Hi yall

[artistangie]

Of course I've lurked for days .. I am 46, married, mother to 2 dd's age 16 and 10, I have 7 rescued dogs and 3 cats and my husband collects cows LOL, so we feed more than our share.

I have been feeling progressively worse for about 18 months and have gone to the doctor with these symptoms: fatigue, swollen nodes but not hugely swollen, and feeling like something was in my throat i tell them i feel like i have half a flu.

For the last two months Ive had worsening rosacea and joint pain, swelling in face and ear, and i went to the doctor early in May

Doctor said Fith Disease ( kids virus) gave me prenisone pack

Less than a week later I went back because back pain was horrid, they checked my urine and no bacteria but there was white blood cells so they gave me more prednisne (shot this time) and Cipro (allergic to sulfa)

Since then the doctor ran blood tests and the only thing up was my RA factor so my regular doc decided maybe i needed to see a Rheumy. 
We did more blood work, physical exam, background and xrays and a Schirmer test that i scored and 2 and a 5 on so the verdict as this time  >>Sjogren's
go back for the blood test results on july 13th, praying Sjogrens is all he finds and nuttin more because that will just be enough for me! put me on 4 new meds Plaquenil, prednisone and tramadol  prescriptions and otc GenTeal drops.

I went a Lupus Forum at the beginning of all this because my sister thought that was were I was headed but I feel pretty confident the doctor is right because of the reading i have been doing here and elsewhere.

thanks for taking time to read my rambles,
angie

[Bucky]

Hi Angie - welcome.   

As you've probably seen already as a lurker  , there is a wealth of information here.  If there is anything in particular you are interested in, if you put that word(s) in the search box to the top right of this page, it will take you to previous threads about it.  Can't find what you're looking for?  By all means start your own thread.  This board here is the "social" one - where new members introduce themselves and where we talk about everything else non-Sjogren's related.  The "Discussion" forum is for all the Sjogren's related topics.

In your symptoms, you don't mention any dryness.  Do you have the mouth dryness that is characteristic (but not necessarily) of Sjogren's?  Some times things like dryness sneak up on us, or we become so accustomed to it, we don't realize it as a "symptom".  Many of us here have dental "issues" due to the constant mouth dryness.  When you don't have the necessary saliva to wash away the bacteria in our mouths, it can do a real number on our teeth even though we are diligent in our dental hygiene.

We're a very diverse group from literally around the world, ranging in age from very young to those in their golden years.  The "majority" of us are female, but we do have a dozen or two of males also.  Sjogren's knows no preference - female or male.   

I hope you find this site helpful to you in your Sjogren's journey.  It's nice to have a group that "gets it" when we talk about our various aches and pains, etc.

What type of "artist" are you?  We have many animal lovers - you will fit right in.   

Bucky

[artistangie]

Oops I did realize this was the social part but in introducing myself I thought it would make sense to say why I am here. So I messed up right away. Blush. And blushing is easy with my Rosacea .  Very dry throat and lips. And as I said I failed the eye (Schirmer ) test. So yes dry itchy eyes that burn. But neither of these symptoms ever occurred to me to be a problem like auto immune. I thought more like allergy. Thank you for the welcome <3. And I paint mostly animal and people portraits in pastel and acrylic.

[Gayle]

HI!
Welcome! Lurking is what we all do! It is great because there are so many wonderful, supportive and helpful people here. I am sorry your joining us for Sjogrens but glad you found us and your doctors seem great! Good luck! I am down to two dogs now but had horses, 6 dogs, 3 cats and even some chickens. You will just fit right in with us!
Gayle

[Bucky]

Oops I did realize this was the social part but in introducing myself I thought it would make sense to say why I am here. So I messed up right away.

Nope, you didn't mess up at all - you did exactly the right thing.   

[Ark mom]

Welcome to the family!  You are in luck that your doctor is treating you right away!    I'm sorry that you are having to deal with us like the rest of us, but I think you will find that when things feel crummy or you feel alone, we are always here!  This group has really pulled through for me on several occasions, from the second I first posted here in serious distress.  There are so many good tips and strategies that you can find on the board. 

Glad to meeet you! 

[artistangie]

Ark mom, i do feel lucky that my doctors are listening to me - sp many stories of the opposite happening.  So glad to meet you too!

Bucky, thanks so much

Gayle,  hello~ and thank you

my 16 year old is driving herself and her sister to sunday school this morning, her first time driving without me :O 
i need a drink,lol too bad drinking makes me sick

[lynnmarie219]

Hi Angie and welcome to Sjogrens World!

Glad you found us here! Don't hesitate to jump right on in whenever you feel comfortable or have any input or questions. And yes....you did just fine putting your post here....this area is also to introduce and welcome new members...so dont worry about that!

Loved hearing that you and your family are animal lovers....I'm another one!

[Patze]

Hi Angie!

Let me also welcome you to the SJS World and family!  I'm sorry to have to meet you this way, but I'm glad that you've found us!

I hope that you find this board as wonderful and informative as I have all of these years.

Take care now -

Patze

[mnslewis]

Thank you for replying to me Angie.
I also am an animal lover, we have 9 horses, a bunch of cows, 7 dogs, 4 cats 1 rabbit and too many chickens to count lol.

Even though Im not sure if I will be able to ride much anymore I dont think I can get rid of my girls yet.

Im thankful for this site, finally a place where people understand!!!

Be well...Hugs
Samantha

[iraisin]

Hi artistangie,
I must have missed your intro. mnslewis repied so it popped back up to the top. I see you've been posting to the board already - I'm so glad you're feeling welcomed and "part of the pack". This is such a great place to lean your back on and rest in what we are all dealing with.

I too am an artist. My primary subject is regional herons and wildlife of the gulf coast - but as you know, we artists can get a little "random" so I have spirts of exotic creatures and places. I do scratchboard, oils, acrylics, charcoal, airbrush, watercolor...whatever tickles my fancy. I splurged and got myself some Pebeo paints to paint glass (turned out I wasn't very good at that - it will take me a bit more practice I suppose).

I take it your avatars are your artwork? Very nice. You are very talented.

[artistangie]

animal lovers and artists!  i am home!
thank you all for the warm welcome!  please iraisin share a link if you feel comfortable, i would love to see your art work

i am all over the internet if you all are interested in seeing mine...
on facebook Angie Owens Art
on Pinterest Angie Owens
website = artwanted.com/angieowens

i love pastels, acrylic and watercolor...very little work in oil because of drying time and so many fur babies running around.  I tried scratchboard and DO NOT have the skill for that!  i know of a very skilled artist named Lorna something who does awesome scratchboard

Nice to know we all share interests <3

[iraisin]

Oh, yes! Pastels are lovely, I have not mastered setting them though. How do you do that?

Since I have the day off today, I'm painting and listening to my jams. I usally have coffee in the morning with my sjoggies, then get on w/my day.

I really like your use of color. You choose good ones. And pastels.mmmm, they are so lovely. Working w/them and the feel they have against the surface, so nice. I hope you're wearing a dust mask though, they can wreak havoc on your sinuses - really dry them out and cause infection since we don't naturally flush them with this disease.

[artistangie]

ooooooOOOooo  fantasy to reality and back again!  you are the skilled artist here!  and the tromp-l'oei is so extra special!  i am actually drooling

[eye2dry]

hello Artist Angie.

Sorry to hear of your probable run-in with sjogrens.

Glad your being medicated.

look forward to your posts.



dogs rule!

eye2dry