Study Links Estrogen to Rheumatoid Arthritis

[Guest guest]

Study Links Estrogen to Rheumatoid Arthritis

Lab Findings May Have Implications for Other Autoimmune Diseases

June 3, 2004 -- New research may help explain estrogen's role in rheumatoid

arthritis and other autoimmune diseases that afflict women far more often

than men.

Women with rheumatoid arthritis tend to have fewer symptoms during

pregnancy, when estrogen levels are high. Symptoms tend to worsen after they

give birth and at menopause, when levels are low. Although a link between

the female sex hormone and the autoimmune disease has long been suspected,

the clinical evidence has been contradictory.

Continued: http://content.health.msn.com/content/article/88/99816

Hugs,

Jacy

[Guest guest]

Kay:

An interesting thought about estrogen and RA. Right now I am dealing with probably getting a myomectomy (remove some nasty uterine fibroids) probably in August. I hadn't really considered much of a link between hormones, menopause (not quite there, yet) and how RA fits into the whole scene. Putting together all of the pieces of the puzzle is very difficult. Of course your body is all one thing, but it seems as though we concentrate on different parts of it separately and as though they aren't affected by stuff going on elsewhere.

Not too get too graphic here, but I figured out that I had fibroids and that they were growing in leaps and bounds about the time I went on biologics. I know that there are no long term studies about the effects of biologics, but there is part of me that is suspicious that there must be some connection. None of my doctors, RA or OB-GYN think there is any connection between the two. But I just don't believe that things happen independently of each other in such a small space. Especially when you are introducing strong drugs into the system. Also consider that biologics deal with the anti-TNF which basically inhibits your body's ability to fight tumors. Does that include fibroids?

What do you all think?

gloria

[Guest guest]

Jacy,

Thanks for the info on estrogen and RA...very interesting article.

I am dealing with menopause right now and trying the natural route with safe

progesterone cream and estriol cream. I read some books and do not want to

do the traditional thing with HRT that all the medical doctors push. I

noticed after starting the progesterone cream I was able to do without the

anti-inflammatory drug for a while. My theory is if I get the correct

balance between the two hormones, I am going to make more progress. I

surely must add that my hubby has been very understanding with my problems -

RA and menopause. I can't wait to show the article to the doc!!!

Thanks,

Kay

----- Original Message -----

From: " Jacy " <jacymail@...>

<jacymail@...>

Sent: Monday, June 07, 2004 7:08 PM

Subject: Study Links Estrogen to Rheumatoid Arthritis

> Study Links Estrogen to Rheumatoid Arthritis

>

> Lab Findings May Have Implications for Other Autoimmune Diseases

>

>

> June 3, 2004 -- New research may help explain estrogen's role in

rheumatoid

> arthritis and other autoimmune diseases that afflict women far more often

> than men.

>

> Women with rheumatoid arthritis tend to have fewer symptoms during

> pregnancy, when estrogen levels are high. Symptoms tend to worsen after

they

> give birth and at menopause, when levels are low. Although a link between

> the female sex hormone and the autoimmune disease has long been suspected,

> the clinical evidence has been contradictory.

>

>

> Continued: http://content.health.msn.com/content/article/88/99816

> Hugs,

> Jacy

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I read some books and do not want to

> do the traditional thing with HRT that all the medical doctors

push.

I'm sure they are quite cautious in recommending it now, after the

strong breast cancer link was discovered and widely publicized. I've

heard that they mostly recommend HRT for women with extremely

difficult symptoms, and only for short periods of time.

S

[Guest guest]

Gloria,

I'm with you, girl. I do believe there is a connection BECAUSE after I was put on Enbrel, a bump jumped up on my neck... went to check it out and they claim it was not cancerous, checked my thyroid, and said it was nothig to worry about. To this day I chalk it up to the Enbrel also because I heard about a man who had bumps popping up all over his body after using Enbrel and his family made him stop it. I am sure there is no study to prove anything cause it has not been around long enough.....

I am working on balancing the hormones right now!!! Would love to find my sex drive again!!! Ha!

Kay

----- Original Message -----

From: gloriarex@...

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Sent: Monday, June 07, 2004 11:41 PM

Subject: Re: Study Links Estrogen to Rheumatoid Arthritis

Kay:

An interesting thought about estrogen and RA. Right now I am dealing with probably getting a myomectomy (remove some nasty uterine fibroids) probably in August. I hadn't really considered much of a link between hormones, menopause (not quite there, yet) and how RA fits into the whole scene. Putting together all of the pieces of the puzzle is very difficult. Of course your body is all one thing, but it seems as though we concentrate on different parts of it separately and as though they aren't affected by stuff going on elsewhere.

Not too get too graphic here, but I figured out that I had fibroids and that they were growing in leaps and bounds about the time I went on biologics. I know that there are no long term studies about the effects of biologics, but there is part of me that is suspicious that there must be some connection. None of my doctors, RA or OB-GYN think there is any connection between the two. But I just don't believe that things happen independently of each other in such a small space. Especially when you are introducing strong drugs into the system. Also consider that biologics deal with the anti-TNF which basically inhibits your body's ability to fight tumors. Does that include fibroids?

What do you all think?

gloria

[Guest guest]

I just hope it helps!

Hugs,

Jacy

~Every time I walk into a singles bar I can hear Mom's wise words:

"Don't pick that up, you don't know where it's been!"

-----Original Message-----From: Kay Simpson [mailto:Siwelyak@...]Sent: Monday, June 07, 2004 21:35Rheumatoid Arthritis Subject: Re: Study Links Estrogen to Rheumatoid ArthritisJacy, Thanks for the info on estrogen and RA...very interesting article.I am dealing with menopause right now and trying the natural route with safeprogesterone cream and estriol cream. I read some books and do not want todo the traditional thing with HRT that all the medical doctors push. Inoticed after starting the progesterone cream I was able to do without theanti-inflammatory drug for a while. My theory is if I get the correctbalance between the two hormones, I am going to make more progress. Isurely must add that my hubby has been very understanding with my problems -RA and menopause. I can't wait to show the article to the doc!!! Thanks, Kay----- Original Message ----- From: "Jacy" <jacymail@...><jacymail@...>Sent: Monday, June 07, 2004 7:08 PMSubject: Study Links Estrogen to Rheumatoid Arthritis> Study Links Estrogen to Rheumatoid Arthritis>> Lab Findings May Have Implications for Other Autoimmune Diseases>>> June 3, 2004 -- New research may help explain estrogen's role inrheumatoid> arthritis and other autoimmune diseases that afflict women far more often> than men.>> Women with rheumatoid arthritis tend to have fewer symptoms during> pregnancy, when estrogen levels are high. Symptoms tend to worsen afterthey> give birth and at menopause, when levels are low. Although a link between> the female sex hormone and the autoimmune disease has long been suspected,> the clinical evidence has been contradictory.>>> Continued: http://content.health.msn.com/content/article/88/99816> Hugs,> Jacy>>>>>>>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 7/21/2004 9:26:13 AM Central Standard Time, shelsmieg2000@... writes:

One thing that confuses me, is I can buy what they're saying to a certain respect, but what about the men out there that have RA?~

My mother has 4 girls and has had symptoms of RA since she was in her 20's. She keeps telling us that the only time her arthritis didn't bother her was when she was pregnant all of those times.

Becky

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 7/21/04 4:46:48 PM, StarsHutch@... writes:

My mother has 4 girls and has had symptoms of RA since she was in her 20's.  She keeps telling us that the only time her arthritis didn't bother her was when she was pregnant all of those times.

My joint pains started immediately after I had a hysterectomy.

Pris

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