Mississippi

[BUSYLIZZY]

Shade,  good luck with your Neuro Dr.  I guess this is the next step on the Sjogrens ladder.  Are we going up the ladder or down? 

Second day of ClonazePam.  Seems to be pretty good.  They say it takes about a week to show imporvements in nervousness, but I actually see some in the first two doses.  I really don't think I need too strong a med.  I personally don't want to take too much.  Everything has a side effect.

Neurologist wants to try me on Savella in about two weeks.  After reading all the info on it, I am a bit scared. 

Get my "needle shock" test next Wednesday.  I will let you know how it went. 

BUSYLIZZY

[Mellie]

Hey   I'm near Meridian.  Send me a message when you get this.  I'm kind of a slacker about checking this website though.  Would love to talk to the MS/AL people sometime.  Take care

[sharron]

Hi Bizzy Lizzy!!!

I live in AMory, MS (northeast, close to TUpelo)  I was diagnosed last week!!! I love my rheumatologist! Dr Charles King in Tupelo......he is great  -  he is a leading rheumatologist!!!!  -  diagnosed me in two weeks.....took LOTS  of blood , etc  - had a terrible rash all over....
He started me on 200 mg plaquenil 2x/day and 5 mg prednisone daily  for two months to try to clear up rash..
i actually feel very good and have not had the problems i see everyone else with this disease has...i do have some aches and pains in my ankles and wrists, but tylenol takes care of that.....little dry eye and mouth, but not major.......i think being diagnosed soooo early in this is the key , rash started in April and dermatologist did biopsy and sent me to Rheumatologist because he (derm) suspected lupus......

I do get tired, but i am 57 years old and do not exercise as i should so i think that is to be expected!!!!! lol....I am on facebook  and my email should be on the board, so feel free to contact me anytime!!! 

Hope you do well!!!!!!!!

[Meld256]

Hi sharron,

Allow me to welcome you to the forum!    I think you'll find loads of great info. here and lots of friendly people.

I'm glad to hear you have some minor symptoms, and that you were diagnosed so quickly.  Sounds as if that good rheumatologist took action right away, and as you say, that can be very important.

Just a FYI, you may want to start your own "topic" and introduce yourself on the "Social Hour" section here; you should get many more people who can find you and also welcome you.
Again, welcome.  Feel free to post away with any comments or concerns you might have. We're sort of like a big family who keeps adding members.

Looking forward to hearing more from you,
Melinda

[TripleC]

  Has anyone else tried the disposable blank contact lenses  that BUSY LIZZY describes in post #1 ?  She puts Restasis in each one and wears during the day ?   This sounds kinda of interesting ?

[michelelavigne]

Raymond, MS here. I've been diagnosed with sjogrens for about 10 years. have a great rheumatoligist in Jackson. 

[muffy12]

I am new to the message board & I'm from Mississippi.  There is a support group in Memphis Tenn. & I plan on trying to go to that meeting soon.  I have all the symptoms that I've read about on this board.  The dry issue, pain, nervousness, gall bladder removed thyroid removed, appendix removed, weight loss...you name it I've had it.  Hate to say it but I'm about to give up on trying to work.

[Joe S.]

Muffy12, I know it is hard to give up work. I had to do that for about two years before I got disability from the VA. When I got disability it was not from Sjogren's.

While I am glad that you found us, I do not like it that anyone else should have to deal with this health challenge. I am more frustrated when I see younger people with this illness understanding that there is so little that is being done to help us. I believe that the medical model for Auto Immune disease is wrong. I use alternative therapy because of bad reactions to Plaq and MTX.

Sjogrens: Dry eyes, dry sinuses, dry mouth, dry skin, and dry bum.

You may or may not be faced with other health challenges related to this disease that the doctors do not tell you about. Auto Immune (AI) diseases love to bring their friends. If you have one, eventually you will have more than one.

I like also suggest that people with AI diseases read Spoon Theory on the web. It helps to explain how our lives have changed and helps us understand how we can manage the changes to our lives.
http://butyoudontlooksick.com/navigation/BYDLS-TheSpoonTheory.pdf

1. Do not Panic: Anxiety can make your symptoms worse. I suggest that you read and practice the exercises in the book Feeling Good by David Burns. The book is on Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT). It has information on dealing with depression, grief and other mental health issues that you may face in living and managing this disease.

2. Breathe: For as long as you live always remember to breath. When we are in pain, our muscles go into a splinting action. I know that it is hard but we must remember to breathe through the pain.

3. Meditate: Meditation can help you deal with pain and symptoms. When you can do it for 15 minutes you will be at that stage. Here is a very easy meditation technique that will help you as it has helped me. Find a safe comfortable position and close your eyes. With your eyes closed, look to the top of your forehead. As you breathe in, think I am as you breathe out, think calm. Repeat as needed. Meditation can be as good as sleep.

With Sjogrens we tend to have a lot of infections so wear your polar fleece mumps scarf to bed. This will help your body to fight these infections. This link will help with the gland issues: http://www.chakraforce.com/Tonations.html#228.

Omega3, D3, C, Multivitamin, Probiotics seem to provide general support to our bodies when we are facing AI diseases. I like to add an 8oz glass of carrot juice every day to help my body generate endorphins.

I take what I call the Fabulous Five supplements and I wish I had known about them when I got my first AI disease. They are Alpha or R Lipoic Acid, Acetyl-L-Carnitine, Biotin, PQQ, and Co-Q10. As with any drug or supplement, do your own research and consult with your healthcare professional.

Sip-Swish-Swallow are the three Ss of Sjogrens.

[grammad97]

Hi BusyLizzy-
Welcome. I apologize for the late welcome.  You will find while many of us are quite active here on the site we may disappear at times for a short while ...usually a flare or complication of some sort.
I am not near you but it looks like a few folks in your neck of the woods have joined in to connect with you.
I am out West but am available to anyone to listen and/or compare notes too.
Enjoy checking the forum out and learning about us and getting the information or answers you seek.
I took Cymbalta for a week. Felt like I was walking through mud up to my neck and made me agitated too.
We all react so differently to medicine.
Take care.
Grammad (Deb)