Question about Schirmer's test

[Tivia]

Ok we all have prob had this test , my question is how accurate is it? Back a few months ago they did the test first time no anesthetic I tested 5 in one eye and 11 in the other, then they added anesthetic, I tested zero in both. What does that mean, I know my eyes are dry but the only times they really hurt are when I cry. Otherwise its just you feel the dry patches but its not painful. Can the test be wrong if done both ways and which way is more accurate. Maybe I am just hoping since my blood tests were neg SS ro and the other one that maybe my dry eyes and mouth are not sjs. My reumy thinks it is, but I dont want it lol 


Totally unrelated maybe but..since getting all this stuff this year I have taken to wearing glasses. Well I always wore them just not as much, but my nose has these deep indentations from the glasses, I mean deep you can put your fingertip in them. That cant be right does sjs cause skin to sink like that?

[quietdynamics]

Tivia this is what I found:
"Sometimes a topical anesthetic is placed into the eye before the filter paper to prevent tearing due to the irritation from the paper. The use of the anesthetic ensures that only basal tear secretion is being measured." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schirmer%27s_test

For myself only liquid "gel" drops give me relief. What did the Dr. say? Sounds as though the Schirmer with anesthetic would be more indicative of dryness.

[Tivia]

well the doc said its sjs because at the time I was there I had dry mouth also. Now granted my rheumy put me on evoxac the first time I saw her, but really my mouth hasnt been dry the last month, my lips get dry and I feel my throat dry sometimes. But actually I have a ton of mucus in my throat that isnt considered dry is it. But isnt the mouth supposed to be dry in sjs if you have dry eyes also. I dont know im only a few months into a DX, and my skin is changing rapidly. So fast they did skin biopsies and she is going to do labs for sclero and lupus.

I guess I am grasping at straws lol hoping I dont have any of it..wishfull thinking again

[quietdynamics]

Tivia, I meant what did the eye Dr. say?

Re skin changes I posted a link about Dermatological changes SJS. I have a slight mylar rash and had some small lesions, changes in thickness of skin, flaking on my forehead and inner eyebrow area especially when stresses..go figure.
Maybe this will help the Dr. who Dx'd you as Dr. Robert Fox has been doing studies and been published regarding SJS.  You could just print the part you need.
http://www.robertfoxmd.com/SjogrensByFox/Dermatologic_Manifestations.pdf

Hope it helps you. I think when you have enough saliva as the Evoxac builds up and really kicks in you will have less mucous in your throat.

[Tivia]

Oh the eye doc thinks its sjs, thats why he went with permanent plugs, we did try restasis but it hurt so bad felt like I had been punched in the eye. So taking it was too much for me, so steroid drops and plugs and drops. Why cant they make restasis not hurt. He also said I have big ole dry patches but I guess thats normal with this. No MGD or bleph according to him, but my pressure we have to watch its going up