Photosensitivity

[BUNKIE09]

It has been awhile. I too am sun sensitive. I can do about 15 minutes and start to get red and warm skin. Because I also have Sarcoidosis I have to watch the Vit D so I avoid the sun. I was happy to read about Walmart because I was thinking I was crazy. After about 10 minutes in that store I get dizzy and off balanced. Now I know it is the lighting. Target gets me too but not as bad.

[brook]

Hi, I got a rash after a short time in the sun, was kind of small blisters and itchy but hurt to scratch even lightly. Just on my chest pretty much as most other parts were covered.. I asked the doc about Plaquenil and he said that it would not cause a sun sensitivity??. He said people get all kinds of weird rashes with Sjogren's. More recently, I had a few spots that were almost like mosquito or spider bites on my waist and groin and underarms primarily and were spreading slowly and very itchy. The doc said it was molluscum contagiosum which is common in kids and very contagious, touch transmitted. My husband never got it and I worked for 20 years in a family practice where I was exposed to all kinds of things. Seemed funny that I would get this now but the symptoms sure fit. No treatment, just run it's course, topical for itching. So I guess it's true, while we have immune system attacking parts of us, it seems to make other parts more vulnerable. I have avoided the sun since the sun rash. Thanks for sharing your story and question. I always learn so much from others!!!!

[Heather18]

Does anyone feel like they are being burned alive being in the sun? The temperature doesn't matter, 65 or 95. Any amount of the sun makes me feel sick. I don't get rashes right away.
I spent a week at the beach in August. I was covered up and under an umbrella most of the time, but I think that's what really set this off. I haven't been the same since that first day.
After 8 years I finally got the Sjogren's diagnosis last month.

[LisaMarie]

I'm really curious about everyone's reaction to some indoor lighting.  What started everything off for me and drove me to the eye specialist was the fact that when I would go to work at the office, within a few hours, I am extremely fatigue and I get terrible headaches.  I blamed the dry eyes and computer work.  But I do the same work from the comforts of my home when I telecommute.  Sometimes I get fatigue at home but usually I get more hours in.  I don't seem to get the same headaches though.  The lighting is really bright in my office and I have stated that I don't like it.  It can't be cut back or others are totally in the dark.  I have made suggestions that we keep the overhead lights off and encourage people to use desk lighting but my suggestion goes unheard.  I noticed this week that when the fatigue at work sets in, I tend to feel the "anxiety" like feeling with the palpitations along with extremely cold.  I sit with a sweat jacket on and a throw over my shoulders.

Can lighting be a trigger?

[Meld256]

Hi Heather,

Wanted to say "Welcome to Sjogren's World!" 
I see this is one of your first posts.  I'm glad you're jumping in with comments and questions.  You'll find lots of helpful people here.  We support and encourage each other, and discuss all kinds of things.

The time for your diagnosis seems fairly common. Sometimes it takes so looong to get all this figured out about what's happening with us. Seems like many of us have problems in the sun. I noticed this the other day when I was in my yard for a while. It was about 70 degrees and sunny; so pretty, and felt like I was getting burned.  Wierd things this illness does to us...
We look forward to hearing more from you.  Keep posting and take care.

Melinda

[mshistory]

I'm really curious about everyone's reaction to some indoor lighting.  What started everything off for me and drove me to the eye specialist was the fact that when I would go to work at the office, within a few hours, I am extremely fatigue and I get terrible headaches.  I blamed the dry eyes and computer work.  But I do the same work from the comforts of my home when I telecommute.  Sometimes I get fatigue at home but usually I get more hours in.  I don't seem to get the same headaches though.  The lighting is really bright in my office and I have stated that I don't like it.  It can't be cut back or others are totally in the dark.  I have made suggestions that we keep the overhead lights off and encourage people to use desk lighting but my suggestion goes unheard.  I noticed this week that when the fatigue at work sets in, I tend to feel the "anxiety" like feeling with the palpitations along with extremely cold.  I sit with a sweat jacket on and a throw over my shoulders.

Can lighting be a trigger?

Strong fluorescent (I don't know how to spell that!) lights definitely make me flare. I've stopped going to Wal-Mart for that very reason. It makes me dizzy, nauseated, sore throat, fatigued, eyes burn, etc.