Dry mucous membranes caused by Sjögren’s syndrome elicits descriptions from patients like, “food tastes like paper” and “eyes feel gritty.” Sjögren’s syndrome can occur by itself or along with autoimmune conditions, such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis. Just as joints and connective tissues can be attacked as part of the autoimmune condition, the moisture-producing glands also can be attacked.
The prescription medications available to treat dry eyes and dry mouth are listed in the Sjögren’s syndrome chart. The oral drugs listed here work internally to help your body produce more moisture in the mouth. The dry-eye treatments add moisture to the eye or suppress eye inflammation. A surgical procedure to block the tear ducts (punctal occlusion) is an option for severe cases of dry eyes. Other prescription medications, such as the DMARD hydroxychloroquine sulfate (Plaquenil), may be used to treat other manifestations.
Over-the-counter treatments are available, too. Sugar-free chewing gum and candies, mouth sprays and rinses can help moisten the mouth and lessen discomfort. Available in sprays, liquids and pretreated swabs, artificial saliva products are sold under a number of brand names, including Glandosane, Moi-Stir, MouthKote, Optimoist, Oralube, Salivart and Xero-Lube. These products should be applied directly to the tongue, gums and roof of the mouth, according to package directions. Although these products do not stimulate saliva production, they do provide temporary moisture and can be reapplied as needed.
Eye drops can be used as needed (up to four times per day if bottles contain preservatives) and are available without prescription. Artificial tears (hydroxypropyl cellulose drops) are also sold under a number of brand names, including Artificial Tears, Bion Tears, Gonak, Isopto Tears, Lacril, Nature’s Tears and Ocucoat. To use the tears, place one drop in each lower eyelid and then close eyes one or two minutes, so tears can absorb. As with artificial salivas, the benefits of artificial tears are temporary. They can be applied three or four times daily. Be sure to check specific directions on the product’s packaging.
Other measures you can take on your own include sipping water throughout the day, avoiding smoking and caffeine and talking with your doctor about any medications you may be taking that could be drying your mucous membranes.
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Thankful to find this forum and others who can relate to this.
Good luck to all.
I was diagnoised with Carpal Tunnel after typing for many hours at my place of employment I had to have both hands operated on but then I started to have all of these strange occurences & I never felt well until I was diagnoised with Fibromyalgia of course I had no idea what that was so I learned all that I could & was doing ok not good but then I started to get sicker then I was told that I had Systemic Lupus, Sjogrens, Cardiomyopthia, Mitral Valve Prolapse,& so on it seems like everytime I go to the Dr's they find something else I've had a # of surgeries not to mention all of the medications which have all of there side effects I don't about you but I'm sick of being sick!!!! but if I can offer any suggestions to you it would be find a good Dr.no matter how many you may have to see,go to a support group, learn all you can about your illness & educate those are clueless, learn to laugh at yourself & the crazy things you find yourself doing, you may also need to contact Social Securtiy/Disability in this case make sure you have a lawyer.
I wish you all the best & that you may find some peace& copability in your life- no one can live it for you.......
What other organs can be effected?
I had a spinal abcess 2 years ago and I also get urinary trac infections. Interesting? Yes very!
Good luck with your voice. Sometimes mine is so hoarse I just quit talking but I'm not a teacher....
I have sjogren's, ra, fibromyalgia, to just name a few. My sjogren's is systemic including my digestive tract and my lungs. I have read sjogren's and lupus, ra, etc. can cause lung problems. My lungs are very dry and I have alot of problems with them. I would talk to my dr. about it. There may be ways they can help you with this! Everyone is different with autoimmune diseases. Good luck to you!
my dry mouth no help in site.. my mouth sloughs off the roof and sides and my tongue will bleed. cant eat anything acidic, ketchup, mustard, hot sause, salad dressings,lemons will tear my mouth up. the lemons has made my tongue bleed.i go to dentist constanly because my fillings keep coming out because my mouth so dry. i will try some of the suggestions for the saliva sure and mouth sprays see if it helps. the corner of my mouth crack and i constantly keep vaseline lip therapy on them. it gets hard to talk sometime my mouth gets so dry. its so embarrassing. sometime i feel doomed. I hope some of this info helps someone else who having these issues and doesnt understand. also my glands swell up in my cheeks and i look like a chipmunk. and they are painfull.
had to stop it but I do use the evoxac and it
seems to help with the dry eyes and also the mouth. Mouth is very dry at night. I use hard tack candy at night.
I would definately have a lip biopsy done to determine it you have SS. Good Luck
Sjogrens as well. He isn't sure if the cheek sloughing is part of it. I haven't read that anyone else has that. I would appreciate any comments.
Sheila Caldwell in reponse to your non dignosis please have a lip biopsy if you haven't already to detect sjogrens S.
I had no antibodies show up twice in my blood tests but had slighly elevated crp and sed rate so we did the biopsy and it showed mild inflammation of the salivary gland the dr said it pointed to sjogrens so I could now get a prescription for plaquenil which hopefully will help. You have the same symptoms i have, i originally was diagnosed with burning mouth syndrome through an oral medicine specialist because of the burning i had too. You don't have the burning so....
Maybe you should check that out. Hope you find relief. I chew gum, drink water, eye drops, nose spray, and now plaquencil too soon to say if it will help. i used evoxac b4 the SS diagnosis but it didn't help me.
All the best,
Gloria
Extremely important
YES...I use Salivasure. My pharmacy carries it. It is about $8.50 a packett. If that is a better price let me know and perhaps we can work out something where I can help you get it. I know the horror of dry mouth. Also....the Salagen is a waste of money, huh? I was going to look into that drug.
A product for Dry Eye called Thera Tears Nutrition an Omega 3 supplement seems to help. I have been able to find it at Walgreen's, or by going direct to the company.
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