dolby

I've been suffering from what I thought were gout attacks for the last 5 years. I thought they were gout and they behaved like gout attacks. I've treated it with Naproxen and the attacks always responded very well to a small dose (187.5mg). So for me, gout (whatever it is) was pretty easy to manage.

Fast forward to 2009. I was diagnosed with T2 diabetes in 6/2009. I started my low carb diet and my gout attacks increased in frequency. At this time, I tested positive (very high, 8-9) for Antinuclear Antibodies Direct for Sjogren's Syndrome (SS-B), which frequently accompanies rheumatoid arthritis.

I've noticed that, yes, my gout attacks have increased but I seem to be experiencing 2 distinct types of gout: (i) one that responds quickly to NSAID medication (187.5mg) and (ii) another which takes longer to recover and is less acute (less painful), requiring larger Naproxen dosage over a number of days.

I'm also experiencing a very dry mouth; by the morning, my mouth is so dry, I immediately have to get water in me. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night to get some water in me. I'm not thirsty, however; just my whole mouth is really dry. No dry eyes yet, however. My whole body is very dry and I have dry, scaly feet and hands which I attributed to out of control diabetes but which I now realize may be symptoms of SS.

I've also been experiencing constipation for about a yera now, which I understand could result from lack of moisture in my colon.

What exactly is the link between gout and SS? Can you have gout and SS? I thought having gout precluded Reumathoid Arthritis. Perhaps I have always had Rheumatoid Arthritis rather than gout?