Weather and RA Symptoms - Arthritis Message Board

Hellokitty1973 · 08-13-2002, 03:37 PM

Maybe it's just me, but I swear I feel worse when it's hot and humid outside! The weather in the Northeast US has been crazy lately. Last week we had beautiful weather with low humidity and I felt wonderful - really better than I have in a long time. Now, the last 2 days I am feeling like crap again since our next heat wave has begun. I can't wait for the fall....cooler weather! I swear my symptoms seemed to get worse when summer came along - or maybe it's a coincidence? I'm still so new to RA I'm trying to understand my body and what's good/bad for it. If not anything else, it gave me hope that I will have good days ahead!

Does this affect anyone else?? Just curious and in the mood to vent!

[This message has been edited by Hellokitty1973 (edited 08-13-2002).]

MegHurts · 08-14-2002, 06:59 AM

To be honest with you, I havent really noticed the weather affecting me, but now that you mention it, Im going to keep track of my bad days and see if there is a correlation. Im in Austin, Texas, which only has HOT HOT HOT weather. Luckily, the humidity hasnt been too bad here this year. We've had so much rain (read: flooding) here that its probably helped without me even knowing it!

Thanks for posting about this! Its something I hadnt thought about.

Meg

auntie-m · 08-21-2002, 09:00 AM

Hi there- yes, after 27 years with RA I have noticed a correlation between weather and symptoms. For me it is fall and spring - whenever there are major weather changes happening. Here in Canada they are quite obvious but maybe not quite so noticeable farther south. My other major factor is foods - if I eat something I'm allergic to (wheat, dairy, white sugar) I trigger a major joint attack OUCH!! Good luck with it all.

Mattsmummum · 08-22-2002, 06:35 PM

Since I live in NJ, too, I can totally relate to this lousy summer we've been having. It's only the 22nd of the month of August and we've had 15 days in this month alone 90+ and with the worse humidity. I've never seen a summer like this one, not even in Florida. Of course our water problems aren't getting any better either. My rheumy told me years ago that usually it's just before there is going to be a weather change, that people with arthritis complain. Personally, I have no problem with the warm/hot/humid, but the air conditioning in restaurants, theatres and casinos is enough to make me feel all my joints. I'm sick of carrying a coat everywhere I go. What's the point of having summer clothes if you're always wearing something over them, not to mention cold food. Hope the weather breaks soon so you won't be feeling it so much. Anyone that I've ever known that had arthritis of any kind, swears they can predict the weather, so I don't think it's in your head.

MegHurts · 08-23-2002, 01:23 PM

I just had a realization last night....

Although I live in Texas where its warm most of the year, during the spring months of March/April/May/June we had a bunch of rain (okay, we flooded we had so much!) but I just realized that thats when I hurt the most! Those months were agony for me! Now that summer is here and the rain is gone, Im doing much better (also thanks to Prednisone).

I really think the weather has something to do with it though. I guess I'll never be able to live in Hawaii or Seattle or anywhere rainy... heh...

Meg