Sjogen's or Sarcoid or ?

[vitko57]

2 1/2 years ago I developed bronchitis.  However, despite MANY drugs and medical tests my symptoms olny got worse.  For approx. 10 months I coughed 24/7, had laryngitis, flu like symptoms including a low grade fever, slept 20 hours a day and night sweats. Eventually, I lost my job and now 2 1/2 years later I am coughing only occasionally.  I did have a medialstienoscopy to biopsy the medial lymph nodes.  Positive for non encasating glanulomas.  Today my lungs are clear and my oxygen level is normal upon exercise.  It used to drop to under 70.  I still have the nodes appearing on the arms and legs related to the sarcoid.  Durning this time I have also had several tooth abcesses.  One so sever that it put me in the hospital and despite intervenious antibiotics the tooth (and all subsequent) had to be pulled because the teech were deemeded "endangering to my health". My teeth are now falling apart in my mouth, constant cavities and I have brusies inside the mouth along the gum line. My eyesight has worsened over the past 2 years and  I still experience the flu llilke symptoms.  I have several questions.  How do I approach my doctor to get him to look for other autoimmune diseases since the only diagnosis is Sarcoid?  Or is this still just the last part of Sarcoid, since it is to be self limiting?  Is Sjogen's my primary and Sarcoid my secondary and how would you tell? Since many autoimmune diseases appear to overlap in their symptoms how can you really determine what one or ones that you are fighting?  And how is the primary and secondaries determined?

[National Jewish]

Sjogren's syndrome and sarcoidosis may co-exist.  They may also mimic each other.  The basis of this relationship is unclear.  Sarcoidosis is not ordinarily characterized as an autoimmune disease.  Non-caseating granulomas suggest sarcoidosis, but are not diagnostic.  They can also be seen in other diseases, including tuberculosis.

Your history suggests that you may have some type of immunodeficiency problem, such as common variable immunodeficiency.  You should have a thorough evaluation of your immune system.  Your initial symptoms 2

[Jane1]

i don't know what Sjogen's is yet ( going to look it up) but I have Sarcoidosis, so I can only confirm some of your dilemma's the eyesight being one - mine is getting worse since diagnosis. I was diagnosed with pulmonary sarc 3 years ago, after needle biopsy.  My X ray's since then and up to six months ago have been clear, my ace levels have been normal. My symptoms however don't resemble the same clarity.  I too had problems with my teeth, one root canal that turned into an extraction that wouldn't be removed by a normal dentist ( had to be surgically extracted) and recently a tooth literally crumbling away - there is a connection with too much Vit D and Sarc dont' know if this is related.  i have also had recent problems with an irregular heart beat again the docs didn't relate this to sarc but after searching the web I have found this to be related.  I feel I am having to tell the docs here about sarcoid rather than them telling me, this is frustrating but the effects of it seem to be different in a lot of cases and it is a systematic disorder so it can affect many organs including the eyes, lungs, heart and in some cases the kidney, I am on a waiting list to see a sarc specialist to confirm whether I have had this condition longer than assumed by my doctors, I have the cough also and get it frequently when the condition seems to flare up.  I'm learning to live with it but I hope someday they can find what the hell is causing this and hopefully a cure.  I really don't know if Sarcoid is self limiting, I think the jury is still out on that one, it is for some I know, but others do get flare ups of their symptoms at certain points in their life.  Some say that if you have the nodes on your legs - which I do also ( just bruise marks now) - it will burn itself out - so heres hoping.  I hope you get better and you get some relief from this distressing disorder which I think doctors in the main seem not to take as seriously as they should.
Regards
Jane