Mouth symptoms return: allergies, virus, something else?

[deeindiana]

My mouth symptoms (dryness, severe burning tongue & roof of mouth, sores, difficulty swallowing) almost completely disappeared about a month ago after a 14-day dose of Keflex. When I asked my rheumy why, he said that about 25% of the time antibiotics can reduce the inflammation and your symptoms - or, that I might have had a virus that mimicked the mouth symptoms of SS -- or, the timing could just have been a coincidence.

So, I've enjoyed a month of feeling almost "normal". It was such a relief to shove the fear into the back of my mind for awhile. Ya know?

Right now, I've got a horrible cold. Three days ago, I sat on our front porch for several hours reading: it was very windy and Indiana is at the height of ragweed, pollen, crop dust season. That evening, I had two stys in my eyes and my mouth was very dry. By morning, all of my original mouth symptoms (top paragraph) had returned with a vengeance. Now I'm right back where I started and so miserable.

Could this cold be a virus similar to what my rheumy had described above? Should I ask for another dose of Keflex?
Could this cold actually be allergies instead, and sitting outside aggravated it? I'm leery of over-the-counter allergy medicines - they make my heart race. But should I try one?

A week ago my rheumy gave me an RX for Plaquenil 200mg but I haven't started it yet. He gave me Zoloft, Restatis, Salagen and Plaquenil and I was afraid to start them all at once. So I began with the Zoloft and was going to continue adding one every couple weeks. Should I hurry and start the Plaquenil? I'm scared of the side effects.

Sigh...I should be grateful and feel blessed for the one month break from pain and fear. But man...it almost made the return of the symptoms even worse.
Deb

[cmclien]

Hi,
I can't speak for the allergies causing a burning tongue, mouth sores, styes?  doesn't sound allergic though, have you been tested for allergies?  I would expect other symptoms, congestion, runny nose, cough etc for allergies but I'm sure others can answer on their thoughts as I don't have the mouth symptoms, only a dry throat.

But I just wanted to let you know I've now been on the plaquenil for 3 weeks.  I still am taking only 1/2 of a 200mg pill.  The only side effect I personally am experiencing is some stomach upset but it kinda comes in waves and not right after I take it.  If I take it in the morning (btw take it with a good size meal), I'm fine until about 4pm or so and then the only thing I get now is a wave or two of a spasm, hard to describe but its like when you have a bug and you get those spasms in your lower GI.  They pass and nothing really comes from them.  I will start taking the full pill once those pass, hopefully by a month.  The first few days a little nausea but no other symptoms for me. 
I know you started the zoloft which can be constipating, the plaquenil has the opposite effect which will be a good balancer!
Cindi

[cmclien]

P.S. If your eyes are bad, start the restasis, it won't interfere with any of your other oral medicines, very little is ingested and it is locally absorbed.  It takes a while to work too like alot of them.  I swear I was on it for months or longer but then eventually my eyes quit hurting so much and now I've been on it for about 7 years.

[deeindiana]

Thanks cmclien. I was hoping to hear about the effects of starting Plaquenil from some folks. It's reassuring to hear that you haven't noticed anything too weird yet. Are you feeling any help from the medicine yet? How high will your dose get?

I DO have a stuffed nose, coughing, post nasal drip. I thought it was a cold but now I'm wondering if it's an allergy. I've never been tested for allergies and - gag! - I hate the thought of going to another doctor. That's why I wondered if an over-the-counter might give me a clue if that could be part of the problem.

[cmclien]

You could try an antihistamine, a light one like claritin, maybe without the Decongestant if they make your heart race.  It comes in both forumulas.  Take it for a few days and see if you feel a little better.  There is zyrtek too but it is more intense, would probably cause more dryness though it probably works better too.

BTW, I had all those symptoms too (post nasal drip, congestion, runny nose).  I went in for allergy testing and was told I have vasomotor rhinitis or non-allergic rhinitis (which lots of SJS people have) caused by air temperature, fumes, or in otherwords external stimuli but not allergy induced (histamine).  I use nasonex nose spray and take one mucinex-d every day.  Its drying, but if you take it everyday it seems less so and the mucinex helps offset that.  Taking only one allows me to breathe, keeps me from getting sinus infections and keeps things thinned out.  Claritin and zyrtek don't work for me becuz its not allergies.  That might tell you something in itself.

I'm supposed to be taking 200mg of the plaquenil, or a full pill.  I'm just taking my sweet time.  Is it working?  I don't know, I never thought I had a dry mouth but I find I'm salivating over peanut butter and stuff which I never used to do and I haven't woken up in the middle of the night with a coughing attack since I started it.  I haven't noticed anything with my eyes yet.   Maybe ironically or not, my IC/PBS is quite a bit improved.  There is theory out there that is autoimmune also (inflammation of the bladder).  My joint stiffness which was minor seems better too now that I am reflecting on it.  I haven't taken an aleve in weeks.

[deeindiana]

cmclien  - I'm so glad to hear that you think the plaquenil is starting to improve somethings for you. That is wonderful! We all deserve some glimmers of hope and improvement. You've inspired me to be brave a start my RX. But I'm also going to take your advice and start slooooow! Thanks!

I had never taken mucinex before but tried it when my maybe-its-a-cold started. I stopped it when the mouth burning hit because I thought it might be to blame. Perhaps I shouldn't have stopped so soon. Guess I need to just experiment with some things and see if I can find some relief. If I don't, I may call the doctor and ask to try another dose of the Keflex to see if it helps again or if it was just a fluke.
Deb