Back again...again.

What a journey this has become.  Last blog post was in regards to my transition from private practice to retail in corporate to private consultant.  Funny how things work out.  I went on a journey of a lifetime, learned a huge amount and took a bit of a left turn, and have settled nicely.  I attempted to start up a business as an independent nurse practitioner.  I learned about functional medicine, IV hydration, anti-aging treatments and the harsh reality of business.  I made friends, unveiled fake friends, and networked my butt off.

In this state of Florida it is tricky becoming a nurse entrepreneur.  First of all, Medicare doesn’t recognize you as an independent provider.  Once you have finally completed all the hoops to jump through to get paid by Medicare you only get 80%.  Secondly, collaborating physicians can charge you as much as they want.  Rent is expensive.  Products are expensive.  Advertising is a mystery. Oh, and liability insurance is expensive.  Investors are plentiful, but they want high percentages and it leaves you with little profit.  Hats off to those who have over come!

I, on the other hand, put on the brakes, put it in reverse and changed directions.  With all the training that I was getting in aesthetics, I decided two work for a business that was already established.  I am again an independent contractor and I think this is where I like to be.  There are places for everyone and thank goodness for that.  So, now I am an aesthetic nurse practitioner. I am committed to blogging about aesthetics in this world of mine.  Continue to follow me and stay tuned for my new series of posts in the aesthetic industry.

Psychological disorder or chemical exposure

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/story/2012-01-26/Facial-tics-verbal-outbursts-perplex-community/52810214/1?csp=34news

I wanted to share this story. 12 students at one school have become suddenly stricken with symptoms of tics and outbursts that resemble Tourette's.  10 of them are being treated by the same neurologist, and he diagnoses them with a psychological condition.  The school swears there is nothing wrong with the environment, the superintendent is backing this claim.

One thing I don't understand is how easy it was for Erin Brockovich, with no medical background, to link their symptoms to a past chemical spill, but the neurologist has "ruled out any medical and environmental factors." What are the motives of the neurologist? I think that, as a nurse practitioner, if I had 10 patients walk into my clinic with the same symptoms, I would start trying to connect the dots. I feel like this "conversion" diagnosis, might be a bit hasty and more research is warranted before these kids get straddled with a psychological "disorder."

 According to the U.S National Library of Medicine "Conversion disorder symptoms may occur because of a psychological conflict. Symptoms usually begin suddenly after a stressful experience."  It states that, the symptoms are: blindness, paralysis, inability to speak and numbness.  Nowhere does it state that there are tics involved or Tourette's like symptoms. So, you mean to tell me that all these kids have been exposed to some major psychological conflict and everyone of them are suffering from the same symptoms as a result? I am only family nurse practitioner, I didn't specialize in psychology, so maybe it is more difficult for me to understand.

As a parent, I would start by taking my kids out of this school.  Second, I would take them to another neurologist for a second opinion.  As a nurse practitioner, I would certainly look at the the links that these kids had in common: same school, same town, same drinking water???  I know as a provider when you are in a situation it may be a little murky up close.  It is always easier to see things more clearly as an outsider.  Even if these symptoms are not directly linked to the chemical spill where the school is located, the chemicals have a laundry list of other adverse conditions they can cause.  These are certainly enough reasons to get these kids into another environment or at least another school district until things are sorted out.