I've found a lot of information about how stomach problems result from the medications taken to treat RA. But I was wondering if anyone here has had stomach issues as a manifestation of the RA itself?
The first health issue I had that eventually led up to my diagnosis of RA was upper abdominal pain, which the doctors insist was something altogether unrelated, despite the fact that I had never had stomach issues in my life, much less bad enough to actually see the doctor for.
The stomach aches were daily for several hours in the afternoon, and that went on for about 2 1/2 months. Then one day, "poof", they were gone, almost as quickly as they hit.
But almost instantly after my stomach felt better was when the morning stiffness started. That lasted a couple of weeks, then the joint pain started, and so on until I got the RA diagnosis.
I feel certain my stomach was the first thing to react to whatever changes were going on with my immune system, but the PCP and RD insist no. Did anyone else experience something similar, or have you had any stomach problems with RA?
My stomach has been fine, since... knock on wood. :)
Ginger, I just saw this poast. Have you ever been checked for an inflamitory bowel disorder? Autoimmune disease and inflamatory disease don't have to discriminate, there are things such as Chrones disease etc. that can cause stomach distress. Also there is a connection between wheat allergy, celiacs disease, and joint pain.