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Manipulative sister

(35 Posts)
Nana56 Sat 08-Jul-23 10:44:41

I would welcome some wise words from the gransnet world.
When my mother died( we were estranged), as my sister was left alone she relocated to be near me and my family. She and my mother were very close, lived together. We kept in touch over the years.

She has renal failure snd needs dialysis. When she moved my husband and I viewed flats etc. When she moved we unpacked the removal van so she fidnt have the stress.
Recently I'm finding it increasingly difficult to be supportive. I understand that dialysis must be awful. However, I cannot support her when she refuses to go and the feels awful. Last week she said 'they're lucky I go at all'
Recently I went to hospital appointments to discuss transplantation. What hurt the most that ,the hospital is some distance, was that I didn't even get treated to a coffee.
I think lately she's pushing me. We were discussing transplant and I said leave some bedding out, it'll be nice when you come home. Her reply was 'oh yes and maybe you can deep clean the flat'
Get a cleaner!!
Finally, she's been saying if I can't get a lift to hospital, I won't go. I'm not paying fir a taxi. She has disability allowance.
She is not an invalid, goes to aqua 3 times a week. Also my husband gets infuriated as he thinks I'm being manipulated and my children remind me that I m not her carer.
Thanks for reading

Callistemon21 Sat 08-Jul-23 15:31:03

Her reply was 'oh yes and maybe you can deep clean the flat

Do you think it was a joke?

Georgesgran Sat 08-Jul-23 15:37:42

I can see both sides. I’d do a bit of research into the cost of cleaners etc and pass the info on to your sister to do with it as she chooses . What would she do if you were ill or away when she has an appointment? Perhaps you’re too available - I think you know deep down that your family is right and you need to do less. I found the more you do, the more is expected.
There’s a lot to be said for being an only child!

eazybee Sat 08-Jul-23 15:56:50

Your sister has relocated to be near you, accepted your help in finding a flat and moving her in, started hospital tratmenta treatment and joined activities such as Aqua. So she is not helpless.
I don't know what her relationship was with her mother; did she do everything for her?

She is clearly using her illness to manipulate you, but the refusal to accept treatment unless you take her is totally unacceptable and needs to be faced down now. It is impossible to help those who will not help themselves.

You have to decide how much you are prepared to do and set a limit, beyond which you will not go. When you feel guilty, as you undoubtedly will, remind yourself of all you do and have done and are prepared to do, and tell her.

Then stick to it, very hard, but otherwise you will become her carer. She knows what she is doing.

sharon103 Sat 08-Jul-23 19:42:27

My friend that died had dialysis 4 days a week and was picked up and took back home by ambulance. Picking up a few other people on the way. Surely this can be arranged for your sister.
I'm not sure if she would be able to have dialysis at home because my friends husband had to get trained at hospital to be able to do it.
As Whiff says in her post there's a list of things not to eat.
My friends face used to swell up if she ate tomatoes.
I also doubt sister would be given a transplant considering she can't be bothered to go for dialysis. She's slowly killing herself. As Whiff says the arteries fill up with fatty deposits.
My friend eventually became bed bound for a couple of years. Couldn't stand up without falling down on the floor. She was totally dependent on her husband, her carer.
Post mortem results. Her arteries were 95% or 99% blocked. I can't remember which one now.
Your sister doesn't seem to be that bothered about the outcome.
Don't be taken advantage of.

Callistemon21 Sat 08-Jul-23 19:59:03

I'm not sure if she would be able to have dialysis at home because my friends husband had to get trained at hospital to be able to do it.

My friend was offered it and she lived alone.

She chose to go to the centre on the transport which was provided.

sharon103 Sat 08-Jul-23 21:09:54

Callistemon21

^I'm not sure if she would be able to have dialysis at home because my friends husband had to get trained at hospital to be able to do it.^

My friend was offered it and she lived alone.

She chose to go to the centre on the transport which was provided.

Oh, Callistermon21, maybe because my friend ended up bed bound for the last couple of years of her life so wasn't able to do the necessary to set everything up to use the machine.
She did have dialysis at hospital for about 4 years prior to that.

Ali08 Sat 08-Jul-23 23:00:10

Nana56

She gets all the benefits but refuses to use it for taxi. That's hair and clothes money. She's not short of money

She won't have to pay for any of that if she doesn't go to her appointments!!
Tell her it's her health and you're willing to help when you can but she has to work for it, too!
You have a family to look after and they come first, she chose to move closer to you and you have helped her loads but don't put up with her trying to blackmail you!!
She has to decide whether her life is worth living, or if she just wants to give in and let someone else have the treatments she's wasting!!!

Nana56 Sun 09-Jul-23 10:26:20

I appreciate all your comments. Just to add that it infuriates me that she misses her appointments, there are so many others who need treatment.
She has been treated with compassion and kindness but the negativity is waring.
I told her off last week and queried her mental health for transplant, although she's passed all the assessments.
I haven't had contact since I had words.
Leaving her to it at the moment

Mamasperspective Sat 15-Jul-23 06:03:10

If she’s saying she just won’t go to hospital if she doesn’t have a lift, I would just say, “That’s up to you, you’re a grown adult”
People can only manipulate and treat you badly when you allow it. Make plans yourself and create some more enjoyment in your life so you are too busy to spend all your time with her or accommodate her if you feel she is taking advantage. Stop enabling bad behaviour.