A Little of This...A Litlle of That

August 13, 2004

Good Morning Family....

a, it was nice to see your post this morning. I hope your area survived the

night and that all are safe. I hope Debs wasn't in the middle of all that also.

Tawny, I will keep your husband in prayer as I am all in the path of the pending

storms (I haven't listened to the news yet this morning...it's 6am).

The article on Munchhausen by Internet was interesting. In the past nearly two

years, I believe we have had a couple in our group over the past two years,

however, unless I missed it, none were as bad as described in the article.

Another group I belong to, a seniors group, we had one that was as described and

true to the article when I began to question some of the outrageous things

(waiting for a heart transplant...this and other illnesses described (not much

time left on earth type)....daughters were Ms whatever state they were

in....illustrious career in the military (couldn't answer some basic questions

as I am familiar with military)...and so on. He also used a fake name and when

he was found out about that...gave an elaborate story of how his best friend

from childhood and he had gone to Vietnam together and the friend had died in

his arms so he had assumed his name in his honor. As his story began to unravel

and was questioned, he turned on the group, especially me since I

was the one doing the most questioning of his preposterous stories. He became

very indignant as if all the things he had said were gospel truth and he could

never trust anyone again...etc. and suddenly dropped out of sight. It's too

bad people have to go to such lengths to be recognized. I have a friend who has

Munchhausen's. She has every imaginable rare (always rare) disease and has

inflicted them on each of her 8 children by transfer. These kids have every

imaginable " allergy " and rare blood diseases. When her oldest boy a few years

ago at age 18 was involved in a relationship and had a child, he and his

girlfriend were arrested on child abuse after their 7 month old boy ended up in

the hospital with broken bones. It was child abuse, however, she did her

research and " discovered " her son (actually an adopted relative) had a rare type

of brittle bone disease and that was what her grandson had. It was not accepted

and the child is being raised by his maternal side relatives

has had no more problems. Now, she and her other children have that

affliction. The hospital emergency rooms around her and the fire department all

know her by first name but have to respond when she calls or shows up. It's the

law. She has an inoperable brain tumor...etc... It is a real shame when it is

transfered to kids and they grow up thinking that is the only way to live.

Becky....I know exactly how you feel (well, pretty sure). I worked solidly from

the age of 13 until a year ago January without any breaks and I am 63 now. I

have a theory about auto-immune diseases, especially Fibromyalgia, that may be

full of hot air, however, I think it to be true. I have found from observation

that most people afflicted are A type people who have worked and worked hard

most of their lives....they are the people that other people call on to do the

things they can't do (or don't want to do) and the things are done and for the

most part....done right. They keep busy and find it hard to relax and just

enjoy life sometimes....that's not to say they don't take vacations and

all....but are always looking ahead to " what has to be done " . I have been off

now for 19 months and it has been one of the roughest periods of time (and

longest) health wise I have ever gone through. Sometimes, I am glad I am not

working as I feel I wouldn't be able to keep up with everything

and on the other hand, I wonder if it is because I no longer have the routine

and predictability of everyday to keep me pushing onward that is the cause of

this. Which reminds me Becky...too bad you are not close to me...I could have

come to work for you. I am looking for work haphazardly only this time just to

give me routine and to have something to get up and get moving everyday (more

than doing housework or unpacking or making sure my grandson gets up and gets to

school everyday etc). No more jobs with great responsibility....I will be happy

just to answer the phones and putter around an office....maybe a small homey

type business. Oh well, if there is such a job out there, it will appear at the

right time.

I have relapsed into rambling again so will cut this short. a, Debs, Tawny

and your husband, and all others in the path of the storms, I will be keeping

you in prayers today.

Jan in AZ

~ " We all take different paths in life, but no matter where we go, we take a

little of each other everywhere. " ~

~ " If I could reach up and hold a star for every time you've made me smile, the

entire evening sky would be in the palm of my hand. "

August 16, 2004

Jan,

I wish everyone was as lucky as we were. At one point I was very scared

since it turned and was headed right for us. Although I was relieved that

it turned, I¹m sorry for the devastation others have endured. Debs isn¹t

anywhere near here, she is on the east coast of Florida.

I¹m so glad she didn¹t have to deal with this. She has enough on her plate.

I posted these articles on Munchausen's by Internet to let our member know

that it exists. I¹ve read countless stories of people writing heart

wrenching stories of hard luck and illness to support groups, and then

cashing in on the deception. I know people that have been victimized

because they are so kind hearted and generous.

It is very difficult to find out if a person is a scammer, but usually time

will tell. If you feel compelled to help someone, I hope you get to know

them first.

I just want our members to be aware that not all people are on the up and up

and to be careful.

a

> Good Morning Family....

>

> a, it was nice to see your post this morning. I hope your area survived

> the night and that all are safe. I hope Debs wasn't in the middle of all that

> also. Tawny, I will keep your husband in prayer as I am all in the path of

> the pending storms (I haven't listened to the news yet this morning...it's

> 6am).

>

> The article on Munchhausen by Internet was interesting. In the past nearly

> two years, I believe we have had a couple in our group over the past two

> years, however, unless I missed it, none were as bad as described in the

> article. Another group I belong to, a seniors group, we had one that was as

> described and true to the article when I began to question some of the

> outrageous things (waiting for a heart transplant...this and other illnesses

> described (not much time left on earth type)....daughters were Ms whatever

> state they were in....illustrious career in the military (couldn't answer some

> basic questions as I am familiar with military)...and so on. He also used a

> fake name and when he was found out about that...gave an elaborate story of

> how his best friend from childhood and he had gone to Vietnam together and the

> friend had died in his arms so he had assumed his name in his honor. As his

> story began to unravel and was questioned, he turned on the! group, especially

> me since I

> was the one doing the most questioning of his preposterous stories. He became

> very indignant as if all the things he had said were gospel truth and he could

> never trust anyone again...etc. and suddenly dropped out of sight. It's too

> bad people have to go to such lengths to be recognized. I have a friend who

> has Munchhausen's. She has every imaginable rare (always rare) disease and

> has inflicted them on each of her 8 children by transfer. These kids have

> every imaginable " allergy " and rare blood diseases. When her oldest boy a few

> years ago at age 18 was involved in a relationship and had a child, he and his

> girlfriend were arrested on child abuse after their 7 month old boy ended up

> in the hospital with broken bones. It was child abuse, however, she did her

> research and " discovered " her son (actually an adopted relative) had a rare

> type of brittle bone disease and that was what her grandson had. It was not !

> accepted and the child is being raised by his maternal side relatives

> has had no more problems. Now, she and her other children have that

> affliction. The hospital emergency rooms around her and the fire department

> all know her by first name but have to respond when she calls or shows up.

> It's the law. She has an inoperable brain tumor...etc... It is a real shame

> when it is transfered to kids and they grow up thinking that is the only way

> to live.

>

> Becky....I know exactly how you feel (well, pretty sure). I worked solidly

> from the age of 13 until a year ago January without any breaks and I am 63

> now. I have a theory about auto-immune diseases, especially Fibromyalgia,

> that may be full of hot air, however, I think it to be true. I have found

> from observation that most people afflicted are A type people who have worked

> and worked hard most of their lives....they are the people that other people

> call on to do the things they can't do (or don't want to do) and the things

> are done and for the most part....done right. They keep busy and find it hard

> to relax and just enjoy life sometimes....that's not to say they don't take

> vacations and all....but are always looking ahead to " what has to be done " . I

> have been off now for 19 months and it has been one of the roughest periods of

> time (and longest) health wise I have ever gone through. Sometimes, I am glad

> I am not working as I fee! l I wouldn't be able to keep up with everything

> and on the other hand, I wonder if it is because I no longer have the routine

> and predictability of everyday to keep me pushing onward that is the cause of

> this. Which reminds me Becky...too bad you are not close to me...I could have

> come to work for you. I am looking for work haphazardly only this time just

> to give me routine and to have something to get up and get moving everyday

> (more than doing housework or unpacking or making sure my grandson gets up and

> gets to school everyday etc). No more jobs with great responsibility....I

> will be happy just to answer the phones and putter around an office....maybe a

> small homey type business. Oh well, if there is such a job out there, it will

> appear at the right time.

>

> I have relapsed into rambling again so will cut this short. a, Debs,

> Tawny and your husband, and all others in the path of the storms, I will be

> keeping you in prayers today.

>

> Jan in AZ

>

> ~ " We all take different paths in life, but no matter where we go, we take a

> little of each other everywhere. " ~

> ~ " If I could reach up and hold a star for every time you've made me smile, the

> entire evening sky would be in the palm of my hand. "

>

August 16, 2004