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to Christall's Story
My name is Christall, and I was recently told that I have Sjogren's Syndrome. While I'm still not sure what that entails, I do know that everything that I have read seems to make perfect sense on symptoms that don't. It started with painful
joints and severe muscle pain. I had several lumps bilaterally on my wrists and
thumbs and also on my shoulder and roof of mouth. I was concerned about these as
I was also experiencing some numbness and tingling throughout my arms and legs.
So I made an appointment with my primary physician and he first told me I had bursitis
and carpel tunnel. He also did a series of lab work because he wanted to rule
out RA. Well, much to my dismay the ANA and RA screens both came back positive
and so he ordered more lab tests (anti-SSA, anti-SSB, Sjogren's, immunoglobulins
and several others). I was positive for Sjogren's. An appointment was made to
see a Rheumatologist and I just saw her three months ago and she put me on Evoxac
for the dry eyes and mouth and Imuran as the immunosuppressant and Mobic for
anti-inflammatory. I went home and thought to myself, this sounds like no big deal,
dry eyes and dry mouth, how hard can that be.......
Well, let me tell you that I started to put pieces to the mystery health puzzle together. I have difficulty swallowing, excessive thirst, numbness and tingling of arms and legs, severe muscle spasms and joint pain... and in the last three months, I have had three teeth extracted. Wow... three teeth and my dentist said I have many more cavities. I am on Restasis for the dry eyes...which I have constantly had problems with being told throughout the years that it was conjunctivitis, irritated eyes or I had scratched the surface of my eye. Anyway, it has been an interesting 5 months. I have since been to my Rheumatologist and she said I have primary Rheumatoid Arthritis, secondary Sjogren's, Cervicalgia and degenerative Osteoarthritis of the spine---Wow---all in one visit! I now know that it's not just dry eyes and mouth, it is so much more and although I may look okay from the outside I am asking WHY?... Thanks for letting me share my story with all who read it and thank you to Lynne for her story. There is a brighter tomorrow for all of us. Thank you, Christall
Story Copyright © 2007 Christall Page Design Copyright © 2007 Lynne Messina
Disclaimer The author of this page does not promote, support, or recommend any particular treatment or medication for any medical condition. The opinions expressed in stories or links are the responsibility of their authors. No treatment should be undertaken without the supervision of a physician. |
