too much sun?

[frankgee]

I'm new to ra.

I seem to suffer when I go overseas,on holiday.

my doctor said sun would be good for me,but I seem to suffer more pain.

can anyone help.

[popsmith1874]

I'm the opposite the sun helps my joints no end, although I still get swelling in my hands my pain seems to disappear with the heat but I'm still taking my mess so I would probably be still in pain if I wasn't

[Simba1992]

RA meds may make you sensitive to the sun and of this reason not recommend to spend long hours in the sun. I have RA but am not on RA meds and I am just crazy about the sun, have always been and it really makes a positive difference. I am quite sure it has to do with the deficiency of vit D that most RA sufferers have. There are even doctors that believe that D vit deficiency is one of the culprits in RA. What is important to know is also that the vit. D that your body produces with the help of the sun is better for you than what you get from supplements. What is also interesting is that the sun vit D is water soluble whereas from supplements you need oil to absorbe it.

[helixhelix]

I really dislike hot places. I hate being too hot as it makes my joints ache. Give me a cold crisp winter day any time. A bit of sunshine is fine, but not heat!

My skin is sensitive to the sun now from drugs, so I do use hats, sunglasses, long loose clothes etc once I've had my 15 mins a day for Vit D. So being outdoors is ok as long as it's not too hot!

[Hidden]

Oh I love the sun, but I now am very cautious because of all the meds. I now wear a baseball cap, and loose clothing and I seek a shady spot under a tree.

[dmccoy117]

My Dr told me not to stay out in the sun. However I love the sun & it makes me feel better. Sounds like everyone has had different experiences. My best advise is always to listen to what your body tells you!

[Hidden]

Just be certain that you are okay in the sun. I am on Minocycline and that is a "no sun" medication, and I'm pretty sure there are others.. Other than the meds though, sun is wonderful for you, and Vitamin D should help you a lot

[gaynorwhalley]

I suffer from a great deal of swelling in my feet and knees when away, although not particularly painful, does mean I can only wear Fit flops! I have a place in Tenerife and not sure whether it is the four hour plane journey, or the heat when I get there! I find at the start of my break I can walk quite normally but after a week am doing a great deal of 'oohing and aahing'! Although I don't think sun helps, do find it very relaxing.

[Simba1992 in reply to gaynorwhalley]

The swelling can be due to something else than RA? Have. you talked about it with your GP?

[gaynorwhalley]

Not really, have an appointment with Consultant shortly so will definitely mention it then - suppose like a lot of RA sufferers I put on a smile and pretend everything is ok! Helps reading on this forum, as realise not the only one, as find sometimes you can feel lonely and isolated and people assume as you look ok on the outside you must be 'over it'; fed up of the times I have had to tell people it is not something that will go away like a bout of flu. Rant over!! Thanks to everyone who contributes to this as makes you realise you are never alone really.....

[Simba1992]

New research tell us that sunbathing releases endorphines the " feel good hormone" and that you in fact can become addicted to the sun😊This I think has happened to me. What is also interesting that that RA patients have endorphine deficiency and that endorphine has a role in calming down an overactive immune reaction. The mechanism of action in LDN is to give the body an extra boost of endorhine, which has made a great difference to many AI sufferers. Now when I've started serious sunbathing here in the south of France I really do feel a difference in wellbeing🤗

[AgedCrone in reply to Simba1992]

Beware "serious" sunbathing. I sunbathed all over the world for years & ended up with a basal cell carcinoma on my face....luckily removed & non malignant.....but scary all the same.

You can get just as much benefit from just being in the warmth of the sun , you don't need to bask in it to get the feel good vibe!

Take care...& always use a good Sunscreen!

[Simba1992 in reply to AgedCrone]

My "serious sunbathing" means a half an hour in the sun😊This is what is recommended to get the daily, very important, dose of best quality vit.D. Sunscreen not recommended during this time since blocks also production of vit.D. I always use sunscrean on the face though.

[AgedCrone in reply to Simba1992]

Oh that is good....I had visions of lying flat out from 9to5!

I honestly think it depends on the individual.......I can get a suntan just glancing at the sun & have never been sunburned despite water skiing all day in the Caribbean .

When I had the bcc removed the dermatologist was amazed at the condition of my skin after so much tropical sun exposure......but he still cautioned me to take care!

Mind you in the UK at the moment we are more likely to suffer from rust as it's so cold & damp!

[Simba1992 in reply to AgedCrone]

Yes I am also one of those who never burn and tan easily. I have however also been protecting my skin by taking Lycopen supplements many years and using vit.A cream for my face during the winter months for repairing eventual sun damage during summer.

Yes I really do feel sorry for you up there with so much dampness😟I have two daughters living in the UK one working and one studying and they are not too happy about all the rain... I hope the summer will bring sunshine this year. Take care. Simba

[AgedCrone in reply to Simba1992]

I took Pycnogenol for years when I travelled all the time....then I stopped until I had to have radiotherapy when I was advised to take it again. On my first trip to the sun after the RT I slathered on factor 30 every 20 minutes....until I got fed up with such a messy task. I did not burn & went back to my usual regime & still didn't have a problem. I don't know for sure if it was the Pycnogenol that helped or if I just have cast iron skin. Bottom line I think some will always burn & everybody just has to go carefully in the sun.....sadly not something we often have to worry about in the UK.

As i write at 4am I'm listening to the radio & apparently NY is expecting 17" of snow!!Maybe we shoukd be thankful for small mercies?

[8080]

I was told that the sun can cause a "butterfly" Lupus- like rash on the face- ( nurse at hospital )...so no Sun while on Cimsia!

[trailblazer]

When my RA symptoms spiralled out of control several years ago, I was on maximum dose anti inflammatories and Hydroxychloriquinne at the time I noticed that when I went on holiday it was much worse, I would suffer excruciating pain that would not abate. With hindsight I discovered that my diet was always very different when on holiday, eggs, lots of bread etc., which I would not normally have in the same quantities or in the home when not on holiday. I only discovered a couple of years after doing an elimination diet that I was actually intolerant to the foods that I was eating when I was on holiday hence the flare in my symptoms. At least that has been my experience. x