Am I right to be concerned about my nephew? - Page 2

[salmontree]

more thoughts

Thanks for all the support and advice, ladies.

The first time she told me about the Rh negative blood type causing immunological and bleeding problems, I had warnings going off in my head that she was either making stuff up or seriously confused.. My mother and father are both Rh negative (I'm not tho cause he isn't my biological father.) and neither one of them has ever mentioned any health problems associated with their blood type.

This was the first time I've heard her say anything about her son having diabetes and now I'm becoming increasingly convinced that she's either making stuff up or very very confused about what her doctor is telling her. Thanks for the info, JanB. I was under the impression that type 1 diabetes absolutely required insulin shots and I'm glad to hear that I was right. I seriously doubt that he has it.. He'd be exhibiting other negative symptoms if he really had it and wasn't recieving insulin, right?

I wouldn't be too surprised if my SIL did have Munchausen syndrome, actually. She's had a hard life, with abusive parents and really really bad experiences with men.. She's been in a relationship with one bad guy after another since she was 15 or so. Literally no time to be on her own in between the three of them. I could see using her own illnesses and now her son's as a way to garner sympathy.

I'd be happy to go with her to a baby check up to help her better understand what's going on; if she really is just confused. I don't know if she'd be comfortable with that.. I'm guessing she'll say no thanks because we really aren't that close and she does like her privacy. Maybe she'd be willing to take her mom though.. I'm sure my MIL would be better able to understand what the doctor is saying. She was verbally abusive in the past but she's improved in recent years (after leaving her toxic husband) and her relationship with her daughter is okay. They are certainly closer than SIL and I are.

I think next time I talk to her I'll ask her some more questions about this diabetes thing and if she sticks to this same story, I'll gently point out that what I've researched contradicts what she's saying, suggest that maybe she misunderstood what the doctor was saying and that maybe it would help if she took her mom or brother or I with her to the next appointment..

If it really is a case of Munchausen or just lying for some unknown reason about this.. well I dunno how I'd approach that.. That situation would be seriously awkward and have the potential to unleash major family drama.. Which I try to avoid like the plague...Especially in that family..they have the tendancy to yell.. ugh.

[GuildJenn]

I think you are right to be concerned, but sadly your power in the situation is limited. I hope you find a way to improve things and still remain in your nephew's life because it sounds like he will need all the stable and loving family he can get.

I know how hard that is and I wish I had advice, but with the mother so defensive I'm not sure there is a lot you can do except respond warmly and genuinely.

[Naomismom]

No advice here, but I wanted to let you know that I think you're doing a great job! You sound like a wonderful SIL.

[JanB]

Originally Posted by harpyr

Thanks for the info, JanB. I was under the impression that type 1 diabetes absolutely required insulin shots and I'm glad to hear that I was right. I seriously doubt that he has it.. He'd be exhibiting other negative symptoms if he really had it and wasn't recieving insulin, right?

Yes. He would be urinating excessively, would be constantly thirsty, might exhibit flu-like symptoms, and would eventually start to lose weight to the point of skin and bones. There is no way you would not notice that something was seriously wrong. If you go to this site and look at the left sidebar, there is a picture of a diabetic child before and after she started taking insulin shots. (These were taken during the 1922 insulin trials when insulin was first developed, which is why she hadn't previously had treatment.)

[Meikos]

Originally Posted by harpyr

She also talked about a couple other medical conditions that had me confused. First she said that his Rh negative blood type makes him more prone to excessive bleeding and more susceptible to illness.. like a weakened immune response..

wow, don't know if anyone addressed it yet, but I'm Rh neg and so is my youngest dd and I've never heard of immune problems or excessive bleeding problems, I think she has misinformation, my dd actually has ABneg blood type very rare, and she's healthy healthy healthy...she's also bf, non vax and eats really well....

And with the solid food thing, I let my kids eat off my plate from the time they started reaching for food from it--which was around 6-7 months, we eat well though and my girls were both nursed past 2yrs and not vaccinated (which i believe causes all kinds of immune problems) , and they never had any food allergies or sicknesses or anything, and I think because they ate "grown up" food they have great pallettes for little kids, they love their veggies asparagus and all...

anyway when you watch the little guy you could feed him well and just dispose of the ugh hotdogs (i gag a little when i think of them ) and if the pineapple has high fructose corn syrup that is really yuck stuff.

[octobermom]

Originally Posted by harpyr View Post

The second thing she said was that he has "type A diabetes" but not so bad that he needs insulin shots...just that she needs to keep his blood sugar up by giving him candy??

this isn't true type 1 MUST have insulin. My DD has a form that mimics type 1 in just about every way but her body does produce insulin (body just doesn't get how to use it) but because she does and she doesn't always need the insulin shes classified as type 2. And maaintaining proper BS levels takes a heck of a lot more work that giving candy. Its balancing proteins and fats and sugars from carbs such as fruits whole grains and pastas and even veggies. We adjust for each meal its not just here honey have a twix. : : Its a serious disease and it can kill.

[lilyka]

I think the worst is probably over by now. My kids were all eating bp sandwhiches when they were that age. I just never worried about it much.

also it is not unusual for babies around here to be on whole milk by a year. my ped recommends it (we do not take his nutrition advice but he is an excellent Dr. for things like broken bones and stitches and infections) . Not optimal but passible if the baby can tolerate and on the upside for your nephew it sounds like he has a pretty varied diet which means milk is probably fone from a nutrient perspective.