I have RA and Hashimoto thyroiditis... had both for many years - struggled with weight gains at menopause for about 10 years... now am almost to 'normal' BMI but it has been hard work because medications do affect weight. When I found out Zyrtec caused weight gain I changed to another allergy medication and it started dropping off. Not sure if it was just that or that at the same time I went gluten free and stopped all diet Coke. Inflammation from any source seems to be associated with weight gain so maybe researching sources of that helps control weight.

@A myRAteam Member this may explain things. The Mayo Clinic says..."Hashimoto's disease is a condition in which your immune system attacks your thyroid, a small gland at the base of your neck below your Adam's apple. The thyroid gland is part of your endocrine system, which produces hormones that coordinate many of your body's activities. The resulting inflammation from Hashimoto's disease, also known as chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, often leads to an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism). Hashimoto's disease is the most common cause of hypothyroidism in the United States. It primarily affects middle-aged women but also can occur in men and women of any age and in children.
Doctors test your thyroid function to help detect Hashimoto's disease. Treatment of Hashimoto's disease with thyroid hormone replacement usually is simple and effective."

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A myRAtea...

I have had a constant weight gain, 10 lbs a year since I started biologics and also antidepressants. Diets are always a failure, because I am constantly hungry. You should definately have your thyroid checked, make sure they do full panel, check thyroid antibodies. Yes , I have hypothyroid.

I remember asking before why couldn't I have been blessed with hypERthyroidism instead of cursed with hypothyroidism. At minimum I would be happier with my weight! Lol! I've only heard of people with hypo & RA and not hyper & RA. Just curious if anyone know of others with hyper & RA?

@A myRAteam Member and @A myRAteam Member fortunately I still have some thyroid function and only take 112mcg of synthroid but over the years the gland grew to more than 3x its normal size. The name for that is called a goiter, pronounced just as its spelled. I think thats a horrile name so I call it a gwah-tee-ay. It comes off sounding French and is sooo much nicer. I was born with my thyroid disease so I wouldn't link it to RA in my case. However, more than 1 of my rheumys has explained that though the exact cause of RA is unknown, RA can be "triggred" by some sort of trauma to your body or challenge to your immune system like mumps, shingles, or similar types of illness. I absolutely believe this happened in my case. Two years before I got RA I had gone through severe hives for 5 years that was NOT linked to any allergic reaction. My current rheumy and my last rheumy both think this was very likely my trigger.

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A myRAtea...