Anyone in CO?

[Nymph]

So... I might be moving to Colorado Springs! My sister and her family are moving by the end of this year. My contract was not renewed at school this year so I am currently in the market for a new job. I am super excited for a chance to live in the West (which I love), AND be near family (who have lived in the South all my life).

That said, I've been drier lately. I don't know if it's the stress of my job or a change in the type of DHEA I take. (My old brand was discontinued.) I'm not on Restasis or anything, so I guess that could be an option. So I wonder... How do those of you in dry climates adapt? Do you notice a big change if you go someplace humid? Also, if anyone has doctor recommendations in CO Springs or Denver I would love to hear them! I need a rheumy, a optho, and a neuro, for a start. Maybe a gastro, too. 

[Joe S.]

In CO you can get CBD to help with the pain. They are using the taxes on Marijuana to help pay for many things including schools.

[Nymph]

Thanks, Joe. Thankfully I am not in much pain right now but I am open to the option.

[WhatYouSjo]

A bedroom humidifier can make a big difference in a dry climate. Also look at the cooling system available where you are moving; many homes have evaporative cooling units rather than air conditioning, and it can help a bit with summer dryness, since AC actually dries the air while EC adds moisture.

I've personally found Restasis to be very beneficial with almost no side effects (I don't even have the burning that many people report). I would recommend it if your insurance covers it. You can get 2 or even 4 doses from a single vial if you need to save costs; just be sure to recap it so that the tip doesn't touch anything that could contaminate it.

I don't know of any Sjogren's Syndrome specialists in Colorado, but I've generally heard good things about the Anschutz Medical Center in Aurora, which is the main medical research campus for the University of Colorado. When in doubt, I usually recommend that people try for a university medical center that keeps up on modern research. It also means that your specialists can share your medical record and communicate more easily. Colorado is a Kaiser Permanente state; I would avoid them if possible, as large HMO systems tends to rush appointments, put more stress on doctors and patients, and make it difficult to schedule appointments with specialists. That being said, your insurance may largely dictate who you can see.

[Joe S.]

We had a couple of members in the Boulder area. I have not heard from Lizzy in a while though.

[MtnMama]

Nymph - I am in Colorado and absolutely love it here.  Although, it probably delayed my Sjogren's diagnosis for a few years, because I attributed the severe dryness to the shock of moving here from the deep South with extreme humidity.  I see Dr. Robert Spencer at the Colorado Arthritis Center.  You can google him where you'll find an impressive CV.  He sees many Sjogren's patients and is extremely knowledgeable, caring, and helpful.   His main office is at Swedish Medical Center, but he has a satellite office in Lone Tree, which is a southern burb of Denver, and not too far from the Springs.  You would need a referral from your primary physician to see him.  Luckily my internist knows him, and they work with each other to help me.

Living at altitude requires water, water, water.  And copious amounts of body lotion and cuticle oil, at least for me.

[Nymph]

Thanks for the recommendation! I will definitely check into that. I assume that a referral from my rheumy here in NC would be sufficient. I'm glad that you love it there. I struggle with the heat and humidity with my dysautonomia so I think I'll do well there. When I have visited AZ I was okay in terms of dryness if I used a humidifier at night, which I do here in the winter anyway.