Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...

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Caspiana 07/28/2009

Hi there ladies. I know this question may have come up before and I am sorry to be a bore but I need a little advice. This month my period came on time at the beginning of the month and lasted two days. Usually I get PMS the usual tenderness, bloating and a bad case of the munchies. Normally it goes away after my period finishes. This time however, it didn't go away. It hung about not getting any better in fact getting worse. Then suddenly yesterday I got horrible cramps. My period came again and the pain was horrendous. I was almost in tears. I haven't had such bad pain since well..I can't remember.

I recently had a pap smear and everything is fine. So, I am wondering if this is some sort of bodily change leading up to menopause or has it got something to do with taking Enbrel and MTX? I am going on 40 and so maybe I am going through a mid life thing?!? ? Help!

Alibongo 07/28/2009

Hi Caspiana, I first started to notice differences with my periods when I was in my late thirties, went to the doctors had tests done but nothing showed as being wrong. It turn out to be the run up to menopause. They can do a test to see if it is menopause to put your mind at rest. Are you having hot flushes/flashes? I'm on Enbrel & MTX but I was only on the MTX at the start. I have been on HRT for the last 4-5 years, I'm 45 now, I took the decision to take this to protect my joints upto the normal age of menopause when the risks of it increase.
I guess if the tests show nothing wrong it's possible it could just be the RA, you know how it affects us in so many ways. It will be interesting to see what other replies you get on this one. Take care and hope you feel better soon.:)

deleted_user 07/28/2009

You know, I wonder the same thing. I am having the same problems. I also have night sweats!! Someone says I am probably pre-menopausal. Who knows. I think I will ask for that test Alibongo brought up.

deleted_user 07/28/2009

Thinking I was pre menopause, is what go me to the doc in the first place. Aside from the horrible cramps, and unbearable fatigue during my period, now that I know what a flare is...they kept me from doing anything. I think it maybe the RA.

songbirdj 07/28/2009

I too have been noticing changes. I was wondering what to say to my rheumy if anything. I am on bcps for regulation of pms, skin, etc. I hope I don't have to go off of them. Maybe just a different one would work.

Sorry you are feeling so yucky Caspiana. I am 36 and am feeling like its way too early to talk menopause, but who knows? We were lucky enough to get RA, so why not have early menopause as well? :-)

deleted_user 07/28/2009

i started having pre-menopause symptoms at 40, and it was horrible! cramps, sweats, pms (i became the b**** from hell!)--it was awful. just finished menopause early this year--oh, heaven!

i don't know if it's the ra or menopause-definitely talk to your doc. good luck-and remember, keep lots of chocolate on hand! :)
brat

bigiblue 07/28/2009

I read awhile back that low estrogen can lead to Arthritis of many kinds due to the fact that when you go through menopause peri or post you estrogen levels diminish and your bones start to deteriorate.
I am on Bio identical Hormones now and just started back on natural Estrogen. So I will see if it helps with the bones. You could be Perimenopausal, which starts about 10 years before you actually go through menopause. Check out womentowomen.com Im nor a Dr. but your symptoms sound like it. I am 52 and was having periods less and less at first and then towrds the end they would last what seems like for ever, and very heavy, and painful.
Hope you feel better soon.

deleted_user 07/29/2009

I guess I'm not the only one with these questions. (WHEW!) My periods have become very heavy accompanied by the worst cramps ever. I had a pap a couple of weeks ago and my test came back normal. I asked the GYN if this was normal at the age of 40...he said that I was a little young for this and blamed it on all the RA meds. Well, I asked my rheumy yesterday if the heavy periods and cramps could be from the meds, and he said no. I won't be seeing this GYN again. It still doesn't answer the question as to what is happening with my cycle??

lycesq 07/29/2009

Before I hit menopause, I had the symptoms you describe and really heavy bleeding. I'm the fibroid queen. I went on a low estrogen birth control pill and kept on it until I hit menopause. Worked great.

Hope you can figure this out.

Lynne

Caspiana 07/29/2009

Thank you all for your replies. Somehow I think the meds may have some bearing on how my body is running. I think it can effect us in lots of ways that are yet unproven. I am also at the age when menopause is on the way so I guess my body must be preparing for it. Bigi thanks for the link. It was very helpful and I will be refering to it from time to time. I am thinking of talking again to my gyn. Talking about it with you all has really helped ease my mind. Thanks again. *hugs*

Allisonc79 07/29/2009

Mine leveled off before I started getting symptoms and was very light every month. Now its like I was a teenager again with heavy, painful ones and I also swell up everywhere. I do get really irritable right before but just generally more tired during.

deleted_user 07/30/2009

I had the same symptoms at your age and found that multiple small uterine fibroids were the culprit. Since I was otherwise healthy at the time and knew I didn't want more children, I talked the doc into doing a partial hysterectomy. Seems drastic, but it relieved the pain and periods. I am now almost 55 and don't regret the decision at all. QUESTION TO ALL; Does any one think cysts, either internal or external go hand in hand with RA??? Perhaps a result of the body attacking itself????

bigiblue 07/30/2009

Cas, another one to help is Dr. Lee website. He also wrote a book.
"What your Doctor may NOT tell you about Menopause and the other one is about Premenopause. Great reads to get to know your Body better. He is diseased now, but had given his studies solely to womens health in the 90's.

deleted_user 08/21/2009

I started having these kinds or plroblems after my last child at ge 37. I took BCPs with no break for a number of yrs to control probls. I then had an Endometrisl Ablation a couple of years ago, which really helped. I'm almost 52, just had hormone test and still not fully into menopause. I now take HRT. This peri-menopause thing can last a long time and the doc can help with it.

deleted_user 08/21/2009

I didn't even have a period for about a year and a half then once I was taken off several non-RA meds it started back up. It is much lighter than before but with awful cramps, fatigue and sometimes only lasts 2-3 days. It is more like spotting. I was tested for pre-menopausal and found to be fine.

I think for us it is the combo of meds and RA itself. I cannot take birth control since I had a heart attack, but it is an option to make things easier for you.

Caspiana 08/21/2009

Thanks for your input. This is very helpful and reassuring for me to get advice and support. :) Thanks again.

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