Hello - what are the early signs of RA please?

Hello everyone - I've never posted here before.

I've been having a few problems for a while and recently I've begun to wonder if it might be RA, but not sure what early RA would look like and wonder if you might give me your thoughts.

about 6 years ago I started getting itchy hot joints - "pepper joint" I called it. I eventually worked out that this was triggered by eating dairy, and once I gave up the dairy I was fine unless I accidentally ate something with dairy in. Then it would cause a flare that would last for a couple of days and go. Over the years these flares caused more discomfort and stiffness in my joints, and they'd get noisy too - (clicky!), but always resolved after a few days.

Recently, while I was away on holiday I had a very unusual flare for me. It started while I was out rock pooling on the beach with my kids. It was quite cold and set off the Raynard's I get in my feet (had that since I was a teenager, but look after my feet much better these days and rarely trigger it now). As the afternoon went on I started to stiffen up and by the time we got back to the cottage I was beginning to feel a bit unwell and realised I was starting a flare.

I was bit surprised because I was 99% certain I hadn't consumed anything with milk in. It was by far the worst flare I've had. I couldn't sleep a good deal of the night because of the pain and the next morning I had a mild temp - only 37.1, but it's unusual for me. Continued to feel unwell for another couple of days.

The worst of the flare is over now - the morning stiffness has mainly gone (I usually start the morning with a very very hot shower to get me going) and I feel well again. But a week on, some of my joints are still painful, my knuckles and 1st finger joints especially, but also wrist, elbows and that joint that sits just above the arch of your foot. Jaw a bit too. In fact they are more achy than a normal flare, a bit like a tooth ache - usually they are just sore, peppery and stiff, occasionally the pain might be quite sharp, but not usually achy.

The only swelling I ever get is a generalised swelling of my right hand, which also happened this time. But it's not loads, just a bit puffy and red looking. This has mainly gone now. Never had a specific joint swell up, but I do get specific joint stiffness - middle finger mostly.

I have also had dry eye syndrome for the past 3 years - I have a vague recollection that RA can affect eyes but not sure how.

I am wondering whether egg might have caused this flare - egg used to trigger my eczema in past, so I know I have a bit of sensitivity to it, and I had had a bit of egg that day.

But also wondered whether it might be early RA - the joint problem has always been relatively easy to control in the past, so I've had no need to see a doctor so far.

Truth is, I think if I told my doctor that milk makes my joints sore and clickly, he'd look at me like I'd gone mad, so I'm not really keen to see him about this!

Thanks for you help, Sarah

I am new to RA. I had been suffering from Fibro for about 4-5 years and this past year all kinds of unusual aches started and the fatigue was worse. The rheumy did extra blood work, another exam and tried different meds. After a few months of this he said " I think we are dealing with RA, any questions". Of course my mind went blank and I walked out without really knowing what it is and what it means for my future. Now, thanks to this forum and the internet I have a better idea and lots of questions for my rheumy when I see him on the 12th of October.
Anyway, I have alot of the same symptoms. I call it a burning ache. like you get when you grab someones wrist and squeeze and turn in two different directions at the same time (remember those -indian burns). I really feel it in my hands, wrists, knees and jaw. And, the fatigue!
I would make an appointment with a rheumatologist. they are usually the ones that treat fibro/RA/lupus and other autoimmune diseases.

good luck. keep us posted on your journey.