Rheumatoid arthritis flare up. This is what rheumatoid arthritis hands look like during a flare. Morning joint stiffness in my hands. Swollen fingers from rheumatoid arthritis. These are autoimmune disease symptoms. Symptoms of autoimmune disease in women are often dismissed or misunderstood. Chronic illness flare ups come with more than pain. Chronic illness fatigue can be just as debilitating. This is what rheumatoid arthritis pain feels like. This is how being sick feels with chronic illness.