As other posters have said, anemia can be extremely debilitating. I wouldn't jump to conclusions about hypochondria, if I were you.

and yet, she's the best we've got.

OP, I hear ya. My mom is not morbidly obese, but displays nearly all the other symptoms you ticked off. I am still a fairly dutiful daughter, but pains me that there is no real normal relationship between her and the grand kids. My MIL has looks, money, a fairly good personality (when her narcissism is under control), but also pathologizes nearly everything to get even MORE attention. Her daughter displays nearly identical traits. Both drive DH crazy. He is definitely a son who did not try to marry his mother. And I find it frustrating - "you all have so much, so why are you so crazy, selfish, etc.?"

Op again:

When she was pregnant with my husband, she passed out, unresponsive and was taken to the ER. The hospital wanted to treat her for anorexia but she insisted that she had toxic shock syndrome and tells this story as an example of why she doesn't see doctors.

See, frustrating! Now, she's obviously not anorexic or she probably wouldn't be alive now at nearly 60 but she is thin and probably eats the equivalent of one full, and healthy meal a day.

and yet, she's the best we've got.

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the symptom post. She doesn't eat so that might contribute. She is 5ft, 5in and weighs under 100 pounds. I know because she tells everybody often. she's just "naturally like that", yet she doesn't eat. Correlation or causation?

My issue is that she has an untreated mental illness. But I have learned that anemia can be really severe and hard to treat which is interesting to know as I'm always on the borderline as is my child.

if those numbers are correct, she has a problem. That is definitely underweight. I know that the BMI is not perfect, but that height and weight gives her a BMI of 16.5. The low end of normal is 18.5.

Thanks for the symptom post. She doesn't eat so that might contribute. She is 5ft, 5in and weighs under 100 pounds. I know because she tells everybody often. she's just "naturally like that", yet she doesn't eat. Correlation or causation?

My issue is that she has an untreated mental illness. But I have learned that anemia can be really severe and hard to treat which is interesting to know as I'm always on the borderline as is my child.