The diagnosis is MUPS (Medically Unexplained Phsyical Symptoms) and most of symptoms are, well you know, Lyme and fibro and chronic fatigue symptoms. Personally, I think the medical community is going off the deep end, now diagnosing people with "Your official diagnosis is that I have no freaking idea what's wrong with you. Want an Elavil?"
I did a quick web search, and there are lots of links coming up for information within the armed services! I wonder if all those poor veterans with Gulf War Syndrome are now being told they have MUPS.
Personally, I think a MUPS are those little dogs that people carry in purses...part mouse part puppy...mup!
Below is a link and a summary of info on MUPS from a Canadian website.
http://www.cpa-apc.org/Publications/Archives/CJP/2004/october/kirmayer.asp
Overview from article
Patients with medically unexplained symptoms comprise from 15% to 30% of all primary care consultations. Physicians often assume that psychological factors account for these symptoms, but current theories of psychogenic causation, somatization, and somatic amplification cannot fully account for common unexplained symptoms. Psychophysiological and sociophysiological models provide plausible medical explanations for most common somatic symptoms. Psychological explanations are often not communicated effectively, do not address patient concerns, and may lead patients to reject treatment or referral because of potential stigma. Across cultures, many systems of medicine provide sociosomatic explanations linking problems in family and community with bodily distress. Most patients, therefore, have culturally based explanations available for their symptoms. When the bodily nature and cultural meaning of their suffering is validated, most patients will acknowledge that stress, social conditions, and emotions have an effect on their physical condition. This provides an entree to applying the symptom-focused strategies of behavioural medicine to address the psychosocial factors that contribute to chronicity and disability.
Highlights
The term ``medically unexplained symptoms'' names a social and clinical predicament, not a specific disorder. Hence, it is not a replacement for the concept of somatoform disorder but, rather, a way of drawing attention to a situation in which the meaning of distress is contested.
In a community survey of 2400 people, 10.5% reported at least 1 medically unexplained symptom in the past year. The most common unexplained symptoms were musculoskeletal pain, ear, nose, and throat symptoms, abdominal pain and gastrointestinal symptoms, fatigue, and dizziness.
Many cultural traditions provide sociosomatic theories based on ethnophysiological theories linking social conditions with physical symptoms and illness. These allow most patients to generate explanations for their symptoms. However, these explanations may not fit with biomedical notions.
When the bodily quality and cultural meanings of their suffering are acknowledged, most patients with medically unexplained symptoms accept that stress and emotions affect their physical condition. This provides an entree for the application of behavioural medicine techniques to reduce symptoms and disability.
Hard to believe how far the ignorant docs will go to hide the fact that they don't know everything!!
Wish I could hae met you at the conference but I didn't know you were there.
robi
To humor me he did run an ELISA and about 40 other tests to prove me wrong.
My ELISA was positive, the follow up WB neg by CDC standards and I was refused treatment. Yes, I am one of the few that has a positive ELISA every time and then a neg WB.
It seems the same denial of treatment in new packaging to me.
Mel
Robi, I don't think I met you in Reston. I was sitting in the back of the room.
Karen
Robi, et al...
I was thinking we should have all worn stickers with our Lymenet handles! I saw Tincup's handle on her badge, but she was in deep conversation and I never saw her again. I sometimes think she's really a mystical creature who comes to visit those in real need 