Female question about flares | Arthritis Information

So I woke up this morning ... no pain. Well, no more than has been "usual" for me for years. I'm stiff and there's a "background noise" level of chronic joint pain, but nothing at all unusual. (I used to complain at doctors all the time and they'd never do anything and gave up a long time ago.)

My monthly friend came with a vengeance last night. Said friend was two or three weeks late, which is VERY unusual for me -- enough that I took a (negative) pregnancy test. I'm normally like clockwork every 28 days.

Is there possibly a relation between what is apparently an autoimmune-joint-pain-sort-of-flare (no official diagnosis of RA, but elevated RA levels) and hormone levels?

Also, I just found out about psoriatic arthritis. *headdesk* Ah, yes, that would be a possibility. WHY didn't the doc ever mention this to me when I was diagnosed? *headdesk* I've had mild psoriasis since I was a teenager, mild enough that I don't even usually think about it unless someone directly asks me. I don't even know if my current PCP knows I *have* psoriasis -- it's just one little plaque that's been there forever and ever. Sigh. Never realized it might have complications or be anything other than a cosmetic annoyance.
When "Aunt Flo" comes to visit me, everything tends to hurt a bit more than usual - probably because of the gift of mild water retention she always brings. Since i was 10 with my first monthly enemy, i have flaired so bad that i had to take 2 days per month out of school. I had a horrible attendance record.

I am now getting the shot every 3 months to stop my cycle completely because it has gotten so bad that I can't say examples here due to it being a bit medical.

But, my uterus does swell horribly, but i have a muscle inflammation problem too and that might be why my uterus grows so large.

Also, i have psoriasis and have since i was little. It is mild, it's on my face, top of my head, sometimes elbows and knees and tons on my hands at times.

I was tested and they said that just because i have psoriasis doesn't mean i have that form of arthritis.

I justs got mine, and up until then my pain was twice as bad as "normal". Never been happy to get my period until now!!Many of us here are affected by our cycle in one way or another. Usually it's in a painful way. So, yes, you could be feeling the affects of your current hormone level. I havent noticed much of a difference during that week... except in my moods;(

bubbagump

has the avara helped..... do you take the prednisone daily...?
have you ever had steroid shots periodically instead of taking daily pills?

I used to be on avara and it worked good but it made my hair thin:(

I use to take naproxen.. but cant take anymore.

do you recommend the avara? I am trying to remember how it was when i was on it...
enbrel didnt work..
thinking orencia or remicade...
I always get more pain in my joints, headaches and tummy problems (diarrhea), not to mention the emotional roller coaster and munchies with my monthly visitor. I used to piggy back bc pills so I would only have a couple of periods a year and I LOVED that but since getting 5 blood clots this past fall, I am not allowed to use any sort of hormonal birth control and man, do I miss it-my periods have gotten a lot worse as I get older, I thought it was supposed to be the other way around? Unfortunately for me, the arava hasn't done anything, my rhummy made an appointment to talk about it early july along with other things.

I haven't taken the pred shot before, wasn't given the option.

My hair has gotten very thin and started to fall out since arava which I hate.

I don't drink, smoke etc. I don't do anything to bother my liver, but my enzymes went through the roof when they upped me to 20mg and i started taking naproxen with it.

Liver can always be fixed. They say it works as well as methotrexate does, but can hurt the liver sooner than it can.

I think anything is always worth a try. I don't know what they will offer me next, i have just about gone through everything with no hope.

I'm suspecting that psoriatic arthritis might be my issue, given the other symptoms I've had for years. (On again, off again plantar fasciitis and sore achilles tendons, stiff hips/back, nail problems that don't resolve with antifungals ... yuppers. Never had a clue they could all be related. Gotta love doctors who dismiss everything.)

It'll be interesting what the rheumy says in July.

(And as my monthly friend bids farewell, I'm getting stiff again. Dangit.)