When I was 30 years old, just before being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, I blew up with 10 extra pounds of “puffiness” that I could not explain. Along with the puffiness came extreme joint pain, nausea, and esophageal reflux (heartburn). I couldn’t seem to get comfortable because of digestive distress. Nighttime was the worst, and I tossed, turned, got up, took TUMS, tried to eat before bedtime, tried to fast before bedtime, nothing seemed to work. At one point, I went into urgent care, because I was having such bad chest pain, I was sure I was having a heart attack. [Read more…] about Three Sneaky Causes of Weight Gain (and Loss), Pain, Autoimmune Disease, Cancer, and Digestive Distress