Chicken or the egg? | Arthritis Information

 

Not been on for ages as I have  either a horrible neurological condition or Laybarintits ( if that' s how you  spell it).  Major dizziness and motion sickness just walking, wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. 

Anyways, here is a question that would require a lot of honesty but I would love to know what you think about this.

Are any of you just down right raging a lot of the time.  Not because of RA but just, well, raging.  Intolerant, easily irritated, low capacity to cope with stress, flying off the handle at the little things in life?

I am finding that I get stressed out really bad about something that I could normally handle, (I get 'the rage' basically) then soon after I get a flare up.  Well at first I thought, the stress was causing the flare, but now I am starting to think that something in me, in the lead up to the flare is messing with my head.  For eg, I woke up today and I was just in a fowl mood.  I cried, I hated my husband (in fairness I don't usually  think he's the greatest, but he hadn't done anything different and I just wanted to smash plates off the walk (not just PMT bad, but - I'm about to have a flare up bad.   Then I find myself in a big argument with my mum shouting I hate you, again, in fairness I don't get on with her, but at 34 I can usually control myself a little better, then tonight, there it goes, the shivery chills and a flare in a joint in my foot.  What is it with this, does the stress cause the flare, or does some sort of hormone/infection reaction cause the stress.  Any thoughts?
Flint- do you go on prednisone when you are in a flare?

OOOh, that's interesting about the dizziness, I must check that out.  No, I don't have pred so it's not that.  It's just weird, its as if something goes wrong and I can't take what I can normally take stress or tolerance wise, then a little while later I flare somewhere. flint,
It could be a coin toss as to what makes you get irritated. Actually its a box-shaped coin
Drugs
Disease
Distress (stress)
Depression
A depressed or very stressed person manifests outwardly in anger, irritableness, and generally not being pleasant company. They may not have gotten out of the wrong side of the bed, but they put on their porcupine costume.
When the Body Says NoFlint - its brave of you to even bring this up.  Yes, I was in a rage, flew off the handle, was completely pissed off, and totally frustrated.  It was from not being believed, not being diagnosed, not receiving any treatment, and not being taken seriously.  It took 5 years to finally get partial diagnosis, two years of treatment before any relief, and one year to get over the rage.  Good thread.  CathyI don't know your history, so please excuse me....but have you been completely checked out for Lupus?  It can cause swelling, joint pain etc. like RA, dizziness and emotional changes.  Just a thought.  Sure do wish you will! I got checked for anti ccp and was positive.  I don' have ana antibodies but a low white cell.  Sometimes I get scared I have MS - I am going for a MRI on Thursday, feels like the whole RA dx again. 

Re: 'The Rage'.  I noticed, maybe 6 to 12 months before I got RA that I was getting really angry about things.  Wanting to shout at people , getting wound up about my work a LOT more than usual.  I was teary and anxious about getting ill, worrying about dying etc all sorts going on.  I wonder if this contributed to the RA or of the onset of RA was causing these changes in me.  People say to me, you were so stressed today, or narky or whatever, no wonder you flared up, but sometimes I think, was I so stressed and narky today because I was GOING to flare up, if you know what I mean.  Then I get my mum who will wind me up then say 'now now, don't get stressed, you'll just flare yourself  NRRGGHHH I could scream when people do that, it's like a license to say anything and I am just to smile or I'll flare.  It's like saying you bring it on yourself.  Well I wonder if I do or of the RA makes me like this.  I know I get frustrated and angry etc when I actually have a flare, but it is strange that I get like this before I know I am going to have a flare.  

I hate this RA, I was it was a thing so I could punch it's lights out. Hi Flint, if your whole body is getting inflamed before the flare raises its ugly head, then why not our hormones and other body parts that control our emotions.  Don't blame yourself, hugs Janie. _popupControl();RE: 'The "RA" Rage'. I have never had it full on, but a few weeks ago I did get into a fight with one of my friends. She did do the wrong thing. She broke up with her boyfriend and was making good people with good intentions feel bad because she didn't know how to handle the situation. I was combative and I just took our argument to a level that is just so unlike me it isn't funny. I was taking 50mg of Pred that day, and I swiftly apologised and I now call that my "learning curve," I need to watch how I'm behaving on these meds. Since then, I have been fine.

If irritability is RA, it would be a part of the diagnostic criteria, like it is for lupus or MS, which can cause psychiatric symptoms. But irritability is not part of the diagnosis. I would sincerely go and see your Dr about this because as it has already been discussed, irritability is one of the symptoms of depression. Depression  is nothing to be ashamed of, its treatable and curable. It affects many people (1 in 5) in different ways, some people just sleep all the time, some people eat alot, some people just cry and some people lose weight. RA as a disease doesn't cause depression, but the side effects of having the disease is enough to make anyone depressed. Please talk to someone. You don't have to suffer in silence, you might just need to talk to a professional and learn how to accept your disease and it's impact on your life. Its something that we all need to come to terms with and I hope you address it sooner, rather than later. As Janie says, it might just be the stress of emotions brought on by the flare, which may need addressing, perhaps it is chemical and can be easily fixed. Don't be upset about something that you can't control, but I hope that it can be helped! Good luck.
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