Case Presentation: This is a 37-year-old Cambodian male with a past medical history of chronic untreated hypertension and recent methamphetamine use presents with acute onset “tearing” chest pain. Physical exam was remarkable for tachycardia and tachypnea with increased work of breathing. In addition, the patient appeared in severe distress. CT examination showed that he had [...]

Case Presentation: A 65-year-old man presented to outside hospital post-fall with weakness, back pain and fever. He had sinus tachycardia, leukocytosis, and a meth-positive urine drug screen (UDS). Chest x-ray and CT abdomen/pelvis were unremarkable. Blood and urine cultures grew MRSA. Empiric antibiotics and infectious disease (ID) consult ordered. Transthoracic (TTE) and transesophageal (TEE) echocardiogram [...]

Case Presentation: A 40-year-old female with morbid obesity, methamphetamine dependence, and tobacco use disorder presented with the one-day onset of diffuse and severe abdominal pain. A review of the systems was positive for nausea, vomiting, inability to tolerate food by mouth, constipation, and diaphoresis but she denied fever, diarrhea, or other related symptoms. Patient-reported using [...]

Case Presentation: A 33-year-old male with a history of HIV, bipolar disorder and polysubstance abuse presented to the ED with one day of severe pain in his lower back and bilateral thighs. He described the pain as sharp and fiery, with radiation from the lower back to his knees bilaterally. Further history revealed that the [...]

Case Presentation: A 56-year-old man with PMH chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage II, adjustment disorder, methamphetamine (meth) abuse, last use 2 days before admission, presented with decreased urine output, “coffee-colored” urine, diffuse muscle pain, severe back pain, and fatigue for 1 day. Urine was positive for amphetamines, CPK 218,000 mcg/L, AST, and ALT were 1254 [...]