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...
I know this is a long shot & probably just a huge coincidence but I often seem to get dryer skin & my lips will become dryer & even crack/split when I experience a mild flare up.
Now, I live in California so it could very well just be that California is experiencing a colder than ususal winter, very dry & windy. I don't know, I just seem to flare up slightly during this time of the year. I checked my journal I've been keeping the past 2 solid years & right around Thanksgiving thru New Years I notice I flared up. I'm not sure 2 years in a row is enough of a look back.
Anyway, the one thing I did notice is this split in my lip & I'm constanly applying a lip balm.
Hope you feel better.
Yeah Sjogrens came out negative. I was tested initially on 1st visit & then I had them test me again like 3 years later because of my cough but came out negative again.
I'll check into the Aquaphor though for sure. Yeah at work I use stuff like Burts Beeswax but at home just a normal jar of Vaseline seems to work sooooo much better!
Thanks!!!
The Aquaphor looks like vaseline, but works better. It seems to stay on better for me.
You might also need your thyroid checked.
Cracked lips won't heal? Something my dentist taught me: buy some anti-fungal cream and apply. Many times cracked lips won't heal because there is constant moisture there.....causing a fungal infection, albeit minor.
I'm from the OC coast. Reaching for Aquaphor as I write this.
I'm almost positive my cough is an auto immune side issue of some sorts. Originally I was tossed around from ENT to Gastroenologist to allergist for years all saying I had either post nasal drip, to acid reflux/gerd. After being bounced around for years I just gave up & delt with the cough.
But after being dx'd with RA & now learninga bout Sjogrens I'm more convinced that although it may not be Sjogrens it's auto immune related.
Hmmm anti-fungal cream? I'll definitely give that a try as well as teh Aquaphor. I lived in Irvine for years. We just bought in Foothill Ranch!
Also, since you're local to me, have you noticed any uptick in your RA at all? I'm just trying to dial in whether I'm sensative to colder weather now, in a true flare or a combination of both.
Symptoms are very mild as they typically are for me but any changes always has my antennae up!
No, I haven't noticed flares in the RA for quite some time. I was really sick with that cold and bacterial bronchitis that was going on in the area [and is STILL going on]. I recovered about 4 weeks ago after being "down" for almost 8 weeks. I honestly thought I was going to see the RA dragon rear its ugly head. It hasn't so far. KNOCK ON WOOD.
However, I just cleaned off my balcony and I have NEVER seen as much soot/dirt as I have the past few months. There have been quite a few windy days, as recently as last week [30 mph]. That triggers my pollen or dust allergies which makes me miserable.
I also have OA, which can cause similar feeling joint pain. [I can usually tell the difference between RA and OA pain.] This time of the year I get a lot of the "old age" joint pain when the precipitation goes up. So if you're over 50....perhaps what you're feeling is OA?
This disease or combo of is soooo weird. I'm grateful it's not more "serious" than it could be but it's truly frustrating to get a grasp of at times.
And I have to keep in mind that I just recently started back on MTX after being off (with permission from the doc) because he felt at the time I was in remission. He still feels that I am because I'm so mild in symptoms but I didn't want to take the chance so I got back on 5mg a week for now.
47 seems a little young for an OA diagnosis, but I think OA might be something that starts earlier when you've had early year injuries, but doesn't present with symptoms until later.
For example: I was a cheerleader in high school. Sprained an ankle a couple times and tore a tendon once before I was 21. Years later these same joints seemed affected with OA. I'm not sure if that's the way it always works. But it's always my left knee and both ankles that seem to hurt in the winter time.
I feel that I've been in drug controlled RA remission for about 10 years but wouldn't dream of cutting back on the Humira and MTX. I have a great rheumatologist in Mission Viejo - yes, I drive out there for him, he is THAT good.
Maybe, Oceans, you want to talk with your rheumatologist about possibly ramping up a little on the MTX and see if that solves the problem?
And yes, this is a VERY frustrating disease.
Oh yes - about "no one in the family had OA" - in MY family everyone HID their pain and symptoms. So no one ever really knew what that person had until they died!
You know I've often considered reaching out to another RA Doc just to get a 2nd opinion. I love my Rheumy but sometimes I just get the feeling that since I'm on the milder end of the symptoms spectrum he doesn't really put to much "effort" into my visits. I do understand that at some point and time all he can do is monitor what is going on until something major pops up.
Can you provide the name of your Rheumy or DM me? Thanks!