I have a friend who has had symptoms for about 10 months now. She is 56 years old. She started with dry throat and having to clear her throat over and over. She has dry mouth and the inside of her mouth seems to have yeast infection , redness and soreness. She does not seem to have dry eyes. No Doctor can figure you what is wrong with her. They keep treating her with antibiotics, mycostatin in her mouth. No one has done any autoimmune tests on her. She is getting really depressed.
She has food allergy tests and all negative.. tried elimating different foods. No new medications. She cannot connect it to anything. She has been in California and Hawaii with no difference in symptoms.
I have Celiac and Hashimoto's so I know how the symptoms of these illnesses can mimic other things.
Because she has such dryness in her throat and mouth I thought this could be a symptom of Sjogren's.
Am I on the right track? I also want to mention it seems to get temp better when she lays down. The only relief she gets is while sleeping. She feels like she is choking all the time.
What tests should she ask for?
Your opinions are so valued. Any suggestions. Oleander
Hi there:
Yes, it sounds as though she might have SS. I have chronic throat flem, too. The "gold standard" for SS is a lip biospy, as those tests seem to be the most definitive. They too can give false negative results, but they are more reliable than blood tests. I'd recommend the procedure be done by an Oral Medicine Specialist, or a dentist who is very familiar with SS. Also, ensure the pathology is determined (the spec is read) by a pathologist who is very familiar with SS. The blood tests that may show results are: ANA,ENA,SS antibodies and Sed Rate (ESR). C3,C4 counts are usually low and Serum Protein Electrophoresis tests can be useful, too.
Schirmer testing is less reliable, which involves testing how much fluid is produced by the eyes. (The "sicca" symptoms may not develop until the SS is well established--mine didn't develop until very recently. Sicca symptoms are dry eyes and mouth.) I had neurological symptoms mimicking multiple sclerosis, including brain lesions, and I didn't have typical SS symptoms until a few years ago. I also have vasculitis (inflammation of blood vessels) that causes redness and rashes, as well as small purple spots and bruises (in places where no injury has occurred).
Good luck with your friend. I hope she gets the answers she needs. Take care.
Have your friend see a rheumatologist, a doctor who specializes in SS and other auto immune diseases. Mine was diagnosed by a blood test three years ago, and just recently I requested another blood test just to see if it was "still there," and it showed positive again. So getting a blood test done might be a good idea. Also tell your friend about products for dry mouth, such as special toothpaste, mouth rinse, and keeping her mouth moistened by sucking on hard candies.
