To Lile's Story

     I was diagnosed when I was about 50 years old with Sjogren's.  My eye doctor caught it.  I had never heard of this before.  He educated me somewhat on the condition and told me he needed to put plugs in my eyes as they were chronically dry and I needed immediate attention.  I had a lot of plugs put in, as they constantly were popping out.  Much later, they put in a metal implant, and it is still in there and I just found out they stopped doing that because they can never retrieve it.  About the same time as I was diagnosed with Sjogren's, I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism (Hashimoto's Thyroiditis w/goiter). I was treated, the goiter shrunk and I was put on Synthroid hormones for life.  I also got diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis (which runs in my family), Restless Leg Syndrome; Fibromyalgia; Osteoarthritis; Raynaud's Syndrome; Panic Attacks; Depression; Extreme Low Blood Pressure; Alopecia; Allergies; etc.
 
     My Rheumatologist put me on the drug "Evoxac" about 9 years ago.  I could not tell much difference, except maybe a little bit more saliva in my mouth.  I do impeccable oral hygiene, so I have never had cavities and I go to the dentist every 4 months.  I use all Biotene products and get a tube of "Prevent" from my Dentist which helps me avoid cavities.  I brush 4-5 times a day, use Biotene Mouth Wash and so far, my mouth has been fine.
 

     I have terrible itchy skin, joint problems and pain but I have so much wrong with me, it's hard to say where one illness starts and the other one begins.  I became aware this past April something horrible was wrong.  I was "HOT" all the time.  Not on the outside, but on the inside.  I thought maybe my estrogen patch wasn't working anymore and complained to my GYN about it.  He hesitantly put me on a higher strength of estrogen but it didn't help me at all.  I then began to complain to my family doctor who was treating my thyroid.  I had read about the toxic effects of Synthroid and demanded he put me on Armour.  He did, but it didn't help me.  I was growing hotter by the day. No matter how cold it was inside, I was hot.  I sat in front of fans feeling miserable.  I could not sleep and my skin was insanely itchy.  I was losing weight and feeling very tired all the time.  I began to suspect my doctors all thought me a little crazy now.  Thank God that he gave me a good mind to do research and about 5 days ago, I began looking up the side effects of the medicines I was on. The VERY FIRST ONE I investigated was "Evoxac".  I guess I had been on the drug for so long I couldn't believe it could be the culprit but it was.  I had forgotten what it did to you.  It literally heats up your body so you produce more moisture to be put into your mouth and other places.  In order to do this, it has to heat your body.  I was shocked at what I read.  How could I have been on this drug for so long and just now getting sick from it???  I took this information to my doctor and he took me off the drug and told me to drink lots of water as I was dehydrated.  He also is getting me to see an Endocrinologist but I can't get in until the end of next month.  In the mean time, my doctor says he thinks I am in a flare up and also poisoned from the drug.  I am off the drug now, however I am still hot.  Not as bad, but bad enough for me to feel miserable.  I am hopeful I will improve.  Life would be horrible to end up like this forever.  I feel like I will be better off drinking more water, good nutrition, good exercise and take only necessary medicines.  I've learned to check and double check medicines.  I know Sjogren's can get worse and I am hoping I am not going down that road.  I am always hopeful for better health but don't know what is going to happen down the road.  

     If anyone reads my story and has had a similar experience with Evoxac, please E-mail me.  Thank you and God Bless everyone with this horrible disease

Lile



    

Story Copyright © 2010-2011 Linda (Lile)

Page Design Copyright © 2010-2011 Lynne Messina





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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.