The Multiple Complaints Syndrome (MCS)
I am starting to develop a list of custom syndromes for the varying patient presentations I see in the ED. Recently I have been dealing a lot with the multiple complaint syndrome, which I am positive most of you who work in the medical field will be able to instantly identify.
Most ill patients presenting to the ED usually have one or two chief complaints. It might be chest pain, or abdominal pain, or nausea and vomitting for x days, or unmentionable foul discharge, or heart not beating, or suicidal thoughts, or even the "by the way" syndrome. These complaints we can handle, and comfortably so, because in the ED we tend to practice what I like to call focused assessments and troubleshooting. While we do consider multi-system involvement, implications, and complications, we tend to find that starting with one or two chief complaints is the norm.
But then we occasionally have these patients who come in with multiple complaints, which seem completely unrelated to each other, and are totally non-emergent, and often non-urgent. Here is an example:
"I have a headache, and there's this bump on my leg, and by the way I have a rash on my back, and my tummy's been a little queasy but that happens whenever I eat fish which I did yesterday... do you think I'm allergic to fish? And also I need a prescription for my diabetes meds till I can go see my doctor. And do you think the doc could also check my ear... it's been itching a lot!"
Huh? Where do I start? Ummm... none of these are emergencies, you need to go see your family doc, or go to the clinic. Seriously, it will be more efficient for you, and us, but mostly for you.
Privacy/HIPAA Disclaimer
The cases and persons that are described in these pages are composites, none representing any one particular patient, person, or case. While the medical facts are all true and accurate, I have edited and doctored and composited enough that none of the personal descriptions, family settings, or any other distinguishing features are representative of any real actual person. In other words, I am not violating any HIPAA laws and regulations on this website, and the privacy of all my patients is completely protected. Any resemblance to any living person is completely accidental and unintentional.
Heh. In the old days people
Heh. In the old days people wouldn't go near a doctor because of the cost involved, or for fear they wouldn't come out of the hospital.
Now it seems almost a recreational activity. Consumer culture, I suppose, and the medicialising of mental and emotional problems.
Plus increasing neurosis in the general population.
Post new comment