Hi, Ive been what I think is flaring for a few weeks now. Body pain is back, some fatigue but above all my dryness has increased a lot. My mouth is at least 50% drier now and my eyes are dry which they weren't before.
Could this be a flare and could i return to my previous state of normal or is this disease progression? My glands are also very tingly and tender all of a sudden. What can Ido to feel more normal? I'm scared this is the new me. I could deal with the level of dryness I had before but this is bad. My dryness only started in September 2013 so couldit be progressing? I have been under a lot of stress lately with life.
Thanks for your insights
I've actually been wondering the same thing: do levels of dryness (especially mouth dryness) go up and down as flares start/stop? Is it possible for salivary gland function to improve at times? Or, is it the case that once it's gone--it's gone? My glands are definitely still functioning. They aren't great, but they haven't died off completely.
I just started plaquenil (yesterday actually), and while I know it takes awhile to take effect, wondering if this might lower the inflammation overall and help my dry mouth.
My dryness has waxed and waned, definitely worse in a flare and also slowly but surely progressing. That said we are all different so your experiences may differ.
Welcome sickmama,
I don't know about progress or flare....It seems unlikely that it would progress so fast, but mine came on suddenly and I don't think it's gotten worse over the years.
It is a bit worse during the flare, but the other things are so terrible (fatigue, pain, depression, itching burning skin) that I barely notice the dryness.
I do note that I don't see any RX medication for your dryness: Salagen or Evoxac or their generics.
Perhaps you haven't written them down?
If you aren't taking one, please try one to see how much it can help. We're all different so what works for one may not work for another. But I would be lost without my RX medication.
Hugs, Elaine
Yes!! For me it flares a lot, when it flares I always think that is the new me. My saliva has decreased since all this started but I still have some. When it flares nothing helps.
Thanks for all yoir responses.
Does anyone's eyes get drier during flares? Mine were fine and now they're so dry my contacts almost fall out. This is so depressing.
Will plaquenil help the dryness? I increased to 200 mg out of fear of all this dryness. Should I take more?? Doesn't anything help stop the dryness from progressing???
Ugh.