Hey everyone,
I hope you are all doing well. I’ve recently started having unusual symptoms. I have a really dry mouth. I drink tons of water throughout the day and I wake up about six or seven times a night to get a glass of water. I also have a swollen right cheek and it’s painful. Has anyone else experienced any of these symptoms. Thanks in advance.
I have Sjögren’s syndrome which has similar symptoms. Check it out. It’s common in people with lupus.
I also have primary symptoms of Sjögren’s syndrom. Which includes dry mouth and nasal tract, Swollen jawline etc. You should check for that. However dry mouth could be an indicator of high blood sugar as well. Specialy if you are prescribed steroids.
Hope this helps. Stay strong.
There are also several medications that cause dry mouth. One thing I have difficulty coping with is I have to keep telling and reminding myself that everything i experience does not have to be a sign or symptom of lupus. Go to your PCP and read side effects of your medications. Hope this train of thought is helpful
Where is the swelling on your jaw? Is it under your jaw or up the side of your face? Under could be Sjogren’s, up the cheek could be an infected lymph node. Sjogren’s causes dry mouth but so do quite a few medications. I have had Sjogren’s since I was little but I don’t crave water I feel like I need to suck on a lemon drop or something like that. Definitely get it checked out as it can be a sign of diabetes as well. Prednisone can cause it too. Good luck!
Those are some of the symptoms I had when I was diagnosed with Sjogren's. Get it checked as soon as possible.
You got to hold on.
Thank you all. I will definitely get it checked soon. The swelling is my cheek, like right under my eye. So frustrating sometimes. I don’t know if my symptoms are something I should report to my doctor or if it is just the lupus or something I just have to get used to.
Sjogrens syndrome is very common with people with lupus. Talk to your dr about it 
Hi Brittany:
I also have Sjogren's, and the best med my dr gave me years ago was 'Evoxac'. I would give up any of my other drugs, no matter how important, before I would ever give that up. I used to choke all the time when my mouth would get so dry, couldn't swallow food without having a problem. Just drinking water would never help. Also, there's a product called Biotene, it's toothpaste, mouth gel, spray, and mouthwash....it's great for dry mouth. There's also a product 'Oasis', it's a mouth spray. I used to be able to get it in a drug store, but our area no longer carries it, so I buy it by the case online, www.oasisdrymouth.com. I hope you get the answer from your dr., and maybe try the OTC products. To be truly DX with Sjogrens, you need a biopsy of the tissue in your mouth. Good luck, and feel well.
What is evoxac? Does it help with the dry eyes? Dry mouth isn’t as much of a problem for me as the dry eyes. I carry something to drink with me all the time as well as eyedrops. My eye doc says to use my drops more often but it doesn’t really help. I’ve had the “drains” cauterized but still have trouble with abrading the surface. Thanks for any info, Annemarie
Hi Brittany:
I also have Sjogren's, and the best med my dr gave me years ago was 'Evoxac'. I would give up any of my other drugs, no matter how important, before I would ever give that up. I used to choke all the time when my mouth would get so dry, couldn't swallow food without having a problem. Just drinking water would never help. Also, there's a product called Biotene, it's toothpaste, mouth gel, spray, and mouthwash....it's great for dry mouth. There's also a product 'Oasis', it's a mouth spray. I used to be able to get it in a drug store, but our area no longer carries it, so I buy it by the case online, www.oasisdrymouth.com. I hope you get the answer from your dr., and maybe try the OTC products. To be truly DX with Sjogrens, you need a biopsy of the tissue in your mouth. Good luck, and feel well.
Evoxac, for me, was prescribed for the dry mouth. I use Systane Balance lubricant eye drops, restorative formula. It seems to work well for me. (when I remember to use it) Does anybody else have problems remembering to even take care of themselves....I feel like I need to make a daily list, like I used to make my son when he was in kindergarten, and give him stars when he remembered to do something....I hate to admit, but sometimes, I even forget to brush my teeth. ick...
bak said:
Hi Brittany:
I also have Sjogren's, and the best med my dr gave me years ago was 'Evoxac'. I would give up any of my other drugs, no matter how important, before I would ever give that up. I used to choke all the time when my mouth would get so dry, couldn't swallow food without having a problem. Just drinking water would never help. Also, there's a product called Biotene, it's toothpaste, mouth gel, spray, and mouthwash....it's great for dry mouth. There's also a product 'Oasis', it's a mouth spray. I used to be able to get it in a drug store, but our area no longer carries it, so I buy it by the case online, www.oasisdrymouth.com. I hope you get the answer from your dr., and maybe try the OTC products. To be truly DX with Sjogrens, you need a biopsy of the tissue in your mouth. Good luck, and feel well.
Oh my yes. It started in September. It has been horrible. Sjögren’s syndrome is another autoimmune disease. It is often secondary to lupus. Dry mouth, no taste, dye eyes, aching fatigue and more are the symptoms. Check out some info from the sjogrens.org Please check with your dr.
If you have Sjogren's, please consider joining our Sjogren's community, if you haven't already: http://www.sjogrenssyndromesupport.org/
Thank you all. I will book an appt with my PCP. Hopefully she will have some answers.
What everyone else has said is excellent advice, but I wanted to add one additional possibility. It could also be a salivary gland problem - stone, blocked duct, infection, etc. That could account for the swelling and the dry mouth, and salivary duct problems are often missed or misdiagnosed. Please get to your doctor and have it checked ASAP though! Not to frighten you, but my brother had an issue with salivary glands that went unrecognized for too long (he had no insurance, & was forced to rely on the ER for treatment.) Sadly, his turned out to be a salivary gland cancer, & by the time someone finally caught it, it had metastasized too much for treatment to do him any good. Fortunately what he had was VERY rare, but I just always feel obligated to mention it in something like this because I don’t want anyone else to ever unnecessarily experience what my family did.
I know we lupies are constantly having our bodies spring new & puzzling problems on us, and I can say for myself it gets wearing, and you get to the point that you’re just tempted to puzzle a lot out on your own, & not go running to the dr. over every new thing. I’ve done it myself - but I can honestly say it’s been a huge mistake a few times, and I’ve sustained permanent damage from it, so I think I’ve finally learned my lesson, even as hardheaded as I am, and as tired as I am of doctors offices. I don’t mean to sound like I’m lecturing you, not at all, I’m just concerned, and don’t ever want any of us to suffer one tiny bit more than we absolutely have to! Take care, & please keep us updated! Hugs!
Both my husband and granddaughter have had similar symptoms caused by a blocked salivary gland. Try sucking on a tart candy (lemon works great) through out the day and see if it helps relieve some of the discomfort. If this is the cause, you will probably need a round of antibiotics to completely clear the block. I hope it is a simple fix, and nothing serious or long term. Keep us posted!
Hello!, the dry mouth Symptom!! LOL. It is a side affect , at least that is what my doctor says. I keep gum and candy handy for when this happens! My doctor says there is nothing that can be given or take . As for waking up through the nite , Lupus cause this also, and it will happening , to sum it up , get use to it!! Smile sorry if this didn’t help! Take care …Beverly L.
It's the sjogren's. It is the most annoying thing EVER! I can't even hold a decent conversation for more than 5 minutes without my mouth drying out it is so embarrassing. Finally the Rheumy gave me Pilocarpine that I take 3x a day, it seems to help somewhat. Get some hard candy or peppermints in your purse at all times.
Beverly my Rheumy prescribed Pilocarpine it for the dry mouth
Beverly L. said:
Hello!, the dry mouth Symptom!! LOL. It is a side affect , at least that is what my doctor says. I keep gum and candy handy for when this happens! My doctor says there is nothing that can be given or take . As for waking up through the nite , Lupus cause this also, and it will happening , to sum it up , get use to it!! Smile sorry if this didn't help! Take care ...Beverly L.
Thank you all for the advice. I went to see my Doctor and she basically did blood work and she said I’m prediabetes and prehypertension. So I have to work harder at losing the extra prednisone weight and changing my diet even more.