Physical Illness/Injury

[sweet tooth]

My BPD routinely complained about physical illness and injury: colds, a sore throat, chills, her thyroid, and the last time I saw her she was limping and wearing a knee brace. She complained of physical ailments more times than not.

She took thyroid medication but claimed it didn't help. She spent a night in the hospital due to a sore throat. She fell and hurt her knee on pavement. She said her knee wasn't broken but wore a brace and limped. She also put on a lot of weight in the time I knew her (a year).

In hindsight, I wonder how much of this was legitimate and how much of it was attention seeking behavior. Is hypochondria or Munchusen Syndrome typical of the disorder? Your input is appreciated.

[Moselle]

I can corroborate this. 2 BPD relationships,  both complained regularly about ailments for attention, in comparison with other relationships. The ailments appeared disappeared, reappeared. Whether they were real or imagined, I cannot tell, but I paid for lots of therapy 

[teapay]

Yes, most definitely.  My W has been working her way through the medical encyclopedia of diseases.  I've lost count of the number of aliments.  She says she belongs on the Mystery Diagnosis show.  Many of her issues are imaginary or at least psychosomatic of some sort.  Some are real because she hasn't taken care of herself and her body is crapping out. I've been amazed however how the medical community has played along.  I guess they are making money and maybe don't want to upset or alienate their client.  Still, they've known she's had mental health issues.  Seems like taking advantage of the mentally ill.

[JerryRG]

My exgf was always complaining about different illnesses and after while I didn't pay attention. She has faked cancer several times and then claimed miraculous healing or something. Do they do this for attention or distraction from their real problems or both? Either way it seems very juvenile in nature.

I think my pwBPD may have believed her own lies or delusions but I'm still unsure of most of her behaviours.