Sjogrens World Forums

As you all know, our Sjoggie members come from around the world and vary in ages.  This little poll is to see exactly how old our Sjogren's members are.  We know that Sjogren's knows no age limit.

My guess is the "majority" of our members fall into the 50's-60's range - but, I might be wrong.

Also, this is not the age that Sjogren's makes you feel - then the poll would have to go into the 100's.   ;) 

Bucky

I was diagnosed right after my 49th birthday.  I think I have had symptoms for a few years prior to that.

And you are right, I do feel decades older than my actual age.

Liz

Bucky
That is so true. How many days do we feel 100.

Bucky,
  Boy are you close!!!!   I was tested and dx in March of 2000, but had symptoms for several years before that.  Today I feel close to my real age. Friday I felt like 90 +, A flare I guess.  We're always getting surprised, but life is good and I'm glad for you folks.

Catilee 2

I will be 49 this year. (Wow, to see that in type...) Anyway, I have probably had this about 6-7 yrs.

I'm only 32 - actually just turned 32 last weekend. :( Was diagnosed over a year ago right before my 31st bday. :(

I just turned 46 and was diagnosed two weeks before my 44th birthday.

I have had documented symptoms dating back ten years.

Carimeaway - happy belated Birthday.   :D

You must not have voted in the above poll because there are no votes under the "30's" category.  Cast your vote.   ;D

Bucky

Lol, no I didn't see it bc I usually post from my phone and it doesn't show up there. I'm off to vote now.

Thanks for the bday wishes, Bucky! :)

I had signs and symptoms when I was 23-24, but diagnosed at 42 after such a long time.

i am 36-have been ill since 32..yikes

I'll be 48 in May and was diagnosed about 18 months ago, but have had symptoms on and off for nearly 15 years.

I found out at 39.5 and am now 42. I found out at 40 that I have 2 kinds of cancer.  The first 40 years of my life (or 39.5) was pretty illness free. 

One minor and one major surgery and 6 weeks of radiation in less than a years time...(6/2009-3/2010) fingers crossed that this year is procedure free!

I try to keep a positive attitude,  otherwise I'd go nuts.   :)

I'm in my 60's, but was diagnosed in my 30's after having symptoms since my early 20's, as well as other auto-immune diseases back then.

Genko

Quote from: gsmraxe on January 27, 2011, 09:00:09 AM
I found out at 39.5 and am now 42. I found out at 40 that I have 2 kinds of cancer.  The first 40 years of my life (or 39.5) was pretty illness free. 

One minor and one major surgery and 6 weeks of radiation in less than a years time...(6/2009-3/2010) fingers crossed that this year is procedure free!

I try to keep a positive attitude,  otherwise I'd go nuts.   :)

Everything went to heck in a hand basket (as my Dad used to say) when I turned 40, also.   :o

I, too, hope that this year is procedure free for you!

Thanks everyone who has participated in this poll.  As I thought, us 50-60 year olds are the majority (at least of those who voted).

To those of you who normally don't post any messages and just come here to the forum to read, please add you vote to the poll too.  Out of 1,400+ plus members - only 45 some have voted.

None of our members in their 20's have voted.  I know you're out there.   ;)

Bucky

wow, lot's of us 50-somethings, huh? I know we have people in their twenties, too.

A lot of those that responded are in their 50's. Has Shani posted?

I turned 48 in July and was officially diagnosed in the spring when I was stil 47 - but I probably have had this for many years, maybe even most of my life but it has gotten worse.  I got a bad case of shingles in January 2010 and after a couple of months they decided to run some blood tests because the shingles was really, really bad.  The sad thing is I am still on Neurontin for the shingles nerve pain a year later.  YAY ME!  and I may be on it for a long time. I have no income, no insurance and my teeth are rapidly crumbling and no way to get them removed to get dentures.  Anyone know any resources for Sjogren's patients to get dentures?  I currently have a social security case going - wish me luck!  I hope everyone has had a great weekend! Keep on keepin' on!

I was diagnosed when I was 29.  I'll be 32 later this year.  Feel so much older...

 :( I'm a little sad there are no votes in the 70's and 80's. Tell me there are people that age that have Sjorgren's. Not that I want people to have this.... Just that we have a longer life span then 60's. BTW... I am 48.

I wasn't sure where to enter info in the poll as I am 47 but it is my daughter who has SJS.
I have found this site a great source of information, better than her Dr.

She started getting symptoms at 16.
Diagnosed with SJS (positive blood work Ana, SSa, RF etc) at 17.
Diagnosed with Hashimotos and Insulin resistance at 19.

While she has had no luck with plaquenil, her health improved dramatically once she began thyroid medication.

She is now 20, having more good days than bad at the moment (thankfully).
Aussie Mum

I am 35 and don't have a clue when I started getting symptoms since I didn't even know I had dry mouth or eyes...thought everyone was like this....thought I just liked jolly ranchers and water and eye drops were for allergies....i thought!LOL  ::) Now I have plugs in my eyes and I stay as positive as I can! ;)

Sha

I will be 45 this month, but started having symptoms in my mid 20's.  Diagnosed at 39.  It seems the last 2 years to be getting progressively worse.

I turned 68 in January and was diagnosed when I was 60 years old after having symptoms of Sjogrens and Myasthenia gravis since around age 20 years.

Dry eyes was the last symptom that I got. Had dry mouth for many years but always blamed it on my medications.

When you don't feel good and can't get any docs to listen you just keep on plugging along. We are all a tough bunch of people who would rather be working. Right!!!!! Irish ;D

Well - so far, my thoughts are right - the 50's age group seems to have the most members.

We're at 69 votes right now in this Sjoggie ages poll . . I'm hoping we can at least make it to 100 votes.  We have soooo many members - and a lot of "newbies", that I hope will cast their vote.

momof2 - we DO have at least one member in their 70's that I can think of . . . I won't give her name - maybe, she'll cast her vote when she stops in (she doesn't come here as often as she use to).  I don't know about anyone in their 80's.

It just goes to show that Sjogren's knows no preference in age or gender.  However, our members here at Sjogren's World can close the gap in our ages and unite together as soldiers fighting this relentless disease together.  Our shared experiences, trials, etc. help each of us along this journey.  Everyone here "get's it"!

Thanks everyone for participating in this poll.

Bucky

Bucky, I have a 6 year old daughter. I'm going to be 49 this year. I would just like to know there is a REAL possibility of raising her until she is done cooking. I would hate to be a young teen girl who has lost her mom to some AI disease. Or anything for that matter. I just think I would feel a little more incouraged to see some older people with this terrible disease having productive and fullfilling lives.

Bless her heart. She is afraid I am going to leave her. I've promised her it (sjs) has just slowed me down but will not kill me. Praying I am right.
Pam

momof2

Don't worry about the 70 and 80 year group not responding.

They just don't get on the computer as much! 

I just turned 37. I've been showing symptoms since my teens. Never really put it all together. I was diagnosed about 4 years ago? Now when I was 11 my doctor told me that I had the body of an 80 year old so really I'm 269. I just look darn good for my age! ;)

Jen

I was diagnosed at the tender age of 37.  I just turned 45.  My body thinks it's 145. 

I was originally diagnosed by an Opthomologist when I was 19, but didn't think anything of it.  Have had lots of related symptoms and problems over the years that I didnt realize were related at the time.  Finally started asking the doctor about all the symptoms around age 39-40, but still didn't connect it with Sjogren's until I went to a Rheumatologist (actually my 2nd one) at age 44.  She is who put it all together and diagnosed me with Sjogren's for the 2nd time!  She informed me a whole lot more about it than the Optho that diagnosed it as a teen.  I am 50 now, so have been dealing with it for over 30 years now.

Nancy

i agree with Bucky.. this disease def closes the gap with all our ages.. i am 36 but sometimes feel like my parents in their mid 60s get around and have more energy than me..

Hi  :)

We never know what's round the corner. My mother had way more energy than me when she was in her sixties and I was in my mid thirties. One day, aged 68, she dlivered meals on wheels for elderly infirm people. The next morning she never woke up. She died in her sleep.

Enjoy the day!

Take care - Scottie  :)

Scottie,
My mom-in-law (age 71) died like that. Funny thing..we had a birthday party for her older sister at my MIL's home. The whole family was there. We found my MIL the next morning around 9. (I suspected because she always called me around 8:30.) They said she must have passed away around 3-7 AM.  Everyone was glad they had a chance to "hug her goodbye" the night before.

Cat and Scottie,

My husband's grandmother passed in a similar way. She was 85 and had a good deal of energy. Monday of that week was Memorial Day, so we had a big extended family cook-out she attended. She had so much fun with grandkids and greatgrandchildren. She seemed to be in an extra-special good mood.

She went grocery shopping and some other errands Tues. Wed. night she went to the church service she always attended and sang.  Thursday morning her daughter was picking her up at her house for a doctor's appt., she got her coat and said she didn't feel well and dropped to the floor. We were glad she had a happy week and were also glad we all saw her and had fun together.

I am 39 and was diagnosed 12 years ago at age 27.

Thanks Bucky for this opportunity to say I'm in my 40's. Will turn 49 next week, so this is one of the final times I'll get to say 40's!! Dang it!

stickgal - um, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't 49 still in your 40's?   ;)  Hang on to it as long as you can. 

Bucky

Yay - we got to our 100+ votes on this survey.  The vast majority of our members are in their 40's and 50's.  I'm sure the numbers would be higher if every one of our members cast their age vote.

Whatever age you are, keep on, keeping on in your Sjogren's journey.  You have to be your own advocate for your health - no one else will.  We are all more resilient than you might think you are.

It's important to surround yourself with people who are on your team.  Some of you may or may not like Dr. Phil McGraw, but I will re-post something from him that I think is so true:  "Although a health crisis can rock you to the core of your being, it's not the end, and you will need to get a grip on how you perceive, talk about, and act on the situation so you don't run the risk of contributing to the problem instead of the solution."  "Managing this challenging day (years - added by Bucky) of your life isn't something you should try to do on your own, and I'm betting you need the support of others to get you through and win this health battle.  The key is to assemble a winning team, and that means making sure all the players are supportive, positive, and helpful.  You need people you can trust and people who can energize and inspire you because there is strength and power in support."

Thanks for participating in this survey.  I will leave this survey open so any of the newbies can cast their votes too.

Bucky

Thanks for posting this questionnaire.  Just to bring the statistics up a little, I am 74 years old.  Was talking to another lady the other day who is in her late 70's with RA who was a registered nurse and has several reference nursing books on hand, and she looked into sjogren's syndrome recently because of her severe dry mouth and other symptoms and she said to me: "Now, I am pretty sure I have sjogren's syndrome and to think it has not just been my imagination all those years that I have those symptoms"

Keep up the good work :)

It's been 3 months since our last poll vote was cast - we've had a lot of "newbies" since then.  I wanted to give everyone an opportunity to cast their vote for their Sjoggie age in this poll.

Just a reminder - this is for your current age, not when you were diagnosed with Sjogren's - or how old having Sjogren's makes your feel.   ;)

I bet if we had a show of hands of our members - that the vast majority would say they had "symptoms" of Sjogren's for years prior to being diagnosed.  Through the years we thought it was "normal" to have dry eyes, dry mouths, etc.  You mean it's NOT normal?!   :o   ;)

Thanks for participating in this poll.

Bucky

Okay, I did my part!

Probably to late to chime in but I am 58 and should have been diagnosed many years ago not 2. I have had the same symptoms all my life but blood work just showed 2 years ago.
Great poll!
Harlin

Wow, such a large range in ages. I had symptoms of several autoimmune diseases including sjogrens around the age of 21 back in 1964. I got diagnosed in 2003. It wasn't because I wasn't trying, believe me!!!! Saw a ton of docs and they just didn't get it. I am now 68 and hard to believe. Usually feel 88 lately but on the days I don't feel so bad I almost faint when I look in the mirror. Can never figure out why my mother is looking back at me. ::) ::) Irish

I hope the fact that there's no one in their 80's just means that that age group isn't too interested in using computers or going to online forums...

The stats look like a bell curve!

I am 65 and was diagnosed at least 15 years ago but had symptoms for at least 10 years prior to that and maybe longer.  Today is a good day but Monday was the pits.
Roger B

This is a survey from 2011 to find out what our members ages are.  We've had so many new members since then, I wanted to add their votes in the survey and see where we stand now.

So, if you are a "newbie" since early 2011 - please cast your vote.  If you have been around the boards for years and never participated . . . there's no time like the present.   ;D   Please cast your vote too.

A reminder - this is your current age . . NOT the age Sjogrens makes you feel!   ;)

Bucky

I am 48, just barely.
Cdbhappy

I'm 35 (36 next month) and was diagnosed a few months ago.  I think I've had most of my symptoms for the last 3-4 years, but the dry tongue has been since I was a kid.  I've never known a time when my tongue wasn't an island in the stream  :o.

I  must say my Sjoggie age is going DOWN with the plaquenil  ;D.  (This is where I'd fill the page with a thumbs up emoticon if we had one!)

i voted! 

Last but not least, I cast my vote a few minutes ago. I am since May of 2012  59 . One last year before turning to the big 60. Well, it means I am still in the game. Sorry I took so long, because I have been here awhile.

susanep :)

diagnosed at 49, had many varying symptoms for about 15 years.
Mish x

I'm 33.  I was diagnosed 7 years ago at age 26.  I've had unusual health problems pretty much my entire life and used to joke that my immune system ran away and hid when under attack.  At nineteen I was diagnosed with Pernicious Anemia and I began to understand that my immune system did something far worse.  I've always been an extremely slow eater and one of my friends joked that I had broken saliva about six months before getting the diagnosis of Sjogren's. 

This is a survey from 2011 to find out what our members ages are.  We've had so many new members since then, I wanted to add their votes in the survey and see where we stand now.

So, if you are a "newbie" since early 2011 - please cast your vote.  If you have been around the boards for years and never participated . . . there's no time like the present.   ;D   Please cast your vote too.

A reminder - this is your current age . . NOT the age Sjogrens makes you feel!   ;)

It looks like the people in their 40's to 50's range are the "majority" . . but, as you can see, Sjogren's can affect anyone, at any age.

Bucky

I'm 49, diagnosed in 2008, but have had Sjogren's for more than 10 years.

68

33 here. I'll be 34 in January.  Have had sjogrens for 2 years now :(

I am 29. I have been showing symptoms for about 10 years.

still waiting for dx.
most people here seems to have had dx in their 30 40
my doctor mothe is 84 and has sjogren.he says that she   is ok,just dry eyes and dry mouth

I'm 53.  Showed SJS sicca symptoms in my mid-20's, but not dx'd till this year.  Progression has been slow, so for  the younger members worried about what will you be like in your 50's, it can be good, life is still good; a little different, but still good.

Well it looks like I am two standard deviations below the mean. I wonder what the curve is going to be? Maybe I should drop out of here before it shows up on my transcripts.









Yeah, I've been in college for far too long. Still, you know what I am getting at if you went to a large public university.

This is an older topic, but we've had so many new members that I wanted to add them to our list to see where the majority of our members fall age wise.  I wanted to keep a running total and not start a new one.

Remember - this is your CURRENT age, not when you developed or were dx'd with Sjogren's.

So, if you are a new member . . or an "oldie" that has never voted on this poll - please cast your vote in the appropriate age bracket for yourself.  (I realize that perhaps some members who voted before have now switched age brackets, that's ok - you can stay where you were.  Now, doesn't that make you feel younger?  ;) )

Bucky

I was just diagnosed this year but have also had documented symptoms for nearly 20 years!  Now, the flares seem to be coming more frequently!  Sure hope to find a good rheumy soon! Am SOOO happy to have found you all! This is a wonderful group to vent to and get advice from!  So much in for in such a short amount of time can be overwhelming!  2011 and 2012 were filled with surgeries and procedures. This year does not look much better...  :-[ .   But, I try my best to enjoy my good days and struggle through my bad ones.  Just happy to have a name for all my pain, finally!

I do not have Sjogrens but my daughter does so I participate in this site for her. She was diagnosed 2 days before her 10th birthday.


Crys

Just turned 60 in Jan.  Have had symptoms for many years now and Rheumy is treating the symptoms.  Currently waiting to see a specialist at Johns Hopkins due to Neuropathy issues and suspected Sjogren's .  I am taking Placquenil.  My Rheumy is the one doing the referral as he had a patient similar to me and she had great success with this same doctor.  It's the not knowing that drives you crazy. :o :o

I will be 45 in a month, started having symptoms when I was in my 20s. 

61

57 years old. Diagnosed with Sjogrens and Lupus 2.2 years ago. Dx of Raynaud's a few years prior.


Duchess

I'm 71

I turn 60 tomorrow-May 16.  Does this mean I will get discounts now? lol...

susanep :)

Susan, discounts started for me at 55. Now the servers do not ask my age. My wife is getting me to flash my AARP card at every hotel we go to.

54

I am 51  yikes!

btw Happy BDAY Susanep!

53

Hi -  :D  I'm going to bump this thread up since we continually have newbies joining daily so we have an idea of the vast range of ages of all of us dealing with Sjogren's.

It seems the "50" yr. old range has the most right now. 

If you are a "newbie" or a long time member who has never voted before, please cast your vote.   :D

Bucky

I am 39.

Well, I'm a newbie here and looking forward to getting lots of information as I have a ton of questions. I was diagnosed right after my 34th birthday. However, I'm sure the Sjogrens had been progressing for at least a few years prior.

Have a great weekend everyone  :)

I am 37, was diagnosed at 34.

We've had many new members join in the past few months, we'd like to have you cast your vote so we can see the wide range of ages of all our members.

Bucky

71, diagnosed by symptoms (sero negative) at 60.

Elaine (aka Carolina)