Newbie

[Tammypolo]

Hi, I just joined today. After a year of being monitored by a rheumatologist, he finally has decided that I have Sjogren's.  I'm married and in my mid forties with two  teenagers.
I have lots of aches and pains and sometimes really weird stuff. Thankful to find this site since there isn't a whole lot of stuff out there! Nice to meet everyone.

[JannaLee]

Oh Tammy,

I'm sorry you have Sjogren's Syndrome but delighted to make your acquaintance!

I am 47 and have 2 sons.  They are both pretty much grown.  My youngest will graduate from college in May.

Where did the time go?  I was a young bride just the other day!

Please share as much as you feel comfortable with.  I'm interested to hear about the "weird stuff" you mentioned.

Best to you,
Janna

[lynnmarie219]

Hi Tammy and welcome to Sjogrens World!

I'm glad that you found us and introduced yourself here although I'm sorry for the reason we had to meet!

Please feel free to read all you want to...there is so much information, not to mention support and friendship to be found...so make yourself at home and jump on in  whenever and whereever you feel comfortable....and if you have any questions...go ahead and ask...someone will always try to jump in and help out!

[Scottietottie]

Hi Tammy 

Welcome to Sjogren's world. Well - now you've got the diagnoses, what is your doc doing about it? Have you been put on Plaquenil or steroids? Do you have eye drops, meds to stimulate saliva and pain killers? Some of the aches and pains can be considerably reduced!

Hope you find the site useful.

Take care - Scottie 

[Linda196]

Hi Tammy, welcome from me, too.

[Chickpea]

Hi Tammy

I'm glad you've found us - welcome!

Have your symptoms been developing for a long time or was it a sudden thing?  Do you have good days/bad days or long periods with lots of symptoms?

I hope your rheumatologist has designed a good care plan for you.  Have you started on Plaquenil which is the 'gold standard' treatment for SjS?  One of the - many - wonderful things about this site is that you can ask questions about new meds and people share really helpful hints about how to adjust to them, cope with side effects etc.  Are you on pain meds too?  Or steroids?

Everyone wants to know about the 'weird stuff' you mentioned!  There's lots of it about but we all have different combinations of symptoms so there's always someone ready to help.

Take care - Chickpea

[Tammypolo]

Hi everyone.  Please let me answer o few of your questions.  I guess this has been coming on for while-maybe a couple of years.  I started getting things like shingles and having trouble with really bad menstrual pain-I had an uterine ablation for fibroids and thick endometrial lining.  I've had back pain that nobody seems to be able to diagnosis- the family dr. thinks it's fybromyalia. One of the weirdest thing was tiny little calcium deposits floating in my inner ear making my whole world spin!
Besides the Sjogren's, I have osteoarthritis mostly in my hands, wrists, feet and neck.  I also have lazy thyroid and depression. The rheumatologist is checking me for a pinched nerve in my neck.

The doctor has me on hydroxychloroquine, cymbalta, levoxl(thyroid) and celebrex or etodolac. Sometimes the meds mess up my digestive system. So far, I've been able to use over the counter stuff for my eyes and mouth but my fillings keep messing up and cracking my teeth.  The eye plugs make me itch and I rub them out.

My boys are getting big too. One is getting ready to start college and the other only has two years to go before he's out of High School. They're both taller than me. They were so cute when they were babies-easier too!
Thanks for the warm welcome everyone!

[Patze]

Hi Tammy,

Let me also welcome you to the SJS World!  Like the others have said, please do look around as there are tons of topics that you might find interesting.

Like some other members, I too have fibro, Hashimoto's, Raynaud's among other things, so I too can understand your frustration.

I so understand the cracking teeth, BTDT!   I have just finished rebuilding my mouth for the second and last time; it's just so darn expensive!  Do you have a dentist that is familiar with SJS?

Hang in there and take care -

Patze

[kimbo]

Hi Tammy,

Your journey of SJS sounds very familiar.

So glad you found us.

You will find a great group of sjoggies in this forum full of information and encouragements.

Welcome and blessings, kimbo