Lynne's Sjogrens Syndrome - Stories- Harriet's Sjogrens Story Page

Welcome Friends

Harriet's Story

I am 62 years old. The mother of four adult sons. In 1980 I was widowed. My husband was cutting down a tree on his father's farm for fire wood. It was a blustery winter December day. While he was cutting the tree, with it being windy, the tree started spinning and he ran away from the tree. The tree fell in the direction he was running and it hit him dead center on the head, killing him instantly.

At this time I was four months pregnant with our 4th child. I was also employed as an LPN at our local hospital. In May, I gave birth to our 4th son. That was also such a hard experience but I made it. At this time I had a 9, 6, 3 year old and a new baby boy. Through all this, my parents, my in laws and church helped out a lot. This is just a short history. At this time I remain single.

In the spring of 2004, I was diagnosed with Sjogren's Syndrome. I had been seeing a doctor for dry eye. I had no idea what Sjogren's was, didn't ask, nor did he explain it to me. I didn't even know how to spell the word. Now I know through looking it up on the internet.

In finding out what it was, I can now look back to all the different health factors I've had. In 1990 I started working as a dispatcher at the Sheriff's office. I worked 12 midnight to 8 AM. I did this for 12 years.

I started having tendonitis in my shoulder and elbows. I ended up having surgery on my shoulder and right elbow. The shoulder turned out well. The elbow, after surgery, was such excruciating pain. For only a one day surgery, I ended up staying over night.

Then one morning after work I went to bed and a sudden pain in my abdomen came rushing up into my throat, making a burning feeling in my throat. I made a visit to the ER and was given some pills. But I continued after this incident to have what they call reflux. I saw a doctor for this for about 5 years. In the mean time I had my necrotic gallbladder removed hoping my problem would be solved. Did not happen. Finally I got to see a surgeon for this problem. Actually, it seemed I didn't have the typical symptoms for reflux. So it took a while, pills, lose weight, do this, do that in trying to figure out what was going on. I had problems with caffeine, spicy and fatty foods. But I'm a slow learner and maybe not willing to give up the good foods. Finally in 2000 I had a half stomach wrap. There is a name for it but I don't know how to spell it. This did help immensely. Shortly after this the dry eye started. That's when I got the Sjogren's Syndrome diagnoses. At present I have tear duct plugs, lost one but still have one, and use Systane eye drops. I continue to have dry eye, burning and itching. But not severe. I also got a visit with dry mouth, dry nasal passages. For my mouth I drink water and for the nasal passages saline spray. I had such sinusitis headaches that would last three days or more. Anything for pain was useless. The nasal spray did help. That's another long story cut short.

Last spring I started having a problem with my left knee. It made it difficult to walk and I would walk a lot to get some exercise. Had an orthoscopic and it was diagnosed as a degenerative joint problem. Post surgery I had such excruciating pain again. It was a joint just like my elbow.

After this my back started up, but I have had back problems for years and that is part of why I could no longer do a nursing task. So this job was ideal for me. I saw a surgeon for my back and surgery was not indicated at this time. I get along pretty good with my back if I don't lift and keep the muscle strength up. It sometimes goes down my legs. It was diagnosed as degenerative herniated disc disease.

My knee was good for a short time. I did go and see the surgeon again and he did x-rays and a bone scan, which showed very little change but arthritic. It gave me severe pain and all the pain pills did very little to ease the pain.

Just before Christmas I developed a chest pain. I had been at the Wellness Center for therapy. When I left, I developed a sharp chest pain. Not knowing if it was my stomach or heart, I wondered if I should stop someplace. I didn't want to go off the road or hit someone if I should lose consciousness. I did stop a little bit at a stop sign and thought I better turn around and see a doctor. I ended up seeing a Cardiologist. No heart attack or any damage. It showed a lack of strength. It also caused a bit of blood pressure problem and some fluid retention. In doing blood tests, it was found I had very high cholesterol and triglycerides. He started me on Vytoran and Atenolol. I have stopped taking Vytoran as it gave me pain in my legs, which I had anyway but more severe. I had earlier seen my physician and indicated to him of having palpitations. He thought it was due to my esophageal damage.

As of recent, I have had a pain in my neck. Knowing what I now know about Sjogren's, I asked for some help in this line of illness. The doctor indicated at this visit a neuritis, myalgia and tendonitis. He did set up an appointment with a Rheumatoid Specialist. I cannot get in until April. My physician started me on Flexeril, which seems to help. At this point my knee is tolerable as I started taking fish oil. This has helped for a lot of the other dryness symptoms.

As of December 31st, I have retired due to fatigue, on going respiratory problems, and the pain. The lack of sleep was also a big culprit. I continue to have muscle pain mostly in my legs at night. It seems the stress has lightened up a lot. I don't worry about getting enough rest or being alert for the 9-1-1 calls and other radio and traffic calls.

I seem to go from pain pill to pain pill and Tylenol helps most of the time but sometimes it doesn't. The fish oil seems to have helped a lot. Activity is limited.

I am seriously thinking of having a big auction, selling my home, and going into an apartment. Can not handle the snow scooping and lawn work. My only question is how long does this go on and what kind of death does it make? Oops have another one, to what extreme does a person go in enduring this illness? Depression is playing a big part at this time.

I have read most all of the stories in Lynne's web page. Have so many of the same symptoms. Some have it much worse then I have. Thanks for letting me share my story.

Original Midi by "Dirk Baert" dirk.baert1@pandora.be

http://www.laurasmidiheaven.com

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.