How To Differentiate Lupus And Sjogrens?

my daughter started this crazy autoimmune journey about 4 years ago at the age of 16. (at least that's when we realized her years of "weirdness" were actually SOMETHING)After some strange knots and rashes and being hospitalized and put on rocephin and bactrim only to spike a temp of 105 and develop a bright red rash from head to toe she was referred to a rheumatologist. She had a positive ANA (no numbers listed on labs, only positive) dsDNA and SSA. She was started on plaquenil and Mobic then added topamax and maxalt due to severe migraines. The initial diagnosis was undifferentiated. Her rheumy said he was leading more to Lupus because she has the distinct butterfly rash. She stopped taking her meds after she got married and has since had two kids (ages 3 and soon to be 1) She just reestablished herself with a new rheumy. They reran her bloodwork and said her ANA is quite high (didn't elaborate with numbers) and her vitamin D is extremely low. She is now back on plaquenil, Mobic, a prescription to help with the Vitamin D and calcium supplements. She has been to the hospital several times in the past few months with chest pain and high heart rate and sometimes high BP. She always tells them she has undifferentiated connective tissue disease but all they ever do is check her SED rate which is NEVER high..... are there specific things she should ask to be tested or should she always go through her rheumy for any unusual symptoms? The whole chest pain thing leaves this mama feeling uneasy and she is one who gets frustrated and says well I went and obviously I'm fine because they said I was fine.......

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4 Weeks After Circumcision - Underwear Sticking And Stitches Not Resloved

its been 4 weeks since i got circumcised. And i'm having a few problems at the moment.

1) Underwear keeps sticking to my penis, which is then really sore to take off. So I haven't been wearing my underwear i've been wearing loose pajama pants which is helping. Any ideas on how to stop my penis sticking to underwear or is this normal for a while?

2) Also its been 4 weeks and I thought the sensitivity would have went by now, do you think it will go in another week or two?

3) Last thing, i still have a few stitches around my penis , if they don't fall off in the next 2 weeks should i take them off myself?

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GCA :: Spasm In Esophagus

For GCA, I just dropped from 40 to 30 msg of prednisone. Suddenly I thought I was having a heart attack. The righting pain on chest and back would not let up. We were told to go to the ER where after a second hour and medical help while hooked up to who knows, the pain began to ease. I am now on antacids and tums. Eileen, I think I dropped too many mgs. I love the super go slowly taper, no more than 10% drop. Now I have to convince my rheumy. Has anyone else had severe spasms? I did not know what was happening .

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Weak Esophagus :: Excessive Burping 24 / 7

I burp 24 hours a day. It is constant. It seems like just air. I have had the barium test and it showed my gall bladder is fine, my liver is fine, and everything looked great except for my esophagus.

My esophagus is weak and it is not getting the proper signals of when to work and when not to.....so the doc says.My doc prescribed Reglan. It has done no good at all. Many times I vomit up a meal due to all of the burping.

The burps are loud, embarrassing and very uncomfortable!

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Reflux Oesophagitis :: Constant Burping And Sore Esophagus

I burp so much and with so much effort that sometimes my esophagus gets sore for days.   If I drink water, I burp, if I eat I burp... I burp all the time.  I had a hiatal hernia, but had it repaired.  Any idea why I burp so much and what I can do about it?

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Sjogren's Syndrome :: Severe Mouth Dryness

I have sjogrens ad have for many years now. The other night I was eating and I alway drink before I take a bite of food. I started to eat and began choking on my food which got into my esophagus. It was stuck.i tried to get it to go down and tried to get it out. No luck. I was scared to death and in a panic. I called 911. Heard the sirens and said tis that for me? Yes the paramedics were there they took me to the ER at the hospital. They tried o give me two shots and a nito under my tongue. This was to relax the esophagus. That didn't work so ER doc called in an anesthesiologist to put me out and a gastrointestinal doctor to do an endoscopy. It was now 5 1/2 hours I was sure I was going to die. I was so so scared. It was sourdough bread. It was so good. But I will never eat it again . I have tried vovox and salavert but had side effects so had to stop taking. I don't know what to do unless I eat only soft foods. Does anyone have this problem or suggestion for what I can do. I don't want to become paranoid of food because it was so bad.

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Depo-provera - Vaginal Dryness/soreness/itchiness Is This Normal?

I just started taking the depo shot and I am experiencing vaginal dryness/soreness/itchiness is this normal?

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Atrophic Vaginitis :: Vitamin E Suppositories In Treating The Dryness In The Vagina?

i have read on here that Vit E suppositories can be very helpful in treating the dryness in the vagina.  I have had numerous treatments off my doctor but suffer from side effects making it difficult to continue with treatment on a regular basis.  I have given up on intercourse altogether and am only 57 and live with my partner who is very patient but I know misses the physical side of our relationship.  I would love to find something that would make it possible for us to return to a more physical relationship again.  Has anyone been successful in using this treatment? 

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Nasal Polyp History :: Nasal Dryness And Pain In Left Eye

Two weeks ago, I woke up with pain in my left nostril.  I thought it was a pimple and would go away, but the pain is shooting into my left eye and temple area off and on.  Is this nasal dryness I am experiencing or could it be something more serious?  It is strange that I suddenly felt it overnight.  I have history of polyp in this area but wasn't big enough to cause a concern 2 years ago.  I am trying to keep area moist with argan and almond sweet/vitamin e oil but hear that I shouldn't keep doing that, lipoid pneumonia may result in repeat use.  Saline spray makes it worse.  I will go in eventually to check it out, but this ENT Dr. I have usually blows me off.  He is not the compassionate type and to see another specialist is an hour away.

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Food Allergy Following Virus

Following a throat bug/allergy in the spring, my throat became irritated by certain foods. I also had a bad cough, which turned out to be hay fever, and settled when treated. I was subsequently IGE tested and was diagnosed allergic to all items tested; tomatoes, onion, sweet pepper, lemon, kiwi & strawberries. Symptoms are an unpleasant tingling/burning mouth which can take 24 hours to settle. Antihistamines do not solve the problem. I have been prescribed Zantac/Ranitidine which I don't think helps. During the week I am very strict with my diet, and the symptoms settle. Then at the weekend if I relax and inadvertently eat a small amount of anything unsuitable, and enjoy a glass of wine, the symptoms return. Has anyone else had this? any advice would be great, thanks.

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Lansoprazole :: Take 30 To 60 Minutes Before Food

The pharmacy instructions on my daughter`s Lansoprazole tablets say `Take 30 to 60 minutes before food`. Does this mean she ought to have something to eat within 60 minutes of taking the tablets or that, although she must wait for at least 30 minutes before eating, it would be better to wait for 60 minutes?

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Anyone Tried Gluten Free Food - Udi's?

Has anyone tried the new range of gluten free food Udi's?

I saw them in Tesco the other day on 3 for 2 and tried the bagels, muffins and crisps. They all taste just like the real thing! I've really missed bagels since I was diagnosed at 18 so it was great to eat them again.

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Chinese Food Ok To Eat During Pregnancy?

Is Chinese food ok to eat during pregnancy?

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Gout And Pseudogout :: What Food You Can And Cannot Eat

Why do all sites differ on what food you can and cannot eat !! I'm new to this and looking for a few tips on how to lower Uric acid levels pls

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Orlistat :: What Is Food Focus?

What this food focus everyone talks about can someone put me right?

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Hemorrhoids :: Food To Eat And Avoid

I've sorta solved my bleeding hemorrhoid problem. I had the right idea with bulking up on fiber, but the wrong type. Whole flaxseeds and chia only worked 50% of the time. As I was purchasing anything with fiber, I happened across a POWDERED texture flax . Its when I finally got around to using that is when the bleeding STOPPED. I also take a psyllium seed husk supplement and eat fiber rich foods like shredded wheat, spinach, string beans, red potatoes, etc. I've also discovered other exotic fiber packed foods like dried japanese persimmon slices, that do a great job. Stool comes fast, bulky, and like a shotgun blast most times. Sometimes the stool is so bulky and wants to come out so fast that the hole isn't big enough, so I have to be patient and ease it out. So fast that the tissue is almost clean. An occasional small red streak or faded red spot on the tissue, but, dude, the entire toilet bowl was red before powdered flax . So I've made a complete 180 from tissues soaked in blood.

I'm elated that the hemorrhoids are under control. But with that being said, there's still a list of certain foods in the back of my mind that I know must be avoided...they seem to overpower the fiber plan and cause bleeding no matter what. I just ate that food that ONE time, that one day, but the bleeding may last several days to a week before suddenly stopping, and everything returns back to normal. Foods like this I've learned to avoid:

Orange Juice

Iced Tea

Coffee with cream and sugar

The lemon garlic dressing on Boston Market's Mediterranean Salad

These foods, especially, override my fiber plan to irritate whatever, and I can bleed for several days until it runs its course. Looking at it outwardly, these foods seem to have sugar and acidity as a common characteristic. BUT YET...I can consume other similar sweetened foods and NOTHING happens! The tissue is clean and bowl clear! I eat candies

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Pregnancy :: Can't Keep Food Down (29 Weeks)

I'm 29 weeks pregnant with my baby girl & I can't keep anything down. It's been this way since I've gotten pregnant with her. I can't drink a cup of juice,have a bag of chips,or eat any food without throwing it all up!is there any medication or vitamins I can take to help me keep my food down?

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Hepatitis C :: What To Eat / Food While On Harvoni?

I was wondering what people are eating, if anything, when they are taking their Harvoni?  I know that it is prescribed with or without food but I saw a comment on another forum that said that Harvoni works better in an acidic environment. However, I have not come across that information anywhere else. Just wondering as I want to make sure that I am doing all that I can so that treatment works this time after failing 3 times.

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HIV Prevention :: Sharing Food - Indirect

i have a question related to hiv: i was invited to a friend party. he served some sausages. everyone ate these sausages using just their hands, no forks or other tools. we had this single dish full of mustard, and after each bite from sausage, all of us were dipping their sausage in this plate of mustard.

is there are risk in catching Hiv or hepatitis from sharing the same mustard plate? just think what if i dip my sausage in the same place as one of my friend do, this after he take one bite of his sausages, and then he dip his sausage again to take mustard... even if when they bite there is the possibility to take some blood on the meat, and then put this blood into mustard? and i take this mustard 3 seconds after?... There is NO RISK, even if we were 7 persons, and all of us, were dipping parts of sausages in this plate? from a sausage, one can have 3-4 bites. so after each bite, they dipping the remaining part in mustard. what if some saliva remain in mustard, or some blood left in mustard? and if I ingest the mustard with saliva or blood? NO RISK?

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