Yes, I have it too. Besides dry eyes, mouth, etc. it can increase the fatigue, dental cavities, sores in your mouth and nose, and "map" (geographic) tongue.

I have the dry eyes, mouth, nose....increased dental cavities and sores in my mouth and my tongue feels raw always.
Maybe I should mention this to my Rheumy today. Didn't relate it to Sjorgren's.

I had a cut on my Iris,and went to the Dr. She gave me some drops and asked if anything has changed as far as medical,.I told her I was Dx with RA and she told me that I'd be getting dry alot then and to use the drops at least 3xwk, and also drink lots of fluids.So maybe there is a link to that. What else can we expect to get. I already build a ramp bought handicapped thing at Garage sales just incase I need them. Got to love life(lol).

The primary early symptoms of Sjgren's are dryness of mucous membranes, primarily eyes, mouth, vagina, nose.

There are several tests besides blood tests that are sometimes used, but not accurate. I had Schirmer's test, which tests the rate of tear production over a period of time (5 minutes, I think).

To confirm SS, you'll probably need blood work to test for anti-SSA and anti-SSB antibodies (also referred to as anti-SSA/Ro and anti-SSB/La). Both are usually present with SS, and La is usually more accurate.

Since you already have RA, it would probably be secondary SS, if you have it. Your ANA, RAF and ESR stand a chance of already being elevated, so those won't likely aid in diagnosis.

I've had dry eyes for 3.5 years, and when I began to develop dry mouth last summer, I had the Schirmer's test, since I was already at my opthamologist's. His test came back positive, so I mentioned it to my RD, who did the blood work, and results were negative.

Dryness can definitely be a feature of RA, but it can also be a result of dehydration, so make sure you stay hydrated. This is my new banner: DRINK WATER. Or tea, or whatever floats your boat, so to speak, but not soda and coffee, unless you compensate.

I was tested for it but the results were negative. I am still wondering if that was right. I am always dry. I had to buy a special toothpaste for my dry mouth. I have eye drops for my eyes as my eye doc told me I will be dry with RA. My toungue is raw a lot and and my nose bleeds because it's so dry. The dryness can be more miserable then the RA at times.

I was diagnosed with sjogrens syndrome about 5 years ago. I was treated with plaquenil. I always had some achy joints but tests for RA were negative. Then this summer my hands started getting red in areas and very tender. The doctor tested for the RA factor and it was positive. My eyes don't give me too much trouble, but I am always thirsty. Since the RA has been diagnosed, my throat seems more dry. Ineresting that the one post says no soda. I've never been told that. I do notice that my nose is more dry. Take care of yourself.

dottie... the no soda/coffee comment is because caffine can dehydrate you more, so you need to drink additional water to make up for the amount sucked out of your system by the caffine.

For the rest of you... Thank you SO much! I did have my new Rheumy appt today... and I must say that I have had the very best of luck with my doctors lately! He is awesome! Very understanding, sympothetic, willing to listen... and even made me laugh a few different times! With some of the horror stories I hear yall going through...and some experiences I've had in the past... I KNOW how luck I am... with both my GP and now my RD!!!

Anyway, before I even mentioned my questions about Sjorgrens he made a comment about how dry I seemed. At this point it isnt too bad so, because it is winter, we are going to wait and see what happens. He did do some bloodwork for checking on it as well. He actually did a BUNCH of bloodtests to see where things were at since this was my first visit with him and the last rheumy I saw made the diagnosis based more on the examination than on tests. He (the new guy) took something like 14 tubes of blood. As the lady taking my blood kept pulling vials out of her pocket I was wondering how many there were!!! Luckly there's only one needle stick though! giggle giggle

He did prescribe me to take more predinsone, he wants me to try 10mg a day (double what I had been taking) and if I dont have enough of an improvement in a week to take 15 mg for a week then back to the 10mg. I am so looking forwrd to getting rid of some of this inflamation! He also said that with the predinsone, if I do not have a big enough improvement in my right knee... by far the worst and most swollen of my joints, and constantly so... that I can go in and have a cortisone shot for it. SO I surly feel like things are looking up a bit. Now I just want to fast forward a few days so the predinsone can be in my system and working hard as ever... but I will wait.

hi snixy

I am sitting here typing with my left fingers because my right arm all the way to my fingertips is killing me. any suggsetions on how to keep me from chopping off my arm and hand would be appreciated.

Big Blue,

Try heat... when things are REALLY bad for me and my pain pills havnt kicked in yet, the only way (and fastest) that I can get relief is heat. I have a rice pack I heat up in the microwave that works wonders! You can also use a damp washcloth or handtowel heated up in the microwave, the moist heat penetrates deeper but tends to cool faster so you have to reheat a few times. If you have a heating pad you can use that or even just hot water. When i'm hurting a lot, especially when its all over, I get into the shower and sit in the running hot water until I feel relief (or the hot water runs out.) I've got a shower seat now so that I dont have to try to stand in the shower... something that caused more pain than the relief I was getting. Hopefully these ideas help! Good luck!

Blue~ Heat would be the best option. Heating pad or a pack. Sometimes alternating heat and ice helps too. Try those options for a few days and see how you feel . Also Ibuprofen like motrin or advil might help as well. Good luck

Try elevating your knee above hip level and compression with ace bandages. That's what finally got rid of my severe swelling. Mine was in my calves, ankles, feet though.

I have RA , Sjögren s and lupus, was diagnosed about 26 years ago. Of all three the Sjogrens is the worst. I recently developed the lupus rash, isn’t life grand.

Hi. I'm brand new to this group. I don't have RA but I was diagnosed with Sjogren's in 2014. It has similar symptoms to RA I think. I have dry eyes, dry mouth, muscle/joint pain, acid reflux and recently, because of a recurring pain in my right side, I underwent an ultrasound and my liver was discovered to be "coarse and heterogeneous". Sjogren's is very lupus-like but varies from person to person. Initially it was a reaction to extreme cold that sent me to hospital with a stunning headache, vertigo and chills.