Flare ?

[Jane]

I have had Sjogren's for some time. Last week my daughter came home to the UK for a week. During that time we did a lotof shopping and then had a party for my husbands 70th birthday.....lots of cooking and housework. I now feel absolutely wiped out with fatigue and aches and pains My mouth and lips are as dry as a bone. When I went for my cataract op check up yesterday after three weeks I was told my eyes are very dry ( not usually a problem )       
This may seem a stupid question but is this a flare ? What can I do and how long will it last ?
HELP!

[A66eyroad]

Poor Jane!     I'm so sorry you're having a hard time of it.

This sounds to me like you've overdone it. This can lead to a flare.  You didn't say whether you're taking any kind of medication for your Sjogrens.

I had a terrible time just like you about a year ago. I was in bed unable to get up, crying for about two weeks before finally being diagnosed. I started taking Plaquenil and it took a lot of time, but I have finally gotten (most of) my life back.

I would like to know if you've got a doctor you like and trust, someone who's helped you in the past.

Hope you're better soonest!

[DragonflyC]

Hi, Jane.

I'm so sorry that you are flaring!

Sometimes a flare can be stopped by being gentle with ourselves, taking a day or two to relax. Get some extra rest, take a warm bath, drink some tea. . .

My flares don't tend to end without medication, so that might be something to look into if a few days of downtime doesn't help. My rheum usually prescribes 5-10 mg of prednisone a day for two weeks (if 10 mg, I usually taper to 5 by the second week) when I'm flaring.

Are you taking any medications for Sjogren's long term? As A66eyroad said, many of us find plaquenil a huge help. Usually a rheumatologist will start a patient on prednisone and plaquenil together, tapering off of the prednisone after a few weeks. This calms the disease and gives some relief while the plaquenil has a chance to get started, as it can take a month or two before it really kicks in.

I hope you start feeling better soon!

[Joe S.]

I hope you can break your flair soon, Jane. There were a lot of good suggestions in the previous posts. Sometimes flairs appear as allergic reactions. When that happens I take an antihistamine. I will increase my carrot juice, and Dark Cherries during a flare. I may also use Reflexology and Reiki. I have found meditation to be useful also.

[Madison Granny]

Yes it does sound like you are in a flare.  I know when I overdo that is exactly how I feel.  I usually have to baby myself for several days.  i do nothing but eat and sleep.  Everything else can and will wait.  By doing this I usually don't have to see my Rheumy.  I don't like to take anymore meds than I do.  When I feeling good I tend to forget about being sick and do way too much and then I have to take some down time.  I should learn to Pace myself better.

[Jane]

Thank you all.
Today I have stayed in bed ! I hope it will give me a jump start tomorrow.
I do have a very good doctor but no Plaquenol. The doctors don't seem to hand out drugs so much here. I did have Prednisone once and it worked like magic. I'll see how it goes.