New to Forum, help please...

[Gracie78]

Hello, I am 31 and I have Hashimotos.  I recently went to the Dr because I was having the symptoms of a sinus infection, when there I also said that I was feeling flu like symptoms, muscle aches etc...  Due to having Hashi's my Dr decided to do a full blood panel work up and auto immune work up.  Initially he said that my results came back and that I had a viral infection and that it was all prob due to a sinus infection etc... My other test results just recently came back and they were all normal except I was positive in Anti SSA/RO.  I have since researched Sjogrens and I don't have any symptoms of it and my flu/sinus infection has cleared up. 

I would like to know if this pos anti SSA/RO means that I will def get Sjogrens in the future?

Thank you for all your help, it is much appreciated

[anita]

I don't believe (but not sure) having markers (+ SSA) means that you must be having active sjogren's...just means you have "markers" for it.  Whether you develop symptoms later may/may not happen.  Time will tell.  At least you will know, should symtpoms arise, what to look for without wasting time (many of us wait years for a diagnosis).

Certainly others with more lab experience will comment as well.

Good luck and glad you're not having other problems right now.

[DragonflyC]

Anita's answer is exactly right.  SS-A does not mean that you will definitely get Sjogren's. 

One of my best friends tested positive for SS-A around the same time I did (2004).  To this day, she hasn't had any Sjogren's symptoms. 

I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's through the same round of blood tests that showed the positive SS-A.  I had some symptoms of SJS, but they cleared up once my thyroid was stabilized. 

My doctor told me that the positive SS-A test meant that I'd want to be on the look-out for Sjogren's symptoms, but that it didn't mean I'd necessarily ever get the illness.  Four years after that first blood test, I developed Sjogren's. 

As Anita said, only time will tell.  Take good care of yourself in the meantime: get lots of sleep, eat well, exercise, don't let yourself get caught up in stress (stress + AI disease = very bad).  None of that will guarantee that you'll stay healthy, but it will give you a better shot. 

Good luck!  I hope that things turn out well for you.

[Carolina]

ahhh who knows what the future will bring.

Who even knows what's going on in the present?


Not me.

Keep us posted

Kisses

Elaine

[cmclien]

Hi Gracie
Not to be a downer here but how long have you had the hashi's?  Sjogren's can attack the thyroid and other organs as well such as the bladder inflaming it and causing IC/PBS.  I have both IC and hashi's and the IC I've had for 20 years and the hashi's for about 7 about the same time my dry eyes started.  Its kind of the chicken or the egg thing but many of these autoimmune diseases go together.

You may never develop more symptoms and I hope you don't but just thought I'd mention that its possible that its already active.  That doesn't necessarily mean it will get worse for you though.  Mine has stayed the same pretty much many many years and is mild.
Cindi

[Gracie78]

Hi All

Thank you so much for your replies, I really can't tell you how helpful it is to have a forum like this.

Whether or not I ever experience symptoms of Sjogrens I don't know but having lived with Thyroid autoimmune disease since I was about 7 I do understand what many of you go through.  It always seems like an unending search to feel 'normal' when in actuality for many of us this simply doesn't exist.  Luckily we can meet people that share our experiences and understand us and give us comfort in the fact that we aren't alone.

Kindest regards for all of your help.