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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Flare ups from spouse's cold/flu??

oceans11
oceans11

I know this sounds weird but it's happened now twice. I understand that it could all be coincidence & I don't really expect much input but I had to ask.


So twice now in the past 2 years my wife came down with the flu or bad cold & I never contracted it (luckily) but I ended up getting a moderate RA flare. I'm experiencing a flare up the past 2 days & she just got over her cold about 3-4 days ago.


I know it sounds silly but has anyone ever experienced this or could possibly explain why I'm getting a flare or is this all just coincidence?


californialynn
californialynn
I'm getting over a cold. My joints are nagging me.

I think there's some correlation.
oceans11
oceans11
So you think there's a correlation between my wifes cold which I never got & RA flareup for myself? I mean is it my own immune system fighting harder any airborne affections so then my RA flares up?
californialynn
californialynn
Whoops.....misunderstood.

Or maybe not......

Your wife's cold.....Stress on you to take over tasks ......Which could over exert....And cause inflammation.
oceans11
oceans11
Yeah I really didn't think her cold would affect my own RA but thought there was a possibility that if my own immune system is being overworked trying to keep myself from getting the cold itself could be increasing the flare up? But I'm sure that' too far fetched.
SusieG
SusieG
Why not? Everyone's different. My husband just came down with brochitis this weekend. Who knows? I may flare. And he doesn't do anything (@ home) so my chores or stress would not change.
HGlucy
HGlucy
Or, you have a subclinical viral infection which heightens your immune response and RA.
oceans11
oceans11
@ SusieG & HG,

Thanks for your inputs I appreciate it!! I guess my original assessment "could" be possible? HG I never thought about that, I guess we all could just go "nuts" figuring out why this happens or that happens. Oh well, I guess I'll just keep monitoring. I have a Vegas vacation coming up in a week so I'm crossing my fingers that I don't deteriorate any further.