Peach,
I can relate to you and also itzmejudy. I was diagnosed at 41 but I'm quite sure I've been dealing with sjogrens since my early twenties. Back then not only did the doctors not take my complaints seriously, my friends and family didn't either. I was labeled a hypercondriac and everyone thought I needed mental help. No one understood how I felt inside. I didn't look sick, but I was. I pretty much lost all my so called friends at the time because I was too sick to go out and party with them. Then remissions would come, although at the time I didn't know anything about remissions because I hadn't been diagnosed yet, but I just would feel back to normal. I would then go about living my life, working, having fun, making a new group of friends. Then in 1996 I wasn't sick but I noticed my baby fingers were stiff in the morning. I went to the dr and then a rheumatologist, they ran lots of tests and I was diagnosed. Still felt physically fine, friends all knew I had sjogrens but didn't really understand how bad it could be because I felt fine and we got together a lot and had fun together. Then I got sick again. After having to cancel get togethers several times because of it, they eventually stopped calling or emailing me. Family don't understand either. So here I sit today,, at 60, pretty much isolated because nobody wants to hear about how I feel and I really try to hide it but it's hard. So like itzmejudy said, it doesn't matter your age, you can feel isolated at any age. I was just saying to my daughter last night that I wish I had someone else at my same level of sjogrens to commiserate with. I'm experiencing a lot of heartburn and dry throat and sinuses lately and feel so weak, and as I was talking to my daughter who's 30 and an RN and usually so sweet and helpful, I noticed she was half listening and looking at her phone and just nodding. I know she's sick of hearing me complain and I really try to fake I'm fine and happy with her and everybody else because I hate being a drag but it's really hard. Sorry to go on for so long. It's my first post after being a guest forever. And I guess I have a lot to say. I just recently registered and when I read your post I just had to reply.
Take care, Diane (Supergranny)