Theretta there are two forms of Sjögrens. Sjögrens is an autoimmune disease that occurs alone. Secondary Sjögrens is when it occurs with another autoimmune disease. This site has an article that explains the difference in more detail. My Rheumatologist diagnosed the Secondary Sjögren.

I have had RA for over 30 years so it is hard to sort out joint pain and fatigue being caused by which autoimmune dis order. The eye symptoms and dry mucus membranes are easy to attribute to the Secondary Sjögrens.

I have had episodes of choking because my throat was so dry that food would get stuck when I swallowed. I have added cucumbers to most meals. I am fortunate to love them but they add moisture and aide in swallowing. I already eat daily salads. breakfast and snacks most often are fresh fruits and cheese or plain Greek yogurt.

I have annual eye exams and if I am having any changes in the eyes I get checked at that time. One eye had the tear duct plugged to help with moisture for that eye.

I also have been on Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil). since i was diagnosed with SS 5 years ago. that medication can cause eye changes so I would be seeing an Opthamologist yearly for that medication. The opthamologist suggested adding fish oil supplements which i also take.

Theretta I pay attention to my various pains for different reasons. i try to determine if a pain also had redness and swelling because that might mean more active disease. If the discomfort is is achey and all over it usually indicates to me that i have been sedentary for to long and i need to do something active for a while. Some discomforts are from joint damage from the years of active inflammation and the resulting deformities. Heat, cold or massage may help that. Some joint pain can be relieved by gentle stretching. and then the last type of discomfort results from more activity than i am used to. Snowblowing or shoveling heavy wet snow or weeding and digging or lifting in the garden. I might well have had that just due to my age and it usually responds to a single dose of Tylenol.

As you have probably seen there are so many ways the symptoms of these diseases display and things that worked at one point might not at some other time. i think it is important to pay attention to our bodies and ask questions like you did to see what other people have done of it it concerns your Rheumatologist. .

Good luck and take care of yourself.

Lady BB……I’ll be thinking and praying for you every day….May God Bless You on your difficult journey….🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼☮️☮️☮️❤️❤️❤️

Howdy howdy @A myRAteam Member,
To answer your question, yes, I have RA, fibro and recently, Sjogren's. I've had RA diagnosed since 2000 and the fibro since 2014. A couple three years ago, I started with the dry eyes. But over the last year or more, it's been the mouth dryness that has been the most aggravating symptom of Sjogren's. I can just be sitting here on the computer or listening to a podcast and start choking from the dryness. Sometimes I take a drink and choke because it is so dry I can't control how fast it goes down my throat. SMH!!! There is also the fact that I can no longer wrap my lips around a straw or drink properly from a glass without dripping fluid out of the corners of my mouth. Embarrassing for sure! Food doesn't taste like it should/use to. Finally, had my eyes checked in December and she suggested I ask my rheumy to test for it. Wouldn't you just know it, yup, another diagnosed illness! Here we are, making the best of a less than desirable situation. Constant struggle, God has the plan and i try to trust Him.

Glad you asked!🤗

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A myRAtea...

Theretta, one other thing I note regarding my pain is what I have eaten in the previous 12-24 hours. Gluten will trigger a fairly quick reaction of red swollen joints. And sugar and alcohol will increase discomfort that decreases after a day of two.