Munchausen by Internet

[1unbeliever]

Why would someone fake a serious illness online? there seems to be a lot of sick people in AB, do you think all these illness are genuine, or are they faking it? If someone is suffering from Munchhausen's disease isn't that enough? Why can't they just say they're suffering from it without bothering to come on here with a fake disease?
I decided to step away from this site because I noticed some 'irregularities' in stories and unusual patterns of posting by certain individuals.

[Sqad]

1unbeliever......that is quite an interesting question that you have asked and i would like to answer it on the basis of 6 years of answering health questions on AB

The are all sort of folk posting in B&S and I am glad to say that most of the case histories are believable and genuine, however there are exceptions but these genuine cases are appreciative of ABers advice.

The annoying ones are those that come onto AB in a panic, ask for advice and then never give any feedback....they just are annoying.....

There are people on here with personality disorders and other types of mental illness which is apparent even to the untrained eye......these are no problem.

Then there are the "attention seekers" those that you are describing who come on with imaginary, obscure and unrelated symptoms to any pattern of disease and AB is a paradise for these people who's attention thirst is quenched by the sympathetic but totally unhelpful replies by the innocent gullible.

Now to Münchhausen by proxy......there is only one poster who, in my opinion displays all the symptoms of this syndrome..............and he/she is thriving on AB

These are my opinions, I am not a Psychiatrist but the symptoms and signs are so clear that one does not need to have a post graduate degree to have a high level of suspicion

Once again an interesting OP, but on balance contributing to B&S is worth while, despite the occasional "sticks and arrows" from certain but predictable directions.

[237SJ]

Sqad, when you say Munchhausen` by proxy do you mean the proxy is the internet or another person? (I`m trying to guess who it is)

[Sqad]

237SJ....the internet is the proxy.


rehelen....that is their decision....you shouldn't let it bother you.

[emmie]

Not just on this site, I have seen it on others, and as its all remote, one has to take on board that there are people out there with their own agendas, same as in any sphere of life, internet or not.

[joko]

well...i agree its annoying, childish and tedious...but at least they are finding their little bit of sympathy and caring somewhere - perhaps they live such shlit lonely lives that they need a bit of a 'cybercuddle' now and again... whatever gets you through the night...as john lennon said...

obviously the ones who get so into it and come up with all kinds and continue it into the real world, getting people to jump through hoops and even raise funds etc are the real problem ...maybe this helps prevent that?

ive seen some people shot down on here when they have come on in a state ...and sometimes i think we need to tread more carefully...to need solace and perhaps be hysterical, no matter how justified, and get attackd and accused is surely not good for someone in a state... it could make them do something they shouldnt...

really though, there is no way to stop it, or to be sure whose lying unless you have had the exact same disease and can tell the inconsistencies or are medically trained...so why worry?

[murraymints]

oooh.. I have this bright blue/ green rash and oozing wounds...sore head...throwing up purple stuff.... think I have the martian flu...quick someone give me a cyberhug.....

[jno]

Sqad, perhaps the ones who do not return to say thanks have in the meantime died after taking the advice offered?

[milly143]

Blimey. I'm glad I took a picture of my wound now. Can't be accused of Munchausen now.

But anyway, if someone comes here and pretends there is something wrong with them, does that really matter to you? I can't see how it effects you in any way.

[Sqad]

jno...LOL...I have often wondered that myself, but quite often they then "pop up" some weeks later with another medical problem.

[1unbeliever]

Some people have asked "why it bothers me"? well it doesn't anymore. I guess some people are probably a little naive, but usually my gut tells me when something just isn't right....
If people want to fall for these BS stories, thats up to them, theres no need to rip into people who dare doubt out loud..
What makes me angry is the people who are gullible enough to say " this HAS to be real, who in their right mind is going to post something like that? who would make something like this up???"---the truth is sick minds do make up theses things.

I have trouble believing most of the stuff posted here.

[ummmm]

I think the majority are honest 1unbeliever. I know where you're coming from though. You often get people making up sob stories to get sympathy...

[bednobs]

surely the whole point about munchaussens is that the illness IS that people make up illnesses and they don't have the insight to know that they are making it up.
It's a mental illness so people with it aren't just being "naughty"!

[RATTER15]

Well said bednobs!!

[Sqad]

bednobs....I have to disagree.....ye it is a mental illness, but thee people have deep insight into what they are doing and saying. That is the problem....they have an indepth knowledge of medical conditions and they tend to be highly intelligent.

Yes....they do know what they are doing.

[starone]

I go along with classylady, the answers may help someone, if not the one who is posting. I get suspicious sometimes but what difference does it make. I tell lies all the time (white ones I hasten to add). and I am sure most of us do, it is impossible to be lilywhite. Posters on AB have always been kind and helpful to me when I have asked what must have seemed quite simple questions.

[Old_Geezer]

Seems to me that if the answers are of use to someone who may come searching for the same issue later, then no harm done whether the threads starter was being honest or not.

[milly143]

A post like this may actually put people off coming on here to ask advice. Someone like me for exmple. I fairly regularly use b&s to ask about mostly minor ailments but in the future I might think everyone else thinks I'm lying and making it up, so I won't post that question.

I can't say I understand why someone would pretend to be ill and ask about it on sites like this but I can't really see any harm in it.

[joko]

bednobs, the metal illness side of munchausens is the fact that they want to make stuff up in the first place, not that they dont know they are doing it.

it is a very deliberate and often intensely planned and researched manipulation, in order to deceive others...
the that fact that there seems to be no guilt or qualms about lying and hurting and even potentially killing their loved one in order to gratify some bizarre need for attention and sympathy is the sick and mental thing...