but omnipresent. She marveled, letting out a delighted laugh at the sight of the water’s reflection erupting into a cascade of colors on the cavern ceiling. Alyssa took a deep breath, and although the air was musty and stale, it had a sharpness and movement to it that the previous chamber hadn’t. Where there were mushrooms there was life, and where there was wind there was an exit. For the first time in hours, Alyssa smiled, as she pulled herself out of the pool onto the bank.

Chapter 2

For the second time in several hours, Alyssa lay on the ground catching her breath and allowing her muscles to relax. The swim through the watery airlock–she couldn’t think of any other way to describe that tunnel–had been far more mentally taxing than the physical exertion of pulling herself up out of the first chamber. Nevertheless, it required a great deal of effort and she was exhausted.
As she lay on her back, Alyssa tried again to remember how she got here. She remembered vividly her walk on the beach, and then … water. There was nothing in between. She wasn't even sure how much time had passed, but judging by the way her stomach was starting to groan in protest, and by the fullness of her bladder, she was fairly sure it had been several hours. On the other hand, she could account for at least two of those since she found herself in the chamber, unless her estimate of time was very off.
Her deliberations were cut short by a small squeaking noise, not far away. Alyssa eased herself up and turned towards the noise. There in the field of mushrooms was a small white and brown mouse, cast in an eerie glow by the mushroom's bioluminescence. Alyssa watched in awe as the mouse nibbled on the mushrooms, waiting to see what would happen. She didn't know enough about mushrooms to judge their safety for herself, but if the mouse could eat them, she figured they were probably safe for her to try, as well. After all, weren't mice used for drug testing all the time?
The mouse seemed oblivious to Alyssa’s presence, and she held her breath as best she could while she counted the seconds, trying to decide how long she should wait before trusting the results. Hours, probably, if she was honest with herself. Just when she was about to give up on the idea, a sudden movement caught her eye. Beyond the mouse, swift as could be, a slithering figure stole towards the unsuspecting rodent. “No!” she called, and her hand found a rock. Hastily, she threw it towards the onrushing creature. The rock went wide, but the serpent’s stealth was spoiled, and the mouse quickly darted away from its assailant, deeper into the mushrooms.
The snake let out a hiss of annoyance, and Alyssa was briefly overwhelmed by a sudden feeling of immense displeasure. She wasn’t surprised the snake was annoyed, but the sheer vehemence she felt was almost as if sensing her own emotions. Its lunch foiled, the serpent turned and slithered away, leaving Alyssa and the mouse alone in the chamber once again.
Alyssa waited, still and quiet, as the chamber settled back into silence. She wondered whether the little mouse had escaped the field of mushrooms entirely, or if it was still here. But something told her to wait; a sense of hesitance and uncertainty that felt sourceless and yet compelling.
Eventually, her patience paid off, and the little mouse poked its head back out of the mushrooms, staring after the snake. It emitted a soft, hesitant noise, then furtively darted out of the field into the open. There, it paused to stare up at Alyssa, studying her with a raw curiosity that nearly overwhelmed Alyssa as much as the snake’s displeasure had. She also sensed gratitude from the little mouse, though how she knew that’s what it was feeling she could not say.
“Are you hurt?” she hazarded, as she leaned in towards the mouse. The little creature took a quick step back, and the curiosity was immediately replaced by uncertainty.
Alyssa straightened up to give the mouse space. The feeling of uncertainty slowly faded, and she tilted her head in curiosity. “Why can I sense what you're feeling?” she asked the mouse, though of course she knew it would not reply.
The mouse watched her for several more moments before taking a single daring step forward. Alyssa sat very still, and after another moment it took a few more steps towards her. Soon, it was near to her knee, its little nose twitching incessantly as it sniffed at her dampened skin.
“I’m afraid I don’t have any food on me,” Alyssa said, still not moving but to talk. The mouse sat back and stood up on its hind legs to peer up at her. Alyssa could sense its curiosity turn to acceptance, and then, before she could protest, the little mouse leapt up onto her leg. She gasped in startlement, surprised at the feel of its soft fur and the tickle of its little claws brushing against her bare skin.
When it reached her hip, the mouse scurried under her tee shirt, and Alyssa made a choking noise of displeasure as it crawled, with quick movements, up her back and out of the tattered collar. When it came to rest on her shoulder, Alyssa held her breath, not daring to move. She watched the mouse out of the side of her eye, and a sense of appreciation flooded into her perception. Slowly, she turned her head to see the mouse staring at her. With a twitch of its whiskers, the little creature poked its nose against her cheek, cool and damp, before turning to look at the mushrooms.
“You think they will be safe for me?” she asked quietly, as she turned to follow the mouse’s gaze. “But raw mushrooms …” she complained, with some disdain. The mouse touched its nose to her cheek once more, and Alyssa sensed insistence. With a sigh, she mumbled, “Why am I trusting a mouse?” before ever so slowly–so as not to dislodge her guest–she leaned forward to collect a handful of the morsels.
Alyssa straightened and studied her collection of mushrooms thoughtfully. Arranging them by size, she selected the smallest and glanced at the mouse out of the corner of her eye once more. "You're sure about this?" she asked, her voice echoing in the damp cavern. The mouse couldn't speak, of course, but Alyssa felt a strong sense of certainty from her tiny companion. Or maybe that was just the discomfort of hypothermia, exhaustion and her painfully full bladder talking.
Hesitantly, Alyssa popped the smallest mushroom into her mouth. It had a surprisingly rich, earthy flavor, reminiscent of the forest after a rainstorm. As she chewed, the spongy texture yielded, releasing a burst of liquid that filled her mouth with a strange, electric tingle. The sensation was not unpleasant, but definitely unfamiliar. She swallowed, marveling at how easily it went down despite her reservations.
Emboldened by the lack of immediate ill effects, Alyssa quickly consumed the other mushrooms. With each one, the tingling sensation spread, until her whole body hummed with a kind of vibrant, restless energy.
Cupping her hands together, Alyssa scooped up some of the cool water and drank deeply. The liquid soothed her throat, but did nothing to quell the building sense of excitement and unease. She leaned back against the rock, trying to steady herself as the mushrooms’ effects took hold.
It wasn't hallucinations, but a profound shift in Alyssa's perception. The cave seemed to come alive around her; the rocks and water pulsed with a subtle, resonant energy. She felt a surge of confidence and clarity, as if a veil had been lifted from her eyes. With trembling hands, she tore a strip from the bottom of her t-shirt and fashioned it into a makeshift pouch. She wasn't sure what lay ahead, but having a source of food could prove useful. She filled the pouch to the brim with the glowing caps, marveling at their strangeness, before tying it securely to her hip.
"Okay," Alyssa whispered, her voice sounding strangely amplified to her own ears. "I guess we follow the snake." The thought of the serpent sent a ripple of fear through her companion, but she reassured him, "Don't worry, I won't let it get you." The little mouse was still afraid, but it seemed to understand her meaning, and nestled up against her neck, soft fur gentle on her skin.
With a deep breath, Alyssa rolled to her knees and stood, her legs trembling slightly. The mouse clung to her, its small heartbeat echoing her own. Alyssa could feel its mix of curiosity and trepidation, mirroring her own complex emotions. "Come on," she muttered, "let's go." She started forward into the gloom, following the serpent's path and the promise of fresh air. Using the glowing bundle on her hip as a makeshift light, Alyssa navigated the narrow tunnels with confidence. Her bare feet found easy purchase on the cool, damp stone. She progressed at a much more comfortable pace than the slow, exploratory crawl she'd been limited to in the submerged chamber. As she followed the winding tunnel, it sloped gradually upwards, and a light fog crept in, curling around her ankles. Alyssa's heart quickened. She dared to believe she was nearing open air, and a potential end to this nightmare.
Yet even as hope blossomed in her chest, each step brought a growing unease from the small, furry companion on Alyssa's shoulder. The mouse huddled closer to her neck, its nose twitching incessantly. As they rounded a corner, a new scent filled Alyssa's nostrils: earthy mud and a hint of ozone, in stark contrast to the mineral-rich dampness of the caverns. The tunnel widened sharply ahead, seeming to fall away into a murky expanse. Through the haze, the silhouette of a massive tree trunk promised an escape from what she had almost believed might be her tomb.
"We made it," Alyssa breathed, a swell of triumph surging through her. The mushrooms' influence still thrummed in her veins, confidence mingling with her own burgeoning anticipation. She quickened her pace, emerging from the cave mouth into the cool, damp air. Alyssa paused there, one hand on the stone wall, as she breathed in the scent of her freedom.
A twilit forest stretched out before her, dotted with towering trees that reached for an unfamiliar sky. Alyssa tilted her head back, marveling at the stars glimmering above. Their patterns were strange, yet mesmerizing; their strangeness only matched by the comfort they brought her. Alyssa knew the constellations were wrong; that they matched nothing she'd ever seen before, but right now all that mattered was the comfort in knowing that she would not die in that cave.
A squeak of pure terror from the mouse jolted Alyssa from her reverie. The force of her companion's fear nearly knocked the wind from her. Alyssa swiftly sought the source of the mouse's fear. There, beside the nearest tree, stood a tall, gaunt figure, a serpent slithering up its leg. The figure's cold blue eyes glared at Alyssa with a chilling intensity.
As the snake continued its ascent, the figure lifted a hand, guiding the snake to wrap about its too-long neck. Subtle, thorny protrusions emerged from the figure's chin, and the snake rubbed itself against them, hissing as it impressed its displeasure upon the figure, no doubt casting Alyssa as the villain in its tale.
"H-hello," Alyssa stammered, suddenly acutely aware of her vulnerability. She took a guarded step back and brought her hands up defensively. The figure's presence was oppressive, suffocating. Even in her desperation, Alyssa knew she wanted no part of any help they might offer. Still, she needed time to think. She had to find a way past them without provoking their ire, and an attempt at being polite was all she could come up with in the moment.
The figure spoke, its voice a grating rattle. "You have violated the ancient agreement, and trespassed beyond the barrier." Alyssa was sure she didn't know what any of that meant, but before she could say so, the figure continued, "There are consequences for your meddling, child, and I am come to deliver them."

really need some help easing my anxiety over this l'm a (Female age 21), I had intercourse on the 10th of may and the 11th, I started my period on the 13th of may (was light the first day and then heavy the second day enough to soak a pad and then light again but still needed a pad for it) fast forward about a week and a half I'm starting to get cramping in my pelvic area not sure if this is ovulation (I do track my ovulation and I stopped ovulating on the 24th but got awful cramps on the 25th, I now have the flu (stuffy nose, sore throat, dizziness and headaches), im feeling some nausea but l'm not sure if that due to me stressing and having alot of anxiety about not knowing if I am or not. I've taken 2 pregnancy tests both negative one being today and one being on the 20th may was probably to early to test but I just needed to try and ease my mind I start my period in 9 days at what point can I test for pregnancy am l able to test before I miss a period or does it have to be after? I also forgot to add he didn't finish in me as far as I know, we did the pull out method which I know is not effective and I'm not sure why I did it the first time he pulled out I made him wipe it and he put it back in, the next day he pulled out but we didn't wipe it. Please any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. I AM NOT A TEEN BUT ALL THE GROUPS WONT LET ME POST IT IN THEIRS WITHOUT THEM ACCEPTING ME :(

I really need some help easing my anxiety over this I’m a (Female age 21), I had intercourse on the 10th of may and the 11th, I started my period on the 13th of may (was light the first day and then heavy the second day enough to soak a pad and then light again but still needed a pad for it) fast forward about a week and a half I’m starting to get cramping in my pelvic area not sure if this is ovulation (I do track my ovulation and I stopped ovulating on the 24th but got awful cramps on the 25th, I now have the flu (stuffy nose, sore throat, dizziness and headaches), im feeling some nausea but I’m not sure if that due to me stressing and having alot of anxiety about not knowing if I am or not. I’ve taken 2 pregnancy tests both negative one being today and one being on the 20th may was probably to early to test but I just needed to try and ease my mind I start my period in 9 days at what point can I test for pregnancy am I able to test before I miss a period or does it have to be after? I also forgot to add he didn’t finish in me as far as I know, we did the pull out method which I know is not effective and I’m not sure why I did it the first time he pulled out I made him wipe it and he put it back in, the next day he pulled out but we didn’t wipe it. Please any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Last week, I had an unbelievable sore throat without coughing. Went to CVS and got some antibiotics, which made things slightly better. Strep diagnosis was negative.
... until Thursday midnight, when I inhaled some of the medication I was taking. I felt like I had something stuck in my throat, so I forced myself to spit it out by coughing really hard. Some stuff got out, and I felt relief, like I could breathe better.
I went to the ER, checked for aspiration pneumonia with an x ray, and all was good.
... however, I might have fucked up something in my throat in the process. Fast forward to today, and now I find it difficult to eat or drink anything. I feel pain if I try talking normally. My voice is hoarse. I also feel slight acid whenever I eat something. But this isn't a "cold" type pain - this feels like injury type pain, right in my throat. I also feel pain when I look up.
Reddit, wtf do I do?

Last night at work I started to feel sick with my throat bothering me to the point where I struggled taking my medicines. Today I woke up with a persistent bad cough and congestion and headache. I feel nauseous and can barely eat and my body is aching in my arms, legs/knees, and feet. I got some medicine to take for the cold/flu with advice from the pharmacist but it only helped temporarily I’m still feeling extremely ill. So my question is how do you know when it’s an actual cold/flu or flare??? I’m a bit worried because I’ve been feeling fatigue and tired all the time since diagnosis and my big flare last September but this also doesn’t feel like a regular cold/flu. I’m worried that I won’t be ready to go to work in one day if I don’t feel better. I just passed my first 90 days this week and I’m worried I’ll get in trouble if I call out but idk what to do. Does anyone also have any advice how to stop some of these symptoms?