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Can RA dimish your appetite?

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Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Posted 7/31/2008 12:34 AM (GMT 0)
This might be a stupid question, but I have to ask it.  Only because it is SO unlike me to not have an appetite.  Especially when I'm on 20mg of prednisone!  I should be eating my own face right now, but have had to force myself to eat the last 2 days.  No RA diagnosis yet, but just wondering if appetite suppression is common in RA? 

 

Ginny

Posted 7/31/2008 1:00 AM (GMT 0)
I lost 80 lbs when I first became ill with RA-before I was diagnosed largely because no matter what I thought I wanted to eat once it was in front of me I had an overwhelming aversion to actually eating it.  (food aversion is common with RA).

I of cource gained all of that back when I was in a semi remission.

Now I am on plaquenil and that is causing a total lack of appitite-not food aversion-just never feeling hungry-even when I can tell my body is hungry my brain is not getting the message.  I am down almost 60 lbs(lost most of that while on prednisone) and my doc keeps threatening to take away the plaq-I am still arguing with her about that.

Anyway the simpler answer to your question is yes-RA and the meds we are on can too.

I hope you get some answers and start feeling better soon.

Sj

Posted 7/31/2008 3:37 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you Sj!

 

I was wondering what the heck was up with my appetite.  Now I'm really wondering if this RA.  Dang, I wish my rheumy wasn't on vacation.  Great timing.... BAH! 

 

Well, I'm not going to complain about this that's for sure. I could use to lose about 40 pounds myself. I'll take what I can get, LOL.

Posted 7/31/2008 10:34 AM (GMT 0)
I had the similar experience that sj had when I first started with the RA. Ginny, are there any signs in your finger joints at all?  I remember that the middle knuckles on all my fingers formed a peak.  It was also unbearable to have a sheet or blanket on me when it all began. lifting a full coffee cup was pretty challenging too. I guess that's why I thought it was bone cancer at first (I always think the worst case scenerio) eyes    Are you in a lot of pain? Like, is it affecting your sleep?  If so, that would definately diminish your appetite despite the prednisone.

BTW..there are NO stupid questions hon.  You are so smart to keep trying to figure out what the heck is going on with you. The best way at the moment, till your doc comes back, is asking lots of questions!

 

I will keep you in my prayers with the hope that relief will come soon, and also that you dont have to add R/A to your illnesses.

 

God Bless

Diane

 

Posted 7/31/2008 3:27 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you Diane,

 

I have a couple of indicators in my fingers of inflammation.  YEsterday, the middle knuckles of my fingers, and the knuckles of my hands were red. It didn't last all day.  My fingers are swollen and look like little sausages.  I also had trouble holding my fork for eating, and blowdrying my hair was killer on my hands and shoulders.  It was pain in my thumb and the way I held my fork.  My fingers don't look deformed at all.  At least I don't think so!  Hehe... I'll have to compare them to my hubby's fingers. In the early stages, can it take a while for the fingers to deform?

 

I did have pain last night that woke me up. It's always my sacroiliitis, or my neck.  Last night it was also my ankles and hips. This morning, my left jaw joint is making crackling noises.  I had surgery on it 20 years ago for TMJ.  Haven't had a single issue with it until now.

 

My appetite is marginally better today.  I actually wanted a bowl of cereal.  I see my family doctor tomorrow for prescription refills, but I'm going to bring this whole issue up with her too.  Maybe she can order some diagnostic tests, blood or xrays to get the ball rolling at least while I wait for my rheumy to get back. 

 

It does take all day for me to not feel stiff and sore. In fact, I never do fully loosen up at all.  I feel like I'm fusing together everywhere - hense the suspicion of Ankylosing Spondylitis....  I have too many possibilities.  Lupus, Fibro, AS, RA.  It could be any of those. 

 

Thanks again Diane!

 

God bless,

Ginny

Posted 7/31/2008 5:45 PM (GMT 0)
I'm so glad you see your fam doc tomorrow.  Just by starting blood work, will have you better equipped for the rhuemy when he gets back. I have been dx with r/a for 11 yrs now, and my fingers are fine.  no peaks, no swelling, they do get stiff and sore, but I think Ihave been pretty lucky that when ra first reared it's head, they found it, and started treatment immediately.  I have to say though, when I am in pain I have no clue if it's the fibro or the r/a they are so similar in that it's alot of joint pain too.  the jaw thing...hmmmm my dentist asked me if I get cracking or odd noises from my jaw...and I do...and now...I forget what he told me it was LOL..thats the fibro fog and lack of sleep I guess tongue    It couldnt be very serious or he would have done something I would think.  All they do is clean my teeth, and check for cavities now and then.  Maybe you are grinding your teeth at night?

Hope you get some answers soon Ginny,

Till then

 

God Bless and take good care

Diane

Posted 7/31/2008 6:17 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Diane, I'll keep you posted on tomorrow's doctor visit.  I just put a call into the nurse at my rheumy's office.  I've lost 6 lbs in 3 days, and I'm on 20mg of prednisone..... That's not right.  Something is wrong.  I wonder if I'm anemic.  I had my lupus blood work done on Monday, so if I am anemic it would be in the report.

 

The jaw thing is interesting. I wasn't having any problems when I was at the dentist.  That was Monday.  It's yesterday and today that the clicking, krackling, stiffness is there.  I haven't had an issue with TMJ since the surgery 20 years ago.  Wacko-bizarro!

 

That's VERY interesting about your fingers Diane.  You have no outwardly visible defomation in your fingers after 11 years..... Wow.  Lucky you!  I hope it continues that way for you.  Autoimmune diseases, whatever they are, are so different for each person aren't they! 

 

Have a good day!

Ginny

 

 

Posted 7/31/2008 10:37 PM (GMT 0)
Ginny, I have no visible deformity in my hands/fingers either after 12 years-My Rhuemy did not see any damage on x-ray but does say my middle finger on my right hand is thickened upon palpatation (knuckle closest to my palm). My knees on the other hand are slightly deformed but not functionally effected.
Good early treatment and a less agressive form of the disease.
Sj
Posted 8/1/2008 1:36 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Sj,

 

Well now this is very interesting. This is good feedback. Early treatment is so important isn't it.  Well, I can't see my rheumy until mid August.  I see my pcp tomorrow morning.  I need some answers fast.  I'm so sore I can hardly stand it. 

Posted 8/1/2008 3:45 PM (GMT 0)
I weighed 112 when I first went to see my rheumy and I now weigh 100, and I don't have the appetite that I used to.  Even if I take pred, it doesn't make me eat and eat!  I've never asked my doctor about it since I'm not that tall and I'm small boned but there could be some correlation.
Posted 8/1/2008 10:37 PM (GMT 0)
That's interesting.  Yeah, prednisone for me, in the past has been the bain of my existance.  it's a weight gainer if I ever saw one.  I'm down another pound today.  PCP wants me to watch this. If it's still happening next week, she wants me to come back in.  I don't just start sloughing off the pounds.  It's impossible for me to lose weight even on a low dose of pred.  So this is odd for sure.  Oh, I'm not diabetic either. Just got tested.  sudden weight loss is common in early diabetes.  So I can knock that possibility to the side.
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