questions for newbie

[romalo]

After having several symptoms, an elevated ESR - 42 & RF - 72, tested positive for SSA at 8.  Is this a positive diagnosis?  Just told of bloodwork on Friday, and don't know when I can get in to the recommended Rheumotologist, and have tons of questions.  I have extremely dry mouth and gritty eyes, and w/i last few weeks stiff and painful joints.  My ANA was negative, and SSB negative.  WBC and RBC all at the very bottom of normal or below normal.  Does this sound like Sjogrens?  Any help on what you use for the mouth/eyes is greatly appreciated.  Also, have awful rash on my neck into my scal .  Is this a common symptom? My lymph nodes on neck have been enlarged. That is why I went in, in the first place, and am concerned with lymphoma. 
Thanks for reading and any help!

[romalo]

forgot to mention c-reactive protein was .10  w/i normal limits, and immunoglobulin M was 71, w/i normal. Only other bloodwork outside of normal was MCH which was high, and the smear showed large cells, macrocytosis w/o anemia

[Scottietottie]

Hi Romalo 

Welcome to Sjogren's world. I'm not medical and so I can't give you a definitive answer to your questions. I would hazard a guess that with the symptoms you have and the positive SSA, you probably have Sjogren's. Your next step is to see a rheumatologist as they will be able to assess you and to prescribe meds that can slow the progress of SjS and alleviate symptoms. Usually Sjogren's progresses very slowly anyway and many of us lead pretty normal lives with it. It's interminable rather than terminal.

Different people find that different eyedrops/artificial tears help them. We don't all go for the same 'make'. Biotene products can be helpful with the dry mouth. I find ginger and lemon infusion is good for stimulating saliva. Sucking sugar free candy is another way to help and Biotene make a gum.

I hope you find the site useful.

Take care - Scottie 

[romalo]

Thank you Scottie, your info seems encouraging.  It certainly seems to have some scary possibilities.  What type of meds slow the progression? I am not sure what you mean with the ginger and lemon infusion... where do you get those?  The ginger in the produce, or something else?  Thanks so much!

[Bucky]

Hi Romalo - welcome from me too.

The search box located at the top left of this page is helpful for reading previous posts about various subjects - i.e. products people use, plaquenil (usually one of the recommended medicines prescribed for Sjogren's), mouth and eye dryness, fatique, etc.  As Scottie said, Sjogren's presents differently for each person - some have very few symptoms, others quite a few.

Again welcome . . I hope you find this forum useful and helpful to you.

Bucky

[Scottietottie]

Hi Romalo 

In the UK, Twinings make a lemon/ginger infusion. I thought it was tea until I read the label more carefully and there isn't actually tea in it. Maybe there could be something similar in a tea/coffee aisle in a supermarket. Or it may be next to camomile tea and stuff like that.

I was put on Plaquenil to slow progression. I've been on it for 6 years now and my blood tests have pretty well gone back to normal.

Take care - Scottie 

[lynnmarie219]

Hi Romalo and Welcome to Sjogrens World!

As has been mentioned...we can not say for sure if you have sjogrens...only a good rheumy will be able to help with that but some of your symptoms sure sound familiar!

Preservative free eye drops are helpful for most of us with dry eyes although there are so many kinds it's almost a trial and error to see what brands we like the best. Can your eye doc give you some samples to try of different brands? That way you don't have to spend a lot of money on ones that don't help you as much.

Sipping water, sugar free gum and candy (anything sour), mouth sprays, biotene products ( I like the mouthwash and toothpaste) may be able to help with the dry mouth.

Also as Bucky mentioned...try putting "dry eyes" and "dry mouth" in the search box above and I'm sure you will find a lot more suggestions!

Welcome!!

[Patze]

Hi Romalo, and let me also welcome you to the SJS World and family!  I also hope that you find this site informative and friendly as well.

Take care of yourself -

Patze