GCA & Laryngitis that just wont go away

[Snowy12]

Hi,

Has anyone had laryngitis after GCA/PMR diagnosis? I am 6 weeks into my GCA journey and had a nasty bout of thrush in my throat which has cleared up with two lots of different medication but I now have laryngitis that is not shifting.

I was going to go back to the GP but as he said it’s viral there is nothing more he can give me other that the throat spray he prescribed three weeks ago I don’t see the point.

I have recently been back to the opticians as struggling with terrible sore eyes and blurred vision. They assured me that my eyesight is fine but I do have dry eyes.

Researching on the web as I do a lot of the time when I can focus I came across this:

Sjögren syndrome (SjS, SS) is a long-term autoimmune disease that affects the body's moisture-producing glands.[4] Primary symptoms are a dry mouth and dry eyes.[2] Other symptoms can include dry skin, vaginal dryness, a chronic cough, numbness in the arms and legs, feeling tired, muscle and joint pains, and thyroid problems.[4] Those affected are at an increased risk (5%) of lymphoma.

I was wondering if anyone has this or any knowledge of it.

I was wondering if there is a possibility that as with a lot of these autoimmune conditions you can have a few I also have IGA Nephropathy, Asthma and thought I could have this or am I just looking into it too much trying up find answers and solutions. I read that your saliva glands can be swollen and I have hard lumps around my jaw line and ear where these glands are that I was putting down to my moon face but now I’m wondering?

[jinasc]

PMR Pro will be along shortly, however, as far as I am aware Sjögren, Takayasu's, GCA, and we think PMR, are all members of the Vasculitis family with GCA being the biggest.

It is quite likely you could have both..................have you contacted your Consultant Rheumatologist about what is happening......if not a phone call to his Secretary and ask them to ask the Consultant to contact you.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

As I started reading your post my immediate thought was that this sounds like something beyond "just" PMR/GCA.

You can also have sicca syndrome - same symptoms but no confirming antibody found to make it Sjögrens - and that is quite common alongside many a/i disorders. Sjögrens is still something of an unknown item for far too many rheumies - and they think it is "just" dryness. I suggest you go over to the LupusUK forum where there are 2 or 3 people with a lot of knowledge about Sjögrens who can tell you far more than I can. At one level it is, like so many a/i disorders, a case of symptom management but it can account for a lot of other symptoms that are blamed on other things but are the cause not the effect.

If you have a GCA diagnosis you should have a specialist - probably better asking them than a GP who probably knows less about Sjögrens than I do! But patience - laryngitis can be a longlasting pain.

[Hidden]

Hi Snowy

Did they take a swab to confirm the Thrush? Because it really needs confirming that it is Thrush & it may have travelled down into your windpipe.

Is there another GP you can see to ask for a throat swab & as PMRPro says you do need to get in touch with your Consultant & let them know how you are.

MrsN

[Snowy12]

Hi, thanks all for your replies I really do appreciate your knowledge and input. I am yet to see a rheumatologist have first appointment on Monday so I’m trying to get all my ducks in a row in readiness.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Snowy12]

Very good - have you a diary of symptoms? Nothing complicated, bullet lists are perfect.

[Snowy12]

Thanks PMR Pro I’m on it x

[gifford7]

Your case is complicated. re: dry eyes and blurred vision--sounds like you should be using eye drops prescribed by your opthalmologist for Sjogren's. see:

mayoclinic.org/diseases-con... excerpt

"Sjogren's syndrome..................Eye tests

Your doctor can measure the dryness of your eyes with a test called a Schirmer tear test. A small piece of filter paper is placed under your lower eyelid to measure your tear production.

A doctor specializing in the treatment of eye disorders (ophthalmologist) might also examine the surface of your eyes with a magnifying device called a slit lamp. He or she may place drops in your eye that make it easier to see damage to your cornea.

Imaging

Certain imaging tests can check the function of your salivary glands.

Sialogram. This special X-ray can detect dye that's injected into the salivary glands in front of your ears. This procedure shows how much saliva flows into your mouth.

Salivary scintigraphy. This nuclear medicine test involves the injection into a vein of a radioactive isotope, which is tracked over an hour to see how quickly it arrives in all your salivary glands......................................

Medications

Depending on your symptoms, your doctor might suggest medications that:

Decrease eye inflammation. Prescription eyedrops such as cyclosporine (Restasis) or lifitegrast (Xiidra) may be recommended by your eye doctor if you have moderate to severe dry eyes.

Increase production of saliva. Drugs such as pilocarpine (Salagen) and cevimeline (Evoxac) can increase the production of saliva, and sometimes tears. Side effects can include sweating, abdominal pain, flushing and increased urination.

Address specific complications. If you develop arthritis symptoms, you might benefit from nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or other arthritis medications. Yeast infections in the mouth should be treated with antifungal medications.

Treat systemwide symptoms. Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil), a drug designed to treat malaria, is often helpful in treating Sjogren's syndrome. Drugs that suppress the immune system, such as methotrexate (Trexall), also might be prescribed." One of my sisters has Sjogren's.