I have had bloodwork drawn twice for Sjogrens. i just had a lip biopsy done on Thursday and awaiting results. the blood work had an ANA 1:80 and nothing else. On April 5th of this year (2004) I had extremely dry eyes and within two days dry mouth. It came on suddenly. This came on in two days and I had no symptoms beforehand. no aches or pains. I was diagnosed with Hashimotos on 3/31/04. I have been treated and now my TSH is normal. Has anyone with Sjogrens had it come on this suddenly? Thanks.

I have Sjogren's (and SLE) and can tell you that I've never had dry eyes or mouth! I guess it can affect everybody a little differently and take a different course with each person. I guess I'd just sit tight and wait for the results of your lip biopsy. If it comes back negative, ask your doctor what else might cause the symptoms you are having. Good luck!

Thanks. I'll take it one day at a time and pray for good day every day.

It did not happen suddenly w/me. Salagen has helped me a lot to relieve dry mouth. There are homeopathic remedies I've read about but am happy with the Salagen. I gargle with Biotene. I've tried their toothpaste and should get back to using it. When I'm at the dentist I'm going to ask for the coating, I need it to protect the teeth. I take medications that happen to be more drying to to eyes and mouth so have to be more vigilant with caring for the fangs lol. Biotene balances enzymes in the mouth & Soothes irritated dry mouth. I like Allergan preservative free drops. Have the plugs. Eye doc gave me Restasis to try. I started it and it burned. It's expensive so have not used them the way I should. I'm going to start that up again because of the infection in the one eye that persists.

ps-I had a positive low titre ana twice, a reflexive pannel was unrevealing. I was dxd w/mild graves (if there is such a thing) they found the same time frame as ss, fm and endometriosis then breast stuff 6 months later. In that sense it felt like all at once (in between the facial weakness, 1st time found tick on dog that day, tested dog for lyme, she was okay. Had suppressed tsh w/normal t values intermittant, took tapazole one yr. About a yr later, started feeling symptoms again, ps t's were up and tsh was normal and then normal/rising (for me). Labs were abnormal, hematologist said normal for a person w/inflammatory conditions, I had 16/17 IOP that went down after started restasis for a few weeks. The palpebral is swelling again so need to start up the restasis and stick w/it (it's expensive). If I did not have a prescription plan, I'd be in trouble. Did I help here at all? I don't think so. A new rheumy thinks it's neural (said lip biopsy is needed for diffinative). I'm glad they sent you for that. To treat you right they have to know. I will be really po'd if I find out they were not giving me the right treatment. It sounds like they are doing what they should. I'm seeing a neuro, pulmo and rheumy. Good luck! Please let us know how it turns out...

The lip biopsy came back a "2" as they said "very mild inflammation" and he said alone it would not be Sjogrens but I have symptoms of Sjogrens so that is it. it came on in 3 days! anyway, i started on Salagen and my eyes completely and I mean completely cleared. in fact, I have an overflow of tears most of the time (yea!!). My mouth is always hurting though-the tissues under my tongue and my tongue is burning. My throat is also sore almost every day. I try drinking water and sucking sugarless candy but nothing seems to work. Anybody have any ideas? Also, I just started on Celexa from the depression of this coming on suddenly and I got hives on my legs and arms! Wonderful. I stopped taking it last night. (It was really making my mouth dry too). Does this mouth dryness wax and wane or is it there all the time? Does it ever get any better? i have Hashimotos thyroiditis too with a TSH that was 10.7 and antibodies of 785.00. have been on Synthroid and the doc says my thyroid is "normal now".
Thanks

Some of your throat symptoms may be due to the Hashimoto's. The reason I suspect that is because I've been dx'd with it recently and I've been experiencing sharp pains in my throat, throat dryness to the point where swallowing even water is difficult due to the dryness. I don't have a throat nodule that I'm aware of and I was told I had a "mild" case. Don't let this "mild" fool you. There's ups and downs with Hashimoto's. It takes approximately two months of the thyroid medication to start feeling any improvement. Are you sure you need the Celexa or any anti-depressant? They do have a tendency to cause more dryness--including skin, which the thyroid problem makes worse too. While trying to deal with the depression from loss of health, taking the anti-depressant could be causing another problem to deal with when if you give it a couple of months or so, you may find yourself feeling improved with the medications for the Hashi's and the Sjogren's. Just my own opinion and suggestion to give the other meds. a chance to help without overloading your system.

I've been experiencing dry eye now too so I avoid anti-histamines for all the rashes and/or hives that I get. Seems to be part of the autoimmune territory.

I haven't been tested for Sjogren's but for other connective tissue diseases.

Good luck! :)