Whether it ’s a pernicious quirk , a fall back effect you brush off , or something you thought everyone dealt with , plenty of people do n’t get diagnosed until someone else betoken out a ruby flag .
Sometimes, it takes an offhand comment from a friend, a TikTok, or even a stranger to make you realize that something you thought was “normal” might actually be a medical condition. Whether it’s a subtle quirk, a recurring issue you brushed off, or something you thought everyone dealt with, plenty of people don’t get diagnosed until someone else points out a red flag.
So, we want to know: What’s a medical condition you didn’t know you had until someone pointed out a symptom?
Maybe a friend noticed your eye wasn’t tracking properly. A roommate insisted you see a doctor about your constant fatigue. Or a medical technician discovered your high blood pressure during a routine procedure. These moments of realization can be life-changing and sometimes even life-saving.
Perhaps you’ve always been cold, even in the summer, but thought nothing of it until your coworker mentioned it, leading you to find out you have hypothyroidism.
Maybe you’ve always lost focus during conversations and struggled to finish tasks, assuming you were lazy — until a friend with ADHD suggested you get evaluated.
Or perhaps you always thought you had sensitive skin around, only to discover you’re actually allergic to your laundry detergent.
Please share your experience with unexpected diagnoses, and your story could be featured in an upcomingBuzzFeed Communitypost. What condition did you discover you had? Who pointed out the symptom? How did getting diagnosed and treated change your life?
Whether it’s a subtle quirk, a recurring issue you brushed off, or something you thought everyone dealt with, plenty of people don’t get diagnosed until someone else points out a red flag.
