Kyla, Why-Ya Dry?
Sjögren's Syndrome
On the same day that I was diagnosed with RA, I was diagnosed with Sjögren's Syndrome.
My rheumatologist was able to diagnose Sjögren's Syndrome with blood work which showed that my ANA was really high (it will always be that way).
My rheumatologist was able to diagnose Sjögren's Syndrome with blood work which showed that my ANA was really high (it will always be that way).
I had never heard of it before. I couldn't even pronounce it.
I'm pretty sure it is pronounced (show-grens).
I'm pretty sure it is pronounced (show-grens).
Sjögren's is an autoimmune disease that occurs in your glands but prominently felt in your mouth and eyes. When your immune system attacks the cells that create saliva and tears. It is a member of the Lupus family.
It can not be cured but it can be treated.
Coincidently it is treated the same as Rheumatoid Arthritis.
On top of Plaquenil, I take eye drops to help with my dry eyes, and I have a special mouth wash.
I used to think that sjögren's only effected my eyes and mouth.
Now I know that is inaccurate.
It can affect every gland in your body. Did you know that skin is a gland? Or that kidneys are glands?
When I found this out everything made sense. My hands are overly sweaty and my skin is overly sensitive and now I know why. This causes me to be clammy all of the time, my feet are consistently like ice, and I have eczema patches on my hands and elbows.
I also have something that my Endocrinologist has called "chicken skin" pretty much my shoulders are bumpy and dry and have discoloration.
This is also because of Sjögren's and there is no way to get rid of it. (I've asked)
Over time I've just gotten used to it.
I have taken many tests for Sjögren's to make sure that the disease and the medicines are not negatively affecting me.
One time my grandpa took me to this appointment where I had to drink this dye and then lay on this table that kind of looked like an MRI machine. This test is an adrenal scan and is used to check the function of your kidneys. I laid there as my grandpa, the tech, and I watched a monitor as the dye filled my kidneys and then left. It didn't take long, my kidneys are healthy, and my nephrologist only follows me to make sure it stays that way.
Because Sjögren's affects your eyes I have an ophthalmologist. (There is an eye doctor an optometrist the doctor who sees if you need glasses and an ophthalmologist the doctor who sees how healthy your eyes are.) My ophthalmologist has explained to me that the chances of Sjögren's or Plaquenil affecting my eye health are very small, but they have done baselines just in case.
Finally, I've had a mouth biopsy. It was an interesting experience. It was a Friday, I missed school, went under anesthesia, and woke up with a little blister on my lower lip that tasted weird. That is pretty much all I remember about that biopsy. After I went to lunch with my parents and then went home and fell asleep. I went to school the following Monday.
I used to think that sjögren's only effected my eyes and mouth.
Now I know that is inaccurate.
It can affect every gland in your body. Did you know that skin is a gland? Or that kidneys are glands?
When I found this out everything made sense. My hands are overly sweaty and my skin is overly sensitive and now I know why. This causes me to be clammy all of the time, my feet are consistently like ice, and I have eczema patches on my hands and elbows.
I also have something that my Endocrinologist has called "chicken skin" pretty much my shoulders are bumpy and dry and have discoloration.
This is also because of Sjögren's and there is no way to get rid of it. (I've asked)
Over time I've just gotten used to it.
I have taken many tests for Sjögren's to make sure that the disease and the medicines are not negatively affecting me.
One time my grandpa took me to this appointment where I had to drink this dye and then lay on this table that kind of looked like an MRI machine. This test is an adrenal scan and is used to check the function of your kidneys. I laid there as my grandpa, the tech, and I watched a monitor as the dye filled my kidneys and then left. It didn't take long, my kidneys are healthy, and my nephrologist only follows me to make sure it stays that way.
Because Sjögren's affects your eyes I have an ophthalmologist. (There is an eye doctor an optometrist the doctor who sees if you need glasses and an ophthalmologist the doctor who sees how healthy your eyes are.) My ophthalmologist has explained to me that the chances of Sjögren's or Plaquenil affecting my eye health are very small, but they have done baselines just in case.
Finally, I've had a mouth biopsy. It was an interesting experience. It was a Friday, I missed school, went under anesthesia, and woke up with a little blister on my lower lip that tasted weird. That is pretty much all I remember about that biopsy. After I went to lunch with my parents and then went home and fell asleep. I went to school the following Monday.
It proved that without a doubt I have Sjögren's Syndrome.
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