Tears after Sjogren's

[cccourt1942]

This is a question and comment in one.  Yesterday Venus Williams had a news conference after her winning Wimbledon match.  She was questioned re: her recent auto accident in which a person died.

She answered questions and toward the end, she covered her face, eventually "broke down"---and "cried".  OR..she feigned tears.  Can you guys cry crocodile tears?  Personally, I haven't shed tears in about 25 years.  Maybe longer. 

We have commented how wonderful it would be to have Venus step up to the plate to shed awareness of SjS.  Now I'm wondering if a) she really cried yesterday, or b) she doesn't have SjS.

If you didn't see this press conference, i'm sure you can google or YouTube.

Just wondering.
ccc

[Sharon]

I can still cry if they are "real" tears.
As far as Williams is concerned, many people have questioned before if she indeed actually has
Sjogren's because of her apparent lack of sicca symptoms.
As far as her becoming a worthy Sjogren's spokeswoman: Based on her interviews on the topic till today there doesn't seem to be any chance of that happening.

[Sweetcheex76]

I score 0's on the Schirmers eye wetness test, use Xiidra and Restasis and use OTC eye drops several times an hour. My eyes are so dry and if I get something in them, I can't produce the tears that can wash that irritant away. But the tears we produce during emotion can flow most of the time. (It's a little embarrassing to say but not a day goes by that I don't get so frustrated by these autoimmune diseases that I don't break down in tears). So, I believe Venus' tears were real. I think there are 3 different kinds of tears. I remember that the tears that keep your eyes are wet are called basal tears and my doctor calls the tears when you cry emergency tears but can't remember the other kind.

[Kris29]

I've noticed that since I've had dry eyes, it really burns sometimes when I cry, but I can definitely still cry. My eyes don't water anymore when I have allergies or when they're irritated, but crying isn't a problem. Slightly frustrating though - "If you tears are hanging out up there, why don't you keep my eyes hydrated?!"

Anyway, I've wondered why this is possible since a pharmacist asked last year if I could cry (it sounds creepier than it was).

[Pete0211]

I'm hit or miss when it comes to crying - sometimes there have been tears, sometimes not. When there wasn't, I get a strange feeling in my eyes that drives me crazy.

[susanep]

I can still cry, but I can't feel the eye drops when I put them in.

susanep

[SunshineDaydream]

I still have tears when I cry from happiness, sadness or laughter. They are probably poor quality tears like my usual ones.

[AnneNeville]

I can cry buckets and I have very dry eyes.

[long time dry]

I have had SJS for about 45 years and long ago became unable to cry tears.  When I am upset enough to cry my nose runs and my head plugs up but no tears.

[bluegardenia]

i can cry but i feel tears are different from before

[SjoGirl]

I didn't cry for a year when I first became ill, Restasis brought back tears (which were more welcome than I thought they would be, it's terrible to not be able to cry, tears are cleansing).