This kind of fatigue makes you feel that you are climbing a steep hill when you are really walking on level ground. It may resolve once the underlying organic condition is diagnosed and treated. Thyroid problems and anemia are both common among Sjögren's patients, but many other kinds of fatigue may be superimposed.
Dryness in these organs can lead to irritation, soreness, and pain. Patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome report fatigue as one of the most difficult symptoms they have to cope with.
In more serious cases of Sjögren's syndrome, the immune system can attack other parts of the body, causing symptoms and conditions such as: dry skin. tiredness and fatigue – which are common and can lead to total exhaustion. muscle pain.
Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine, HCQ): Since Sjögren's is an autoimmune disease where the immune system is overactive, medications that calm down the immune system are sometimes needed. Plaquenil is one of the safest drugs used to treat Sjögren's. It can especially be helpful for Sjögren's arthritis, fatigue, and rashes.
Fatigue can be associated with chronic inflammatory disorders such as RA and pSS, conditions often treated with anti-inflammatory drugs. However, if an underlying condition or inflammation is suspected to cause or contribute to the fatigue, the main focus should be on treating the primary disease (30).
Constipation and diarrhea can occur with Sjögren's. Increase vegetables. Try magnesium supplement for constipation. The pancreas, which releases digestive enzymes, can have low-level inflammation (20-40%) in Sjögren's.
The neurological complications of Sjögren's syndrome are extensive and range from cognitive difficulties, to burning toes and feet.
Global cognitive impairment in Sjögren's
Most patients experience “brain fog” symptoms, which manifest as memory lapses, forgetfulness, mental confusion, and difficulties in concentrating, organizing, or anticipating future events.
Profound and debilitating fatigue is the most common complaint reported among individuals with autoimmune disease, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes, celiac disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Dry eyes, corneal ulcerations and infections. Dry nose, recurrent sinusitis, nosebleeds. Dry mouth, mouth sores, dental decay, difficulty with chewing, speech, taste and dentures. Swollen, painful parotid/salivary glands.
The diagnosis of SS remains a clinical challenge. In this study, we report a case of a patient with primary Sjogren syndrome (pSS) experiencing severe autonomic neuropathy symptoms characterized by dizziness and palpitations.
Uncommon events include early and progressive hearing loss and symptoms related to neuropathy of the eighth cranial nerve. Approximately one-fourth patients suffers from high frequency hearing loss of cochlear origin, as detected by impedance audiometry or auditory brainstem procedures.
Steven Carsons, MD: Common symptoms of neurologic involvement secondary to Sjogren syndrome include numbness and tingling of the extremities or problems with balance, representing peripheral neuropathy, facial pain secondary to trigeminal neuralgia, and patchy painful stinging and burning of the skin caused by small ...
It may include forgetfulness, spaciness, confusion, decreased ability to pay attention, an inability to focus, and difficulty in processing information.
Trigger: High and low temperatures
Barsky points to a recent study showing that both extreme heat and cold often affect Sjögren's. Experts aren't sure why people with Sjögren's have temperature sensitivities, but Barsky points to a few possible explanations.
Eating a healthy diet may be helpful for anyone with an autoimmune disease. With some autoimmune conditions, you may need to follow certain dietary restrictions or special diets. Get enough sleep. Sleep is important, but it needs to be restorative sleep.
In most cases, there's a reason for the fatigue. It might be allergic rhinitis, anemia, depression, fibromyalgia, chronic kidney disease, liver disease, lung disease (COPD), a bacterial or viral infection, or some other health condition. If that's the case, then the long-term outlook is good.
The Autoimmune Association has heard from people who describe their fatigue in no uncertain terms: It's DEBILITATING! It feels like my body is lugging around a TON OF BRICKS. Because of my fatigue, I am not the person I once was.
If Sjögren's syndrome isn't treated appropriately, significant, long-term complications could result that affect your eyes, mouth, lungs, kidneys, liver or lymph nodes — complications including blindness, significant dental destruction and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Falk: What kinds of factors can make Sjogren's worse? What is the effect, for example, of stress? Jonas: Well, like all autoimmune diseases, patients who feel stressed or are under unusual stress will often have exacerbation of their symptoms. Learning to manage that stress in your life is very important.
Activated aryl hydrocarbon receptor may interact with latent Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, which in turn may predispose to the development of Sjögren's syndrome. It is estimated that the population is 95% positive for EBV serology.
Sjögren's syndrome can also cause swollen or painful joints, muscle pain or weakness, dry skin, rashes, brain fog (poor concentration or memory), numbness and tingling sensations in the arms and legs due to nerve involvement, heartburn, kidney problems and swollen lymph nodes.
Patients with Sjögren's frequently suffer from decreased mucus/nasal secretions and dryness of the nose and sinuses.
If you have Sjogren's syndrome, you are also more likely to have a condition called painful bladder syndrome, or interstitial cystitis. This condition causes signs and symptoms similar to those of a urinary tract infection — urinary frequency, urgency and pain — without evidence of infection.