Sjogren, its like a draught!!

Sjögren's syndrome is a chronic (long-lasting) disorder that causes insufficient moisture production in some glands of the body, primarily in the eyes and mouth. Sjögren's syndrome occurs when a person's normally protective immune system attacks her/his body and destroys moisture-producing glands, including salivary (saliva-producing) glands and lacrimal (tear-producing) glands. The lungs, bowel, and other organs may be affected, but relatively less often.
Sjögren's syndrome is named after the Swedish eye doctor, Henrik Sjogren, who first described the condition.
Sjögren’s syndrome is characterized by dry eyes and mouth. In some patients, the parotid glands may become visibly enlarged.

What are the symptoms of Sjögren's syndrome?
Sjögren's syndrome is mostly characterized by dry eyes and mouth. In some patients, the parotid glands may become visibly enlarged. The main symptoms of Sjögren's syndrome are: Extremely dry eyes, causing a feeling of grit or sand, burning, and redness Inner angle thick secretions Extremely dry mouth and throat, causing: difficulty chewing and swallowing, especially dry food such as crackers decreased or altered sense of taste difficulty speaking increase in dental cavities and even tooth loss at early age dry cough or hoarseness Enlarged parotid glands (located at the angle of jaw), looking like an infection Excessive fatigue Aches and pains in muscles and joints, and even the whole body, similar to fibromyalgia pain
Less common features of Sjögren's syndrome are: Irritation of the nerves in the arms, hands, legs, or feet (neuropathy)
Feeling of numbness or tingling
Thyroid gland abnormalities
Skin rashes
Memory loss, difficulty concentrating or confusion
Gastrointestinal problems, such as acid reflex, bloating, abdominal pain, or diarrhea
Inflammation of the lungs, kidneys (unlike lupus nephritis), liver, or pancreas
Cancer of the lymphatic tissue (occurs in up to 5% of patients with the disease)

What causes Sjögren's syndrome? Normally, the immune system (the body's defense system) protects the body from infection and foreign substances such as bacteria and viruses.
In autoimmune diseases such as Sjögren's syndrome, the immune system triggers an inflammatory response when there are no foreign substances to fight off. This inflammatory response causes the body's white blood cells to attack and destroy its own moisture-producing glands. The exact cause for the abnormal immune response in Sjögren's syndrome is unknown.
There are four factors that may work together to cause the medical problems: abnormal immune response sex hormones inheritance, and environment.
Certain people may have a genetic or inherited factor that makes them more likely to develop Sjögren's syndrome.

What are the forms of Sjögren's syndrome?
Sjögren's syndrome occurs in two basic forms: Primary Sjögren's syndrome – the disease by itself, not associated with any other illness Secondary Sjögren's syndrome – disease that develops in the presence of another autoimmune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, or psoriatic arthritis

Who is affected by Sjögren's syndrome?
More than one million people in the United States have Sjögren's syndrome (about 0.5 to 1% of the population).
More than 90% of people affected by Sjögren's syndrome are women. The disease can affect people of any race or age, but affects mostly middle-aged individuals.

How is primary Sjögren's syndrome diagnosed?
The diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome is based on several factors, including: Presence of dry eyes and mouth. Dry eyes can be diagnosed by an ophthalmologist (eye doctor) by measuring tear production or carefully examining the cornea (clear part of the eye). Certain laboratory tests also suggest that dry eyes and mouth are caused by autoimmune mechanisms.
Examples include the presence of autoantibodies in the blood, known as ANA, anti-SSA, or anti-SSB (also known as anti-Ro or anti-La), and even rheumatoid factor.
Biopsy of the inner lip (performed in some cases to prove the diagnosis of primary Sjögren's syndrome). The biopsy may show the inflammation that is damaging the salivary glands.

How is secondary Sjögren's syndrome diagnosed?
Secondary Sjögren's syndrome is generally diagnosed when someone with an established autoimmune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus develops extreme dryness of the eyes and mouth. This diagnosis only rarely requires a lip biopsy.

Can other problems mimic Sjögren's syndrome?
The use of certain medications such as tricyclic antidepressants and antihistamines can cause the symptoms of Sjögren's syndrome.
Radiation treatments to the head and neck and other autoimmune disorders can also cause severely dry eyes and mouth. Hepatitic C, sarcoidosis, and HIV infection can also cause these dry symptoms.

How is Sjögren's syndrome treated?
There is no cure for Sjögren's syndrome, but it can be treated and managed. The goals of treatment are to decrease discomfort and reduce the harmful effects of dryness.
Generally, physicians use medications to control symptoms (symptomatic treatment). The type of treatment will be tailored to each patient's symptoms and needs.
Good oral hygiene
Good mouth/dental care may prevent or reduce dental decays, infections, or tooth loss: Toothpastes (biotene type) and oral gels are available for people with dry mouth symptoms.
These products may also have antibacterial action to reduce the severity of dental cavities over a long period of time. Chewing sugar-free gums can be helpful. Taking frequent sips of water without swallowing (spitting it out) may improve dry mouth. Increasing eye moisture
Dry eyes are mainly treated with the use of artificial tears. A wide variety of over-the-counter products is available.
Artificial tears can be used regularly and more often in dry environmental conditions such as on airplanes, in air-conditioned buildings, and on windy days. While artificial tears are helpful, they often do not last long enough. Thicker preparations (gel form) that last longer are available. These are often used at bedtime because they can sometimes cause blurry vision. Eye doctors can prescribe an eye drop called Restasis to treat more severe form of dry eyes.
A small procedure called punctal plugs, to slow the disappearance of tears, is another treatment option when artificial tears are not sufficient.

Medications
Medications that tend to reduce body fluids should be avoided. Mild pain-relieving medications (analgesics), including acetaminophen (such as Tylenol®) or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, such as Motrin® and Aleve®), can reduce muscle or joint pain.

In some patients, the anti-rheumatic drug hydroxychloroquine has been beneficial in decreasing pain and salivary gland swelling and improving fatigue, muscle pain, joint pain, or rash.
This drug generally does not help with dry symptoms, however. For patients with internal organ symptoms (particularly when the disease affects internal organs), steroids and immunosuppressive medications may be used. These include medicines such as prednisone (a steroid) and, rarely, chemotherapy-type medications. Balance of rest and exercise

Guided exercise programs can help patients overcome fatigue, maintain flexibility, and overcome joint and muscle pain. Good sleep hygiene is helpful for improving fatigue and body pain.

How can I learn more about Sjögren's Syndrome?
Sjögren's Syndrome Foundation, Inc. 6707 Democracy Blvd Ste 325 Bethesda, MD 20817 1.800.4.SJOGREN Fax: 301.530.4415
www.sjogrens.org

References Sjögren's Syndrome Foundation. About Sjögren's Syndrome Accessed 11/6/2014. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. NINDS Sjögren's Syndrome Information Page Accessed 11/6/2014.

Arthritis Foundation. Sjogren's Syndrome Accessed 11/6/2014. © Copyright 1995-2014 The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. All rights reserved.

3rd Spaces !?

When’s the Last Time You Drained Your Lymph Fluids?

by PAUL FASSA

Your body’s lymph system is the sewage system for even normal metabolic toxins, and more so if there are health issues. Lymph nodes provide antigens for purifying fluids containing anything from allergens to cancer cells. That fluid is simply called lymph. There is more lymph in your body than blood, but unlike blood, there is no pump for lymph.

If lymph doesn’t move out of small lymph nodes through their ducts into the kidneys and liver, it backs up like a clogged sewer line. Lymph nodes can become infected and you wind up with the misnomer of “swollen glands.”

Lymph nodes are not glands, but the accumulation of contaminated lymph fluids leads to all sorts of health complications, some serious.

A sedentary life style encourages poor health. Even if one is not stuffing his or her face with junk food and watching TV for hours, a desk job, especially at the computer, is just as sedentary. And the lack of exercise or even movement of any sort is not just detrimental to pulmonary and muscular health. The lymph system needs to be worked also.

Moving lymph fluids is especially important for women who wear bras and/or use underarm deodorants containing toxins such as aluminum. Those toxins leech into abundant lymph node areas nearby and just beneath the skin.

Obviously, anyone who eats and drinks processed food and sodas or alcohol while leading a sedentary lifestyle is stuck with a compromised immune system from clogged lymph fluid toxins that need to be drained and eliminated through the kidneys. But the sedentary lifestyle can be a killer for even those who eat healthy!

Methods for Moving Your Lymph Fluid

Rebounding or bouncing works very well for moving lymph fluid enough for the kidneys and other bodily organs to purify it. A mini-trampoline bouncer can be purchased for around 50 US dollars, more or less. It is like a mini-trampoline, around four feet in diameter.

It’s close to the ground, so all you do is step up and bounce up and down for 10 to 15 minutes, indoors or outdoors.

You don’t even have to leap high enough to clear the spring-bound mat, and you can hold onto something nearby to stabilize yourself if there are balancing issues.

Each time you bounce you increase the gravitational pull on your lymph. You’re getting low level “Gs”or increased gravitational pulls similar to what you feel from sudden changes of vehicular speed and direction or crazy carnival motion rides.

With intense walking or even gentle rebounding, the “G’s” are in vertical alignment with your body and its lymph system.

If you enjoy the more difficult task of jumping rope exercises or more strenuous activity such as half-court basket ball, tennis, or racquetball, there you go, moving your lymph node fluids enough to facilitate toxin elimination. Any athletic activity that requires jumping and/or running is great.

Rebounding is for those of us who are desk bound to computers and don’t have the time or wherewithal for those more athletic endeavors. Just park the mini-trampoline bouncer nearby and take a rebounding break now and then.

Surprisingly, in this era of hyper-exercising, many health experts are now realizing the merits of walking to move that lymph around. Not leisurely mall window shopping strolls, but brisk walks. Studies have shown that walking helps prevent Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.

Walking should be done outdoors in as natural a setting as possible with trees, grass, lakeside or ocean, and open fresh air.Ayurveda  stresses the importance of being in a field of nature. But sometimes weather isn’t permitting, so joining the mall walkers is okay then.

The walk should take 20 minutes or more. Four times a week is good enough. Start out as briskly as you can, then move into power walking if possible. Since there are so many lymph nodes in the upper body in addition to the legs, i.e., the armpits neck and shoulders, arm movement should be more extreme than usual.

Walking is a weight bearing activity. Gravity helps move lymph each time one steps briskly with a slight bound to the ground. The sudden stops of each step with your full weight create additional gravitational pulls, which helps pull the lymph downward.

Yes, massage helps too. But daily massages are not as accessible and inexpensive as rebounding and walking. Don’t forget to hydrate with purified water often to help the liver and kidneys eliminate those toxic lymph fluids from your body.

Paul Fassa is a contributing staff writer for REALfarmacy.com. His pet peeves are the Medical Mafia’s control over health and the food industry and government regulatory agencies’ corruption. Paul’s valiant contributions to the health movement and global paradigm shift are world renowned. Visit his blog by following this link and follow him onTwitter here.

Sources:
http://www.mygutsy.com…
http://owen.curezone.com…
http://www.emedicinehealth.com…
http://www.optimumhealthclinic.info…
http://www.naturalnews.com…

Lymph system illustration-http://www.anatomyee.com…
Walking photo from CharlotteParent.com
Indoor bounce: https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com…
Basic bouncer: http://ecx.images-amazon.com…

Muscle Spasms in neck causing constriction in throat

Cricopharyngeal spasms occur in the cricopharyngeus muscle of the pharynx. These spasms are frequently misunderstood by the patient to be cancer due to the 'lump in the throat' feeling (Globus pharyngis) that is symptomatic of this syndrome. In practice, real lumps in the throat, such as a cancer, are generally not felt until they impede ingestion of food[citation needed]. This is one of the reasons that a cancer can get so big before it is discovered.

Urticaria

http://meandmymastcells.com/urticaria-pigmentosa/

http://www.formulamedical.com/Topics/Symptoms/skin,%20hives.htm

http://www.aocd-grandrounds.org/case_48.shtml

CORRECT DIAGNOSIS:

Urticaria Pigmentosa

DISCUSSION:

Mastocytosis (MC) is a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by abnormal proliferation and accumulation of mast cells in the skin, bone marrow, gastrointestinal tract, liver, spleen, and lymph nodes. The spectrum of mast cell disease has been classified based on type and extent of involvement as well as age of onset.

Cutaneous forms include solitary mastocytoma, urticaria pigmentosa, diffuse cutaneous mastocytosis, and telangiectasia macularis eruptiva perstans. Urticaria pigmentosa is the most common form of cutaneous MC. Urticaria pigmentosa (UP) usually presents in childhood and can persist into adulthood, however, most spontaneously improve. 

Patients with UP may also experience various systemic symptoms such as pruritus, flushing, dizziness, palpitations, syncope, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, headache, musculoskeletal pain, and neuropsychiatric disturbances. 

Meningeal Compression and Fibromyalgia Pain

Meningeal Compression and Fibromyalgia Pain 

Meningeal Compression could be caused by an encroachment or twisting on the three-membrane protective covering of the spinal cord and brain, called the meninges. This intrusion might be from a tumor or other malformation, but we find that it is most often caused by a change in the cervical spine, which can reduce or distort the space through which the spinal cord and meninges must pass. Any tugging on the meninges can have devastating effects on this critical and sensitive nerve action, which in turn can produce a galaxy of undesirable symptoms.

We believe this compression creates myriad symptoms, one of which is fibromyalgia. Others are reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), brachia neuralgia, trigeminal neuralgia, irritable bowel syndrome, restless leg syndrome, unexplained diffuse pain, depression, chronic fatigue, anxiety and many more. The meninges are the three membranes that form a strong bag-like envelope around the brain and spinal cord, holds the cerebrospinal fluid, which brings nutrition and healing to the brain and spinal cord. It is attached to all of the nerves that pass through it. Nerve roots are extensions of the spinal cord that turn and exit between each vertebra, sending and receiving impulses that control virtually the entire body, even the smallest parts. Since these nerves pass through the meninges, naturally it follows that every bodily system can be affected by the pulling of the meninges. These nerve roots also extend fibers to the brain, which transmit impulses that are then received as pain, burning, itching, hot, cold, tingling, or numbness, as well as other parasthesias (that is, odd feelings). The pulling and irritation of these nerve roots cause nerve fibers to fire maverick impulses to the brain. The brain interprets these fired impulses as pain, itching, burning, coldness, numbness, or other odd feelings. The body, in response to stimuli from irritation, will often twitch or spasm, thus prompting the restless leg syndrome, muscle tightness, and spasms often experienced by fibromyalgia patients. Typically irritation of the nerve roots, when it hits levels that are diagnosed as fibromyalgia, bombards the sufferer’s brain, overwhelming the autonomic and sensory pathways, keeping them in pain, awake at night, fatigued, and depressed.

The symptoms of possible Meningeal Compression may vary from person to person. They may be debilitating - as in a severe case of RSD or Fibromyalgia - or be less severe in a milder case of fibromyalgia, mild facial pain or trigeminal neuralgia. Including the whole galaxy of symptoms would be impractical, because the nervous system controls the entire body and can affect all the systems.

Here, then, is a partial list:
- Insomnia: Insomnia is particularly troubling in almost all fibromyalgia patients. It could become worse in relation to the degree of pressure on the menenges. The anxiety, the pain, the overactive central nervous system, and adrenaline overproduction make sleep almost impossible.
- Fatigue: Fatigue naturally goes along with insomnia, but it is a level of fatigue that goes well beyond what would be expected with ordinary insomnia, and it has a much deeper impact.
- Emotional instability, depression, irritability, and nervousness: These symptoms are often the most difficult to deal with, since they affect the very core of the being and destroy joy and enthusiasm. Life becomes miserable for the sufferer as well as for those around him.
- Mild to severe body pain: This can vary from headaches; pressure at the base of the skull; neck pain; arm pains or numbness; torso pain; hip, thigh, and leg pain; or numbness and facial pains. Often this will be worse in the morning and evening.
- Headaches: Usually there is pressure at the base of the skull, and there is sometimes associated pain in the occipital (back side of the skull) and upper cervical spine (neck). Many patients have severe, migraine-type headaches. FMS headaches may vary in location and intensity. We have seen almost every possible combination—unilateral, bilateral, facial, occipital, mild, severe, —sometimes accompanied with nausea and vomiting.
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome: This is present in most sufferers, and may be caused by the sympathetic nervous system firing constantly, preventing the parasympathetic nervous system from controlling digestion. Its constant firing may increase adrenaline production and bring with it a feeling of forthcoming destruction. The parasympathetic system works well when we are relaxed, and controls things like food digestion and normal, relaxed bodily functions.
- Rashes: Some people will develop rashes on their legs, arms, face, back, or other areas. Such rashes are common and almost always go away with the treatment.
- Trigeminal neuralgia: Observations suggest that the tugging on the trigeminal nerve as it exits through the menenges can trigger this symptom. Trigeminal neuralgia is characterized by facial pain, often lancing—usually severe, though it can be mild. The patients we have seen with this condition usually respond well to treatment.
- Calcium deposits under the skin: These are common, usually under pea size, but we have seen them much larger. They can be very painful and even cause bleeding with movement in rare cases.
- Communication problems: These are common. Symptoms of this sort generally suggest a severe case. Patients we see who are this ill are unable to answer questions or keep on the subject. This lack of focus usually abates in the first two weeks of treatment.
- Anxiety: Anxiety is often one of the most severe problems. Many patients don’t even realize they have anxiety until it is pointed out. It can be brought on by the sympathetic nervous system firing continuously. It will push one, even though they may be totally exhausted, and keep them going somewhat; but it is this anxiety that also prevents sleep and rest.
Panic attacks - feelings of a need to protect oneself or to run away - are common. When anxiety disappears, our patients become very tired and restorative sleep follows. This is when we see leaps in their improvement.
- All of the glands of the body can be affected, i.e.: the pituitary, the thyroid, the adrenals, the reproductive glands, the pancreas, etc. These glands malfunctioning can create a host of physical problems as well as mental and emotional problems.

This is why balancing hormones give a person a boost. - RSD or CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome): This is a complex and, until-now, misunderstood problem associated with an accident or a surgery. After the event the body part involved will continue to display pain and often circulatory problems. The pain can be excruciating.

http://www.nrc.md/articles/maningeal-compression-and-fibromyalgia-pain

Legacy....

Meemaw and I had the most beautiful conversations over the last few days... I had forgotten about my own birthday until she started asking about my mail. Funny in so many small ways this past years health decline has left it's mark, I suppose... But I digress....

She says she wants to leave a legacy and I told her she must pick something else for her bucket wish because her legacy precedes her!!

But I don't think she really understands my meaning...

It is not through us sad sacks whom are lucky enough to be related to her or via her friends that have come & gone throughout the years. We are the mere soldiers in her army, just a shadow of the strength she taught us to be, ...

Her legacy is nothing less than what God asked her to be and that lives on in the hearts and on the tongues of every person she touched either with her hand or simply by her voice as it raised you up in prayer to the heavens even when she didn't know your name & you were probably undeserving.

Meemaw's legacy precedes her in so many ways because none of us are good enough to carry it alone...

God (even though a jealous God) allowed her to mean so much - to so many -in different ways & yet humble in her walk (because all the while her focus was Him).

Cherish her in your prayers even if you weren't lucky enough to be touched by her hand!! And let her know how she's touched your life, every chance you get!

You are a legacy of God's Love!
Thank you Meemaw!!