Faking It

TX Guy · Feb 19, 2003

Wow I had no idea this was so prevalent.

Wow thats scary. You could hurt someone or yourself just trying to help these people.

P

SmilingBluEyes · Feb 19, 2003

yep a lot of kookie birds out there.

frannybee · Feb 19, 2003

We've had a lady in for 2 wks now with dizziness (none observed since admission) and falls (none since admission but covered in bruises o/a). Various investigations, nothing abnormal with any of them. Doctors were going to discharge her tomorrow....she arrested this AM. Alive but unresponsive except to painful stimuli. Shocked the hell out of us.

Stargazer · Feb 19, 2003

Originally posted by kaycee
6. "HEY, I'm having a seizure here"

Stargazer · Feb 19, 2003

Originally posted by emily_mom
Now he has a PCA b/c "it hurts so bad" when he poops.

W. T. F.?????

The doc's never heard of stool softener?

Scavenger'sWife, RN · Feb 19, 2003

We used to have this frequent flier w numerous admits w CHF. However he would often fake it or c/o other things while admitted in order to stay in the hospital where he got "great food" (his words).

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! :roll

Nurse Ratched, RN · Feb 19, 2003

Told a patient who was faking a seizure that I couldn't roll her over and she needed to lie on her side so she wouldn't choke, in case she vomited. She rolled over with no assistance .

emily_mom · Feb 19, 2003

I think part of the problem is that we get all the non-stable psych patients. When they're stable, they go downstairs. This guy hasn't been referred yet.

What happened to the good ol' days when all docs thought everything was "in your head"?

Tweety, BSN, RN · Feb 19, 2003

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 pissing 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, LPN · Feb 19, 2003

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 · Feb 19, 2003

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 · Feb 20, 2003

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