PMT, RA fatigue or peri menopause?

[Mccarj2017]

Hi all I’m new here so wondered if any ladies have flare ups around ‘the time of the month’? I’m unsure if I’m dealing with PMT, RA fatigue or start of the menopause...are there links? I’m exhausted, anxious & fed up. Thanks in advance x

[ragurl]

Yes, I have flares a day or two before my period as I have aged currently 49 the flares have gotten worse with hot sweats and insomnia. As soon as I start it starts to subside so I am definitely in perimenopause . Hoping it gets better once I hit menopause

[Simba1992 in reply to ragurl]

Natural progesterone would probably help

[cheshcat]

Yes, I get flares around my cycle. And I'm 46, definitely hitting per-menopause over here. I had a hysterectomy a few years ago and no longer bleed but I have my ovaries. The flare helps me figure out where I am at in my cycle 🙄

[CJ46]

You know I’ve wondered exactly the same thing!! I’m 50 now. I wonder if RA will get any better once menopause has started or will it just get worse as we age? Anyone got any pearls of wisdom whose been through all this already?

[Nouk69]

I am trialling the progesterone only pill which reduces the hot flushes , mood swings and pre period flares significantly if that helps at all 😊

[sparrowthebrave]

I feel like at least the osteo part of my RA has only gotten worse as I approach menopause or perimenopause (I'm 43 with a family history of early menopause). However, I've had RA since I was a baby and incurred a lot of actual joint damage and erosion over the years. Despite all my damage, I've actually got along pretty well in my life, but I've noticed the actual pain ramp up in my joints, and I think it's just that the loss of estrogen plays a HUGE part in regulating pain and pain reception/perception in women. So while I don't think my RA is worse (my bloods are good, low ESR, RA factor neg, no swelling), I think my pain is worse than it was because I'm older. There are lots of pain-coping techniques I have that are pretty useful for getting me through for when it's bad. Perimenopause is quite a journey that I sort of wish someone had informed me more about!

[JessicaEccles6]

My consultant told me that my RA should significantly improve after the menopause. I have scleroderma as well and my absolutely worse flares are always around the time of my period. It took me ages to recognise the pattern. I recently had my first period for a year and the worse flare I have had for that time- I felt so ill I had a week off work and couldn't stop sleeping.