Fibromyalgia causes a number of symptoms that often impair daily functioning, including chronic fatigue, sleep disorders, and migraines. Fibromyalgia is also associated with Sjogren’s syndrome, an autoimmune disorder that causes severe dryness, particularly in the mouth, eyes, and nose. If you think that you might have Sjogren’s syndrome, please contact your health care provider as various treatments are available.

What is Sjogren’s Syndrome? Sjogren’s syndrome affects about 4 million people in the United States. Also known as sicca syndrome, Sjogren’s syndrome is one of the most prevalent autoimmune diseases in North America. For unknown reasons, 90% of Sjogren’s patients are female. The illness can be very frustrating as it can cause extreme dryness in all parts of the body.

Sjogren’s syndrome causes your body to attack it’s own moisture-producing glands. This causes the glands in your eyes, mouth, and other body parts to dry out and become very uncomfortable. Sjogren’s syndrome can also affect your body’s organs, causing liver, lung, and central nervous system dysfunction.

In half of all Sjogren’s syndrome cases the illness accompanies a connective tissue disease. This is probably why so many fibromyalgia sufferers have the syndrome. It is estimated that between 35% and 50% of fibromyalgia patients additionally suffer from Sjogren’s syndrome. The discomfort associated with Sjogren’s syndrome may amplify the severity of fibromyalgia symptoms.

Types of Sjogren’s Syndrome
There are two main types of Sjogren’s syndrome. It is possible to have both types at the same time:

• Glandular Sjogren’s Syndrome: This type of Sjogren’s syndrome is the most common. It causes the body to attack its own moisture-producing glands, particularly the ones found in the eyes, nose, mouth, and vagina.
• Extraglandular Sjogren’s Syndrome: In addition to attacking the moisture-producing glands, this type of Sjogren’s also assaults other moisture-producing organs in the body, including the lungs, liver, kidneys, pancreas, and central nervous system.

What Causes Sjogren’s Syndrome? Sjogren’s syndrome causes your body to produce extremely high levels of antibodies, which end up attacking your own tissue. However, the reason for the development of these antibodies is unknown.

Many experts believe that Sjogren’s has a genetic basis to it. This hypothesis is supported by the fact that the syndrome is often found in families that have a history of other autoimmune diseases, such as lupus, multiple sclerosis and fibromyalgia, and by the fact that it is not unusual to find the disorder in other family members. Moreover, the vast majority of people affected by Sjogren’s are female (about 90% of sufferers), again lending credence to a genetic link.

Symptoms Associated with Sjogren’s Syndrome
There are a number of symptoms associated with Sjogren’s syndrome. Inform your heath care provider if you experience any of the following:

• eye irritation or infection
• persistent burning or dry eyes
• gritty sensations in the eyes
• extremely dry mouth
• sore or cracked tongue
• difficulty chewing or swallowing
• difficulty speaking
• unexplained dental problems
• dry nasal passages
• extreme fatigue

Complications Caused by Sjogren’s Syndrome
If you are having symptoms of Sjogren’s syndrome it is important to seek treatment from your health care provider. Severe dryness in the eyes can cause abrasions on the cornea, which could result in permanent vision loss. An extremely dry mouth can also cause tooth decay and complications with the tongue and gums.

Sjogren’s syndrome is also associated with increased risks of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. About 1% of all Sjogren’s patients will get non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Treatments for Sjogren’s Syndrome
There is no known cure for this illness, but there are a number of treatments that can provide you with symptom relief. Speak with your health care provider to find out what treatments would be most effective for you.

For Dry Eyes: Artificial tear supplements work well to reduce the pain and suffering caused by dry sore eyes. Prescription-strength artificial tears also provide relief for dry eyes. Wearing goggles or glasses can also help to protect your eyes from wind and debris.

For Dry Mouth: Dry mouth treatments are numerous and easy to get a hold of. You can ease your dry mouth symptoms by sucking on glycerin swabs, which help to produce saliva. It is also important to drink as much as possible to keep your mouth hydrated. Prescription saliva stimulants are also available if your mouth is chronically dry; popular ones are Salagen and Evoxac.

For Dry Nose: Dry nasal passages can be relieved by breathing in steam from a humidifier. Over-the-counter nasal sprays and nasal moisturizers are also quite helpful.

For Vaginal Dryness: To help reduce the pain caused by vaginal dryness, try using a specially-formulated lubricant, like Astroglide or Premarin.