hi, it has been a while since I posted on here, have had ra since I was 34 am now almost 70. I was told by my opthamologist that I had sjorgrens syndrome a number of years ago as I had problems with my eyes. Until recently I thought that condition was just dry eyes, but have recently seen vlogs on YouTube saying that it has a lot more symptoms, and I think I am suffering with a few of them. I mentioned this to my consultant on my last appointment as I have been suffering with a lot of pain on the one side of my back, think it is muscle, since July, and have been to gp, 5 times, and got no help, they just told me to contact my rheumatologist, I also suffered from very dry itchy skin on my back and pain, to the point, where I have been unable to wear a bra. ( This has now improved, thank goodness. My consultant recommended a blood test to see if it shows Sjorgrens, I know that this can be a problem if you have ra, and is difficult to get a diagnosis. I am concerned as one of the effects of this condition that I viewed was brain fog, forgetting words, which I do have. It has only just started, I am approaching 70, so it could be just my age, but it is worrying me . Have just written to my consultant to ask about my blood results and if it would be possible to have a lip biopsy as I have read that this is the way to get a true diagnosis. Has anyone else on this site had the same problems ?
secondary Sjorgrens : hi, it has been a while since I... - NRAS
secondary Sjorgrens
Hi Calla. I’ve had RA since i was 21. (53 now!) I also have Iritis & Glaucoma. (2 serious eye conditions). I’ve been worried i may have Sjogren’s from time to time over the yrs. They’ve tested my salivary glands. They said 1 of the glands are slightly narrow. But that’s all. I also have very dry eyes & mouth when i wake up. So dry, i can hardly open my eyes. I’m going through the menopause. (On the patch). The menop can cause the same symptoms. Plus i’m on 2 blood pressure pills. (The tablets can cause the same symptoms). So it’s very frustrating. I really hope you don’t have Sjogren’s. It’s another annoying, frustrating autoimmune condition. Have you asked for hydrating eye drops from your gp? Plus ‘fake saliva’? Hope you get sorted. We all need more energy for Christmas. Good luck.
I was diagnosed with secondary sjogren's (secondary to the RA) and have seen an ophthalmologist who has given me various eye drops including one for bedtime which is quite thick but means that when I wake up my eyes are still ok. I found that getting on the right treatment of RA sorted out the brain fog and flares of my RA definitely correlate to worsening dryness of my eyes and mouth. RA and everything that goes with it really can be the gift that just keeps on giving sometimes!
Hi, thank you for your reply, have been on eye drops Thealoz duo for about 7 years and Hylo night cream, that I use every night before going to bed. Have suffered with very bad leg cramps since 2009, and recently discovered that by drinking more water that has got better. When I first went to see Opthamologist, I had many calcium bits in my eyes which had to be removed. I have also had problems for last 16 years with acid reflux, so all of these symptoms are similar to Sjorgrens from what I have read/ seen .
Hi Calla, I am just going through the process of a diagnosis of Sjorgens. My symptoms are dry eyes, dry mouth, constantly drinking water, I sleep at night with a xylimelt which keeps your mouth moist whilst you sleep they work really well you can buy them on Amazon, my dentist actually referred me to Maxiofaciall at the hospital. The Dr examined my mouth sent me off for a blood test and yesterday I had an ultrasound of my salivary glands. I have an appointment on the 8th January to get the results.
Hope all goes well for you, it is difficult just getting tests to see what the diagnosis is these days
Thank you.
how to diagnose sjorgens disease, on waking my tonge is almost stuck to roof of mouth, bery parched, and tongue appears to have wide strip in the middle looks different in color, have had dry eye for years and now is hard to open eyes on waking, mentioned to GP mos ago, but seemed to bypass that condition nothing done re tests
Maybe ask your Dr to refer you.
Maybe ask your Dr to refer you
Sorry refer to who?
Maxillofacial surgeon at the hospital. I couldn’t get my Dr to take me seriously so my Dental surgeon did the referral.
eye problems with RA.
Eyes
Hospital on a sunday what next.........
I’m so scared
Sjorgrens stinging eyes
