Münchausen by Internet

I am a member of a group on facebook for women with CF who are either mothers or are trying to become a mother. It's a secret group so you have to be invited to it and nobody else can see anything you have posted or that you are even in this group. Many women don't want people to know they are trying to conceive or their problems with being a mother, they express personal fears, upsets, details and anger at their difficult situations and they exchange tips and encouragement. Since people with CF can not meet up due to cross infection this group is the the only way for many to communicate with others in similar situations to themselves. It is a lovely supportive group where a person feels she can discuss anything on her mind and not be judged because everyone else on there has had similar thoughts and can give relevant and useful advice as they actually know what it's like and they know it will remain confidential.

I have found this group to be a great help when I have felt down about my own problems and I find it reassuring to read about mothers with CF coping well with parenthood and posting tips relevant to being a CF parent.

However today the administrators (who were brilliant to spot this and investigate) told us that they have had to remove two members as after much research they believe they do not even have CF and have posted lots of lies to gain attention. One of these people I had actually removed from my facebook friends list the day before as I suspected there was something strange about her. I have now gone through my facebook friends list and removed anyone I don't talk to much or know much about who claims to have CF.

It's shaken me up as that group was a safe haven to vent my frustrations and support others, to think that someone has sat there and read through posts and then made lies up for attention makes me feel vulnerable as you never know who people are online and what their intentions are. It then makes me doubt everything I do online, who knows how any people are doing this? Apparently it can be classed as some type of mental illness and I think it must be, why would you pretend to be sick?! It's horrible to think that the only way I can talk to others with CF is tainted by these people who join communities nothing to do with them and make up a whole life to try fit in. Why can't people leave these communities to support one another alone? Why do they have to ruin it by sticking their nose where is doesn't belong? I've had problems with posting things online before and I am much more careful where and what I post now. I have gone off the CFTrust forum as anyone can look at it, you don't even need log in details. I've even considered at times making this blog private because I have no idea who reads it, I try my best to not post too much confidential information on here. But on a forum that is private and on such sensitive topics, that's an all time low.

The Internet is great in some ways but it seems to attract all those strange people out there, please keep a look out for fakers!