It's true--a patient did say that to me.
Also, one of the "urban myth" stories I have heard just might be true. I say this because I have practiced nursing in rural areas, where the people (especially in the past) were resourceful, resilient, self-reliant, and often did not even have access to medical care. It goes like this:
A woman comes to the ER, stating "I've got the vines." No one could understand, but she did manage to convey a message by waving to her nether parts. Anyway, they got her up on the table to examine her, and sure enough, she did have "the vines." She apparently had a prolapsed uterus and used a potato as a pessary. Everyone knows how easily a potato will sprout with warmth and moisture. IT COULD BE TRUE!