Anemia..arthritis..what could it be?!

[rockexrolloh]

My mom has been having a lot of health issues lately. She is 45 and has had problems with really stiff joints and muscles and bone aches. Her family doctor sent her to a rheumatologist who has yet to diagnose her with anything. He says it is not rheumatoid arthritis and resembles ankylosing spondilitis but is not sure. She has been given multiple medications, none of which work that well. She can not take many of them either because she has a history of ulcers and esophagial structures which most anti-inflammatory drugs irritate.
She has been going back and forth to the rheumatologist for the past 5 months, trying to find something that works. At one point he had given her a Depo Medrol injection, which had absolutely no affect.
In the past 2 months she has started to lose her hair. She is always hot, fatigue, aggitated, and still experiencing the joint pain, especially in her lower back and wrists.
Her blood work shows that her thyroid is normal but she is anemic. She also tested negative for diabetes. She is going to her family doctor tomorrow to see whats going on but I highly doubt anything will come of it. It seems like we are getting nowhere with this and things are getting worse.
What could be going on? I thought maybe she just has arthritis and a bleeding ulcer because of the ulcer/esophagial problems she has had in the past, but I am not so sure.
Any ideas would be great!

[rad-skw]

Have the docs check her calcium levels to rule out hyperparathyroidism.

[Kiera]

She sounds like a case of AS. Anemia is often seen in AS and is most likely why her doctor thinks she has it. Ankylosing Spondylitis is connected to inflammatory bowel disease as well, but not everyone with IBD and AS has joint damage. Thats why it is hard to diagnose.

Have you tried posting at spodylitis.org? They have a great forum and alot of knowledgeable people. You will also find more then one person with heat intolarance, hairloss, fatigue, moodswings and so on.

You should also try visiting kickas.org. They have alot of stuff about diet. Many people have almost been cured by changing their diet.

You will also find me there under the same nick as I use here. I have Crohns disease and I am suspecting that I have AS as well....

The best of luck to both you and your mom...

Kiera