RA and the menopause

[lizziebrush]

when my hormonal levels are all over the place so am I. Is there any connection with the pain and stiffness from my RA and it being worse when I am having hot flushes and sweating. I am waiting to go on HRT, and hoping that may help???

any thoughts

[CLANCASTER]

I am in the same situation as you and would swear on my life that my RA is worsening with my increasing loss of oestrogen. When I asked my consultant re HRT she just dismissed me with a 'there is no conclusive evidence' and refused to prescribe...along with refusing to give a second DMARD but suggested Naproxen from the GP despite me saying it didn't help...

Please let me know how it goes with HRT. I have started taking soy isoflavones and hope it is working...

[Tillytop]

Hello both

You have all my sympathy re the menopausal symptoms. I have had menopausal hot (and cold) flushes for more than 10 years now, starting aged about 34 and I have had mixed responses from docs about possible connection with RA.

Endocrinologist 1 told me "no connection" endocrinologist 2 "definite evidence", gynae doctor said "rubbish, there's no connection", rheumatologist said "maybe, but no definite evidence", GP said "more than likely, RA can affect any bit of the body". So I guess, really, that nobody knows for sure.

I can't believe there isn't some kind of hormone connection with RA though - otherwise how to explain the dramatic improvement of RA symptoms which some women experience when pregnant and which, almost inevitably return with renewed force a few weeks after the baby is born? Or the fact that it is not unusual, apparently, for RA to manifest iteself for the first time a short while after a women has give birth?

I know from what I have read that joint pains can be a symptom of menopause, so to me it stands to reason that existing joint pains could get worse with the onset of menopause - and therefore might reasonably be expected to improve on HRT or an effective "menopause diet".

You might be interested in a book by a lady called Dr Maryon Stewart called "Cruising through the Menopause" which, as well as explaining well about the wide-ranging symptoms of the menopause and the pros and cons of HRT, gives detailed diet plans for managing menopausal symptoms through diet alone (including loads of foods rich in soy isoflavones). I tried one of the diet plans in the book and there is no doubt it helped me for a while. Unfortunately it didn't last and I did start taking HRT. I don't think the book is in print any more (mine came from a second hand shop) but you can probably get it from Amazon or the like. Maryon Stewart also has a website which may have some useful information.

I started on HRT about a year and a half ago and, despite hearing from others that the HRT started to help their flushes within as little as 48 hours, I was into the fourth month of HRT before I saw any improvement at all but it has worked well for me and I am now reducing the dose gradually, hoping to be able to stop completely if the flushes don't return.

Really hope that you both get the help you need re the meno symptoms and the worsening joint pain.

Tillyx

[lizziebrush in reply to Tillytop]

Hi Tilly,

Thank you so much for finding the time to reply with such valuable info

Lizzie brush x

[Tillytop]

Hi Lizzie Brush (oh I do like your user name)

You are very welcome and hope it might be of some help to you. I know from long experience how debilitating menopausal flushes can be on top of RA and you have all my sympathy.

Tillyx

[mille]

I believe it is connected. Many woman are diagnosed coming up to the menopause or after having a baby and then there is the fact 3 in 4 people are women. x

[Jenniet]

I believe it's connected too. I was diagnosed at just about the same time I started the menopause. Everytime I have a hot flush, especially at night, it's like all the joints affected are highlighted and then I gradually return to normal - normal for me anyway! My rheumatologist just humours me but doesn't really take much notice when I tell him. I guess I'm more intrigued by it than anything else at the moment. Interesting to know that others feel the same though.