My mother all her life has used doctor visits for entertainment purposes. Once the visit is complete, she concocts big stories about her "unique" health issues. She is 85 and is healthier than most 60 year olds. She can get up from sitting on the floor without any aid, and without getting on her hands and knees first. She comes from a family with longevity. She has always been a hypochondriac and since getting older it has worsened. She makes weekly doctor appointments for the new "flavor" of the week illness or injury she states she has. The doctors has run tests, ultra-sounds, more tests, more tests and nothing is wrong for the numerous ailments she claims to have. How do I let the doctor know she is faking it without causing a risk that one day she may really be sick and be taken serious?
You might drop off a note at the doctor's office stating your concern, but other than that, there's not much you can do, other than to try and interest her in finding some other kind of entertainment, like taking part in activities at the local senior center.
It IS exhausting though isn't it? I call Mom most days of the week and every time something dire seems to be happening with her health. This has been going on for decades. Recently my Dad has been seriously ill so that is taking up some of her attention but she still manages to bring the focus back on to her. Sadly I feel numb to my Mom now.
Many of her problems were apparently psychological. Others were self-induced from things she was doing. Strange thing is that when the male doctor she loved retired and she started seeing a female doctor she liked less, all of her imaginary illnesses disappeared. I have a feeling that my mother just wanted to see her old doctor because he made her feel good.
I learned that confronting the patient and accusing them of making it up is a waste of time. They will never believe you. It has to be addressed very carefully by doctors, probably a psychiatrist, and treated accordingly. This behavior is actually a mental disorder.
Often people with this disorder have a history of childhood abuse and many are female. Often there is something that is troubling them and the brain creates these mysterious illnesses, aches, pains, in order to distract them from what is really bothering them. There are various types of disorders that fall into this psychogenic category, but you can locate them online. The patient usually needs therapy and possibly medication.
I'm trying to get my family member diagnosed and into treatment. She's very resistant though.
Here's a link for one of the disorders. Another one of my family was diagnosed with this. It's called Conversion Disorder.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/conversion-disorder/basics/definition/con-20029533
Mom doesn't like doctors who are women, Mom always comes out of the office saying "she doesn't know what she is talking about".... of course Mom says the same about sports announcers who are women, and Mom wouldn't dare vote for a woman running for office..... [sigh]
Switching your mom to a female doctor might help, based on others comments on here. Or even a physician's assistant, if that's possible, so she's not taking up the doctor's valuable time for non-existent maladies.