OT- Sjogren's syndrome testing

Just wondering if any of you out there with dry eyes have undergone the testing? The lymph node/lip biopsy to be specific. My dry eyes are no better after almost a full year, now my mouth feels like it is glued shut in the am, and of course the fatigue. My opthomologist says severe dry eyes, have tried OTC drops, steroid drops, restasis, and now oral medications and nothing helps. And is there any benifit to be dx'd formally? I couldn't find a forum addressing this other than autoimmune or fibro forum, and I always get so much better info & responses here. Thanks all.

Maggie

[Sailorsong]

This site has some good info about Sjogren's

www sjogrens org

I do have a Sjogren's Dx, and I am being treated with an Immuno-suppresant  (Azathioprine)  and Prednisone. I have been on this for about 6 months.I also use the Refresh Classic eye drops. I got my Dx with just the history of dry eyes and mouth plus a blood test so I don't know about the biopsy.

I'm not sure if this helps or not for sure. Some days my eyes are still very dry, but others it doesn't seem to bad. I think being outside seems to make it worse, especially the bright, hot, sunny days. And I have been spending more time inside than usual so that could be why they feel better.

I have not tried anything for the dry mouth other than constantly drinking something.

Dennis
  

[slightlybroken]

My mother got her DX through a lip biopsy. She tested negative for the blood panels for Sjogren's Syndrome (SS-B &SS-B). An opthmalogist can DX, just like they did in Dennis's case. My mother went through an ENT surgeon. An opthamologist can DX through the:

Schirmer Test
Measures tear production.

Rose Bengal and Lissamine Green
Eyedrops containing dyes that an eye care specialist uses to examine the surface of the eye for dry spots.

When they do the salivary gland biopsy (I've had this done also), They go through the lower lip. The doctors are looking for chronic inflammation and lymphocyte infiltration to confirm Sjogren's Syndrome combined with your other symptoms. There is only 2 disease that I'm aware of that can attack the salivary glands...Sjogren's being the top one that causes both dry eyes, and swollen, painful salivary and parotid glands.

I would think it's best to be formally DX though any means necessary, because this can be a nasty autoimmune disease if left untreated. There is medications out there that can help control Sjogren's and it's flares. If left untreated, it can attack different systems and organs in the body.

I recently had to talk to my mother in to finding another rheumy to help control her Sjogren's. She has not been taking care of it, and has not been on any medication in years for it, and has paid the price for it. Unfortunately, a lot of doctors around here did not know much, if not anything about Sjogren's Syndrome and this was her main problem.I think she was on Plaquenil but did not get relief from this.

Sjogren's Syndrome is also one of the very few diseases that can go in the spine and leave lesions. I have read several times on different websites that it is a perfect mimicker to MS.