Comments on: Some good news!

By: SynovialSensation

SynovialSensation — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:11:44 +0000

Sorry to hear ‘if it’s not one thing it’s another’! Am also sure there’s a hormonal link. Helen, my RA is worse with PMT and I zing along from 2 days before period arrives, very energised. So different!

By: pollyannapenguin

pollyannapenguin — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:18:41 +0000

Hurrah for some serious research into this – I’m sure there’s a link, although RA is so complicated that it probalby won’t apply to everyone. I actually get BETTER during menstruation!! (Oh well, makes periods a bit more bearable, I suppose!)

By: Helen

Helen — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:59:47 +0000

My rheumatologist is actually researching the link between hormones and RA in women – it’s really interesting. I did a survey for her a few weeks ago about my own experiences. My joints always feel significantly worse during menstruation.

By: pollyannapenguin

pollyannapenguin — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:57:18 +0000

Interesting! I had a browse about but the only things I could find where were the autoimmune disease was something like Lupus and had directly affected the ovary tissues causing early menopause that way. (Or vague references to ‘autoimmune diseases such as Lupus and RA’ but with no explanation as to why RA.) I’m sure I’ve read (can’t remember where either) that it’s often hormonally linked though, and that’s why RA often (obviously by no means always, as it can start in children) starts in menopausal-age women. Certainly my more obvious symptoms started just a mite before the hot flushes did.

By: WarmSocks

WarmSocks — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:26:15 +0000

Lower disease activity is indeed good new! I recall reading somewhere (sorry, I’m not sure where) that there could be a link between autoimmune diseases and early menopause.