★★★★☆
Hello Everyone! Thank you all for your comments, they are helpful and encouraging. I am a 61 YY female, and was diagnosed with Sjogrens last year after many years of suffering from fatigue and dryness in the eyes and mouth. But with this diagnoses I was at least pleased to know that these symptoms are related, and REAL (and not something in my head to be demised by doctors).
Anyway, I would like to share some of the things that I am doing that have given me some relief. I have been taking (daily) fish oil, potassium, and vitamins C and D.
I have also been drinking organic unfiltered apple cider vinegar mixed with raw unfiltered local honey (about a tablespoon of each mixed with 12 oz of water). I have noticed a difference in my energy level, as well as some relief from my dry mouth. (And, I am no longer on high blood pressure medication. But that's for another post.)
For the past 2 months I have used something that my ophthalmologist recommended: serum tears. These have been a real blessing. I had started off using OTC replacement tears, with dismal results - no relief. Nothing seemed to provide lubrication in my eyes, and each time I applied the artificial tears, my eyes were left burned and painful; I tried every brand on the shelves; nothing helped. (On a scale of 1-10, my tear production was tested to be a "1", so... hmm, my eyes are very dry).
Anyway, serum tears could be a natural alternative for someone with severe dry eyes. They are made from your own blood, so they are unique to each person. Several units of your blood are drawn, and the red blood cells are separated out, and then the clear (white) cells are mixed with a saline solution, and put into small eye droppers. The solution must be kept frozen until ready to use, and then when thawed it lasts only 30 days under refrigeration. But, I can honestly say, these have given me my life back. I still have dry eyes, but the serum tears give soothing relief, where nothing else did. The serum puts back MY OWN cells in to my eyes, where they are needed. Serum tears are not offered by every eye doctor... you may have to check around. They can be expensive - and they are not always covered by insurance (mine aren't). The science behind these drops is a couple decades old, but it may help some of you who have severe dry eyes as I do.
At night, I am use a simple, pure, organic coconut oil. This has been far better for me than any chemical gel or ointment for night relief. I scoop (with a sterile knife) a small amount of solid oil, and put it in to an empty dropper. Before bed, I run the base of the dropper under hot water for a minute, and then put a couple drops of the barely warmed oil directly into my eyes. Bliss. Coconut oil is naturally antibacterial and anti fungal, which seems more safe than some synthetic chemical based gels or ointments.
Blessing to you all - I hope that that my experience helps someone. There is hope out there.
Multiple Remedies
★★★★☆
One time, I did put my Sjogren's into "remission" for 6 years, actually... I started going back to the things which got me "into the mess" to begin w/...
First of all, mine came from having a toxemia as a child as well as a genetic predisposition... I had been food combining and vegan for years but I didn't find help until I got OFF the Prednisone eye drops I'd been doing for years for my Uveitis (I guess, I should tell others to work caution and check w/ a Naturpoath, uveitis is a serious condion, as well)... I actually tapered off of them as well as (diluted w/ distilled water and more over a period of a month), I had found the ultimately, Eyebright in the eye (would recommend, now, checking Weleda or a homeopath as the way I did it caused infection), but infection or not, the body was then able to heal... Also, around that time, I did a liver cleanse using only milk thistle tea with a juice fast over a period of time. I would also recommend that anyone with Sjogren's take out any nightshades from their diet or regime, sincerely, my uveitis would flare and I also didn't realize that tomatoes were a culprit, I knew I reacted to all other nightshades... I know that I have been successful w/ potatoes, but don't remember doing them around the time I got rid of it.
I got in a less clean environment and the Uveitis crept in some and began use in the eye of the Pred drops again (should've stuck w/ the eyebright, really)... But, thought I was "normal"... Many eye surgeries later, more Pred and not keeping up w/ the natural diet, doing more man made things (it's hard, you need the right nutrients when you have both these conditions, if vegan, you really need to supplement w/ a quality D3 and B12 supplement as well as having a great source of calcium)... and the Sjogren's came back... I'm going to try my former regimine and see how it goes, if that doesn't work, I'm moving where the air is cleaner. Hope this helps someone else! :)
