1. Community
  2. Bones, joints and muscles
  3. Rheumatoid Arthritis

Ive been diagnosed with RA about 1 year ago

Posted , 4 users are following.

michaela75774
michaela75774

im 47 ,on annual holiday with my family at the minute , i take methx via injec ,sulf & hydroc, but since ive came on holiday my ankles & feet have swollen so bad i can barely lift them and my wrists & fingers are bad too , things are so bad today im laid up in bed , does anyone know what might be causing this?? 

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • ama38049
    ama38049 michaela75774

    Posted

    Hi Michael, weather and physical stress can cause inflammation. I get this sometimes - vacation especially with kids is something that in general requires higher tonus than every-day activities of most of us. Do you have any anti inflammatory that you can take orally? Keeping your joints warm can help too, although I am not sure that alone it will reduce your symptoms sufficiently. I hope that you will feel better soon... Try to locate a local dr that can prescribe you with something...
  • EileenH
    EileenH michaela75774

    Posted

    Hi Michaela!

    Did you fly? Or spend a long time in the car getting there? That often causes swollen ankles. That usually starts on the plane/in the car and goes after a day or two.

    Are you in a hotel? Is the food much saltier than you are used to at home? Or are you geting take-aways? Professionally made food very often has very high salt levels and after I've been away for a few days I often get very puffy. That takes a bit longer to happen mostly.

    Is it hot? Are you drinking enough? That will do it too - you need plenty of fluids, preferably water and not sweetened, when it is hot. At least 2 litres a day, possibly a bit more if it is very hot.

    Raise your feet above heart level as often as you can - easy in bed! Keep cool - curtains closed and a fan in the afternoon heat helps. Your feet and hands may feel more comfortable if you wrap them in cold wet towels or even sit with them in the bath in cool water.

    If there is a doctor you can see easily they may be able to give you something to help get rid of the fluid causing the swelling if what I've suggested doesn't help.

    Rotten way to spend your holiday though.

  • michaela75774
    michaela75774

    Posted

    Hi thank you , yes we flew to majorca , so yes its very hot here ,ive tried not to over do things ,i havent drank any alcohol because of my meds ,i didnt take my injection of methx with me but ive still been taking my other meds + painkillers , after the flight ,yes i was swollen but it did subside after a day or 2 but now it just seems to have come back with a vengence . Maybe rightly so i havent drank enugh water mainly fruit juices . Ill see how i get on today if im no better i will have to go and see a doc ,many thanks for all your help everyone x
    • EileenH
      EileenH michaela75774

      Posted

      Lots more water and less fruit juice for a start - has a lot less calories and sugar! And keep as cool as possible - have a cool shower and don't dry yourself, just lie on towels with your feet up. 

      It isn't terribly hot at 31C (not by my standards, I live in Italy) but if you are from the UK you simply aren't used to it. And you have brillliant sunshine which adds several degrees when you go out in it. So avoid the sun - walk on the shady side of the road and don't sit in the sun.

      It is about 19-20C overnight and that is almost a "tropical night" and that is what makes the heat harder to bear in the daytime. Open the windows and doors to the balcony in the early morning and close them as soon as it is as warm outside as inside. Close the blinds so the sun can't shine on your window in the day.

      I know how boring I sound - but that is how we deal with temperatures like this. We live in the mountains in the north but this year we have had weeks of 34C in the afternoons - everyone is inside with the blinds down! 

  • Rowbirdie
    Rowbirdie michaela75774

    Posted

    I 'm glad you ve asked this question as there s been so many useful replies and I personally find it very difficult to know why I may suddenly flare up.( diagnosed just over a year ago too)

    I  presume you must have also missed 1 weeks methotrexate though. Has this happened before if you ve missed a dose eg if got an infection?

    Sorry to hear this has happened on holiday. Hope a day or two s rest will help and over the counter anti inflammatories.

     

Back to top

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.