I've noticed lately when every I have my period my RA seems to flare. Everything is magnified. more swelling, joint & muscle soreness, way worse iritability, out of control fatigue. Just uck, uck, uck. Isn't RA wonderful.... although mine isn't official, it's most likely! I'm still not on any meds because of upcoming surgery... what for, you might ask... a hysterectomy!! I cant handle the periods anymore. Like I told the DR. I would rather give birth than have a period, the pain is unreal. Until the OB put me on a hormone that stopped my periods, I was having to go to the emergency room for pain relief from cramps from the middle of my back to my knees. The joints always got worse two during that three day time period. The only relief I got was from getting a shot of Toradol and Vicoden.
I have noticed that I am much more symptomatic during that time.
I don't have the crippling cramps as much as general PMS type symptoms
and overall bloating and misery.
I am never sure what is pred, what is PMS and what is RA. It's a gamble and I quit trying to figure it out.
I do take a water pill usually on or before my period with some
potassium. I have found that it really helps with the other
symptoms. I drink lots of water though and am careful to not take
more than one in a two-day time frame.
My period has done that my whole entire life. I missed 2-3 days every single month back in Jr. High and High School due to the RA flairing my back during menstral cycles.
What happens is my lower back flairs which causes pressure on my uterus which in turn causes double the pain.
Gena no mtx, only arava (for several years now) and lexapro. As I said maybe just life and it's just getting worse. Maybe it has something to do with some of my other new problem that I think may be lupus or as somesome here suggested fibromyalgia.
I guess it really doesn't matter what the cause is, the results will still be the same. Perhaps I spend too much time trying to figure out whats causing what to go on in my body.
The MTX has really put my periods in a funny cycle. Or...I guess that is what it's from.
All in all...they are weird to say the least.
Roblyn
Dbmy-all of the fluid retention that comes with your cycle is prob. just adding to the puffiness and the extra fatigue is no help. Have you tried taking something for PMS like Midol? Some thing with a mild diuretic and anti-inflammatory would probably help. Especially if you start taking it a few days before your period, before the symptoms get out of control.Here are a couple of links that might help with this question. No one seems to want to categorically say there is a connection between estrogen levels and RA but it is implied all over the place. And pre-menstrually, your estrogen level drops, so it makes sense you have more symptoms then.