I'm feeling a bit down at the moment and need to let it out. My friends
don't understand and my hubby gets upset when I do. I know you guys
will get it!
My sjogren's is making me sad. I know it sounds silly, but the chronic
pain and swollen joints aren't as upsetting to me anymore like the
sjogren's is. I can't wear my contact lenses anymore and my eyes always
feel dry then they start to go red and hurt. It hurts to cry. Now I'm having
a lot of problems with my teeth (cavities and sore gums) because of the
dryness. I've never had a filling in my life before this, and now I've had
two, need about three more and my gum is peeling away from my teeth
on the left side at the front. Apparantly it's because I don't produce
enough saliva to flush the bacteria away. I'm paranoid afraid of people
touching my teeth (weird, I know) so I really hate going to the dentist.
Also, my nostrils dry out and it stings to breathe in! But I can't breathe
through my mouth because that will make the teeth situation worse. I'm
using biotene mouthwash, anyone know what I can stick up my nose to
moisturise? I tried my eye gel, but it just smells funny.
I guess everyone feels sad at some time or another, but I just can't shake
it. I want to cry, but I can't because it'll hurt I want to give this
disease back. But at the same time, I wouldn't wish it upon my worst
enemy!
Sorry your eyes are hurting so much.Mine are so dry too.I stopped wearing eye makeup just because I am constantly rubbing my eyes.I have no dx. yet but I suspect RA and possible sjogerns.I try to drink alot of water even when I don't want it and I am learning to stay away from caffine but I still have my coffee in the morning,can't give that up.
I don't know much about getting relief from this eye discomfort.I think I am gonna try and put a hot rag over my eyes from time to time to help sooth them(well not to hot).Maybe that would help.I am gonna try it.
I hope you feel better soon.Sheila
My sjogrens got a lot better when I did two things in addition to using the eye drops and Lacrilube at night. I started drinking two litres of water a day and I also took GLA capsules twice a day. wishing you well, anna in UKI had a bout with sjogrens several years ago and it was terrible. It came at time that my RA was at its worse. Mine was not nearly as severe as yours, and just the constant "Cotten in the Mouth" feeling was bad enough. I also had a constant " burning" feeling in my mouth. I was teaching and had trouble speaking.
Mysteriously, months later, it went away as suddenly as it came on.
I hope the same for you.
Hi Albear,
Like you I suffer from Sjogren's and have had my ups and downs w/it. I was prescribed a med last year to treat my dry mouth and I swear it works like a charm! It's Evoxac and it's GREAT. If I forget to take it, my tongue literally sticks to the roof of my mouth the next morning. It does nothing for my eyes, but does increase my sweating overall. Which actually is a good thing since I hardly sweated at all for awhile before taking Evoxac. Sweating (or perspiring) helps to cool us off. I had a punctal plug inserted in a tear duct a couple years ago which has helped considerably. I also use artificial tears a few times daily. My eye doc just checked me yesterday and said my eyes were fine...dry, but not irritated. No corneal irritation. Just keep using drops as needed. My joint pain, etc. is attributed to RA, but these SS symptoms can be handled too. Hopefully this was helpful to you.
BarbThanks guys, I knew you'd understand. Just venting it made me feel a lot
better almost straight away. Lighter somehow. I'm going to try the nostril
thing, it's driving me crazy!
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