[Tweety]

I know you are talking tongue in cheek as only nurses do, especially ER nurses.

But people of "fake" seizures actually have an illness. Perhaps not "seizures". But they don't necessarily consciously say "Gee, I think I'll go to the ER and fake a seizure". Many of them sincerely believe they are having seizures. (Seizures can manifest themselves in many many ways besides flipflopping all over the place and ******* on oneself.)

Usually there is a history of abuse, tremendous stress, etc. But it is an illness that the person needs to be treated for. Nurses and even physicians can be cruel in their "they are just faking it" types of attitudes.

End of lecture from the former-neuro nurse.

(We have a patient that would talk to you during the "seizure".)

[ktwlpn]

sure-anyone desperate enough to fake an illness to get medical attention certainly has some problems and we can't ignore even the most obvious malingerer because the one time we do they really are sick.It's way interesting to me that it cuts across all boundaries-age,sex,socio-economic status,etc...I can remember many cases-17 yr old boy with a "bad knee" Arthroscopy-negative but he was on narcotics and in "excruciating pain" Parents going through a bitter divorce and his aunt is a nurse---Shame the docs did not get him the help he really needed...I kind of enjoy the CHF'ers that play with there meds-skip a few doses of that diaretic and get a little hospital vacay....I had a 30-something woman with infected wounds-she was a picker....75 yr old wealthy married women-"weak and dizzy"spells-a yearly vacation-co-incided with her adult step-children's yearly visits...year after year after year....I would rather enjoy a short vacation myself......uummmm

[cindyln]

We had one who was fine when the doctor was examining him. Had a "seizure" in the hall outside the exam room which stopped when we put 2 large bore IV's in him and a cather. He responded real well to painful stimuli. Had all of us laughing at him.

[pappyRN]

FYI- Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy can be greatly influenced by an increase of stress. Perhaps the child in the chronic pain program had more stress at home than in the hospital so he/she experienced symptom migration to a different limb, which by the way is not at all uncommon for those who are familiar with the pathophysiology of RSD/CRPS. In fact, it happens quite frequently and can be and is quite frightening for the patient. I hope for this child's sake that his physician was informed of this migration. This wasn't a "miraculous experience" but a manifestation of a brutal, hideously painful neuropathic disorder that can lead a person to commit suicide without adequate pain management. Pray that you never become a victim of RSD/CRPS. There are an unbelievable number of nurses who are injured on the job and develop RSD/CRPS. You never know when you may be it's next victim and your life plans taken away from you as you struggle each hour just trying to deal with the burning pain that makes you feel like you have been boiled in oil. I can't even hold my grandson. You are in a profession that gets hit disproportionately with this disorder. That may make you advocate more for the patient instead of disbelieving him. Educate yourself about this disorder. I lost my nursing career from this and yes, along with that all income and future earning potential. I live on SS disability. My meds cost me $700.00/month out of pocket. At the time of my injury I was sailing to the top of the career ladder. I never expected anything like this to happen nor dol you. But it can and does. And when it does, you will be begging for someone to believe you.

Warm personal regards,
Pappy

[sunnygirl272]

Originally posted by Stargazer
W. T. F.?????

The doc's never heard of stool softener?

nag...farg the Fibercon and Proctofoam....PCAs for everyone who is bound up....

[l.rae]

l can understand why ppl w/ valid illnesses can raise eyebrows at topics like these.....but you first must understand...#1, we attempt to treat these ppl regardless of our inclinations...they ARE given the benefit of the doubt....#2 there is rarely any documented medical history of anything r/t sx's. #3 these ppl ALWAYS get worse with an audience..especially the family/friends they are attempting to manipulate.....#4these ppl NEVER look ill or truley distressed....let me give you 2 examples

1. young girl 16yo arrives via emt "unresponsive" with sz-like activity....brought from a high school football game....friends state she only had a coke which they wittnessed her open the can herself.....except for the fact she won't respond, she looks great....(parents can especially appreciate this cause you know kids look like crap when they are sick). Eyes open and close, limbs jerking....much worse when juvenile tearful friends in the room. MD comes in room, holds open her eyelid and BINGO....eye contact....MD turns around, rolls eyes, and orders all obligatory tests....drug screen clean, ct neg.......funny thing though, when she first came in l told another nurse in room my bets were on FWB syndrome..(Fight With Boyfriend).....long story short......l was right.

2.Migrant worker , non-English speaking presents with interpreter stating joints of upper extrematies painful, difficult to move hands, finger...they are contracted...l try to extend fingers and pt winces...doesn't seem overtly ill...but suspect of seeking just doesn't feel right....can't quite put my finger on it, the only impression l am left with is that something is unusual about this situation......turns out, this guy has tetanus....in my 22 yrs nursing l have NEVER personally seen tetanus...he goes to ICU

Personally, l think experienced nurses have a good sixth sense about pt's.....but l have seen some incompassionate doozies...they are out there.

[cactus wren]

WOW !! L.rae...did he make it??/I have never seen tetnus,either


and agree...gut feelings are often right on the money

[yannadey]

the other night had a seizure faker I gave her the call light & told her call when it was over, she took the button asked me if I'm going to call the doctor told her no the doctor will be coming in the morning she wanted to know what time then she said "I guess I'll wait till then to have my seizure all I could say was yep that would be the perfect time of course I did give the doctor & on coming nurse a heads up on what to expect. I was told the following night about the oscar worthy performance they received

[deespoohbear]

Originally posted by regnursein99
We once found him laying on the floor in his room, rolling around and jerking. (He weighed over 350#...this was a real sight) A verteran RN on our floor had dealt w him many times and just yelled, "LOU! LOU! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!!!" He honestly STOPPED the "seizure" looked up and said, "I am having a seizure!" and promptly started flipping around on the floor again!

OMG!!! That is too funny!!

What did the nurse say back to him?

[l.rae]

Originally posted by cactus wren
WOW !! L.rae...did he make it??/I have never seen tetnus,either


and agree...gut feelings are often right on the money

as far as l know, he did make it..... but l don't know how he fared in the long run...from my limited experience, those that live usually end up in LTC....kind of tend to loose track of them when working ER......

and want to add, that those reading this thread who have legit dse......surely you can see you are a world apart from the "acadamy" winners discussed here.