To the original poster, it sounds like your friend is using an imaginary illness to manipulate others if she has claimed to have a terminal illness in the past that didn't turn out to be terminal.

The only thing I wish to add is that a lot of us, myself included, have health problems because of inherited illnesses that are only now being properly diagnosed. We have spent years blaming ourselves for being sick repeatedly, being unable to hold down a job, not being productive, not to knowing why we could go to bed feeling fine one night and wake up feeling like we'd been hit by a truck the next morning.

I have common migraines that were not recognized by the medical community as a real illness years ago, but I didn't have the classic symptoms of a visual aura, vomiting, and light sensitivty (that I perceived). I had diarrhea and sound sensitivity but who cares about that?

My daughter has had dysautonomia for almost six years, and I had to fight the doctors to get a diagnosis instead of having her labelled "school avoidant." My twin sister has fibromyalgia.

The one thing all three diseases have in common is a malfunction of the autonomic nervous system. Obviously there is something genetic that we have inherited that is causing us problems, but it is not something that shows up readily in a blood test. Most of our symptoms are self-reported so it is easy for doctors to write us off as "attention seeking" or "drug seekers."

I would urge you to give the judgment of charity unless and until you have proof that your friend is using an imaginary illness to manipulate you. Try to remember that there are many diseases that are only now being recognized as real medical conditions that used to be considered "all in the mind" of the patient. It's hard enough to be sick without being blamed for it by your family and friends.

__________________
Jane Chavez
Covenant of Grace, OPC
Albuquerque, NM.