How in the world..and why?!?!?

Yes and no. What I mean is that the activity itself is unfathomable to the organized mind. However, the brains of people with mental illness are not typical, and their thinking isn't always organized. On a rational level, I do know this. That doesn't mean I understand these behaviors at a fundamental level, though.

OH it sooooooo is hard to fathom! But...of course that doesn't sway my job or tx of this patient...it is just...different! I am use to having some insite at least..this one...holly cow!!!!! Ummmmmm nope!

Well then again I can't fathom Muchausen by proxy either! Or other mental illnesses in the psychosocial realm....

One thing I know for sure....my state, and I know others do not have funding, facilities or what not for these people! We wind up having staff hurt and beaten because these pts wind up staying WEEKS at our hospital awaiting ANY placement...there is just no place to put them! Very sad!!!!!!! Very sad indeed........

My sympathies are there..no doubt..but my goodness...this one is a new one for my experience book!

I had a Munchausen patient today!!!! Mine did something equally as unfathomable and the end result was similar - cellulitis. Argh. I feel terribly bad for this patient, but at the same time, it's so challenging to relate to it. What I find even more surprising is that 50% of the people pity and placate her in any way they can and the other 50% totally disregard her as a "nutcase". Strange disease.

Amanda

The mind is very difficult to comprehend isn't it?

We had a patient that was so psychotic, he sliced open his abdomen and began eating his viscera and intestines. (Prior to arrival mind you.)

I don't know if this is true or not but one of my friends (a family med M.D.) told be that healthcare professionals are more likely to have Munchausen- my friend had a by proxy patient that was injecting chicken fat between her daughter's toes....blech!

The mind is very difficult to comprehend isn't it?

We had a patient that was so psychotic, he sliced open his abdomen and began eating his viscera and intestines. (Prior to arrival mind you.)

:smackingf

well it is a wierd line..you don't want to continue the cycle by aiding in their need for pitty or attention..but at the same time..you don't want to ingnore....it is difficult to say the least!

I am a student RN and we were told of a patient that was on the floor that had injected fecal matter into her knee and ankle joint spaces. YUCK! I can't imagine where the idea comes from.

Also had a visitor that had sliced his throat in the cafeteria and then walked bleeding into another area of the hospital and stabbed himself in the chest approx. 14 times and pulled pieces of his lung and threw it on the wall before he died and collapsed.

It really is hard to wrap one's mind around why folks would want to do such to themselves. I suppose in the career we have chosen we will see many oddities.

On a better note!! I was called yesterday and offered an extern job on a surgery/transplant SICU. I am sooooo excited and nervous at the same time. I start the 21st. I don't know quite what to expect.

Have a grand day!

I had a pt once who stabbed himself in the abdomen. He also had a history of shooting himself in the abdomen!

Woohoo....it was just a horrible wound. And so painful.

Wonder how many times he could get away with it before it kills him.

Hard to understand, and sad. He was fairly young.