Androgen and Sjogrens

[ttdub]

Okay, I am a male who may have sjogrens. I have a Schirmer's of 1 in my left eye and 2 in my right. I was taking Propecia (finasteride) 5mg for prostatitis right before I started having problems with my eyes. I found this site: http://www.iovs.org/cgi/reprint/40/6/1261.pdf that links androgen deficiency (what propecia does) and sjogrens (aqueous deficiency). I was wondering if anyone thinks if I get my androgen back up if it would make the sjogrens go away?

[Scottietottie]

Hello ttdub 

Welcome to Sjogren's world. Are you being tested for Sjogren's? There are other things that can cause dry eyes and a dry mouth, so it's important to ascertain what is causing yours.  If it's Sjogren's - I don't think it will go away. I think we are stuck with SjS forever to a greater or lesser degree.

The idea is to normalise everything as much as possible and to treat the symptoms also.

Take care - Scottie 

[ttdub]

I have had a blood test but it was negative. I'm going to ask for a lip biopsy next time i'm there.

[Patze]

Hi ttdub,

Let me also welcome you to the SJS World!  Please peruse the board as there are just tons of topics that you might find interesting, and informative.  And Scottie has mentioned a good point, if it is SJS, I don't think it's going away either (it doesn't mean that the SJS symptoms won't get better, they may, or they may go into remission, anything is possible).  

The lip biopsy, ugh, I wish that the medical establishment would make that test go away!  I still find it amazing that a great many countries don't do this test, why is this country is so hooked on it (as I don't think it's that reliable - my opinion only)?  

Okay, that being said, please be carefull on who performs that test as not all doctors that do them, do them well (I learned that the hard way).  And please make sure that the lab that reads the sample should be very familiar with them, and read a lot of samples (per week/month) instead of a sample every month or two.

Now most of the members that have had that test done, never have a problem with the procedure (and recovery), and have labs that really know what they are doing.  Some of us on this board weren't that lucky (I still have a numb area on my lower lip).

You mentioned that you had a blood test done, which one was done?  

Hang in there and take care -

Patze

[kindandcaring]

Hi fellow male

As other have said its best to go through all the usual possibilities of the dryness.

I can however confirm that having normal androgen levels makes no difference to my dryness


All my best

[Maria3667]

Hello ttdub,

Strange maybe, as I'm female, but I can attest to the opposite.

I've had a trial of daily testosterone supplementation in 2007 and the dryness issues markedly improved...

However, I was only able to do this for 6 weeks, as testosterone creates many unwanted side effects in females (over a longer period of time)   .

Now I'm using testosterone on an interval basis (i.e. every 2 days - low dose). This does help Sjogren's somewhat, but the high dose felt better...

Instead I now take two table spoons of flax seed oil every day - this improves moisture a little too.