Hey guys I am a young 16 yr old person who is very active, and enjoys life. However a few days ago I got sick, and vomitted even though I usually dont. I had a easy two day recovery. One morning I was drinking tea when I noticed my mouth was dry. So I was really sad could be diabetes vs sjorgens. I honestly would hate diabetes, but it doesnt so anymore. Also my eyes werent as teary. Though I did manage to cry I feel its reduced. >:( Also I felt tired, but threw it off, and my muscles ache in my calves (unsure why) I am gonna go get it checked out.
Not a sob story but,
I wanted to be happy, was living a healthy life, and now its over. I have school, and have no idea how I will make it. Not only that, but people my age should have fun, and no worries. I cant believe this happened to a young male with the chances. :'( :-\ :(
Its over...
Sorry guys I am going to doctor, but will not be happy since I planned a nice long life. Also I will fail my parents expectations. I cant live life slow, and even enjoy my food. Only 16, and its done. I cant keep up, and worry for my future, as this disease is can be very complicating. If only it was dry mouth. Hope for the best, and I wouldnt be mad if it wasnt for the fact the future is ruined. Ill try to have a good day. Even though my eyes are dry here I am with time ticking till my visit, and a very dissapointing future ahead of me. Autoimmune diseases are the worst. Please end it all. Try to have a good day. :'( :-\ :(
Will I be able to enjoy my myself, and go a long way? ( normal lifespan?) If so I will try to be much more calm in this possible future diagnose. Sorry for self response, but I need to find a way to feel more optimistic.
Hi Xenon and welcome to the forum. :)
You are going much too fast, you haven't even seen the doctor yet! Try to calm down, panicking makes everything worse.
IF it is Sjogrens, it is absolutely not the end of the world. You can start off by treating symptoms individually - eye drops, nasal mist, skin cream, etc., this kind of thing makes a very big difference. You can find lots of help and tips online, including of course on this forum. If you get a diagnosis medication will be offered to you to alleviate symptoms. You may have to pace yourself in your activities, but it is highly unlikely you will be unable to do anything you enjoy. And there is ongoing research looking into possible remedies, so for someone of your young age there is a much better chance of a breakthrough in treatment.
Let us know how you get on at the doctor's.
Hi, araminta I will be sure to update you on it, and other people who I figure might lurk im these forums to benefit. Thank you my friend. Once I visit the doctor I will make update post as soon as possible. Till then!!! ::)
Also my profile says female. Idk why must be accidental.
I do not know what is going on with you. The one thing I will tell you is to not go into the doctor and tell him that you have Sjogrens. Doctors do not like patients to tell them what is wrong disease wise. Fist off you will have to tell the doctor the symptoms such as pain, where you hurt, dryness, etc. Answer questions and have the blood work and testing. You can tell the doc that you are concerned about auto immune issues and let him figure things out. After you get the first visit and the testing done you will know where you stand and where to go from there.
The one thing I am wondering about is if you have insurance through your folks. I don't know what they(parents or doctors) would do about the medical testing without insurance. Something to be investigated. Then, because you are a minor you will need to have a parent go along with you as this is something more than a upper respiratory infection and there are regulations regarding the care of people who are not of legal age.
I don't know how you latched onto the information about this disease but find it interesting. Many of us have suffered from health issues below the age of 20 but generally have not sought treatment nor identified our diagnosis this early on. You would be wise to slow down and converse with your parents or another adult who is a legal guardian., etc. Good luck. Irish ( I am a grandma)
Autoimmune diseases are the worst. Please end it all. Try to have a good day. :'( :-\ :(
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You might have sjogren's based on? so we are supposed to end it all and try to have a good day. Ok, What am I missing here?
Yeah man what I'm trying to say is it is really a way to put trouble into your daily life. And I wish I would not have the symptoms. I am don't dxed, but have dry mouth and eyes which I hope with all my might it's not sjorgens. Its just a bother young people, or people at the start of their lives to possibly experience. Just wish it did not exist. And try to have a calm day even though it's hard for anxious people like me. Maybe I worded it hard, but that is my general point I am trying to portray. Sorry if it's hard to understand.
I would never wish anyone to have sjogren's. I certainly would not tell anyone to end it all. Perhaps you are so worried you worded things so it was confusing to me, but I do think a complete check up plus as Irish said talk to your parents or guardian. Whatever is going on I hope you find the answer soon and someone to help and yes this board would be quite helpful if you have sjogren's though you might want to try to find others in your age group as well.
Now, in case I worded things wrong, which is highly possible as I'm in a flare, I will let others answer any further questions you might have. Take care and may you have your answers soon.
Hi Xenon
You do not know what is going on right now so take a break and put this concern aside and see if your doctor can take care of your symptoms. You really may not have this syndrome at all. Even so SJS is often very mild and with medication and living a healthy lifestyle patients can get along just fine. It does not shorten your lifespan. Have you heard of Venus Williams...the world class tennis player???? She has SJS. She started treatment and is back on the circuit.
Please note that the people who are posting on this site are typically those with more difficult symptoms. The vast majority go on and live their lives just fine. You will too, once you and your parents know what you have.
The best thing you can do is talk to your parents about how you feel. And start making notes on paper(yes) paper...about your symptoms and when they occur and bring that with you to the doctor. He/she will thank you for ALOT for doing that.
Xenon, I have only recently been diagnosed with Sjogren's after suffering from health issues and horrific anxiety since my teens. I'm 37.
I have a very good life and anticipate many more years (a normal lifespan) of happiness. I am strong and active. I have been told by my doctors that I am among their fitter patients. I dance. I enjoy good food. I have lived abroad and travelled, and expect to continue to do so in the future. I have earned more than one graduate degree.
I have not disappointed my parents.
I have a wonderful marriage.
Discovering that I have an autoimmune illness has been freeing, because now I understand why things seemed to be harder for me than they should be. I anticipate some annoyances in the future due to having Sjogren's, but overall things are looking good.
Try not to catastrophize. Talk to your parents and go to the doctor. Remember that almost everyone has some kind of problem that they are dealing with (though not everyone talks about it).
Thank you all! So idk whether I have it, or not, but when u do have it does the dry mouth fix itselt, and will my eyes be fine? :o
Whether you have it or not. An eye doctor (MD) can prescribe ?Restasis? which is a twice a day (morning and night) eye drop that helps many people a great deal. I no longer have to use eye drops during the day. Recently another drug came out which does the same thing but I have never used it. Also....wind in your eyes is drying. Where sun glasses if you are outside in breezy weather. You do not have to have bad vision to go to an opthamologist and have your dry eyes looked at.
For the dry mouth you can help yourself by 1. drinking water more 2. using Biotene toothpaste (normal toothpaste is drying and harsh), keeping up with brushing and flossing, and there is Biotin gel that you can use right before bedtime to help keep your mouth better. There are other products in the pharmacy for dry mouth as well .. All of these do not need a prescription from a doctor. You can get a prescription for one of two medicines that you take 2 or 3 times a day (think morning , lunch and bedtime)...although I only take twice a day...morning and night. The one I take is Evoxac and it helps a great deal. It encourages your body to make secretions...of which saliva is one. If you respond too strongly to it you can perspire more than you would like...so take one fewer.
Share this with your mom and dad.
You should just talk this over with your mom and dad. It will work out, Your parents should be in charge.
Hi Xenon. I'm a male who had dry eyes issues in my 20s and was diagnosed when more symptoms occurred in my early 30s. Not as young as you, but I can relate to your frustration.
First, as others have noted, you should be tested for Sjogren's Syndrome. There are other conditions that can cause similar dryness symptoms, so you will want to rule them out. SS in men is poorly studied, and I believe more difficult to diagnose. First, because doctors may brush it off as something that only older women get (my first rheumatologist took this stance). Second, because many of the men I have spoken with seem to be seronegative (negative tests for SS antibodies). Make sure you find a doctor who is knowledgable and willing to take your concerns seriously.
If you do have SS, you will go through a grieving process. Most of us have traveled through the 5 stages of grief due to our condition. It is unfair that you have to deal with potentially serious symptoms at such a young age, but we only have so much control. While I am sure you are extremely stressed and anxious at this point, try to relax as much as you can, as increased stress will likely make your symptoms worse. Eventually, you will be able to build a lifestyle around your own capabilities, and find treatments that work for you.
SS isn't the end of your life. I have my own treatment protocol, which has allowed me to live a fairly normal life. Many of my days are an 8 out of 10, and I can do most activities that I enjoy as long as I pace myself. Being young means that many additional treatments will be available in your lifetime. The clinical trial pipeline for SS treatments over the next 5-7 years is very promising.
You may not actually have SS, but even if you do, you should be able to lead a fairly normal life with the promise of improved treatments on the horizon.
Ok, so still not tested, but in a case of mgd. Is there a way I can prevent infections and have a normal vision? I am really sad I cant get lasik anymore so I need to know what I can do for my eyes. I have glasses, but I want to protect my eyes from dryness. And there better treatment breakthroughs in the next few years as I will NOT let anything stop me.
Hi, Xenon!
I was diagnosed with Sjogren's in 2013 after months of extreme hoarseness. You have received excellent advice by everyone! I urge you to relax and talk with your parents.
Did you only notice the dryness and aching calves after your vomiting illness? Dehydration will cause those symptoms as well, and it might be that you need to rehydrate.
Edited to add: My hoarseness has greatly improved and is only rarely noticeable!
The dryness in my mouth has been for a coupke days now, and idk really. As the aching its newer, but I hope it goes awa6, and I beg for the dryness not to be because of sjorgend. It makes no sense, but I hope I dont have to deal with any autoimmune disease. I have been really healthy, and what are the chances!? Either way I will relax, and figure things out. Whether I have it, or not thanks guys its calming as in the moment Im tensed up.
I don't know how long you have had the symptoms you complain of but it hasn't been that long I take it. I have to tell you that it does no good to worry about something that you have no control over. If this is truly a problem then you need to talk with your parents and get to the doctor.
The people on this site have been telling you the information that you need and we are waiting on some news that shows that you are taking us seriously. You do not speak of any adult that you are confiding in. Also, how has school been going for you these days. Good luck now. Irish
Try not to fret! one step at a time. Try to get diagnoses confirmation and go from there. My SS started in my early teens (Im 53 now),
but my symptoms were manageable...I was very active, though I had to push myself harder than anyone else. Try to get as much sleep as possible, and try to limit stress. I was placed on Plaquenil and it really helped. Also, if you dont like your doctor, find one who will help you.
Good luck sweetie
Gursie