Hello everyone...my name is Tonya and I have just been dxed with Sjogrens and also Fibromyalgia. (12/11/09) Before I was dxed with this I had all different things happening to my body. I started having seizures(never had a seizures in my life) So far 6 in 1 1/2. One day I had 3 in a 10 hour period. Then My teeth starting bothering me. Prior to 2007 my teeth were perfect and white. Now they are yellowed and I am having cavities left and right. So far I have had 2 root canals and I have 2 more scheduled. My tongue was always sore. Everything I swallowed felt like it got stuck in my throat. I have joint and muscle pain. Some days it is so severe I cant even move. I am 41 and felt like I was 80. At the beginning of this month I was going to stop seeing Dr's. I thought I was going nuts or becoming a hypochondriac(sp?) I have a really good Rheumy Dr. The first thing she said was I wasn't crazy. I wasn't losing my mind. My body is fighting against me and she figured out why. I was so relieved I started crying. She was a little concerned about why. Told her I am glad I am not crazy. I have been trying my hardest to get off pain meds because I believed everything was in my mind. Now I realized that sometimes I do need more then a regular Tylenol. Especially on rainy days and cold mornings. Right now I am on Plaquenil. May need to change this one because I am getting real bad headaches after taking it.
Hope to meet others
Tonya
Hi Tonya
Welcome aboard! I'm so pleased you found a knowledgeable and empathetic doctor. Most of our Sjoggie family will be able to recognise the 'going mad' experience, but if you're mad, you've certainly come to the right place.
Looking forward to getting to know you.
Kathyx
Hi Tonya....welcome to Sjogrens World!
Yes...there are many of us...myself included...that have often wondered if were were going crazy or becoming a hypochondriac! Thankfully we all find out when we come here that we are not and that others can understand the same feelings!
I am glad to hear that you feel comfortable with your new rheumy and that she is very supportive and willing to listen to you...that's wonderful news and a huge battle won! Let us know what you decide about the plaquenil...maybe your doc can help you work your way up to a full dosage slowly...also taking it with food may also be helpful!
Keep coming back here and read all you can and ask any other question that you may have! You have found a safe and supportive place!
Hi Tonya,
Let me also welcome you to the SJS World and family! Please do look around the board as you'll find a lot of information, and tons of terrific members too! :D
I'm another one that thought I was becoming a hypochondriac too! I knew that there was something wrong with me when I could pull out my eyebrows one by one with my fingernails, and it didn't hurt one bit. It took a while to find some doctors that believed me, but it sure made a world of difference to little ol' me!.
Like Lynnmarie says, please discuss the side effects of Plaquenil with your doctor soon so you can be properly treated.
Again, welcome!
Patze
Hi Tonya :)
Welcome to Sjogren's world!
Were you told to taper onto the dosage of Plaquenil - and were you told to take it on a full stomach? It's a drug which can take several moths to actually work but a lot of us find that it does make us feel better. It helped my fatigue and my brain-fog but not my aches and pains. It has helped others aches and pians though. SjS is such an individual disease.
I remember thinking I was losing my mind too - not helped by a GP who told me I was a hypochondriac and wasting NHS money.
Well - he was wrong - and I'm not crazy!
I hope you find the site useful.
Take care - Scottie :)