Saturday, June 28, 2008

I have discovered something in the last week

I didn't miss my job, and I didn't miss the internet.

I have to go back to work, but I don't have to blog.

I'll be back when I feel like it.

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PS: We had a patient yesterday whose wife had a service dog for........ wait for it........ FIBROMYALGIA!

"He goes with me to the grocery store, and to the mall, and if I want to bring him in here, you can't stop me!"

I think I popped a little aneurysm in my brain when she told me. I couldn't talk to her for long enough to find out exactly what the hell the dog does to help her.

She has disabled placards on her car, too.

What is this world coming to?

31 comments:

Tex said...

Perhaps the dog could alert the lady to an eminent flare, thus her going to the ED for prophylactic treatment.

Tiffany said...

Oh dont go away! YOu make me smile!

And we have a chronic fibro assist dog that comes here too. Its a nasty little beasty (so is the dog!)

Sarah said...

I'm amazed at how many Fibro cases you have in your area. I can go months without ever seeing one. You must have an area doctor that likes that diagnosis.

AtYourCervix said...

Ahhh, I've missed you! Glad to see you back.

Joeymom said...

Hmmm... maybe she has a real condition that is getting labeled fibro by her doctor, instead of looking for what is really wrong? Because I have no idea what a service animal would do to alleviate fibro pain.

Unknown said...

Maybe it's one of those drug-seeking dogs that are used a large aiports...except this one helps HER find drugs. For her oh so real disease, of course.

Nurse K said...

She probably has the dog trained to go to the mailbox for her to pick up and cash her disability checks and, perhaps, growl at fibro skeptics as they walk by.

Anonymous said...

You are a very talented and witty writer. It would be sad to turn your blog into nothing more than a fibro bashing whine. You don't believe in fibro. Got it. Doesn't make it any less real for the folks (many of whom are nurses too) that actually have it. It's your blog and all but the fibro whine is getting old. Just my 2 cents.

Rogue Medic said...

Fibro Fido.

Anonymous said...

YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING!

EE said...

Anonymous, you're lame.

Fibro fido, lol, Rogue Medic, I like.

Anonymous said...

I keep running across references, but what the heck is "fibromyalgia"?

RehabNurse said...

OMG! A dog for a pain ailment!
What is this world coming to!

I'm going to put one of those service dog smocks on my herding dog and tell them he's helping me because I have allergies (which I do)...to a-holes and other assorted characters in life with whom I don't want to contact.

Sure, fibromyalgia may be real in some cases, but I cannot fathom why someone would need a dog for assistance for it.

Anonymous said...

I wondered how long it would take before you crashed. Remember to keep drinking fluids and to extra protein. This low period WILL end.

Steve

ERP said...

Wow - That is a good one. I hope one day when I don't feel like working anymore I can concoct some bogus ailment and bride some idiot MD to get me a handicapped placard and a dog! I guess I am not clever enough yet.

cwjsmama said...

The fibro comments never get old. They make me laugh everytime.

Rogue Medic said...

ERP,

"and bride some idiot MD."

Kinky, but can you get a service dog for that? :-)

Unknown said...

I am so loving it and flat out stealing the idea. My dog is now a "service dog" for Fibromyalgiaphobia. That's right I have just made up a new disease process and I get to take my dog with me to sniff out the fibromyalgeurs. I'm allergic, I mean phobic, I mean they make me nervous and I can't think straight. I'm afraid they're contagious. Whatever... I am sooooo taking my dog and getting a sticker for my car.

911DOC said...

MG,
the world is coming to service dogs for fibromyalgia.

Unknown said...

Amy you beat me to it with the comment about helping her find the drugs

MOJITOGIRL said...

Hey, do you think anyone would buy the idea of disability because of SEVERE FIBROMYALGIC ALLERGY SYNDROME? kind of like latex allergy, caused by overexposure.....

Then you can get a dog too....

EDRNKaren said...

Next will be the Chronic Fatiguers getting dogs and car tags...

Penelope said...

Getting a service dog isn't easy.

I hope these fibriod cases really use such a service, as there are plenty of stroke victims/ parapalegics/ MS patients, etc. who need them.

Karen

... said...

What I really wanna see is a service cat. Can one of you make that happen? I think it would be just as effective in the treatment of fibromyalgia as a dog.

Rogue Medic said...

Perhaps a lion, tiger, leopard, . . . .

Perhaps you are on to something there, as long as you are able to keep enough meat handy to keep the cat from serving itself on your easy to catch body. :-)

But getting through a crowd would be a piece of cake.

Anonymous said...

Re: Service cat--I have a very well-trained cat that loves to go visiting on harness and leash, and I'm going to be looking into taking him to places like nursing homes to cheer up the residents. He wouldn't be the first cat in that situation.

Re: fibromyalgia--Most of us would love to live a normal life again; I'd rather be working 60+ hours a week like I did before instead of barely able to handle part-time work. I don't get any disability or medicaid; I've had to find a way to work by creating a small business. You may not believe in it, but your lack of believe doesn't change my situation at all.

RNTed said...

The problem is not that most of us don't believe that fibromyalgia exists - it's that we don't believe most of the people who claim to HAVE it. Because most of them show up at 3AM with a flare up and allergies to Toradol, Acetaminophen, and NSAIDs.

And it's interesting to note that every fibro-my-ass defender on these comments so far has been anonymous.

Anonymous said...

I am one of the huge amount of people who have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia. My husband and I have always felt like it was just a name to give my problems until a real cause was found. After 5 years other legitimate,diagnosable,and somewhat treatable causes of the pain and symptoms have finally been diagnosed.

Steve Hunt said...

This is just a reaction to too much tv/internet etc..."Fibro" is just a neurological reaction to lots of flashing lights, similar to some of the non-seizure problems epileptics have.

Hmmm . . . said...

I can't believe how ignorant so many people are about fibromyalgia and service dogs. Our 16yod was just diagnosed with FM and it is very painful and can be debilitating. Service dogs can help with the pain, be taught to get things, and aid in steadiness during periods of dizziness, weakness, and instability. I have a friend who is a professional dog trainer and is working on her national service dog training certification. She has two service dogs which she trained for herself and is working on the third to take their place as they are getting older. She will soon be helping us and another friend train our shepherd puppies to be service dogs. I got the impression that someone here encountered a service dog that wasn't so nice. That is not a true service dog and is someone just using it as a title. True service dogs are well-bred and well-trained.

Hmmm . . . said...

My 16yod was diagnosed at the Cleveland Clinic and is not a drug seeker. Is that good enough for you? It is not just a pain disorder, there are other symptoms.

And, I am not using my name because I choose not to use it on most places on the web, not because I particualarly care about you knowing who I am.