Having a hard time breathing yesterday and today. Have to take really deep breathes to feel like I'm getting any oxygen. Is that a Sjogren's thing? It's happened before, but I thought it meant I was allergic to walnuts, but no walnuts today.
The wrist on the arm/hand that was colder than the other yesterday is sore today. I was negative on the RA factor when I got tested for Sjogren's.
Whether it's a Sjogren's thing or not is not important right now. if you are SOB then you need to get to a doctor. Then it can be determine what is the cause.
Sorry to be so short, but these are the types of things that need immediate attention. Nobody can tell you it's a sjogren's thing via a forum. Yes some here may have pulmonary problems from sjogren's but that doesn't tell you what YOUR breathing issue is. Call your doctor or go to an ER.
I agree with Lauralou, whether it's Sjogren's or not, if you are short of breath, you should be seen by a doctor ASAP.
I agree you need to get it checked out asap.
That being said, a few websites say that SOB can be related to sjs. I get what I call "oxygen hunger" frequently, sometimes extreme. The dr did a chest xray and then basically dismissed it so I just live with it. :(
Hi :)
I've suffered this a couple of times. Once it went on for about 4 months. Chest x-ray clear. Lung function measured fine. Turned out I had granular thrush that went right down the esophagus. When it was treated the 'air hunger' feeling went away. Just a thought.
Take care - Scottie :)
I have asthma and have SOB, but you should ALWAYS consult your Dr ASAP when you have trouble breathing at all. Better safe than sorry! Let us know! :)
I've had this before. I let my boyfriend know, he works in the rheumatologist's office. I checked my bp in our wellness room at work and it text book as usual too. Exept for when it drops like it did a few minutes ago after I'd been sitting down for a while. That gets a little scary when I'm alone at home with my son.
"Oxygen hunger" is a good term, I'd never heard of that before.
Time to kick back for the night and try to relax a little. Or go to bed really early again. ;D
Thank you everyone!
If you have had it before, you need to let the Rheumy or a doctor know...
lauralou, Have you had generalized body weakness or any weakness in your arms and legs that gets better when you lay down and rest. How about droopy eyelids or problems swallowing or swallowing food up into your nose???
There is an autoimmune neuromuscular disorder called Myasthenia gravis that can cause these isses. It can also cause shortness of breath. The shortness of breath is caused by the paralysis of the diaphram that results in the inability to breath.
I had that in a more mild form. I told the docs that I would feel like I was going to stop breathing---nobody listened and told me it was asthma. Not---it was the myasthenia that was diagnosed several years ago.
Ask your docs to check your blood for positive acetylcholine receptors and also the antistriated muscle antibodies. You acetylcholine can be negative and you can still have the myasthenia. Let us know how you come out. Do not ignore this symptom as it could be dangerous for you. Irish ;D
I should mention this to my Dr... Ugh I just can't remember everything. I get like this, have a hard time breathing and sometimes it scares the heck outa me. So looked it up (Myasthenia gravis) I also get the drooling which I thought was odd with Sjogrens, and have a hard time swallowing and choke sometimes but not very often (Thank god!)
I have to pay more attention to see if my drooling and choking etc. happen around the same time. I did mention the shortness of breath to my rheumy but with having heart issues I wasn't sure if that was it or not. Ugh so many darn problems. I just need a new body! ;D
I've added the muscle weakness and SOB to my list of ailments for when I finally get to the rheumatologist. I hadn't heard of myasthenia before. The muscle weakness just started the other night. It was just in my legs, this morning muscles all over my body felt so tired. I've noticed weakness in my arms especially at work since I have to carry big files and stacks of paper. But I've learned to only take what I can. Incase the papers are in a specific order. That would turn into a bad day in our office to drop a stack of sorted, unlabeled papers. lol
Yes having it checked out is the only way to know for sure. I hAve had it also.
susanep :)
Laralou, You need to get it checked out. Honestly, there is just WAY too many things that can cause SOB, it is just too hard to tell. I had it for so long and I went to see a cardio, had my lungs checked, all the usual things you'd think and it turned out that it is now thought to be caused by my anemia. Yes, even anemia can cause SOB so you should get it checked out soon because it could be anything.
I agree that you should see your doctor.
Breathing issues such as air hunger, dry lungs, etc. can definitely be from Sjogren's. My lung issues (air hunger, the wheeze, and occasional bouts of pleurisy) have all cleared up since my thyroid levels have been adjusted and my Sjogren's has been somewhat calmed by plaquenil.
Before I was diagnosed with anything, my doctor said my air hunger and wheezing were because of "exercise induced asthma" even though all tests showed my lung functions were fine. He gave me Advair, which helped, but I now realize it worked because it's a corticosteroid, and it calmed the autoimmune processes in my body that were really behind the problem.
Definition of dyspnea: http://www.sjogrens.org/home/about-sjogrens-syndrome/glossary
Also interesting: "A review of 343 patients with classic Sjogren's syndrome seen at the Mayo Clinic from 1967 through 1974 revealed pulmonary involvement in 31 patients (9 percent). Cough dyspnea, recurrent pneumonitis, and pleuritic pain were the primary complaints." (http://www.uptodate.com/online/content/abstract.do?topicKey=~N/6/GuLQa27_Q1N&refNum=4-11)
I hope you get some answers from your doctor. I agree that "air hunger" is a good description. I get that more often that I'd like too. It's scary.
I didn't go through testing (just too expensive) but my rheummy did listen to my chest and check me out a bit at my last visit. His opinion: 1) either dryness that make me so "aware" of my own breathing that I over-think it; or 2) mini panic attacks that make me feel like I can't get enough air; or 3) a combination of bad posture, lack of exercise & overall dryness. *shrug* Who knows...
His suggestion was deep breathing exercises to increase lung function (there are website online with instructions), keeping hydrated, and something like yoga or tai chi that expands the chest cavity.
Must confess...I'm still just sitting on my a** and haven't done any of them yet! (blush)
Deb