New here-Sjogren's Syndrome:::reply

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 9/14/2007 10:31:32 A.M. Mountain Daylight Time,

horsemans_angel writes:

 

They have gotten worse and feel like someone has

thrown sand in them everyday. The sjogren's can be an pre indicator

of rhumatoid arthritis as well as " lupus " and some forms of

slerodrema. In sjogrens the immune system lacks the usual controls

causing the white cells to invade glands in the body that produce

moisture. They can destroy the glands and cause them to stop

producing moisture. It can also affect the joints as well as other

organs of the body. Then I have the iron deficency which I have been

unable to use iron supplements as they make me sick. My questions

here are other then supplements and medicine from the doctors which I

dont really want to add more meds to my already numerous ones I take,

does anyone know of natural alternatives to help with some of theses

symtoms.

Thanks

Jen

 

 

 

Jen......what other meds are you on? Also, Sjogren's can be caused from

Lyme disease. What area of the country do you live in? What other symptoms

have you had? You don't have to have been bitten by a tick to contract

Lyme....Fleas, dog and cat ear mites, mosquitoes, flies, mice, birds, etc.,

etc.,

etc., are cariers. Also, it has been found in semen, vaginal fluid, saliva,

tear ducts, breast milk, blood and organs.....When I was first diagnosed with

Lyme & company not just my eyes but my mouth became full of sores, as you are

not making saliva.....just some thoughts.

 

Angel Huggzz

Linda or angel

www.lymecommunity.com

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Hello,

Thank you everyone for the responses to my post. Several have asked what meds

I am on ... I take effexor 150 mg, Restoril 7.5 mg, Buspirone 10 mg, and a low

dose birth control. When I was diagnoised I was in Colorado but had not been in

the mountains and had no pets at the time. My Dr said it was something that I

probably had since I was a child as I suffered terrible dry skin, but that it

was such low levels that it was not detected. I have a perscription for eye

drops that are suppose to help, but at 150.00 a month and no health insurance I

have not been able to refill it.

 

Jen

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Jen ..

 

Its highly possible that you are taking these medications for side effects of

Sjogren's .. and the MD could be right.

 

You should read the side effects of Effexor .. also known as venlafaxine

http://www.drugs.com/pro/venlafaxine.html

 

" Sjögren's syndrome affects tear and saliva production but can also have central

nervous system manifestations. It can present as a psychiatric disorder, most

commonly as an atypical mood disorder. "

 

If you are into the technical stuff, the following may be of interest

 

http://neuro.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/11/2/241

 

" Psychoactive medications treat psychiatric symptoms but leave the underlying

medical process unaffected. Laboratory tests to diagnose Sjögren's syndrome and

specific treatments for this condition are improving. "

 

Now .. this doesn't answer your dry eye issue .. but, ask your MD .. and I've

also found that when I can't get anything useful out of an MD, I go and talk to

a pharmacist. It might be that the Effexor is making the dryness worse ..

 

It might also be that a whole different medication protocol could be required

given the sjogren's diagnosis. Only a pharmacist or MD can advise ...

 

Christopher Wynter

 

 

> Hello,

> Thank you everyone for the responses to my post. Several have asked

> what meds I am on ... I take effexor 150 mg, Restoril 7.5 mg,

> Buspirone 10 mg, and a low dose birth control. When I was

> diagnoised I was in Colorado but had not been in the mountains and

> had no pets at the time. My Dr said it was something that I

> probably had since I was a child as I suffered terrible dry skin,

> but that it was such low levels that it was not detected. I have a

> perscription for eye drops that are suppose to help, but at 150.00

> a month and no health insurance I have not been able to refill it.

>

> Jen

>

>

>

> Catch up on fall's hot new shows on TV. Watch previews, get

> listings, and more!

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hello,

You might look into programs that assist with the cost of medications.

Some pharmaceutical companies do this themselves, and some states have

programs that assist with medications. If you have a savvy community

health referral agency, a local sliding fee scale clinic, or a local

agency on aging, they may have this info. There are 3 such programs in

Indiana, besides what the companies themselves will do. You might

discuss it with doctor also, perhaps he can wrangle some samples.

Best to you