Dry mouth and eyes...

[lulul]

I was wondering if my dry mouth and eyes are anything to do with my RA?? I get very sore eyes and very thirsty alot of the time. Hubby is an optometrist and has sorted my eyes out but my mouth is still troublesome. I am currently on 20mg MTX

[Hidden]

dry eyes and mouth can go with ra suggest you ask gp for artificial saliva there are several products available.. one that has been round for years is salvix pastilles and there are saliva gel/ spray products too.. a syndome called sjgorens syndrome can occur with or instead of RA which causes dry mouth and eyes. assume hubby has arranged for you to buy artifcial tears? bout £1.50 to buy most types at pharmacies eg sno tears/ hypromellose. think gel tears and visco tears bit more expensive but all less than 7.40 prescription// sjgorens syndome can cause dry intimate areas alos.

[Hidden]

as you are thirsty all time get diabetes check to be sure

[Tiasteph]

Yes I have dry eyes, can't wear contacts anymore, which is a pain. Out of interest what did your husband do to sort your eyes out?

[Hidden]

If you have dry eyes and mouth could be sjorgrens syndrome

If you have a real thirst rather than your mouth feeling dry, it could be diabetes. Best to get GP to check it out.

[LavendarLady]

Hi I also suffer from a dry mouth and wake up in the night with my tongue sticking to the roof of my mouth. So a glass of water by the bed is a must. Also get dry eyes but Viscotears are very good when needed (Discard within 1 month after opening). they cost about £5 from a pharmacy. Did mention the dry mouth (also very dry skin) to my RA Consultant who said it could be a mild form of Sjojens Syndrome (not sure of the spelling). There were things I could take to relieve the dryness but he did not have much faith in them long term! Lavendar Lady

[Hidden]

Hi

I've got Sjogrun's Syndrome secondary to my RA. Opticians can test for it with a special paper strip, my dentist did a saliva test. Rheumy consultant says common in RA < 20% of peeps get it. I've always been thirsty but not diabetes, the oral gel (artificial saliva) helps as does chewing sugar free gum. You're more at risk of dental decay because the saliva buffers the teeth against bacteria so keep up to date with your dental check-ups!

Get it confirmed by being tested plus rule out diabetes,

Cece x

[Sheila_G]

Hi. Have similar problems myself. When eyes are sore I use hypromellose drops. My doc gave me these on prescription but are not expensive at chemist. I find them to be really effective. My mouth same as Lavendar Lady. Tongue sticks to roof of mouth. My rheummy nurse never mentioned sjorjen's syndrome but said codeine can make your mouth dry. I haven't taken codeine for 6 months but still have dry mouth. I think high dose steroid injs 3 days together caused mine but can't swear to it.

[lulul]

Thank you for the responses!! I have been checked for diabetes and that's negative thank goodness. I am taking high dose cocodamol so that may be the culprit. Will check with rheumy nurse re sjgorens but it is only eyes and mouth that are dry so hope it's not that either!! I use viscotears and also a spray over the eye thingymygig which hubby sorts for me. Plus regular check ups etc.Brother in law is also a dentist so he is keeping an eye on my teeth..says I have burning mouth syndrome too but no decay. Have a pain free day all xxxx

[Hidden in reply to lulul]

Hi Lulu, I take co-codamol 500 and I too get a dry mouth so as you say it could be this.

Good luck

Mandy xx

[Hidden]

Hi Like Cece I have Sjogrens. Does sound a bit suspicious because of the connection with RA. Interestingly you can be tested for specific antibodies with Sjorgrens. Anti La and Anti Ro. 90% of people have it who have sjogrens. I only know cos i have asked to understand ny own antibody profile better lately.

Are lots of other causes I guess as the others say so best wait and see after you asked about it. let us know though cos its good to know you get sorted.

x