Topic : 10/11 Munchausen Mom

I know someone that I really think is a Munchhausen mom, but I'm not sure what to do about it.  I don't know them very well at all.  I used to teach a couple of her children in church a few years back and she still lives in my neighborhood, but I don't really talk to her much or anything.  Her kids always seem to be sick and have something wrong with them.  Her son was in my class and didn't come much, but he supposedly has autism and he didn't seem like it to me at all.  She home schools her kids because she says they all have learning disabilities and the special education teacher at the school told her that there was nothing wrong with her kids and they didn't need to be in special ed.  I'm not sure if there is anything I can do.  I would hate to wrongly accuse her and I feel bad for people that this happens to, but on the other hand, what if she is hurting her kids?  Please tell me what you think.

I am 27 years old and also a survivor of MSBP.  My mother denies she ever did anything wrong.  She will deny it forever.  I actually do have an illness but she made it much, much worse to the point where I was on what she likes to call "my death bed".  My medical charts show that she repeatedly refused giving me the necessary medications that would have saved me a lot of pain.  I was given VERY clear warnings by her not to tell the doctors (or my father) that I wasn't taking those meds.  She is a master manipulator.  She is a pathological liar.  She knew all the medical terminology.  She had the doctors wrapped around her little finger.  She wouldn't leave me alone for a minute.  I spent so much time in hospitals... My medical charts are about 2 feet high.  She was the poor grieving mom of a sick kid and everyone pitied her. 

DOBIKINZ:  I would also like to find some kind of group for survivors.  If you want to message me, do not hesitate to do so.   For me, the worst part about all this is that I TRUSTED my mother so much....... I'm trying very hard to deal with the abuse (I suffer from PTSD because of this).  I still fear that she will "get me" somehow, too.  Believe me, I understand all too well.   

I have an ex sister in law who has munchausen by proxy.  I have seen her fabricate and exaggerate illnesses with her three children, over medicate and have them hospitalized, ingratiate herself with health care professionals etc.  The list is so numerous it can't be listed here. 

   One time a niece supposedly fell and had a concussion. My niece later told me that her mother tripped her causing her to fall and hit her head on the sink.  My niece was supposed to wear a protective helmet after the fall.  Mom made her wear it to school but not at home.  Another time mom told the school that one of the children had been beated.  Unbeknownst to mom, the school had CPS come check the child and there was no bruising.  The next day mom shows up at school with photos of the alleged bruising.  CPS was called again by the school and there was no bruising.  They questioned the child and the child said that mom was painting smiley faces on her buttocks and pointed to the makeup accidentally left in the picture.  I have seen her grab the children, point and poke at their eyes, pull their eyelashes and when their eyes turn red show the girls how red their eyes are, tell them they have pink eye, put vaseline in their eyes and make them take breathing treatments.  They have been treated for false mental disorders, ADHD, breathing difficulty, strep throat, ear infections, one time mom said the kids had SARS!  The most recent problem is treating one of her children with Depakote 500 mg for supposed difficulty sleeping.  When the children are not with her there are no signs of health problems.  I've reported these things to Protective services, the courts and they started to look at the possibility and then  mom had a Dr. write a note saying that she saw no signs of munchausen. Officials did not pursue it any further. 

   I understand that it is much more tedious and involved to make a determination of this type.  No one has reviewed all past medical records looking for inconsistencies, lies and falsehoods.  I am worried about the children who have been medicated for their entire lives and have been told they are sick, have been placed in psychiatric hospitals...all the mom has to do is tell the medical professionals that the children have x x x x symptoms and the doctor naturally believes the mother.  I wish I could get real help for these children to protect them from their mother.  I am at a loss...Does anyone have any suggestions?