hi ! I was diagnosed with RA 2.5 years ago. After I had my children (3.5 and 18 months) I had hot flashes and severe night sweats. The OB said it was Post partum hormone levels adjusting and it would go away. Well my youngest is now 18 months old and I have to change my pj's at least once a night. On a bad night I have to strip the bed! I mentioned it to my mother and she said it sounded like what she went through with early menopause. So after doing some reading i found that 10-30% of women with RA go into early menopause. I am just 32 years old ! I mentioned it yo my GP who said it was likely side effects from the myriad of meds I am taking for the RA but that if the problem persists I could have some bloodtests done.
I was just wondering if this really is common? I started taking all the heavy hitting drugs after my youngest was born so it was hard to tell if alot of the problems I was having was from the meds or being post partum. I hate the mood swings....really one minute i am fine the next I am a raging maniac, and the hot flashes and night sweats are awful!
Guess I am just looking for some BTDT gals !
Thanks!
If your mum went through early menopause then it is possible you could be too. It could be more due to being family related than RA related or drugs related. It often runs in families. It could be a combination of all three things too. Sorry I can't be of more "help". Ask your doctor to do some blood tests for hormone levels. I would also look into some natural menopause treatments like REMIFEMIN or something that might help with the hot flashes and night sweats. My sister in law seems to be going through this at the moment and she is 34. Her mum went through early menopause so it is obviously in the family. She nearly had to strip last night at dinner
Hope you can find a way to cope, and welcome to the board.
I also read that women with RA could go through early menopause. It said that our immune systems can attack our ovaries.
My mom had a hystorectomy at an early age so we don't know when she went through menopause. I experience menopause at the age of 35! Then 5 years later my RA set in.
To be sure your doctor can test your hormone levels. I am currently working with my doctor to decide how and if we are going to use hormone replacements. It is a big decision.
Lowen, you are blessed to have had 2 children already. Still it is a big right of passage for us women and shouldn't be taken lightly.
Gentle Hugs.
Marybeth
i am 41 and havent had a period now for 6 mths . You can have mine if you like. I'm really kind of tired of it!no thanks hillhoney, i was very tired of mine also. so was very pleased when they stoppedOver and done with at 42. My mom was 58...... Glad it's over, but the hot flashes about killed me. Still going on, but not as bad. I'm 45 now.....Black Kohosh (sp?) is the only thing i could take. Did it help? Not sure....
Black Kohosh is what is in REMIFEMIN and it really helped me with the hot flashes. The other thing that I'm trying at the moment is Wild Yam Cream. I don't know yet if it works but I'll let you know. I'm 49 and until about 2 months ago was regular as clockwork, I'm ready to wind down. Anything that helps with the symptoms is great, especially if it is something natural.I started menopause at 32 also Lowen. Now at 36 I haven't had a period in years. At first they thought it was from the MTX or maybe just the RA in general.Either is known to cause it. My hormone levels certainly test in the menopause range.....no doubt about it. Recently someone here asked me if I had POF; Premature ovariain failure. I'd never heard of it but it describes me to a T! None of my doctors have ever called it that though.
I'm going to discuss it with my OB later this year on my yearly appontment. I'm not sure it matters though. Either way it's basically the same thing.
I've been on HRT for the last few years now. I'm losing bone at a fairly good clip. I think that's one of the main concerns with early menopause and where HRT isn't that good for anyone they feel it's worth the risk for me.
If I can help with any other infor let me know. I'm no expert; but I have been dealing with it for a while now.
Done and over at 35. Glad to be done.I was done at 42 too. At the time, I was experiencing terrible fatigue and achiness but hadn't started having joint pains yet. I think those were my first symptoms of RA.
I went through some saliva testing and found that while my estrogen level was low, my progesterone was even lower. A compounding pharmacist in the area made a progesterone cream tailored for me based on my test results. It works great.
Lowen, It really sounds like menapause to me. I would get tested to be sure.
I had a hysterectomy and I do not ever miss my period. I have heard of women missing there period but I cant understand why.
You can take hormones for the night sweats in most cases.
Good Luck
The hormones help me. I feel so much better since being on them. I certainly don't miss having a period and since neither my husband or I want to have anymore children this works out just fine for me.