My Fibro

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I recently had a patient refer to her fibromyalgia diagnosis as "My Fibro". Kind of like it is an entity with which she has a relationship.

I realized that I had heard that term a lot, but really don't hear "My Hypertension", or "My Obesity".

What's up with that?

Specializes in ICU.

It makes me sad that certain conditions have such a stigma attached to them. Especially from the medical community. I think perhaps the patient referred to it as my fibro because that makes them feel like they have a little control over something that has taken complete control of their life.

When someone deals with an illness on a daily basis, you tend to feel out of control in everything in your life. The person wants to regain some of that. They want to feel like they can beat the illness, even when there is no cure.

i don't even know why someone would bring this up. They called it my fibro. So what? It's how they are dealing with being in pain every second of their life. Would you say that about a cancer patient, or say someone with ALS. Probably not. But because it's fibro and deals with pain, people aren't supposed to mention it. We are all supposed to be the tough guy and suck it up because you can't see it. You can see the effects of cancer on someone, you can see the effects of ALS. It becomes very frustrating to the person battling the illness.

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It makes me sad that certain conditions have such a stigma attached to them. Especially from the medical community. I think perhaps the patient referred to it as my fibro because that makes them feel like they have a little control over something that has taken complete control of their life.

When someone deals with an illness on a daily basis, you tend to feel out of control in everything in your life. The person wants to regain some of that. They want to feel like they can beat the illness, even when there is no cure.

i don't even know why someone would bring this up. They called it my fibro. So what? It's how they are dealing with being in pain every second of their life. Would you say that about a cancer patient, or say someone with ALS. Probably not. But because it's fibro and deals with pain, people aren't supposed to mention it. We are all supposed to be the tough guy and suck it up because you can't see it. You can see the effects of cancer on someone, you can see the effects of ALS. It becomes very frustrating to the person battling the illness.

Maybe by "owning" it, they can have better control over it. That's how I take it.

Or, to let others know that this has been an ongoing problem in their lives? "Oh, I can't eat that, my diverticulitis is acting up again."

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Specializes in ER.

Yeah, people refer to in the possessive to their diseases all the time. "My diabetes has been out of control lately" My arthritis is flaring up" "My high blood pressure is doing better lately"

My guess is that the OP's pt annoyed her, and she was struck by the pt referring to her fibromyalgia as "my fibro". The OP had to pretend to be nice, even though she thinks fibro is a hypochondriac disease.

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

Ha! lately, some of these new accounts with fly by night posters smack of unprofessionalism! The post you're unhappy about isn't newsworthy when you start putting some of those crazy new posts into the equation!

Possibly, but I still don't think laughing at dis-empowered, vulnerable patients of unfortunate and dubious social backgrounds and constraints on a public forum is very professional, do you?
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Specializes in ICU.

My thoughts exactly emergent.

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
I recently had a patient refer to her fibromyalgia diagnosis as "My Fibro". Kind of like it is an entity with which she has a relationship.

I realized that I had heard that term a lot, but really don't hear "My Hypertension", or "My Obesity".

What's up with that?

I have fibro and I am guessing that and this is going to sound a little weird so hang with me for a minute........that her use of the possessive pronoun indicate her relationship with her disease process and her pain. It is very hard to explain fibro to someone who doesn't have it. It's hard to describe pain related to an internal process that leave no bumps, swelling or bruises. Two people may have fibro and have totally different experiences. It incredibly frustrating to have a invisible and poorly understood disease. It's kind of like a monkey we carry around on our backs.

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Specializes in Med nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN.

I may "have" something, but I don't want it to be "mine". If I "got" something, I don't necessarily want it. I am not inviting it to camp out, here!

I am very careful not​ to say "my" or "mine" when referring to something physical I'm going through.

It gives me the willies!

(just my 2 cents)

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.
Yeah, people refer to in the possessive to their diseases all the time. "My diabetes has been out of control lately" My arthritis is flaring up" "My high blood pressure is doing better lately"

My guess is that the OP's pt annoyed her, and she was struck by the pt referring to her fibromyalgia as "my fibro". The OP had to pretend to be nice, even though she thinks fibro is a hypochondriac disease.

SERIOUSLY?!

You folks are reading way too much between the lines and constructing meanings and attitudes that simply are not present. A little defensive, anyone:eek:

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SERIOUSLY?!

You folks are reading way too much between the lines and constructing meanings and attitudes that simply are not present. A little defensive, anyone:eek:

That is my favorite smiley.

I don't have fibro, but my friends that do seem to go out of their way to make sure I know it is real. I've never questioned them.

My guess is that fibro patients have been questioned before and maybe actually are a bit defensive?

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Specializes in LTC.

I say "my diabetes" all the time... example "my diabetes decided it was going to be a roller coaster today" and "my diabetes says I have to eat now, even if I'm not hungry". Sometimes it's it's own mysterious all consuming thing to me, but its mine nonetheless.

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.

While I don't go around saying "My Ovarian Cancer," I understand how saying "My (insert ailment)" can be used as a shorthand way of referring to an illness.

I really don't think this is that big of a deal.

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Specializes in Med/Surg/ICU/Stepdown.
That is my favorite smiley.

I don't have fibro, but my friends that do seem to go out of their way to make sure I know it is real. I've never questioned them.

My guess is that fibro patients have been questioned before and maybe actually are a bit defensive?

This. I have a friend with UC and she's VERY defensive regarding her condition, symptoms, treatment, and public perception of the disease.

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