Any link between Sjogren's and stress?

[Mountain]

I have lupus and Sjogren's, with my lupus symptoms being the same as you might find in Sjogren's.  So as well as the dryness, I get fatigue and sore muscles and joints, and some skin rashes.

I've had a year of part time work whilst my treatment was being tweaked to bring the diseases under control.  I returned to work full time in January.  I genuinely feel that the workload I've had since then, and lack of support from my boss, have been unacceptable.

I left work in tears on thursday after a really stressful week.  I've got to go in tomorrow, and have a meeting schedules with my boss's boss on Wednesday to try to resolve.

What I wondered is if there is any link between having Sjogren's (or maybe lupus) and being more susceptible to stress?  So what I'm wondering is, is it he work, or is it me?

Any ideas?

[LizM]

I believe that the stress in my work life makes my Sjogren's/Lupus symptoms worse.  During the weekends when I am doing my normal weekend routine, I feel so much better that I do all week long. 

Liz

[Joe S.]

I believe that stress will trigger flairs and can lower the functional capabilities of your immune system. If my anecdotal evidence accounts for anything, that sounds like a link to me.

[ottawagirl]

Hi Mountain.

The exact same thing happened to me this past week.  I left work in tears and felt completely incapable of doing a job I've been doing for years.  I wasn't feeling very good to begin with and the stress factor was just too much, I lost it!  I know how you feel and I firmly believe that stress impacts AI patients significantly.  Before I was sick, I could deal with stress just fine, unfortunately, that has changed and I don't know what I'm going to do about my work situation.

I am the same as LizM in that on the weekends, I feel much better.

Wishing all of us stress free lives!!!

[cremer]

Stress defintely makes Sjogrens worse.

I'm going for a triple heart bypass the first week in Feb and I'm worrying lots about it. Hence I've come out in mouth ulcers, cold sores and swollen lymph glands.

[Mountain]

Thanks all for your replies.

Ottawagirl I'm so sorry you're going through the same thing.  It's awful isn't it?  I hope you find a way to resolve. 

It's comforting to know that it could be the Sjogren's playing a part, and not just me suddenly being totally useless and unable to cope! 

What to do about it..............

[ottawagirl]

Yes Mountain, it is awful.  In my opinion, it's the sjogren's!  I get brain fog too, which doesn't help.  I hope you find a way to resolve your situation too.

My GP has given me a few suggestions, including working from home one day a week or possibly working part-time instead of full-time.  I don't think we can afford that though, we'll see.  I work from 7:00 to 3:00, so she also suggested changing my hours so that I can get a little more sleep.  I have a lot to think about, including contacting our Employee Assistance Program for some counselling too.

Cremer, the mouth ulcers and swollen glands are a huge indicator for me too.  Man, they hurt.

[JannaLee]

Mountain,

I agree that stress aggravates Sjs/Lupus.  It certainly can trigger a flare.

On the other side.  Sjs/Lupus can be the cause of anxiety and depression.  You might want to discuss this with your doctor.


Wishing you the best,
Janna

[lynnmarie219]

I agree that stress can definitely aggravate our autoimmune symptoms....then when our symptoms are aggravated and we hurt more...it causes more stress in our lives...it's a vicious circle sometimes...but you are definatley not alone.

Hang in there...

[CAT1962]

From what I have read, SjS flares can be brought on by stress, and SjS ITSELF can be brought by it, or some traumatic event...Mine, I do believe was brought on by my father's lung cancer DX in 2004.

[valene2009]

i had to quit working-i dont miss it.. still havent been approved for ssd as i am 36.. it is in the appeal process now.. i am lucky to have long term disability through work until the end of march ..after that i am lucky to have a supportive family..

my job def made my sjogrens out of control.  i was always so so sick.. even now i get stressed and i get flare ups.when i worked i was almost always in a flare and even xanax couldnt help