I have stayed away from this Forum for a while simply because I was depressed about how my health was going down hill, but now I find that I need to talk about a few things and there are so few people that understand Sjogrens and that is even more depressing. So I want to ask you guys some questions if I may?
How do you deal with allergies when your eyes can't "release" the pressure from the allergy?
I have zero tear production, top tear ducts are permanently closed and bottoms are just plugged, should I have the plugs taken out? if so, has anyone had them removed? how did it feel pain wise? Mine have been in for about 8 years now.
Also, do you find that your nose seem to have a never ending supply of mucus? Is this part of the body not connected to the Sjogrens creed of "cannot produce moisture"? Has my nose taken over for the rest of my body's lack of ability to produce moisture?
Anyone else feeling any of this?
Oh, and I did end up losing all of my teeth... I am the not so proud owner of a complete set of false teeth at the ripe old age of 44.
As to the sinuses, I was getting 5-7 baaad sinus infections per year until my immunologist had me do sinus flushes. It is not "icky". There is a kit you get in the store and you basically just squirt distilled water and sea salt in your nostrils. I really didn't think it would do me any good but it cut waaay down my sinus infections. I think my nose is so dry tht the flushes wash out impurities.
I am heading that way with my teeth due to Sjogrens. My mouth and gums get very dry and no amount of brushing, flossing, prescrip flouride toothpaste, anticavity rinse, etc etc seems to help. I had 5 cavities my whole life up until about 10 yrs ago when the "junk" started and now I get 3-6 a year!
I always say with any diagnosis you go through the five stages of grief until you get to the 5th acceptance. I hope others can answer your questions. Good Luck!
I can't answer your eye question, but I can tell you my theory on the nose deal.
A normal functioning nose produces a thin mucus, that normal flows to the back of the nose and goes down your throat (Inside the nose are these little hairs, that push the thin mucus that way). It is what keeps your throat moist. Having it function this way, explains why your throat gets dry and sore when your nose gets stuff up. (the little hairs stop functioning under these conditions).
So with sjogrens, I assume that the mucus is not as thin as it would be normally. So the little hairs can not push it to the back of the throat as normal. So instead the mucus has to come out the other way. Which explains why it seems that I have a running nose (like when you have a cold and the hairs are not working right). It is just another feature (bonus?) of the lack of moisture.
It seems illogical that a running nose is an indication of lack of moisture, but that is how I understand it.
Now realize I don't have a medical degree. We have a number of more medical type folks on this site, who can let you know if my explanation is accurate.
Thankfully no sinus infections just way more "snot" than I would expect?! I tell people I can't cry tears so my nose feels the need to take over for the eyes.. it seems strange that I have every symptom of Sjogrens with the RA and still my nose functions at top speed. I keep praying that this disease will get healed and one day I will again be able to say, "oh darn, my mascara is running". I told my pastors wife to remind me of my prayer request when I start commenting on my runny makeup!
the other post regarding the function of nose hairs was very informative, thank you for that. I really didn't know what governed the direction of the flow of things, now I do.
as to the teeth, I never had good teeth and fought this ever since my permanent teeth moved in (I laugh as I say perminant) I was always brushing and flossing, my mother used to tell me that I was going to break their bank account by going through so many toothbrushes. But to no avail I always had cavities, ALWAYS! At age 16 I stooped going to the dentist just because of the humiliation of him not believing that I tried so very hard to take care of my teeth..."you only get one set you know?" Duh?... I guess I proved him wrong. Anyway, in my twenties my teeth were just a total mess, finally went in and had the wisdom teeth pulled out. My glands on each side of my jaw bone would swell up like huge golf balls, maybe even bigger. I was unable to open my jaw at these times barely enough to get a straw or maybe spoon some soup in. I thought I was allergic to acidic foods, IE: tomato sauce, vinegar even some fruits seemed to trigger the painful swelling. In my thirties large pieces of my teeth started to break off, mostly pieces of my molars so it wasn't obvious. But then the day came when the front ones started to break, just from biting into a bologna sandwhich. I cried! My nose cried! the dots are connected, and they go way back to my childhod.