Hi. Sorry to hear about your troubles. Unfortunately I have a similar story. I've battled with abdominal pain, enlarged liver, and pancreatitis for 7 years. At the beginning of this year, it was so bad I lost 40 lbs and lived on smoothies and narcotics. I finally found a gastroenterologist who did several procedures to open up the area. that area had hardened over time and had completely blocked the biliary and pancreatic duct. I've been pain free since June. I'm not sure how long that will last but I'll take what I can get. As for the itching, I've had that from elevated liver function tests. Not much you can do but take Benadryl and drink caffeine to stay awake. Sorry I'm not much help but you are not alone.

sweetxheartx36 - when were you diagnosed with Sjogren's? Just curios on how long your "journey" has been.

I was diagnosed this year but like many people I didn't put the problems and symptoms together for awhile. Looking back I've had symptoms for 7 years. The doctors never could figure out why I had pancreatitis or an enlarged liver. I just happened to find a doctor that sat down and listened to me. After some lab work he figured it out and now so much makes sense.

I've had Sjs for about 8 years although I was't diagnosed until about a year and a half ago. I too struggle with many symptoms including itchiness, dry everything, blisters on my moisture glands and pancreatitis. My main symptom was autoimmune pancreatitis. It took a few bouts before my docs noticed my lymphocytes (and antibodies ssa/ro antibodies that we now test for) to go way up at the same time I have pancreatitis. I started getting steriod injections when the symptoms got too bad. Unfortunately the nerve to my pancreas has been damaged in the process and causes extreme pain. I now take Lyrica to control the pain and it helps immensely. It does make the dryness worse, but I can cope with that better than mind numbing pain. I also take plaquenil now which helps with all my symptoms and has decreased how much steriods I am getting. Try a moisturizer with oatmeal to help with the itchiness, Aveeno has really helped me. The skin doesn't feel so itchy when it isn't dry, even a little bit. Hope this helps.

Hi, I'm sorry to hear you have pancreatic trouble too. I've been having GI problems for more than a year. About once a week, I was getting awful belching in the middle of the night, followed by vomiting. It was awful. Eventually, huge amounts of bile was coming up...and my GI said it was 'just gastritis.' (!?) May 20 I had another attack of this, but the pain was much worse, and radiated to my back. I went to the ER and was diagnosed with acute pancreatitis. I'm slowly healing, thanknfully. Still hoping it doesn't become chronic.. But, it does take about a year for the pancreas to heal. I take OTC enzymes when I'm worried about having trouble digesting certain foods, vegetables mostly. My Gi recommended an OTC enzyme called "Digest Gold". Btw, has anyone heard of this? It can only be bought at Whole Foods. I eat a low fat diet - no beef or pork, fried foods, etc. I'm trying real hard not to eat sugar. which isn't easy. I'm very grateful I haven't gotten diabetes so far...as is common after pancreatiitis.
As for the itching, I really can't say that I've experienced this...I have real dry skin, but not itching.. I wish you all the best..Take care. :)

I have been given Amitriptyline 50MG at bed time. Helps me sleep better and completely stopped the itching. I tried to stop taking it a few years back and I itched so bad I clawed myself till I bled. So I don't worry about thinking it anymore. I know it works and I am taking it. Dr's did have to talk me in to going from 25 MG to 50Mg. They would prefer I get up to 100 MG but if 50MG is working I am fine with it. Drugs have an adverse effect on me anyway.I was in hospital last week and the blood test showed Pancreatitis. Next blood test showed nothing. Any of you had that problem to start with?

I've never had blood work show pancreatits, however some endoscopic ultrasounds have shown some imaging concerns and a pancreatic function test where the measure the volume of digestive enzymes being produced have been lower than normal. They are relating it to sjogren's for the digestive enzyme produced by the pancreas are attacked just like any other exocrine gland in sjogren's like tear and salivary etc, that most deal with. Thanks for the info the the medication for itching.

Sorry for your troubles. I can sort of relate. My journey of diagnosis started back in 1998, when I was diagnosed with celiac. Then it was thyroiditis, followed by an adrenal crash and lasting insufficiency. THEN, I did some research and found out about Sjogrens. Asked my doc to test me. Positive PLUS Fibromylagia. I basically have primary Celiac, Sjogrens and Fibromyalgia all at the same time.
And this past summer I started having gal bladder problems. We found that the SS can affect the movement and production of the bile. So, I have really changed my diet to help that along. No more rich dairy, not any really...very rare. More moisture rich foods.
I hope you get the answers you need to feel better. It really sucks having a partial life when everyone else around us is eating and doing what ever they want.