Dry nose and mouth more often

[Judie P]

Hi.  I was wondering if any of you have experienced other Sjogren symptoms before your mouth got drier.  I have been diagnosed for 6 years now and started with digestive problems first.  Lately, my mouth has been getting drier.  Since my husband and I have had our business shut down since March and California shutting down again, I cannot get to my doctors.  I can do Zoom with them.  I have ordered a diabetes kit which should arrive today.

So my question is... has this happened to anyone out there due to Sjogrens?

[Judie P]

Just saw Nomad's post.  I have been taking Venaflaxine for 6 years now and it never made my mouth dry.  But, I have upped my Gabapentin to 300mg and only take it at night, not three times a day.  I also feel like I have to pee every two hours but never wake up at night (8 hours of sleep).  That is why I was thinking diabetes.

[Carolina]

Dear Judie,

I began with dry eyes and dry mouth in  2002.   I started on Evoxac.  Both my dry mouth and dry eyes are progressively worse.

Now I'm on 30 mg Salagen a day.  My mouth is still very dry, and I use Xylimelts, sugar free gum, sugar free cough drops, and always carry water.

I saw my dentists for cleaning and check ups THREE times a year, just to be sure I wasn't having damage to my teeth due to lack of normal saliva.

I also use Ultra Systane Drops during the night, for my dry eyes.

Now that the heating system is drying the air (Winter) I have a humidifier running to keep the indoor humidity at 50 or above.

Since 2002 I have had progressively worse neurological damage from my Immune Disorder, as well.

Ain't we got fun?!

Regards, Elaine

[Kathy57]

Judie,

My first symptoms were GI as well only I didn?t realize they were from Sjogrens.  Neither did my GI Dr.

I also didn?t realize how dry my mouth was and I kept drinking gallons of water.  My husband was sure that I had diabetes and had me tested twice, but of course it wasn?t diabetes.

I take Evoxac three times daily.  Can?t function without it and I still get dry.  Winter, dry, heated air makes it worse.   I always have a vaporizer going because I can really feel the difference.

Happy Holidays to you🎄

Kathy

[Judie P]

Thank you Carolyn and Kathy57.  I got a Zoom visit with my doctor who is ordering "the works" in blood tests since it has been a year.  My fasting blood glucose was 137 two days ago, and he feels it might be stress, but to be sure, we will do the A1c.  A year ago my A1c was 5.5.  He will also be doing the usuals including B12 and D.  The hospital I go to is doing lab work during our current lockdown, so I can go.  Happy Holidays!

[Judie P]

Just wanted all of you to know that my blood work came back fine.  My A1c was 5.6 and glucose 98.  It looks like I am getting close to being deficient in B12 and D.  Perhaps that is the problem, but I think I am seeing a progression of dryness from Sjogrens in my mouth.  Hope all of you are doing okay through the holidays.

[Kathy57]

Judie,

So glad that your lab work is good.  Do you take Pilocarpine or Evoxac?  Either one can make a world of difference.

Happy New Year🎉

Kathy