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?

But you can't judge every patient because if the actions of a few and that's the danger in believing in those stereotypes.

Again........

I was not basing my opinion on stereotypes. I am well aware of the dangers of judging others based on stereotypes. Not sure if you read my other posts, but I am often the subject of someone else's stereotypical views (Look at that lazy young woman using grandma's handicapped placard so she can park close! Look at her, nothing's wrong with her. She can walk just fine! She should be ashamed of herself!!!)

I base MY opinion on MY observations gained through MY experiences.

Sheesh, I give up. It's becoming pointless :banghead: and I've more enjoyable things to do today than defend my views to people who it seems launch a counterattack based on a few sentences they choose to pick out of a post and totally disregard all else. I realize that I didn't word my first post in the best way and I apologize if I offended anyone. I honestly do not know how else to explain my thoughts, so I surrender (insert white flag emoji)

Have a great weekend everyone! :)

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Other than my gut issues, which are managed with diet when I choose, I'm very blessed in all ways.

People lwho use their illnesses to garner sympathy usually get it from me. How can you not feel some compassion? Even the most incorrigible are miserable in one way or another.

If someone is unacceptably disrespectful I address it but that is a separate issue from their medical issues.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

CCRN2B

I commend you for sticking around to explain your comments multiple times. I never thought any of them warranted an explanation but clearly I underestimated .......... something. I don't know what. The level of feeling misunderstood by folks with chronic disease? I'm not sure.

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

Every time I see the title of this thread, that song by the Knack(s?) "M-m-m-m-m-my Sharona..." runs through m-m-m-my mind.

And, yes, it IS "my" mind! :yes:

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Thank you for your post. You obviously took the time to actually put some thought into your reply before responding. I agree and I said that what I have observed has been MY experience. I'm getting tired of defending my opinion, it's mine and I own it. For those who think I am awful for being honest, that's fine but these have been my experiences with patients with the mentioned illnesses. I never meant to imply that I was referring to ALL patients with certain illnesses. I obviously should have been more clear.

I'm a realist and I call it like I see it. If others choose to wear blinders and act like certain behaviors aren't sometimes associated with certain disorders, so be it.

We were just discussing at work how many (NOT ALL) patients with COPD display similar behaviors or characteristics - nervousness, anxiety, restlessness. Completely understandable as they are constantly fighting for air. It's just an observation many of us have experienced. Nothing more, nothing less.

I can think of a few other illnesses that have associated typical behaviors. Did I invent the connection? No. Am I the only person to ever notice the connection? No. Am I to be expected to be okay with being manipulated, taken advantage of, harrassed or otherwise treated poorly because I should feel sorry for the patient and excuse their behavior on account of their illness even though they are capable of knowing better? NO!

I'm glad you clarified in your other post because at first when I read your first post it seemed like you were leaning towards the position that you didn't believe Fibro/ chronic pain disorders are real at all. I know you didn't say it exactly that way but there seems to be many people who actually believe they doesn't exist. For a second it seemed like you were one of those people but it became clear that you were just speaking specifically about scammers and manipulative patients.

I just think bringing up MS patients hit a nerve. Those patients and their families go through a lot it's hard to read that someone thinks of them in that way. I guess there can be creeps with any diagnosis but obviously chronic pain is exploited the most. You were just making an observation, no harm done.

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Specializes in Infection Prevention, Public Health.
I have fibro

I tend to spend most of my leisure time sleeping to recover from working full time.

Apparently I'm doing it wrong.

:)

I believe I wrote about people on disability and NOT working. As you are working...

Apparently you read it wrong.

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For most of my life I have suffered from various illnesses, chronic pain, anxiety, etc. I went through every test that doctors could order for me (or so I thought). Doctors and nurses finally concluded that I was a hypochondriac, an attention seeker, and/or a drug seeker and I can't tell you how humiliating and demoralizing it was to have to make an appointment for yet another ailment and to be told that it was all in my head. Then one day I told my primary care doc to test me for celiac disease. He initially looked at me like I was crazy because I really believed that the single diagnosis would explain everything that had been wrong with me for several years. When all of the tests came back positive I was elated, not because I had a life-long autoimmune disease, but because I could finally have some control over my chronic pain, anxiety, and illnesses. I've since come to realize that so many health care professionals know very little abut celiac disease so it makes sense that the same would be true about other chronic health conditions. I can't say that I've ever referred to celiac disease as MY celiac, but I have referred to it as MY autoimmune disease. I have to think about it every day and it has changed the way that I go about life on a day to day basis; therefore it has become part of my identity. Luckily, my own experience will ensure that I will never question another chronic condition that someone else may or may not have. I know all too well how it feels to be labeled and I personally would never want to inflict that humiliation on someone else.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

A coworker that has fibro and chronic back pain proudly proclaims she is against taking any meds. She wouldn't be caught dead taking anything to actually get rid of the pain like lyrica and looks down on people that actually take meds to feel better. Yet she is in constant pain and can barely walk, does this even make sense?

She sneers at me for taking meds for my migraines because I want pain relief, I'm not one to suffer unnecessarily and there are meds both to prevent and to treat pain why not use them. Though we both may have different trials in life, I think I'm the one with the better quality of life because I'm open to medicine that can take away the pain. I just don't get her attitude. It makes no sense to me.

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Specializes in Med nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN.
A coworker that has fibro and chronic back pain proudly proclaims she is against taking any meds. She wouldn't be caught dead taking anything to actually get rid of the pain like lyrica and looks down on people that actually take meds to feel better. Yet she is in constant pain and can barely walk, does this even make sense?

She sneers at me for taking meds for my migraines because I want pain relief, I'm not one to suffer unnecessarily and there are meds both to prevent and to treat pain why not use them. Though we both may have different trials in life, I think I'm the one with the better quality of life because I'm open to medicine that can take away the pain. I just don't get her attitude. It makes no sense to me.

Is 'Self-Righteous Stoicism" a diagnosis? "Better/Tougher/Smarter/Stronger-Than-You Syndrome"?

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
I must say that I personally had no opinion on fibromyalgia, be it real or imaginary, until being told by an ED patient that she had "stage 4 fibromyalgia with metz." I'll let my gentle readers determine for themselves which side of the fence I'm on now.

I'd say she has Stage IV Stupidity with mets to the everywhere.

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Specializes in Med nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN.
I'd say she has Stage IV Stupidity with mets to the everywhere.

Everywhere more than any place else!

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Specializes in Mental Health, Gerontology, Palliative.
I believe I wrote about people on disability and NOT working. As you are working...

Apparently you read it wrong.

No, I didnt.

I would qualify to be on disability and not to work, I choose to work, as a result most of my leisure time is spent recovering from that

I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia about the same time I graduated from nursing schoool and was determined that I wasnt putting all that work in to not make a career out of it

It would be soooo much easier not to work. However I'm too stubborn

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