Just Out of My Grasp - Sjogren's Is More Than a European Name

Ahoy Fellow Fathomers, I’ve decided to use my blog not only to writing, music, and other facets of entertainment, but, also to share my journey. I found out on June 19, 2013 the reason for many of my ongoing health problems is because I have systemic lupus, also known as SLE. I also have Sjogrens Syndrome. 

Thank you for listening, each week I will have a new installment chronicling my journey. Please, please feel free to comment, write, share. I hope to use this forum as a help to all of us, no matter what pain you are experiencing. You may also send stories to me via finlessbook at gmail dot com. I will respect your privacy and maintain your anonymity, if you so desire.

Hugs for today …

Have any of you ever seen the movie Me, Myself, and Irene? This Jim Carrey/Renee Zellweger comedy movie had me laughing with the many off color, obscene, and adult humor jabs zinging throughout the film. Jim’s classic over the top theatrics extend from succinct verbal delivery to his malleable physical stunts.

I’ve learned that my Sjogren’s Syndrome worsens, at times to signal impending sickness. But, anymore, it happens almost randomly and I feel like Jim Carrey’s Officer Charlie Baileygates from said movie.

The character experiences severe dry mouth from the medications he takes to control his multiple personality disorder.

While I do not take meds for MPD, I completely empathize with the character so aptly presented by Jim Carrey. Today, I have 3 beverages at my desk- flat water, large coffee, and sparkling pink grapefruit Perrier. I really hope that one of the three dissolves the cardboard so stubbornly lodged in my mouth. As soon as one is empty, I will add something else to reconstitute my tongue.

Possibly, even though my sodium levels are within normal ranges, that eating salty foods before bed causes some of the dryness. I will try the experiment to leave off salty foods in the evening.  However, my hands, especially my cuticles, are so dry, it feels as if I’ve been washing dishes non-stop for hours or working with clay or mortar- drawing out all the natural moisture in my hands. So, not sure I can really control this phenomena.

Maybe it’s why I rarely cry…I just don’t produce the tears.