Sjogren Syndrome

Question: What is the difference between Sjogren'syndrome and dry eyes? My eye doc says they are the same but I've never heard of a dry eye tearing but have heard of a Sjogren's dry eye tearing. I HAVE TORN MY EYE 3 TIMES IN TWO WEEKS. Please help????

Answer: Your doctor is correct they are the same thing. Are you using an eye ointment At night? That's going to lubricate better than drops. This will also help stop the tearing. try Hypotears eye ointment. you have to use this every night and drops throughout the day. I'm also enclosing a link where you can see about a different gel lubricant that works very well and you can see with it, unlike the ointment.

Question: How to treat Sjogren syndrome? Any cures? Any procedures? Any good over the counter medications? My cousin has just been diagnosed with it, and we are very worried. Any help out there?

Answer: Edit- added links to lupus, because NORD link says sjogren is linked to lupus too...and changed clinical trials link to sjogren's because mispelled.. ***************** here are some links.. Sjogren's syndrome http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdbde… (NORD…scroll down for support organizations) http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct/search?… (clinical trials) http://www.medifocushealth.com/RH011/sjo… (sjogren's guidebook) http://autoimmune.pathology.jhmi.edu/dis… (John Hopkins…hashimoto’s thyroiditis linked to sjogren’s syndrome) *********** since I found the last link...I will give you all the links that I found for someone else about Hashimoto's thyroiditis an autoimmune disease (as sjogrens is).... Hashimoto’s thyroiditis http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct/search?… (clinical trials...one with selenium..one with hep c relationship to hashimoto's, one with postpartum link) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hashimoto's… (wikipedia) http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/… (medline plus) http://autoimmune.pathology.jhmi.edu/dis… (John Hopkins…linked to sjogen’s syndrome) http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdbde… (NORD..hypothyroidism…scroll down for related organizations) http://www.hormone.org/public/thyroid/hy… (the hormone foundation) http://www.thyroid-info.com/hashimotos-e… (Hashimoto’s encephalopathy…rare) http://www.thyroid-info.com/articles/yer… (hashimoto’s and food borne infection,Yersinia enterocolitica infection, via contaminated meats -- especially raw or undercooked products -- poultry, unpasteurized milk and dairy products, seafood -- and particularly oysters -- from sewage-contaminated waters and produce fertilized with raw manure. Foods can also be contaminated by food handlers who have not effectively washed their hands before handling food or utensils used to prepare food. Improper storage can also contribute to contamination.>> stool test that can detect yersinia enterocolitica ) http://www.thyroid-info.com/articles/coh… (hashimoto’s and anergic depression) http://thyroid.about.com/cs/hypothyroidi… (hashimoto’s vs hypothyroidism..what is the difference… In the study of 21 patients with euthyroid Hashimoto's Thyroiditis (normal range TSH, but elevated antibodies), half of the patients were treated with levothyroxine for a year, the other half were not treated. After 1 year of therapy with levothyroxine, the antibody levels and lymphocytes (evidence of inflammation) decreased significantly only in the group receiving the medication. Among the untreated group, the antibody levels rose or remained the same. The researchers concluded that preventative treatment of normal TSH range patients with Hashimoto's disease reduced the various markers of autoimmune thyroiditis, and speculated that that such treatment might even be able to stop the progression of Hashimoto's disease, or perhaps even prevent development of the hypothyroidism. ) http://thyroid.about.com/cs/hypothyroidi… (page 2…selenium might help…and calcium with magnesium supplements for nighttime problems) http://thyroid.about.com/cs/hashimotos/a… (hashimoto’s encephalopathy) http://thyroid.about.com/od/hypothyroidi… (treating antibodies when TSH is normal) http://thyroid.about.com/blcohen.htm (treating anergic depression) **************** Lupus http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct/search?… (clinical trials, page 1) http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct/action/… (clinical trials , page 2) http://www.lupus.org/webmodules/webartic… (clinical trials of a novel therapeutic) http://www.lupus.org/webmodules/webartic… (clinical studies of lupus) http://www.lupus.org/webmodules/webartic… (find local resources) http://www.lupus.org/webmodules/webartic… (patient and caregiver resources for meds) ******************* 3 books on disease symptoms and treatments you could also get these books on ebay or amazon or a half price book store. (last two are very similar).. 1.Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine 2.Handbook of Diseases (Lippencott) 3.Professional Guide to Diseases (Springhouse)

Question: which disease sarcoidosis; primary sjogren's syndrome; lung fungal infection ? I have dry eye,Dry mouth,dry nose,muscle pain, Joint pain, diabeties type-II, hypothyroidism. So doctor checked ANA- positive, ds-DNA- negative, SSA&SSB-negative, HIV-negative, aTPO-highly positive ,lip biopsy - no sign of sjogren syndrome, chest X-ray as well as HRCT Scan- showing same shadow, So doctor planned broncoscpoy & in that found fungal infection. Now doctor prescribe me itraconazole 200mg bid,& now started prednisone 30 mg/day.

Answer: why don't you ask your doctor

Question: Anyone out there stuck with sjogren syndrome?? How do you cope with life?? I have sjogren syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, panic disorder, post traumatic disorder, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, tendonitis and now tinnitus!! Every year, one more illness comes along! How am I supposed to go through life?? Any suggestions?????

Answer: Well lots of people get sjogren syndrome if they have rheumatoid arthritis, and as far as having multiple illnesses i can understand that too for i also have sjogren syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis, hypothyroidism, and also in my 10 year battle with cancer. All you can do is to try and take care of your self the best you can and that includes taking all medicine that is prescribed. while it may seem like your getting the short end of the stick, I always tell myself what does not kill you only makes you stronger.....so be invincible

Question: Is there any one who suffers from sjogren syndrome, i would love to hear from you, x sylvie?

Answer: I knew someone who did but I think it's a catch-all syndrome for something the doctors can't explain. I think she suffered from laziness or hypochondria really.

Question: Has anyone been on a medication called Bisolvon prescribed for Sjogren's syndrome? Any side effects?

Answer: Sjogren's syndrome is a so called "autoimmune" disease. There is NO such thing as the body's immune system attacking itself. This syndrome is discribed as the body mustering up white cells that attack the moisture producing glands. This is not good science and the drug companies that are promoting this are ignorant or just guilty of fraud. Good recent research has shown that the so called "auto-immune" diseases are actually caused by a virus or bacteria embedding in the tissues and then the body sends it's macrophages to kill the bacteria, but because the viruses or bacteria are embedded deep into the tissues, it can't kill them, but it keeps trying and damages the tissue in it's attemps. It is the virus or bacteria that are the problem, not the immune system. It's just doing it's job. Bisolvon is just a drug that masks the symptoms. It won't get rid of the problem. You simply will have to take that garbage for a long, long time and spend a lot of money and yes you will have side effects because ALL drugs have so called "side effects." One of the side effects is an increase in free radicals in your body and most likely a load or even damage on or to your liver. Thank you doctor. The real issue is how can you cure this problem, not just mask it. To solve this, you will need to figure out how to kill the virus or bacteria that is causing the problem. I am not a doctor or medical researcher, but it seems to me that there are some basic principals that you may want to try to give your body a chance to overcome this. The suggestions should not hurt you because they are just nutritional things that will cause the body's immune system to be kicked into high gear and increase the oxygen potential in each of your cells. You must increase the pH of your morning urine. Each increment of pH will increase the oxygen potential in your cells by an exponential of 10. In other words, if your morning pH is 5.5 and you increase it to 5.6, you have just increased the oxygen potential in your cells by 10 times! Imagine if you are at 5.5 and increase it to 6.8 what that will do for you. Additionally, each of our cells has methyl groups; 9 million or so to be more precise, and these methyl groups are continually being robbed or destroyed by what you eat and from environmental things like chemicals. As you lose these methyl groups, the cells die when 2/3 of them are gone. Your large intestine is where nucleotides are stored that are immune boosters the body uses to increase the potential for getting rid of disease. If your intestines are clogged, like most Americans, from eating garbage, this 20 - 40 pounds of fecal garbage clogging the villi of the intestines can inhibit this action because the nucleotide reserves are being depleted by the toxins, etc. Antibiotics are notorious for helping you get rid of surface infections inside the body, but the down side is that they drive germs like viruses and bacteria deep into the tissue where problems like Sjogren's pop up 10, 20 years later and with no idea that the problem could be due to this or anyway to really prove it. I really don't know if this will help you, but I have some suggestions that you could try that would give your body the best chance of solving this problem. From my research on other issues I have found the following things that could relate to fixing your problem. You are going to need some high quality nutrients, not the typical pills you get from the health food stores or pharmacies down the street. You need some grade 10, fresh, uninhibited nutrients. Only one company I have found that can provide the complete array of these can be found at: www.healthline.cc (not .com) I recommend these guys all the time because I have found their products to be top of the line for many reasons. I use them personally and have no tie with them. To raise your morning pH I suggest you get some litmus paper and test it. If it is below 6.4, you must get this up to address the oxygen issue. Infection in the body will affect your ability to do this. If you have ANY amalgam (silver) fillings, you will have to get those out because they are harboring infections just below those fillings, guaranteed. Thank you dentist and ADA. The way you can raise the pH is to order: Coral complex and aloe powder. Take at least 8 to 10 coral and 1 or 2 teaspoons of the aloe powder each day and check your pH to see if it is coming up. Also, eating meat will lower your pH and for a short time, reduce your meat intake. You need red meat for several reasons, but the right kind of meat. When you eat meat, only eat meat from free range, grass fed animals, not the typical grain fed sold in grocery stores. You need to improve your digestion. Purchase some Cleanse Bend and take 5 capsules in the morning and 5 capsules at night each day for 3 months. This will clean your colon of the impacted fecal matter, gently and effectively during this period. Purchase the probiotics. Take one in the morning and one in the evening with keifer milk (you can drink this even if you are lactose intolerant). Avoid all pasteurized milks. Purchase Betaine HCL and take 4 of these after each meal. Purchase Activator and take 2 of these after each meal. Purchase Quantum Digest and take 2 of these with each meal. These three items will re-methylate your cells. Nucleotides. These are the immune boosters that will help put your immune system into high gear. I suggest you take 8 to 10 of these per day for a month or so and then decrease to about 4 per day. Allicidin. Take 6 to 8 of these per day for about a month and then taper off to about 2 to 3 per day. This will go after any biofilms that are protecting the virus and bacteria in the tissue. Purchase DHLA (dihydrolipoic acid), not to be confused with lipoic acid that will do you little good. Take 1 tsp to 2 tsps of this per day in water that you sip during the day. Stay away from ALL soy products, ALL vegetable oils and drink lots of water, and eliminate all sodas and refined sugars and white flour products from your diet. I would also strongly suggest you purchase: Green's mix (capsule form) and take 6 of these per day, and also EFA and take 2 to 4 of these per day. Contrary to what you are being told, eliminate the vegetable oils because they contain huge amounts of omega 6 fatty acids that are inflammatory and when heated form trans fats as opposed to the cis fats that are good for you. It is a fact that when cultures all over the world that eat a lot of animal fat from free range, grass fed animals go on vegetable oils, there health deteriorates like Americans, tooth decay happens, and many other degenerative diseases happen. good luck to you, let me know how this works for you. Everything recommended is from once living sources, with cell resonances that are the same as your body's, and will nourish your body, not destroy it like drugs. In addition to the above products from healthline, I would order a jar of colostrum powder from: www.roex.com/ Take 1 heaping teaspoon of this powder in the morning and one at night. This will stabilize your immune system and keep it from over or under acting.

Question: Is low IGA a sign of Sjogren's Syndrome? I have recently acquired severe dry eyes syndrome and have begun having several symptoms that are probably related to that... halos, starbursts, glare, foreign body sensation and irritation. I've done a few tests with my opthamologist including an OCT but I don't think it will show anything since the dilation drops simply multiplies the problems I'm having. I've done some reading, and have some effects of Sjogren's Syndrome: dry eyes, dry mouth, throat feels swollen, constantly chapped lips. In fact, I never thought anything of my constant need to reapply chapstick every few hours for months until now! I've also had some acid reflux that comes and goes over the last few months, and an unusually stuffy nose over the last few weeks. I discovered in the summer that I have an unusually low IGA, meaning my salivary gland production is very low. Could a low IGA cause Sjogren's Syndrome? Am I just being paranoid or does this seem likely?

Answer: Maybe. But the only way to rule it out would be through tests.

Question: Could I be misdiagnosed with sjogren's syndrome? I am 20 years old. Hair loss, joint pain, easy bruising, weight loss, positive ANA, had been anemic(resolved), had thyroid problems(resolved), swollen lymph nodes, very very tired, and I overall feel bad. Two more nodes have swollen on the side of my neck; they don't hurt just feel swollen. I have also had pain in the back of my sides a little below my ribs, but I did not discuss it with the new doctor. My primary physician took tests and after a while she diagnosed me with Lupus. She said I needed a Rheumatologist for treatment. I decided to move shortly after and never went to the referral appointment. So, I found a Primary physcian to refer me to a rheumatologist in my new state. The new doctor does not have my medical records or results from previous tests. He ran some tests and consulted the rheumatologist, then told me I have sjogrens syndrome. He said that I do not fit the classical definition of Sjogren's, but i have it. I have no dryness, which I understand to be a hallmark of the disease. I would like someone's opinion who has experience with this disease. I'm not sure what I have, and yet this new doctor has prescribed prednisone and plaquenil for treatment. Should I get a second opinion? Which doctor seems to be on the right track, my previous dr. or the new one? These diseases seem to be very tricky so, not all doctors are experienced with the diagnosis. Please, I am looking for honest opinions and a little bit of help. I will appreciate your helpful advice and comments. I would to like to know exactly what I have and how to best care for it. Your input will hopefully help me find the right answers. Thank you and have a wonderful day.

Answer: I can feel your pain, I have gone through all of those test and to this day my primary doctor has no answer for me. So I started reading all kind of books regarding autoimmune syndrome and found out that I am a carrier of Lupus, however, I do not have lupus. So I avoid my nightshade fruits and vegetables: None of the following foods do I consume: 1. eggplant 2. potatoes (except for yams) 3. tomatoes 4. all peppers (green, yellow, orange or jalapeno) All of the above list I love to eat so I try not to eat them due to the pain and aches my body put me through. Yes, I would suggest you obtain another opinion. I hope this is helpful to you. Best of luck. Try going to some support meeting for Lupus/Fibromyalgia groups they are in every state.

Question: can a person suffering from sarcoidosis with secondary sjogren's syndrome donate blood? can the person donate his organs.

Answer: No. People with autoimmune diseases cannot donate blood or organs.

Question: Can Sjogren's Syndrome be cured or go into remission?

Answer: Sjogren's syndrome is an autoimmune disease, characterized by the abnormal production of extra antibodies in the blood that are directed against various tissues of the body. This particular autoimmune illness features inflammation in the glands of the body. Inflammation of the glands that produce tears (lacrimal glands) leads to decreased water production for tears and eye dryness. Inflammation of the glands that produce the saliva in the mouth (salivary glands, including the parotid glands) leads to mouth dryness. Sjogren's syndrome that involves the gland inflammation (resulting in dryness of the eyes and mouth, etc.), but not associated with a connective tissue disease, is referred to as primary Sjogren's syndrome. Secondary Sjogren's syndrome involves not only gland inflammation, but is associated with a connective tissue disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, or scleroderma. The treatment of patients with Sjogren's syndrome is directed toward the particular areas of the body that are involved and complications, such as infection. There is no cure for Sjogren's syndrome. Dryness of the eyes can be helped by artificial tears, eye lubricant ointments at night, and minimizing the use of hair dryers. When dryness becomes more significant, the ophthalmologist can plug the tear duct closed so that tears cover the eye longer. Cyclosporin eyedrops (Restasis) are recently approved medicated drops that can reduce the inflammation of the tear glands improving their function. Signs of eye infection (conjunctivitis), such as pus or excessive redness or pain, should be evaluated by the doctor. The dry mouth can be helped by drinking plenty of fluids, humidifying air, and good dental care to avoid dental decay. The glands can be stimulated to produce saliva by sucking on sugarless lemon drops or glycerin swabs. Additional treatment for the symptom of dry mouth are prescription medications that are saliva stimulants, such as pilocarpine (Salagen) and cevimeline (Evoxac). These medications should be avoided by persons with certain heart diseases, asthma or glaucoma. Artificial saliva preparations can ease many of the problems associated with dry mouth. Many of these types of agents are available as over-the-counter products including toothpaste, gum, and mouthwash (Biotene). Vitamin E oil has been used with some success. Infections of the mouth and teeth should be addressed as early as possible in order to avoid more severe complications. Diligent dental care is very important. Salt water (saline) nasal sprays can help dryness in the passages of the nose. Vaginal lubricant should be considered for sexual intercourse. Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) has been helpful for some manifestations of Sjogren's syndrome. Serious complications, such as vasculitis, can require immune suppression medications, including cortisone (prednisone and others) and/or azathioprine (Imuran) or cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan). Infections, which can complicate Sjogren's syndrome, are addressed with appropriate antibiotics. A rare complication of Sjogren's syndrome, cancer of the lymph glands (lymphoma) is treated independently.