Sj[ouml]gren's syndrome (114.10)

I was diagnosed with Secondary Sjogren's Syndrome and Primary Rheumatoid Arthritis when I was 48. Now, at age 52, I have Sjogrens, RA, Fibromyalgia, Depression, Psoratic Arthritis. Everyday is a challenge. You awake and lay there trying to figure out how to get out of bed because the fatigue is so overwhelming. Sjogrens is more than dry eyes and mouth. You have multiple dental caries, and sometimes you have to wear dentures, which are uncomfortable because of the lack of saliva in your mouth. It is debilitating and there is NO CURE. This auto-immune disorder is ever changing. There are new symptoms every day. Some days you are fine and can actually ambulate and think clearly then all of a sudden you get brain fog and forget what you were saying. You get so fatigued that you literally have to go to bed. The pain that goes through your body is so very painful and most of the time, the pain medication just touches the pain. You are depressed because of how your life has changed. Once vibrant, you are now dull and lack any enthusiasm because you never know what tomorrow will hold. Maybe you will have a good day, maybe you will have a flare and be down for the count. You try to convince yourself that you can move on, but your body screams NO and that's the end of your motivation. You are moved by this disease. You have no control over your pain, how long it will last, how bad it will get. Will you be able to go up the stairs? Somedays, you crawl down those steps. This is definitely a True Disease and needs to be listed as such. Thank you for FINALLY recognizing us. Sandi