Ever seen a Vampire or Werewolf in your ER ?

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Specializes in ER/ MEDICAL ICU / CCU/OB-GYN /CORRECTION.

I was reading a professional journal trying to update my CEUs and I came across this fascinating and thankfully bizarre syndrome named "PORPHYUIA". I have never seen this nor even heard of this tragic disease. Link below.

The clinical presentation is a combination of pathologies that has symptoms affecting both physical and psychiatric spheres. Due to its rarity often a misdiagnosis or under diagnosis such as psychosis or drug induced psychosis is made. Tragically this error can have life threatening consequences for the patient as well as legal repercussions for the providers involved.

Has anyone here ever seen or heard of this devastating condition - if so was there a delay in diagnosis and what treatment was given?

So there is some truthful basis to folks wearing garlic around their neck - just not evidence based.

Marc :)

http://www.epmonthly.com/cme/current-issue/vampires-a-werewolves-in-the-ed/1/

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Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

I've seen it and in fact have a friend who has it. It's truly devastating, and yes, treatment was delayed.

I know you meant no harm, but your LOL at the end of your posting saddens me.

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Specializes in ER, Trauma.

Let's see, transvestites yeah, exorcisms yeah, too numerous to count animals vegetable minerals and objects in places they were never meant to be yeah. NOPE! You got me on vampires and werewolves, of course we're excluding halloween and on-call doctors. Thanks for the interesting post!

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Do you mean Porphyria? There was an entire TV show a few years ago about 2 sisters who had this affliction, and what the parents did to keep them safe. The doctor saw his clients after dark, the kids went to playgrounds at night, and they faced quite a bit of bias. It was a 'dateline' or 20/20 kind of thing.

Sad.

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Specializes in ER/ MEDICAL ICU / CCU/OB-GYN /CORRECTION.

"I know you meant no harm, but your LOL at the end of your posting saddens me."

I have always appreciated and respected the humanity in your postings here on this board. I thank you for pointing out what could be seen as offensive. I have removed the LOL and changed the essence of the saying I said about garlic.

Your right Wispera no harm was intended.

Thanks

Marc

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Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

thank you too, Marc.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

Lots of wherewolves came into the Urgent Care where I worked -- well I'm pretty sure they were based on the physical description. But then they also resembled the way Spencer Tracy looked after he turned into Mr Hyde in the golden oldie version of the story.

They featured another variant of this on a medical reality show - as I recall the diagnosis was made when the patient's urine turned purple after exposure to UV light sitting on a windowsill or something.

I had a homecare pt who's urine turned purple also and we were never able to trace it to any external source . . ..hmmmmm. .

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Specializes in ER/ MEDICAL ICU / CCU/OB-GYN /CORRECTION.

"I had a homecare pt who's urine turned purple also and we were never able to trace it to any external source . . ..hmmmmm. "

If I may suggest here are 4 possible reasons :

1) acute intermittent porphyria -

2) over use of and excretion of homeopathic colloidal silver

3) eating too many beets

4) "Long term bag syndrome - which has been documented by a study from the NIH

Marc

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Specializes in Trauma Surgery, Nursing Management.

Indeed an interesting thread. I would have titled it "Have you seen any pts in your career with Porphyria" instead of Werewolves and Vampires. Just my two cents...

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

thanks marc!

i believe it is most likely number 4 as 2 and 3 can be ruled out immediately, and she fits the profile discussed in the study you referred to.

owing to the particulars of this patient it will probably be better not to call it "long-term bag syndrome" :-/

just a little bit of levity- not to be taken as disrespect!! "pubs" is catchier anyway.

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Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

I gotta ask, what's long-term bag syndrome?

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
I gotta ask, what's long-term bag syndrome?

From what I could find it is an uncommon condition that occurs most often in female patients in LTCs for long periods of time with several other factors and no single cause as yet identified.

The patient I had actually had a discolored purple Foley bag and catheter, but the urine itself was not an unusual color. I couldn't find any reason for it - but Marc sent me in the right direction!

Here is one of the links:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2682405/

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