Diseases I've Only Seen In Textbooks

Body Bizarre is a TLC show highlighting unusual diseases people live with around the world. Today we look at a man whose body has ballooned in size because of a deep sea diving accident, a man who will die if he doesn't drink gallons of water a day, a woman with a highly-dangerous skin pigmentation issue, gigantism affecting the fertility of a Brazilian couple, and a young Chinese boy whose body always feels hungry no matter how much he's eaten. As always, these conditions are real, so let's lead with empathy and understanding in the comment section.

I LOVE reading your comments and take your suggestions seriously. If there’s a subject you want me to discuss or something you’d like for me to react to, leave a comment down below. Many of my videos have been born out of suggestions directly from you, so don’t hold back!
-Doctor Mike Varshavski

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Executive Producer: Doctor Mike
Production Director and Editor: Dan Owens
Managing Editor and Producer: Sam Bowers
Editor and Designer: Caroline Weigum

* Select photos/videos provided by Getty Images *

** The information in this video is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information, contained in this video is for general information purposes only and does not replace a consultation with your own doctor/health professional **

[WolfloverDFTBA]

Someone I know has Prader-Willi Syndrome. Her parents made it a necessity early on in her development to understand what is going on with her and to teach her how to successfully live a healthy and full life with her genetic condition. She is such an inspiration to others to learn more about the genetic condition and she has even participated in medical trials to help others like her. Her mother has created an amazing local and virtual community for families who have children with Prader-Willi Syndrome.

[philbateman]

Fun medical story: So I'm a recovering alcoholic, and one day I was very sick with a hangover, and threw up after drinking a bunch of water. It was pure black :S So I panicked thinking it was blood leaking into my stomach and went to the ER. They did a whole bunch of tests, and couldn't find anything wrong, but kept me in overnight for monitoring. In the night, I threw up again, and again it was pure black. The ward nurse took a sample of it for examination, and I was up the rest of the night in a panic. The results came back the next day. It wasn't blood. So what was it?

Coca-Cola.

I'd drunk a ton of it the night before I got sick, and it turned out I was so vitamin deficient that my stomach simply couldn't absorb anything, so that coke, along with anything else I put down there was just sitting there. 6 litres of IV fluids and 3 rally packs of vitamins and by the next day I was right as rain. Still, that was the last straw for me, and I reached out for rehab that same day.

[jjolive]

When I was 8 months pregnant I developed a severe kidney and blood infection. When my son was born the infected blood had caused a 1 in 4 million issue called protein c deficiency. I was at one of the best hospitals in my country and they had no idea what it was. It would have killed him in 24 hours had they not took a chance and gave him blood infusions (containing the protein that he needed) The doctors asked us to sign forms to use his test results to teach other patients. He made a full recovery and is a happy healthy 10 month old. So very grateful for the doctors and nurses that saved my sweet boy ❤

[wuixxxxeee]

My sister has Prader-Willi. She actually has the rare disomic version of it. She was blessed because one of the person that gave birth to her (she was premature) was a PW specialist so he saw the symptoms early on when she was born. Since she was young we gave her a very strict diet and she is health, at a normal weight and no diabetes!

[starrycrystals]

Video idea: Can eating food you dislike actually make you sick? If so, how? I’d love to hear his thoughts on this one.

[Maxsmom]

Seeing the boy getting his "treatments" was heart breaking. He looked so frightened and in pain. Having been in vet med for over 20 years and practicing fear free medicine this is so sad to see in human med.

[sensoryinput]

My son has PWS, he is 14 now. My husband and I started doing controlling food intake at age 5, which is when they start seeking food due to hyperphagia.
We have meals schedule, so he knows when he is going to eat. He has 3 meals and 2 snacks total a day, I count carbs and calories since he is inna low carb diet. He sees a nutritionist, and he also exercise. We have a lock in our refrigerator and pantry, we do not leave food on the counters, we also do not serve seconds. Yep, It is a lot of work, but I am happy to say he is not overweight, he can participate in all physical activities at school and with us.

[Beau]

Imagine having a condition and the doctor is like hey, we are going to put a flaming rag on top of your abdomen. Is that all right? 12:21

[firemonkey]

I have a daughter with Prader-Willi syndrome. Fortunately, she was diagnosed at birth so we were able to put safeguards in place to help control excessive eating (locked cupboards/fridge etc.). She gets to eat pretty much the same food as we do, just less and high-calorie foods (chocolate, etc) only on special occasions. She is now 40 years old, and although a little overweight for her height, she is doing well. Although she has some cognitive deficiencies, she's fairly independent but will never be able to live without a care giver of some kind.

[jblyon]

I was recently diagnosed with a rare condition. My primary care doctor was borderline excited that she now had 2 patients with the same rare condition. I mean, her excitement was over being able to compare our treatment directly, but still it's like woah, calm down there, this sucks for me! LOL

[coolbreeze]

I can't get over how thoughtful Dr. Mike is in his videos. It always seems like he makes the effort to see things through the patient's perspective.

[JackieOwl]

1:08 The patient failed to mention that he likely was exhaling the entire way up, as if you don’t, your lungs will expand too fast and pop like balloons, causing pneumothorax. I remember doing extensive reading on these issues when my family and I were studying up on getting our diving certs almost a decade ago. It’s all about air pressure.

[allif]

My brother is one of 4 people in 2 yrs to get eastern equine encephalitis, in our state. He not only survived but has zero lasting damaged. The other 3 either passed or have severe lasting nerve damage.
He was one of only 15 in the entire USA

[connormitchell]

I worked at a summer camp for kids/teens with disabilities. 2 kids had Prader-Willi syndrome. It was tough and sad. The lengths they would go to sneak food had no bounds. Also other significant cognitive disabilities related to the condition

[daviddura]

This man is a doctor and still makes bad diseases fun to learn

[Halloween-nr]

You know what sucks, i turned 28 & have ostioarthitis & Ankaloysing spondilitis, my spine is slowly fusing, i cant stand up straight, my hips need replaced, im in pain 24/7 even on meds, cant run, cant jump, need a crutch to get around, cant work, need help changing or getting up, im working on getting ssi disability, autoimmune disease thats uncurable, just last year i was working fulltime, had my own place, in a relationship & my disease is that progessive that now less then a year later my life changed completely, cant walk normally, lost my job, need assistence, had to move in with family, no more relationship, broke fighting for disabilitly. Not even 30 need a bunch of joints replaced & have to live like this forever. Yay cant wait.

[samu]

We have friends who have a son with prader Willi. The kid is not overweight. They put a lot of effort in monitoring his eating and exercise. He has therapy of some kind since forever. He did a little below average in school, just finished and is learning a trade.

[vickyoli]

As a scuba diver, that scares me. Many things can happens to us. Thankfully, I haven’t had any issues so far. But what you see in the depths, is unique

[dcharlson]

I'm so glad Dr. Mike brought up Diabetes Insipidus because it often times gets confused with Diabetes Mellitus. I've had it since I was 5 as result of brain surgery to remove a pituitary tumor. Even some doctors and nurses get confused as to how to manage my health. I do see an endocrinologist as well as my family doctor.

[dieselpunk]

"My son is really fat."
Traditional Chinese doctor: *''We will set fire to him.''*