I have had rhinitis my whole life. My nose is constantly blocked, not with mucus but more swollen. I don’t suffer from hay fever but I do start sneezing when the weather changes.
Anyway, I have recently read about a link between rhinitis and RA. I wondered if anyone else has suffered from chronic allergies?
I developed hay fever a few years ago and it gradually got worse. Last summer was the worst by far, I felt like I had ‘extreme’ hay fever. This was also around the time I started to slowly develop symptoms of RA. May have been a coincidence though who knows.
One of the first things my Rheumatologist asked me Years ago -was did I suffer from Hayfever/allergies as a child. I did...big time!
They are all part of the auto immune spectrum....so yes they are connected to RA.
I've suffered from allergic rhinitis as long as I can remember but didn't realise that there could be a connection.
Neither did I 20+ years ago.....I was visiting the rheumatologist for the first time,& honestly wondered what he was on about.
But as one reads more about AI disease it becomes clear.
Strangely mine has been much improved since my RA diagnosis and starting treatment about a year ago - coincidence?! 🤔
If you have had any steroid injections they will help.Eventually my hayfever got so incapacitating I was given annual Kenalogue injections & they were a tremendous help.
But that was a LONG time ago....I would think there is a more up to date option these days!
Absolutely, suffered from rhinitis for years, tried the lot from inhalers, decongestants, steroids you name it I’ve tried it! GP had given up and talked about sinus surgery. Diagnosed with RA in December, started methotrexate and hydroxy and hey presto about one month later , all symptoms gone and have not returned ! Mentioned this to rheumy doc who said hed never heard of it .... but we know better !!! Thankyou for highlighting
I'm on Methotrexate and Hydroxychloroquine too but have also had a couple of steroid injections so who knows....
Tbh......who cares as long as you have stopped sniffing?
I had about 10 sinus surgeries over the years...from around the 1970’s.....& these days that would probably not be necessary!
Hi, I too suffer with Rhinitis. After suffering for 7 months I was referred to an ENT specialist who prescribed 6 weeks of antibiotics ( Claromycthin )alongside a nasal douche which cleared the initial infection up. I only use a nasal spray now but do tend to sneeze a lot when pollen is high. Never thought of a connection with my RA. 🤗 x
Hi, Yes, me too! I've had Rhinitis and sinus infections especially as the seasons change. I've developed hay fever too but not until fairly recently. Very interesting and thanks for posting this 🙂
Never suffered with allergies before RA. Diagnosed 4 years ago with . Last year disease was out of control and started to suffer severe allergic reactions . Was told body was under stress started my dream job had a chest infection and my disease uncontrollable . Severe reaction numb lips closed throat. Immunologist said body under so much pressure (he called it a storm) now carry an epipen and regularly take antihistamines. Also allergic to ibuprofen now as well as hydroxychloroquine and sulfasalazine.
This is interesting 🤔 I was diagnosed with chronic rhinitis 3 years ago. I had one sinus infection after another which always ended up in me flaring. I saw a specialist but he didn’t know what triggered it. I use a steroid nasal spray daily now which really helps but I have bouts of sneezing & coughing which is not great when I’m out. I’ve also become allergic to makeup 💄
I have rhinitis and RA, didn't know there was a link but it makes sense. I have lots of allergies and had eczema as a child which I believe has an auto immune link.
I have had hayfever for a long long time. I was diagnosed with RA in 2012, about 2 years ago I developed rashes on my elbows and rashes on my legs and then in turn on my feet. I will cut to the short, as it was a bit of muddle with diagnosis but said it was psoriasis on elbows and a form? of eczema on lower limbs.
Been suffering with sinus problems on and off for about 5 years, but a year a half ago I started getting problems with excess mucus dripping down my throat and out of my nose too, but mostly down throat. My GP has absolutely thrown everything at it with no results at all, so he referred me to ENT. My appointment was 14th April this year, obviously cancelled, so back on waiting list. I know most of these problems started when I was put on biologics, although my RA is in drug remission 
the nasal drip is really hard to cope with, as you can imagine especially in these times. Someone did mention Mast Cell activation to me, who knows.
I have allergic rhinitis. I think I had it long before I got RA but it is 18 years now so can't be sure. Interesting!!
Had the same problems,then an ENT consultant suggested getting rid of milk. Really helped when I changed to soya milk (the cheaper the better,the expensive stuff is not so nice...lol)
I too have had sinus problems/rhinitis for many years. It’s got worse over the last year with dry itchy eyes and constantly blocked nose but mainly on one side. In the last 6 months I have had a very itchy scalp and blister like sores which dry up and become “scabby”. At Times I can’t stop itching it which probably makes it worse. I have seronegative R.A. and take methotrexate and hydroxychloroquine. Spoke to doctor and prescribed a stronger antihistamine and a Betacap - a scalp solution. It has helped but if I don’t do it daily it doesn’t go away. Maybe it’s something I will have to do for the long term. Anyone else have the scalp problem? Jean
We could be twins, Jean. The blistering and 'scabbiness' of the scalp I always put down to allergies to the ingredients of shampoo. These days I don't use shampoo at all and my scalp feels so much better. I use conditioners and have a jolly good scrub before rinsing thoroughly or Aveeno baby daily care if the urge for bubbles becomes unbearable. These leave my hair really shiny too. It's just what suits me
I get this as well. My hairdresser said my scalp was red all over so said it couldn’t be a reaction to hair products. She put it down to stress as it isn’t there all the time 🤷♀️ I also get eczema in my ears, which I put down to swimming except they’ve never been so bad as of late & no swimming for me since March 😒. I had an appointment with my gp via the internet, I had to show him my ears, that was fun 🤣
I definitely have both and there certainly is a link for me. The meds for RA help with the rhinitis too. I have to do nasal flushes daily and use Flonase daily—that regimen has cut down on the misery of a constantly stuffy nose as well as sinus infections. Both RA and seasonal allergies are the result of a whacked out immune system, stands to reason it would come in pairs. Lucky us! I have to wonder too if that’s why sinus infections are more common with biologics—is it really the meds or just our tendency for rhinitis... hmm 🤔
Oh... and wearing a mask to go out (as I do in the US) is absolutely miserable with seasonal allergies too! 🤦♀️
I suffered from allergies all my life. In my mid 30’s I developed raw fruit allergy. Late 30s brought sinus infections including sores in the nasal cavity. My 40th brought on full ReA. Allergies are the start for many of us. Lack of parasite exposure and the slew of chemicals in our environmental sets of a ticking time bomb in our immune systems.
This was so interesting to read. It has been around two and a half years since my health took a real turn. I ended up being taken to hospital with pneumonia and lucky for me the respiratory consultant was on call. Was seen back in his clinic six weeks later as he wanted to get to the bottom to why I had pneumonia.
Still had an awful cough at that point. He suspected the cause to be allergic rhinitis and GERD and referred me urgently to ENT. His suspicious were right and now on treatments for both. Then came my swollen painful joints and declining health with my RA diagnosis following around a year later. Never really connected the two but makes sense with the auto immune connection. x
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