Diagnosing my sister

[kl8103]

My sister recently admitted herself into a mental facility. I, in my heart and in my mind, feel she is there for the wrong reasons.  This goes a ways back but as my sister meets new friends, she tends to want to become just like them.  I don't know if this is a disorder or disease but I need guidance.  Let me provide some examples.  First, she was married and moved out of state. She met a girl, who happened to be bisexual, and all of a sudden my sister was bisexual (not that I have a problem with that).  When she met a new friend, she ditched her bisexual friend and is now no longer bisexual.  The recent "adaptive" behavior is what is scaring me. She met a friend at work. This friend has a lot of mental health issues - anxiety, bipolar, etc. She met her husband in a mental health clinic.  So, all of a sudden my sister feels she has these same issues.  My sister, too, has met a male "friend" in the last week she has been there.  She is on 4 different medications for various mental illnesses.  I lived with this person for years and the only thing I could see her having would be depression. I've never seen her have an axiety attack. I've never seen her be paranoid about anything.  I've never seen her show signs of being bipolar.  I've met people with these issues and she doesn't appear to be like that at all.  If she has these problems, great - I'll support her.  My issue is that I think she is trying to be like her friend, trying to have these illnesses.  The problem lies that if she really doesn't have these issues, then she is being treated with medications that she should not be taken.  It is very hard for me to swollow this.  I visited her last night. She showed me the list of her medications like she was proud of it - like it was an award.  I really need some guidance on this one. I'm not sure what I can do. I really don't want to loose my sister to a concoction of medications that she shouldn't have been on in the first place.

[heyjude1]

One more thought, because of Hippa Laws you and your mother may no be able to get any information from her doctor.  I believe you must have your sister sign a document allowing the medical team to share her medical information.

[wellb]

Hi,

Well, whatever the desease is that your sister is suffering, she is being treated in the very best place that can be for her---a hospital!

If she had/has what she has, and was actually alone on the "outside" , floundering about, from one manipulative group to the next, THEN I'd be worried about her even more!

Bit, in a hospital setting , while her diagnosis is being made, she is in the very best place ever. JMHO.


Look at it this way: 1) she probalby can't commit suicide because she's in a hospital being carefully watched; 2) she can't stop eating , because she is in a hospital and being carefully monitored; 3) she can't join yet another manipulative group in a hospital because more than likely she has no group to "join" (eg: another GOTH Group) ; 4) she can't take street drugs, because she's in a hospital.

In a hospital, your sister will be evaluated by an entire "team" of specialists that can better diagnose her true problem. And if it makes you feel any better, you and your Mom will more than likely be involved in her group therapy.

So, as soon as the team of specialists can set-up the therapy, you & your Mom can then see for yourselves not only what meds that she's taking (for example, why did they choose such meds for your sister).But also, once you meet with the team of specialists, you can ask them the "name" of your sister's desease, plus WHY they chose to treat her with those meds , and also what the side-effects are of each of the meds she 's on.

It could be very possible that the team of specialists working w/ your sister know exactaly what desease she has. And maybe the Doctors will give you proof of what your sis has. (eg: proof such as test results, physical exam results, etc).

A hospital is a good place to be diagnosed.
Better that place, than trying to figure out your sister's desease with suppositions. Know what I mean?  

[kl8103]

I haven't had the chance to talk to her doctors.  My mother and I are in the processing of tracking down her doctor(s) to talk to them. I'm not saying she doesn't have problems, but I don't think she has the ones she is saying she does.  I hate to say this about her because she is my sister - but she is very manipulative.  She hasn't shared her actual diagnosis with me. The med chart she showed me indicates they are giving her medicine for various types of disorders, none of which I believe she has.  I guess the only next step is to consult with her doctors and share my concern.  

I guess the whole point of me joining this forum is to see if anyone has ever heard of a disorder like this?  I never have.  I don't know if maybe she is just depressed and feels alone so when she meets a new friend, she tries so hard to be like them so she has "someone".

[heyjude1]

Well, her behavior certainly indicates she has some problems.  I am no doctor but I do know any kind of illness, be it physical or mental effects the loved ones.  Have you consulted with her doctor?  Normally docs welcome hearing the behavior of the patient from those that are around them and know them best as it helps with dx.
What is her diagnois?  Is she Borderline Personality Disorder?  It's not easy to fake an illness with a p-doc; they are too well trained not to pick up on stuff.