My mouth is so dry, it's like cotton mouth, sandpaper mouth, desert mouth, sandbar mouth, cement truck mouth, arab's sandal mouth, scores of soldiers marched thru mouth, the list goes on and on!! In other words, miserable!!! And no matter the amount of water I drink, my dry mouth just keeps on being dry!!!
Sjogren's syndrome is an autoimmune disorder. Like as in the other similar disorders, the immune system attacks the body's own cells and tissues.
In the morning, sometimes I cannot even speak because it feels like my lips and tongue are glued together! I have to literally pry them apart! Don't get between myself and the refrigerator!
I bet you know the feeling!!!
I have shared before how dry mouth, or Sjogren's syndrome, is one of the three most annoying symptoms of all this fun that we have!!!!!!!!!!! (The other two being brain fog and chronic fatigue.
It also can be very embarrassing to be out in public, and someone asks you a question! You mumble back, "memable malbuble!" (something unintelligible) and have to say, "Hold on, let me get a drink of water!" And try again!
It can be so hard and damaging on teeth, also. Teeth need the saliva in the mouth to ward off bacteria that causes cavities.
I am jumping ahead of myself. The syndrome affects the eyes and mouth. Many times a person may have a much harder time with one or the other area. I struggle much more with dry mouth. Although, I did have to stop wearing contact lenses way back before I realized what was happening to me. That was before I put 2 and 2 together!!!!
Nevertheless, the result of the syndrome is decreased tears and saliva. People are usually over 40 when diagnosed. And the condition is much more common in women.
It is usually common for people with this syndrome to also have rheumatoid arthritis or lupus.
The most common complications are dental cavities, yeast infections/oral thrush, and vision problems.
People with the syndrome may also have:
+ joint pain, swelling and stiffness
+ swollen salivary glands - behind jaw and in front of eyes
+ skin rashes/dry skin
+ vaginal dryness
+ persistent dry cough
+ prolonged fatigue
Sometimes no matter how much water I drink or anything else for that matter, the dryness still persists.
Hope you have a special Monday!
I heard a great quotation yesterday, "Even though it may be dark, there are glimpses of stars."
#Fibromyalgia, #Chronic fatigue, #Depression,#Anxiety disorder,# Post Partum depression, #Lupus, #Rheumatoid arthritis, #Irritable bowel syndrome, #Crohn's disease, #Psoriasis, #Psoriatic Arthritis, #Raynaud's Phenomenon .............
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