R A and fibromyalgia?

[DiHi]

I’ve had RA for 12 years,really bad flare now, my late mother suffered from fibromyalgia-is there a connection? Or could I be just unlucky and have both? Has anyone else had this question, my next appointment is 7 weeks away, Thanks

[Jillyanne]

Hi, my dad had RA and I have had it for 11ish years and they told me if a parent has RA you are more likely to get it

Not really sure about fibro

[barbieg]

I was told they go together by my first RA consultant when he diagnosed my RA. I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia when I was in my forties (I’m 76!) Diagnosed with RA 15 yrs ago. He said people with Fibromyalgia often go on to have RA.

[DiHi in reply to barbieg]

Thanks,in my case it’s the other way round!

Typical of me to do things differently! When I was diagnosed with RA I was asked my family history,told him about my mother and her fibromyalgia,no connection I was told! She also had Polio,as did I, mine was really too mild to notice,my mother suffered much worse,paralysed in one leg.

There is something called Post Polio Syndrome! Which is apparently the start of all my various problems -1953!

[Hidden in reply to DiHi]

Hi DiHi

This is what I read on a site when doing my research

Certain genes predispose people to developing rheumatoid arthritis, and that is why it runs strongly in some families. Environmental risk factors for RA include cigarette smoking and female sex. Fibromyalgia is in part genetic and can be triggered by stressful events

My family is OA and RA type.

[Hidden]

I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 2007 but am certain that I had it for quite a few years before that and I also had O.A. I became much worse in 2011 and was then diagnosed with R.A. Recently I have also been told that I also have PsA.

My mum was always ill with pain but fibromyalgia wasn't really known about then. Sometimes she said she had been told it was O.A. and at others she said it was R.A. so I never really knew but I do know that she was always in pain. I was told when I was a child that my great-grandmother suffered with pain a lot but that it wasn't really diagnosed as anything in those days. She died in the 1930's, long before I was born. Psoriasis runs in my dad's side of the family and dad used to get gout and also a lot of pain in his ankles so I think I have traces of it all in both sides of the family.

[DiHi in reply to Hidden]

So sorry,what a horrid combination.My father had anklelosing spondylitis!so,all-in-I I’m lucky! My Dad ended-up as chancellor of the exchequer! Despite all their medical problems,they were survivors-I hope and pray,I’ve inherited they gene!!

[Hidden in reply to DiHi]

I think we need to be survivors to cope with these horrible rheumatic diseases. People often seem to think that it is just a bit of an ache or pain, but if only they knew just how bad it is. I am in such pain at present that I have got very low with it all. Next week, I am going into hospital to have a shoulder replacement and I also need both knees replacing and various other things as well. It is not a great place to be.

I was interested to hear that your dad was the chancellor of the exchequer and would love to know which one he was. I don't suppose you would want to tell me but if you could I promise I would keep it to myself. I admire anyone who could do a job of work like that as they must be very clever indeed.

I wish you all the best and hope you don't suffer too much with the pain. xx

[DiHi in reply to Hidden]

He was Iain Macleod,my mother then went into the Lords.They both fought for the rights of the disabled. They founded the charity Crisis 53 years ago, I’m still very much involved, If you want to chat, and if allowed, do try.

Hope all goes well for you in hospital and in general Diana

[Hidden in reply to DiHi]

Hi Diana, thank you for replying. I would very much like to keep in touch with you but don't know how to do this without everyone else on here reading our posts. Do you know how to do that? I am on Facebook and have an email address and would welcome you to be a Facebook friend but obviously don't want to put the details on here.

Regarding your father being Iain Macleod. I remember when he was made chanceller and when he made that all important speech and then the shock of hearing on the news that he had passed away on that very same day. I think I particularly remember it because it was the first time that I was old enough to vote and I was looking forward to doing so and then I went and got a very bad case of tonsillitis with a high temperature and was laid up in bed on the election day so I couldn't vote.

It is good to know that both your parents were trying to help the disabled and that you are still involved in that way. I have heard of the charity Crisis.

I am going into a hospital in Banbury next week to have my shoulder replacement although that is not where I live, but I am not too far away from it.

Do please keep in touch and let's try to find out if we can speak privately. I have ticked the box to follow you.

Best wishes to you. xx

[nomoreheels in reply to Hidden]

You can private message one another if that helps, nobody else can see your messages that way. Just go onto DiHi's profile page (by clicking on her username) & you'll see a box on the rh side of the page Message, click on that & it will open a private message page. Only DiHi will receive an alert (on her Chat icon), you will also when she replies. Click on that & it takes you to the pm. You can also have more members involved in your conversation if you wish but you have to invite them.

[DiHi]

You could google my Dad, that will show my married name-then check that on Facebook,send me a friend request-that should work

[Dexmarc]

I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia first in 1992. But when I returned for the second visit to my Rheumatologist, he told me the bloodwork showed that I had Rheumatoid Arthritis, also. In addition, I have Osteoarthritis in my knees. My mother was diagnosed with RA at the age of thirty-six so RA was in my DNA, I’m sure! My Rheumatologist told me that most people with autoimmune diseases suffer with fibromyalgia, too.