RA meds & Peri menopuase

[pammi2]

Hello, I have had ra for 15 years now, been on meds for 10. Been on Enbrel injection and methotrexate and have all been fine until last year . 2 years. Apparently I am prei menopausal and my physio mentioned that you could be on RA drugs for years and they work fine but you hit pre menopause and it stops the drugs working, is this the case with anyone, if so what did they do as I told my GP and he said, i havent heard of that but it all makes sense, I am the worse now than when I first had RA in 2008? thanks

[Boxerlady]

I think that this is probably a question for your rheumatology team; they are the experts and will know a lot more about it than a physio or a GP. Also, you are the expert when it comes to your own body and if things don't feel right you should let them know. I hope that you get answers quickly; I had a dreadful peri-menopause years before I developed RA and the combination must be horrible - you have my sympathy 💐

[pammi2 in reply to Boxerlady]

I saw my rheumatologist and he is fully aware that i am Peri menopause stage and he did not say anything about them being linked?

[bpeal1]

I don’t know anything specific about your situation, however I know that hormones definitely affect my RA so it wouldn’t surprise me if perimenopause had an adverse affect on it. Pregnancy triggered my RA in the first place. At 47 I’m worried how the peri-menopause/ menopause will affect me.

[pammi2 in reply to bpeal1]

sorry to hear that, I had my progesterone and oestrogen blood test checked and they said it is normal, i only had some hot flushes and a delayed 2 month period and htey have put that down to peri menopause, no other symptons. My IVF triggered RA. So I dont know whether to concentrate on my RA inflamation or my menopause?

[cozzycoz]

OMG! This is me at the moment also, I kept asking about the effects of peri menopause but don’t get anything back, they have changed my meds to see if that works but I’m really struggling with it at the moment, waiting for a steroid injection currently! They took me off methotrexate as been making feel awful for last couple of years, so now trying Leflunomide, along with Filgotinib, started last March but it’s just getting worse! I know at NRAS they have been doing studies into menopause & hormones in teenagers, I’m convinced it’s playing a big part in my flare ups too! Fingers crossed you get some relief & answers too, take care @Pammi2

[pammi2 in reply to cozzycoz]

Hi, I have been on one week of steriod tablets to bring all the inflamation down as it went to 21 !!! never been 21 before, normally a 5 CRP. How about you

I do at the back of my mind believe that is the case, it has all started happening at the same time, I have emailed my rheumatology nurse and awaiting a reply from them, will let you know what they say. Its just so interesting that the physio said this and not rhuematology. I dont really want to go for a change of drugs. There must be a natural herbal way to get rid of RA ?? anyoe

[cozzycoz in reply to pammi2]

Not sure what my CRP was, but they said it was raised, I have just had a steroid injection 120mls to help, fingers crossed 🤞 my nurse mentioned change the Biological, which I’m happy to try, I take some peri menopause tablets from Holland & Barrett not sue it makes much difference to R.A or symptoms of menopause yet as only just started them, I asked about CBD oil & Rhemy nuse said it’s ok to try just expensive, willing to try anything at the moment to help with pain!

[pammi2 in reply to cozzycoz]

CRP is your inflammation level , which is tested when you have RA, I am surprised you dont know about that, see if you can find out what your reading was from your last blood test. Holland and barrat, I would give that a miss as best to try something more natural. Remember changing your injection, they have to find the right one for you so it is trial and error. The injection of course will help for a while, depends how regularly you have them. I am still awating a reply from my rhuemy to see if the two things are linked, will keep you posted re their reply

[cozzycoz in reply to pammi2]

Oh sorry, I do know what the CRP is just not the level currently! Just was told it was raised slightly, which I already guessed as my hands have been very puffy for last few months! I don’t check my results as I don’t feel that it makes much difference to me to know as I know how I feel, I am sero positive & server R.A so it’s just taking the gold standard meds until they stop then on to the next one I guess until I reach n out of options!

Yes please keep me posted how you get on

[pammi2 in reply to cozzycoz]

HI, a response from a DR I spoke to yesterday - "Studies about menopause and arthritis are contradictory and dependant upon many factors but as both conditions are related to hormones which change during the menopause then it makes sense that the menopause may influence the severity rheumatoid arthritis. Some studies have found that lower hormone levels during menopause increase inflammatory proteins known to contribute to RA. Others report that function is worse in postmenopausal RA patients than in premenopausal RA patients. Yet a 2020 study of more than 1.3 million women found no association between and RA and reproductive factors like menopause, although it did find a small increase in RA with HRT. A 2021 study also found no relationship between RA and menopause, age of first period or pregnancy.(1)If the rheumatoid arthritis worsens during the menopause because of the hormonal changes then this may give the impression that the medication is not working.

You may wish to discuss this further with your G.P who is best placed to offer advice as they have access to your medical records.

[cozzycoz]

that makes sense with inflammation markers being higher as hormones change, I have heard that when pregnant it can go into remission, just shows that it must have some impact on condition, thank you , I will indeed be discussing with Rheumatologist, although I feel it will be a case of “nothing to be done except change or increase meds”

[pammi2 in reply to cozzycoz]

I bear witness to that when I was Pregnant i had no RA, I was skipping travelling around london at 8 months. So what ever happens to your body then, why cant they bottle that and give you that ??

[pammi2]

How can you tell the differnce between ra pain in your hands and menopause stiffness in your hands?