Question
I have had RA since 1967. When I eat a meal, immediately afterward I get cold. I can recall that as a child, after I ate I would frequently go outside and sit in the sun to get warm. I also find that I frequently get cold and it seems it is from the inside, and the only thing that will warm me up is soaking in a hot bath. Is this from the arthritis, or something else?
Answer
The symptom you describe is not commonly reported by RA patients, so it is difficult to ascribe directly to your RA. Hypothyroidism, which can lead to symptoms of coldness, is more prevalent in RA than in the general population. Thus, you primary care provider may wish to test for this with a simple blood test.
