Dry, Dry Dry

[Eve]

Sqad, if you are about, or anyone else of course, could sicca syndrome (related to rheumatoid arthritis) also cause symptoms like dry hair and skin and change in temperature control (e.g. not sweating anywhere near as much as usual - not that I do loads anyway!).

My dry mouth is causing issues, especially overnight as if I end up breathing in and out through it it ends up completely dry and wakes me up and I have to get some liquid in quick as I can't breathe properly (if that makes sense) as breathing makes it drier (on already dry). I find often if I breathe in deeper through my mouth it makes a bit of a vibraty sound (?) like an on the way to snoring sound.

My throat is dry and voice has gone a bit husky too.

Apparently I don't have the antibodies for Sjogrens (they did a load of tests a while back when looking for lupus etc...) and I got my thyroid test result back today which was normal (was a little surprised as it would have explain a lot, especially why even on a mostly low cal diet with low fat or not being able to eat at all through bowel problem playing up (couldn't keep anything in my system for a week, lost nothing!) I am putting on rather than loosing weight and weigh more than I've ever done!).

Sorry, the weight bit was a rant! :)

[Sqad]

Yes, dry hair and dry skin and dry hair are all typical of sicca syndrome of whatever cause.Nothing much can be done.

[jno]

would a humidifier help you sleep?

[Eve]

Thanks Sqad, appreciated as always.

[Eve]

Hi jno, lots of drugs help me sleep :) Don't worry the legal prescription kind! Otherwise the pain makes it really difficult.

It is a bit difficult at night though faffing about in a still drugged up haze to get something to drink when it wakes me up. Trying to be extra careful at the mo after I had a bad fall down the stairs yesterday morning though I think that was part my knee giving way as it's prone to do. Had a nasty fall on a bus the week before and some other incidents so need to minimise scope for injuring myself, especially when under the influence, so to speak.

I've got a humidifier and have it on every night all through the year (save it being absolutely freezing) and windows open too. It's got a compartment at the back I put the water/ice in and I set it on a timer so it goes off, hopefully once I'm already asleep.

[jno]

fair enough, then Sqad is the one whose advice you should take. Good luck.