Quote:
Originally Posted by jo55
from here- http://www.clevelandclinic.org/healt...asp?index=9833
[What are the symptoms of Munchausen syndrome?
People with this syndrome deliberately produce or exaggerate symptoms in several ways. They might lie about or fake symptoms, hurt themselves to bring on symptoms, or alter diagnostic tests (such as contaminating a urine sample). Possible warning signs of Munchausen syndrome include the following:
* Dramatic but inconsistent medical history
* Unclear symptoms that are not controllable and that become more severe or change once treatment has begun
* Predictable relapses following improvement in the condition
* Extensive knowledge of hospitals and/or medical terminology, as well the textbook descriptions of illnesses
* Presence of multiple surgical scars
* Appearance of new or additional symptoms following negative test results
* Presence of symptoms only when the patient is alone or not being observed
* Willingness or eagerness to have medical tests, operations, or other procedures
* History of seeking treatment at numerous hospitals, clinics, and doctors offices, possibly even in different cities
* Reluctance by the patient to allow health care professionals to meet with or talk to family, friends, or prior health care providers
* Problems with identity and self-esteem] |
What ticks me off about this definition - and it's no surprise for it to come out of a big institution like the Cleveland Clinic - is the alacrity with which it could be applied to patients with chronic conditions, whose "subjective" symptoms worsen over time. And to the extent the patient educates him or herself and sees multiple specialists in an attempt to find a new treatment angle, the patient is just tightening the noose around his/her neck. It's almost like they have a diagnostic code: patient is a pain in the butt.
If you'll forgive my Yiddish: Shtup es in toches!
Mike