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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 4/12/2011
Posts: 79
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Hi I know that doctors don't know how it starts and I am sure someone has asked this before but what do you think started your RA?
A virus, stress, food-poisoning, vitamin deficiency, vitamin overdose (that boosts immune system too much?), heavy smoking?
I have wondered about all those since recent diagnosis.
I appreciate that this is also a bit of a worthless, pointless question..
But just wondering.
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 2/14/2011 Posts: 301 Location: South Hampshire
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I'd be interested in peoples answers to this too:
I took an 2 different anti depressants 2 months before it came on - and it started the same week my mum died.
My daughter (aged 22) took the same antidepressant a few months before she was diagnosed. Although her symptoms were there a few months before it was diagnosed.
We both had severe reactions to the drug(s) so we both stopped taking them. I stopped the first after 3 days and the second after 2 weeks; she stopped after 2 months. I have always been a bit suspicious of it. Although we were both stressed at the time (obviously!)
So I reckon it was the drug that triggered it for us both. Although we probably had a genetic predisposition as both my mum and grandmother had it but much later in their lives.
I don't think it's a pointless question at all. I'd love to do some research on it, as there doesn't seem to be any.
Anne xx
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/24/2010
Posts: 102
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mine started as I was displaying symptoms of early menopause (HRT staved it off for a while) and then I did the Moonwalk. 4 months of serious training and then the walk. I wondered if I did not look after myself well enough diet wise during the training  , as I was just thinking - oh - it's only a walk! I got several RA symptoms while training but only recognised them as such after the event. Incidentlly it took NHS a further 5 years to diagnose RA  in thier defence I am sero negative!
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/28/2011 Posts: 956 Location: North Preston
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That is a very interesting question. It is too long ago now to remember what happened in 6 months prior to RA starting but it could have been stress, menopause etc. I think my mum had it although she was never diagnosed. She certainly had arthritis and developed osteoporosis which eventually killed her as her spine collapsed and she got pneumonia. I believe it is hereditary as I was asked if anyone else in the family had it, when I was first diagnosed. I too would be interested to hear what other people have to say although if it turns out to be caused by something I could have avoided, I might have done or would I?
Love Sheila x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 8/25/2010 Posts: 1,289 Location: Buckinghamshire
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hi Darshin,
interesting one this.
i have had Osteo in both knee's for a good 4 to 5 years now and was really overweight .. i am certain that brought on the Osteo.
fortunately i took myself into control and went to a Clinic and lost the weight properly with eating normal food, it took a year and in that time i also had to have a Hysterctomy. i am now at a normal weight well heavier than i was as a girl but in most cases that's to be expected .. lol.
now of course i know losing the weight has definately helped in my overall well being, ( i think i would be housebound if i hadn't done it ) and i eat a very healthy well balanced diet and i don't smoke or drink.
it was suggested to me by someone that dramatic weight loss could bring on RA which put doubt in my mind ... i in turn asked my Consultant if this could be the case when we were chatting in general at an NRAS meeting at my hospital and she answered No.
so i have no idea but i know the weight had to come off.
i guess what i am saying is even if the RA was a contributory factor the weight had to come off and i am so glad i managed to do it.
i will be intersted to hear other stories,
Suzanne
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009 Posts: 1,524 Location: W. Yorkshire
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I honestly don't know what started mine but I do have diabetes type 1 which is also classed as an auto immune disease plus another ai disease which gives me lumps in the breasts so I tend to think something in my body predisposes me to auto immune diseases. YES I'VE CHANGED, PAIN DOES THAT TO PEOPLE.
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 2/7/2011
Posts: 66
Location: London
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I've not heard of any research that shows a clear causal link between RA & anything concrete, so I'm not beating myself up about anything I did or didn't do that could have brought on this disease. There are bits of research, although I haven't found that much admittedly. No doubt a lot of things don't help, and we probably each have an individual story that describes different triggers, however I really believe that it's not our "fault" that we got this. Polly
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/28/2011 Posts: 956 Location: North Preston
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Hi Darshin
Further to my earlier post today. I omitted to say that I have had an underactive thyroid for about 18 years and I did read that there is a connection there too. Have you ever had a thyroid test?
Love Sheila x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 3,157 Location: Huddersfield
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The RA is there, just waiting to be triggered, and a lot of consultants now subscribe to the idea that it is triggered by trauma , stress, etc.
In my case, I had 2 major abdominal operations within 12 months and after the second one I was extremely ill for weeks. Not long after I recovered, the RA symptoms appeared.
So, nothing that we do causes RA, just triggers it.
Doreen xx
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,689 Location: Durham
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I can`t even find a trigger for mine - not a single thing comes to mind, as I have wracked my brains before over this question. I`m also a "first" in my family to have any sort of auto-immune disease. Kathleen x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 4/20/2010 Posts: 1,749 Location: Somerset
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Hello
Interesting.
I do not know what started mine. I had a stressful job in Insurance which I am sure did not help
I had also a stress time looking after my Aunt who was dying and I visited her some 30 miles away
3 / 4 times a week. This all definately took its toll. I also have Vitiligo ( Michael Jackson disease)
which is pigment of the skin. This I am told is also an auto ammune condition.
Rose
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 11/20/2010 Posts: 244 Location: Cornwall
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Yes, maybe a bit pointless but interesting. I think my Mum probably had undiagnosed RA, she died at 58 but that was probably the drink and diabetes on top, but just thinking about the way she walked and she had carpal tunnel ops I reckon she had it. My younger sister has had fybriomyalgia for donkeys, another AI disease. I reckon mine was brought on by smoking. My consultant said that if I wasn't quite so keen to use my feet it probably wouldn't have presented yet! But one thing I have noticed is that a lot of very active people seem to attract RA, maybe the vigorous exercise for 30 minutes 5 days a week advice needs to be looked at!
Sara
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009 Posts: 1,524 Location: W. Yorkshire
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That's interesting Sara-I was very active before RA. YES I'VE CHANGED, PAIN DOES THAT TO PEOPLE.
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Rank: Newbie
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/31/2009
Posts: 8
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Had hysterectomy and removel of ovaries at 39, was diagnosed 6 months later, I am convinced this was the trigger.
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 11/20/2010 Posts: 244 Location: Cornwall
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p.s.
A friend of mine reckons it was giving birth, other people I know are/were farmers, outdoor activity instructors x 2, diving instructor, fitness fanatics, rest my case...............! We should all be couch potaoes!
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 6/18/2010 Posts: 351 Location: Herne Bay Kent
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Mine seem to come on shortly after the onset of menopause but when I mentioned it to my consultant he said there was no proven link.............who knows!
Sue
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 3,157 Location: Huddersfield
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It's quite common to get it after giving birth.
That makes me feel thankful that it didn't happen to me then, my daughter was 11 when I started with it.
Doreen xx
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 2/18/2010 Posts: 1,098 Location: farningham kent
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My great aunt and mum both had RA so I think it is in our genes, I very much believe too that it is always there but something has to trigger it off. In my case I think that severe stress together with a heavy workload and not enough rest brought it on.
Julia
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/16/2009 Posts: 156
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Hi
sorry I am late with my reply but i have been away on hoilday so only just catching up with every one. when i first got mine my consultain said it was due to an accedent i had about 2mths before it started before that i was pretty fit walking climbing swiming standing up all day teaching and now can not do any of them excepted walk a small way with my sticks and my dog. but just to add to this my father died of RA some 18yrs ago so it must have been in my genes. any clues.
hope everyone is ok
hugs to all
Audrey.
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 2/26/2010
Posts: 271
Location: hampshire
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Hi I had a really bad dose of the flu Christmas 2008, a chest infection the following February and my brother died in the April 2009. My consultant thinks it was an accumulation of all 3, plus I have an under active thyroid which Ive had since 1994 and was and still in totally under control.
Heather xxxx
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