Tongue weakness - an adjunct to other symptoms!

[Bronte17]

I realise that some of these symptoms may be neurological but perhaps they have/had an immunological/infectious aetiology, so not quite sure where to post this!!

Current problem:
Have noticed several times in the last two months when I wake and particularly if I have to speak on the phone soon after waking, that my tongue seems heavy and partially paralysed, which makes speaking quite laboured and slow. It is not the vocal cords but very definitely the tongue from which this speech issue is emanating.
I am wondering if this may be a subtle advancement of past and ongoing symptoms/diagnoses! Read on!

In summary:
2005: Mycoplasma Infection which was not adequately dealt with until 2008. Severe cough 2005 – 2009.

2007: Onset of neuropathic symptoms and pain in legs (ongoing) and burning patches over body (improved); thousands of fasciculations every day (mostly abated now); balance/toppling issues (ongoing); difficulty swallowing; difficulty with digestion (ongoing). Extreme fatigue for four months – August to late 2007.

Diagnostic testing: 2007 EMG’s – normal, Brain MRI normal and other neurological, immunological and endocrinological tests mostly normal or borderline (too many to enumerate). (ANA’s, ANNA’s ANCA’s, GTT’s, etc etc). No IEpNFD’s were done.

2008 and 2009: Pulmonary HRCT scan, diagnosis of bilateral Bronchiectasis. Oesophageal manometry – significant paralysis of oesophagus.  Gastric Emptying Studies revealed severe impairment – Gastroparesis. Permanently on a liquid diet.

2011 - 2012: Weird mouth symptoms – such as peeling skin in mouth. Cracks at the outer corners of eyes.  Diagnosis of Autoimmune Sjögrens Syndrome (S.S.). Diagnosed through almost non-existent tear production (and presenting symptom pattern) during Schirmers test. No lip biopsy done to date.

Now we come to the current tongue problem (2013) and wondering if you may have any clues? I know that S.S. can throw up a lot of mouth issues but I haven’t heard of tongue paralysis being one of them.

Any suggestions/advice?

[Bronte17]

Much appreciate your response. Hmmmm! Interesting. Almost like I had read the manual....lol....which I hadn't.

Sorry for my tardy response. Have been very unwell but much better today.

Bronté17

[Red_Star]

Researchers think Sjogren's Syndrome is caused by a combination of genetics and environmental factors; scientists think that the trigger may be a viral or bacterial infection.  I found a comment from Garth L Nicolson, PhD: "Mycoplasma species are interesting, because the majority of Sjogren’s Syndrome patients have this type of infection."

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Autoimmune-Disorders/Sjogrens-Syndrome/show/954862

The symptoms of Sjogren's Syndrome are numerous and list possible symptoms from gastroparesis to bronchiectasis.  Medscape's article Sjogren Syndrome lists "Difficulty speaking for long periods of time or the development of hoarseness" under the effects patients may describe due to a dry mouth.  Just to add, the occurrence of central nervous system and spinal cord involvement in Sjogren's Syndrome is estimated by various studies to be 8 - 40%.