My mother has had severe weight loss in the past year due to RA and has anemia. She has endured many tests and now her doctor basically has said he does not know why this is happening and is not investigating further. She is starting to give up because she has been a very active woman and has no energy or appetite and is frustrated as to why. Is there a test we do not know about or something we could do? She is down to 83 -85 lbs now and still losing. Thank you for your interest.
Q: My mother has RA quite bad and after a year of every test available, her doctor has given up as to w
Answers (1)
5/11/09 12:15am
Wow. If your mom is down to 83 pounds that sounds very serious to me, unless she was already a tiny, tiny person! How much weight has she lost over how much time? Is inflammation under control? Has any doctor investigated whether or not something else besides RA is causing her wieght loss?
You say that she has no appetite. How much is she eating? If she is not eating enough to maintain her weight I would look into ways to encourage her to eat foods with high nutritional and caloric value. Sometimes if someone has no appetite for solid food they will still drink. I would make her some tasty nutritional and high calorie beverages and encourage small frequent servings. Doctors often use Ensure to increase calories. You could also consult with a nutritionist.
I would call her doctor and make sure that your mom has understood him correctly about not doing any futher investigation. If her doctor does not intend to do further work up or treatment I would get a second opinion. Get copies of all her records and go with her to her doctor's appointments to make sure that everything is being communicated clearly. Sounds like your mom needs an advocate so good for you for asking for help. Good luck and I hope you get some answers.
Important:
We hope you find this general health information helpful. Please note however, that this Q&A is meant to support not replace the professional medical advice you receive from your doctor. No information in the Answers above is intended to diagnose or treat any condition. The views expressed in the Answers above belong to the individuals who posted them and do not necessarily reflect the views of Remedy Health Media. Remedy Health Media does not review or edit content posted by our community members, but reserves the right to remove any material it deems inappropriate.
By Anna Bertagnolli— Last Modified: 12/15/10, First Published: 05/10/09
Featuring Content From:
By using this service, you accept our Terms of Use. Please read them. The consumer health information on is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. You should promptly seek professional medical care if you have any concern about your health, and you should always consult your physician before starting a fitness regimen. Copyright © 2012 Remedy Health Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
