flare???

[lori]

been on evoxac twice a day for a while and doing good- then about three days ago noticed really chapped dry lips- then today feel very dry in mouth- so took an extra evoxax- the script is for 3 times a day but ive gotten by quite nicely on two-

also the tops of shoulders are killing me and my knees and legs feel terribly heavy and sore. hands hurt as always..

is this a flare and if so whats the best thing to do in one? is it common for the mouth issues to change? or am I now stuck forever this dry???

lori

[DragonflyC]

It could be a flare.  They are different for everyone, but they usually mean an increase in the intensity of your symptoms.

Can you tolerate a low dose of prednisone?  My rheum always puts me on 5-10 mg a day for two weeks or so.  That tends to get me back on track.

That said, Sjogren's is a progressive disease.  I went from taking evoxac a few times a week to taking it twice a day to now needing it three times a day.  C'est la vie.  Plaquenil has seemed to keep my other symptoms in check, though.  My fatigue and arthritis are constants, but they only slow me down when I have a flare and they get to be too much for me.  So far, prednisone has done the trick every time.  It doesn't work for everyone, but I've found it very helpful.

[Carolina]

I've found that when one thing gets worse, everything just piles on.

I guess that's a flare.

And getting a few things under control is often the road to moving away from a flare.

Keep us posted, PLEASE.

and kisses

Carolina

[bjnc]

Sounds like a flare to me.  The thing that helps me most during a flare is to get as much rest as I can (sometimes easier said than done).  It's hard, but I have to ask my family to help me so that I can rest.  Usually during a flare for me the fatigue is so bad that I have to rest.  Also, please call the dr. and ask what he/she can do to help you with the mouth symptoms right now.

Hang in there,
Becky

[LeoLady]

Lori:

If it looks like a flare and walks like a flare...  I can always tell when I'm going into and have a flare by the increased overall joint/muscle pain and of course, fatigue and brain fog.  If your mouth issues persist, I'd definitely reach out to one of your doctors for advice.  Hope you're feeling better soon.

LeoLady

[lori]

thanks everyone- i took the extra evoxac- will do that again today- i see the physiatrist today- gonna tell her about my recent gatstric upset and how i had to stop the voltaren-

probably need to get inwith tthe rhuemy soon.

God bless

lori