Sjogren's?

[nh_user_1270988]

Hi everyone, I’m Belén, i am 20 years old and I’m from Chile and I want to know that you think about my condition

Around march of this year I started to feel my eyes getting really dry, they burn and the only solution I found was to close them and press my hands against them until I bought artificial tears, but they only work for like 10 minutes, after that they get dry again. Also, my nose started to get very dry around May and, until now, it has never been not-dry; it hurts, it doesn’t let me sleep, I usually get wounds which take their time to close and the worst part is that if I don’t swallow saliva usually, the part of the nasal tract that connects to the pharynx get really really dry and eating becomes hard. I don’t seem to have any problems with saliva production though. The only thing remarkable about my mouth is that I have always had dry lips, I don’t remember a time in my life when I didn’t have them.

Some extra stuff that I don’t know if they are important are that I got a very bad flu in March, and after I recover the same month, I started to notice this symptoms. Since then I haven’t been sick, which is weird because in my country we’re already in spring, I mean, I survived fall and winter with a dry nose, and that’s really weird on me . Also, in August I noticed a small lump on my jaw, below the right ear but it disappeared after 1 week. In September my eyes seemed to get better, so I stopped using my artificial tears but the last few days they got dry again and today I noticed another lump in the same area but on the left side of my face.

I wrote all this because I’m terrified of doctors: I’m scared that i actually have something serious like Sjogren’s or that I’m just overreacting. Also, I’m a college student and going the doctor is a problem, at the money side.

I know that I should consult a doctor so if you have anything to say about what I should tell them or anything that I can check or focus about myself, or what you think about this, please write them down below.

Thanks for reading!

[nh_user_786613]

HI BELENZMRA
It is important that you go get expert medical advice.GP FIRST
then a specialist. YOU may not have SJOGRENS but even if you do it is not fatal and can be managed.
i can tell you are feeling anxious and so the best way to rel ieve this is to seek medical advice.ONCE you identify what the problem is you can then look at your options and try each one out until you resolve your problem.
i am an older woman and suffered from SJOGRENS since menopause. You are only young and have a better chance of resolving whatever this is. GOOD Luck and keep in touch. THIS IS A VERY SUPPORTIVE FORUM XX.

[nh_user_988440]

Belen, you are very young to be developing Sjogren’s Syndrome, but the dryness of eyes and mouth, plus the sores are classic symptoms. I am old enough to be your grandmother, and my Sjogren’s accompanied an other auto-immune disease. You must see a doctor. In Canada, where I live, our medical is covered when we are older. Also our payments are much cheaper when we are younger. There should be a walk-in clinic, hopefully near you. I was a student for many years and understand your fears. Please do not be afraid of doctors. They are there to help you.
Sally