Ladies: Flares and Periods

[Guest guest]

Hi

I don't know if it's ok to talk about this here but I'll try and see

the reaction. I didn't get a period for 4 years before I had my

first flare. I was tested for everything and my hormones and organs

are all normal, healthy, perfectly fine. It was always just

dismissed as just a " side effect " of being overweight.

Since last summer when I got sick I started getting my cylce back.

It's not regular, i've skipped a couple months, but I know when I

should be having it because I feel different. Man oh man alive I

don't know how girls go through life with this thing every single

month. I'm not kidding.

Thing is since January I've noticed that with my pms now comes the

heightend joint pain, fevers, more suseptable to the digestive side

effects of MTX, and OH my GOSH I'm sooooooo tired...I could sleep

for DAYS. I never feel truly AWAKE. And it's all tied to my cycle.

Does anyone else get this? How do you combat it? Does taking Birth

Control effect it at all? I've heard the pill will make it better

and I've heard the pill will do nothing at all. I don't need the

pill and I don't want to put any more dugs in my system than in

absoultely necessary but I'll do what's called for, you know?

And one more thing....sis I read somewhere that MTX can cause the

UTI's? Is that true?

love,

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

All my symptoms get worse around my period and ovulation. Even when I'm on the

right medicines and everything seems to be going well, I tend to feel worse

around those times.

My feeling is it comes with the territory- autoimmune disease just gets worse in

response to your cycle. It doesn't seem to really matter what the disease is.

I know women with lupus, Sjogren's and primary vasculitis and most of them get

worse with their cycle (if they have one).

What do you do about it?

Number one be aware of it- it's reassuring to know that it's your period coming

and not a flare per se.

Number two- get tons of sleep. Unfortunately, there's not much you can do about

that.

Number three- don't overdo it.

Number four- be happy that this will only last a little less than a week.

Not much consolation, I know. What has everyone else found that might help? I

agree that it's bad. There are times when the pain has been so bad that I

really have half a mind to get a hysterectomy and be done with it!

Don't know anything about MTX and UTI's. I do know that my doctor told me to

drink alot of water while on MTX. It's easy to get dehydrated while on it, so I

guess the connection to the UTI's comes from there? Plus you are more

susceptible to infection since your immune system is being supressed? But I

don't know for sure.

Best wishes,

-beth

[Guest guest]

I have always had insomnia bad. However..when it was that time of the month

I could sleep...and well!!! When I had a flare I slept 20 hours a day. I do

believe if we have big problems..they get worse when it is that time of the

month. I had a good friend whose fiance died suddenly when we were in our

twenties. Well for about 7 years..she was a.soo distraught at the time of her

periods.The dumb thing can make us feel bad when we are well...so..when we are

not.....it just gets worse...what us women have to put up with. I will spare

the guys the joke about why women get pms......hahaha Liz NJ

[Guest guest]

hey melissa, oh dear i don't think i have an answer to any of your questions,

sorry! but i

just wanted to say that i also lost my periods.. haven't had one in 2 years

(i'm 31). i've

been worrying about it lately because of all the prednisone i'm on and bone

density..

i was thinking about asking if anyone else had lost their periods too, so thanks

for

answering my unasked question! glad to hear yours came back! well, in some

ways.. you

know what i mean!

tw

[Guest guest]

HI, I had a hysterectomy a couple of days after my 30th birthday. I had severe

endometriosis and I know people with autoimmune diseases are prone to this

problem. I had it since I was a teenager, and I am glad I had the surgery.

TK (tracy K)

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[Guest guest]

, I had the same problem but now I am on birth control pills and it sure

does help me. Only when i would get my monthly I would hemmorage. Now I haven't

for about four months. I feel better and have more energy. The doctor wants to

take it all out but the Arthritis doctor doesn't as he says it will cause me to

have a flair up. So if they do decide to take everything out I will be back on

Preds for who knows how long.

Hugs; Ginger

Lissah wrote:

Hi

I don't know if it's ok to talk about this here but I'll try and see

the reaction. I didn't get a period for 4 years before I had my

first flare. I was tested for everything and my hormones and organs

are all normal, healthy, perfectly fine. It was always just

dismissed as just a " side effect " of being overweight.

Since last summer when I got sick I started getting my cylce back.

It's not regular, i've skipped a couple months, but I know when I

should be having it because I feel different. Man oh man alive I

don't know how girls go through life with this thing every single

month. I'm not kidding.

Thing is since January I've noticed that with my pms now comes the

heightend joint pain, fevers, more suseptable to the digestive side

effects of MTX, and OH my GOSH I'm sooooooo tired...I could sleep

for DAYS. I never feel truly AWAKE. And it's all tied to my cycle.

Does anyone else get this? How do you combat it? Does taking Birth

Control effect it at all? I've heard the pill will make it better

and I've heard the pill will do nothing at all. I don't need the

pill and I don't want to put any more dugs in my system than in

absoultely necessary but I'll do what's called for, you know?

And one more thing....sis I read somewhere that MTX can cause the

UTI's? Is that true?

love,

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replace the services of a trained health professional or to be a substitute for

medical advice of physicians and/or other health care professionals. The

International Still's Disease Foundation is not engaged in rendering medical or

professional medical services. You should consult your physician on specific

medical questions, particularly in matters requiring diagnosis or medical

attention. The International Still's Disease Foundation makes no representations

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preparation by any person following the information offered or provided within

this support form.

ion by any person following the information offered or provided within this

support form.

[Guest guest]

Well I have been on the birth control pill for many years now I think three. But

I wont go into minapause at all. The doctors can't understand why. I am in my

late 40's and still nothing. But if I go off the pill, I hemmorage badly and

have to stay in the bathroom all day and night too.

Has anyone one of you gals had this problem where you just didnt' want to go

into minapause? Can it be the Stills? I guess that's a question I need to ask my

Rhumy.

Hugs; Ginger

Kerilyn Read wrote:

Hi, I know that I am responding a little late but I

thought what the heck.

When I had my first on set from Stills and I was

admitted into the hospital I was on my period. So

they gave me something to stop it. Then when when I

was still in the hospital the next month when my

period came again they gave me something to stop it

again.

So when I came home from the hospital I stopped having

my period. I was in a way over joyed but deep down I

thought this isn't right. All women have their

periods until the change and this isn't normal, I was

25 at the time. So after 6 months of not having my

period I finally asked my Rheumy and he said what are

you complaining about? Most women complain becuz they

have to put up with it every month and here you are

complaining becuz you aren't having one? In other

words we women are never satisfied. That rheumy is

long gone. Well, I let that statement be okay for

another 6 months, then I went to see an OBGYN, he put

me on hormones and on the pill. I never took the

hormones becuz I was scared so I did take the pill and

after a couple of months my period came back,

coincidence? Maybe, but the pill definitely helps with

the cramps and the pms, at least for me.

About the MTX, I've been on the pill from for 3 years

and the injectable for about 2 years, and weird, but I

have gotten a couple of UTI's and I didn't even know I

had them becuz I was on some many pain meds, that when

the pain finally got through the pain meds in was out

of control and in my kidneys. My Doc couldn't believe

that hadn't been in 2 weeks earlier. So maybe that is

from the MTX, I don;t t drink alot of water like they

say. But I do try and drink alot. I use to not drink

that much becuz that meant that I would have to get up

and go to the bathroom, and at that time I needed help

into the bathroom. That wasn't good, but that is

around the time that I got that terrible UTI.

I am going to have to write that question down and ask

my Rheumy.

Anyway sorry so long for such a simple question.

Take care.

Love and prayers,

Keri in CA

Visit the Still's Disease Message Board

http://disc.server.com/Indices/148599.html

The materials and information contained in this message are not intended to

replace the services of a trained health professional or to be a substitute for

medical advice of physicians and/or other health care professionals. The

International Still's Disease Foundation is not engaged in rendering medical or

professional medical services. You should consult your physician on specific

medical questions, particularly in matters requiring diagnosis or medical

attention. The International Still's Disease Foundation makes no representations

or warranties with respect to any treatment, action, application, medication or

preparation by any person following the information offered or provided within

this support form.

ion by any person following the information offered or provided within this

support form.

[Guest guest]

HI, I wanted to add that I have noticed lately (remember I had a hysterectomy at

age 30, but left my ovaries) that I have had pain that feels like my ovaries are

being twisted. I was actually planning to make an appointment and hopefully

figure out what it going on.

TK

---------------------------------

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[Guest guest]

Hi TK,

Yes you should look into that. I know with me when they can do the surgery I

wanted my OB to leave the overies but he said why as they will only need to come

out anyway in a couple of years. So as not to have to go under the knife again I

opted to have them out at the same time. You better have that checked.

Hugs; Ginger

Khogyani wrote:

HI, I wanted to add that I have noticed lately (remember I had a hysterectomy at

age 30, but left my ovaries) that I have had pain that feels like my ovaries are

being twisted. I was actually planning to make an appointment and hopefully

figure out what it going on.

TK

---------------------------------

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