Jan62
07-28-2010, 04:10 PM
Hi I'm English, 47 and I was diagnosed with RA about 4 yrs ago - no big surprise, my Grandfather had it from in his 40s. There was very little known about the disease then and he became disabled very quickly.
I have grown up living with someone with RA and thought I knew quite a bit about it, but now find myself often asking my Doctors 'is this related to my RA?' - 9 /10 the answer is 'could be' or 'maybe'.
I live in Holland so thought I would join your forum for the support and advice I would normally give and receive from a ''physical'' group.
(Don't really want to join a dutch group - there's enough jargon to understand about RA without having to translate it too !)
I just stopped smoking 3 weeks ago - with the help of laser treatment, after 30+years.
I was told about the flushing of toxins from my body and that it could take a few weeks so when about a week ago, my feet, ankles and stomach all started to bloat, I assumed it was 'toxins' causing water retention.....now I'm starting to wonder.
Does anyone else get water retention ?
My previous flare ups have only ever affected my hands, shoulders and knees (hot and red, stiff and painful.)
My feet are itchy, look puffy, I can't get my shoes on, my sandals are leaving big dents in the top of my feet. and they feel hotter than my legs to the touch.
Does this sound like a flare up or is it more likely to be water retention/toxins ???
I really would be grateful for any advice/feedback.
I have grown up living with someone with RA and thought I knew quite a bit about it, but now find myself often asking my Doctors 'is this related to my RA?' - 9 /10 the answer is 'could be' or 'maybe'.
I live in Holland so thought I would join your forum for the support and advice I would normally give and receive from a ''physical'' group.
(Don't really want to join a dutch group - there's enough jargon to understand about RA without having to translate it too !)
I just stopped smoking 3 weeks ago - with the help of laser treatment, after 30+years.
I was told about the flushing of toxins from my body and that it could take a few weeks so when about a week ago, my feet, ankles and stomach all started to bloat, I assumed it was 'toxins' causing water retention.....now I'm starting to wonder.
Does anyone else get water retention ?
My previous flare ups have only ever affected my hands, shoulders and knees (hot and red, stiff and painful.)
My feet are itchy, look puffy, I can't get my shoes on, my sandals are leaving big dents in the top of my feet. and they feel hotter than my legs to the touch.
Does this sound like a flare up or is it more likely to be water retention/toxins ???
I really would be grateful for any advice/feedback.