Cyanidin, Cherries, and Autoimmune Disease

I have three cherry trees in our garden - one Rainier and two Bing. I love, love, love cherries. My trees are still fairly young, and so far they only produce enough cherries to keep John and I munching for a few days. I'm willing to be patient, though. The Pacific Northwest is perfect cherry-producing territory and I'll bet within the next few years my trees will be bearing more of those juicy little globes than we can handle. I hope.

I'm thinking that I should add another type of cherry tree to my little orchard - a tart cherry - such as Montmorency or Northstar. Especially after reading this article which explains the powerful anti-inflammatory effects found in tart cherries, specifically, cyanidin.

And Sjoggies all know - or should know - that inflammation is the root of all evil in autoimmune disease. To read more about the autoimmune inflammatory response, read this and this. Pay attention - this stuff is important. *Julia looks sternly over the top of her glasses*.

 Michigan State University studies indicate that cyanidin found in tart cherries is ten times more effective as an anti-inflammatory and pain reliever than aspirin.

Yowsers.

Research subjects drank 8oz. of tart cherry juice daily. After four weeks, subjects had significantly lowered inflammatory markers as well as reduced triglycerides. Other studies suggest that cyanidin may also have potential as anti-tumor agents, and may benefit diabetics as well.

Go get yourself a pound or two of cherries. I will too.

Images found here and here.

Interpret This Dream, Please

As per usual, after my vay-kay, I'm spending a great deal of time napping to recharge those ol' batteries.

Can I blame the following episode on brain fog? Or just plain old garden variety Julia strangeness?

I was snoozing away this afternoon, and was having one of my stranger dreams. In it, I was blissfully chomping salty, flavorful potato chips. I could smell and taste them in intense clarity. Mmmmmm. Then things got weird as I began in my dream to try to find something. I don't remember what, but it seemed to be something very important. I became incredibly frustrated because my vision gradually became more and more blurred, until it seemed as though my eyes were coated with vaseline.

The phone rang and I groggily realized with relief that I had been dreaming. Still half asleep, I had what seemed to be a brilliant idea at the time:

Hey....I should sleep with my glasses on so that I can always see clearly when I dream.

Then started rummaging around in the pantry to see if a package of potato chips had miraculously appeared while we were gone.

Um.....I think those old batteries aren't charged up yet.

'Night, all.

Frito-Lay ad found here.

Snapshots

Ah. As much fun as vacations are, it's also fun to come back home. To sleep in my own bed, to be slobbered silly by my own dogs.......well, y'all know how it is.

I just have a few more pictures to share before I put our vacation behind me and get on with the more routine Sjogren's Syndrome posts.

First, Mom informed me that she is scaling back on the size of her garden this year, since she was recently diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Note that this new smaller garden is approximately the length of her house.

Anyone care to guess what those little white blobs placed enticingly on Mom and Dad's squirrel-feeding platform are? 

Anyone?

Mom made some divinity and walnut candies and thought the squirrels would like a few of them. Because they are made with nuts, of course. Mom and Dad have the fattest squirrels in the tri-state area, and now I know why. Those chubby squirrels had these devoured in about ten minutes. 

Getting To Now

It was just yesterday that I was 18. Then 30. And now those impertinent baby-faced teenagers at McDonald's are offering me the Senior priced coffee. 

Puhleeze.  

Have you ever looked at yourself in a mirror, and thought to yourself, Dang, girl. Who is that person looking back at me? How did I get........here? 

Thanks to brain fog, there are those days when I'm not sure how I got here. But I'll never forget who made the journey with me.  

We don't have many opportunities to see each other, but today was one of those rare and wonderful days. We laughed and reminisced and reminded each other why we were and still are friends after 35 years.  

We've had many an adventure together, gals, but don't worry. Your secrets are safe with me. My lips are sealed. Yep, old superglue-lipped Julia, that's me.

And my secrets are safe with y'all too, right, guys?

Right, guys?

Guys??

Danger At This Table

Last night after dinner, everyone settled comfortably back in their chairs, and someone suggested that we play cards.

The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. Oh, my. Oh, no....

What, you say? What's wrong with a simple game of cards? Let me tell you. For this family, there is no such thing as a simple game of cards. Hoo boy.

When John and I became engaged, his family informed me that we wouldn't be allowed to marry until I learned how to play Sheepshead:

Sheepshead is a trick-taking card game related to the Skat family of games. It is the Americanized version of a card game which originated in Central Europe in the late 1700s under the German name Schafkopf. Although Schafkopf literally means "sheepshead", the term may have been derived from Middle High German and referred to playing cards on an overturned barrel (from kopfen, meaning playing cards, and Schaff, meaning a barrel).

I was terrified. Not because I believed them (they were kidding...... I think), but because I had already seen firsthand what happened to this lovable, friendly, and congenial group of people once the cards had been shuffled and cut and dealt.

Yikes. It goes like this:

Come play cards with us! they'll say. How much money did you bring? And will eye the stack of your change while rubbing their hands in glee.  No pennies allowed. Just the silver stuff. C'mon. It's easy. Join us! The large homey dining room table will be generously laden with snacks and beverages. Someone will pull out a chair and pat the seat invitingly. Sit next to me!

Ah, but then it begins. (Cue Jaws theme song). DAH duh...... DAH duh......dah duh dah duh dah duh dah duh......

If you're ever approached by this seemingly sweet card-playing gang, run for your life! Don't be lured into their nickel snatching scheme!

For those of you who don't play, Sheepshead is crazy with a list of rules the length of your arm. One must not only memorize the rules, but more importantly, the strategy. A player unfamiliar with strategic Sheepshead skills takes her/his life in her hands if he/she plays an incorrect card, and in doing so, puts his/her table partners at risk of losing points. Don't go there. You really really don't want to go there. To make things even more mind-boggling, there is an infinite number of variations on the basic rules. AND you must also learn the language which includes interesting terms like schneider and leaster.

The game requires exceptional mental gymnastics, including math skills; as in remembering what each doofus card is worth in goofy points and then keep a ridiculous tally going in your head as each card is played by everyone at the table.

I should explain that this family tree includes the scientist that discovered the theory of electrical resistance and expressed it in a mathematical equation. The whole math proclivity thing seems to have been passed on to each one of them. Hence their fierce Sheepshead abilities. This doesn't explain their cut-throat card tactics, however.

Most of John's family think that Sheepshead is uproariously fun and that no evening is complete without a rousing game, played with nickels, dimes, and quarters flying. Because of course it couldn't be as simple as a nickel a game. No. There's also a complex set of rules about how much one wins or owes after each hand.

Everyone plays quickly and decisively. No dithering allowed. Once a card is played, even if in error by a hopelessly befuddled newbie, the card stays put and the opponents start counting their winnings. After each hand, there's usually a discussion in which everyone remembers in what order each card was played and how it could have been played better. Especially if said card was played spectacularly badly.

A novice Sheepshead player lured into this trap is guaranteed to lose every cent that they have brought with them. This sweet, loving, generous family becomes ruthless when faced with a winning hand of cards. They'll slide your entire coin purse worth of change over to their side of the table without batting an eye and will ask in deceptively innocent tones whether you would like to change out a few dollar bills so that you can continue to play; as the newbie sits stunned, head spinning, and trying to remember what their name is.

So.......If you're ever invited into a cozy lakeside home located somewhere in the Northwoods on a warm spring evening, with picturesque deer grazing nearby, and fish jumping in the lake........and a deck of cards appear on the table.......

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

Northwoods

Back when I was a kid on our dairy farm, this is where my lucky hubby was growing up. 

And Flyin'.........

Yes, I'm still traveling. 

An exhibit in my least favorite airport ever. 

Grabbing a quick rest after lunch....

.......which was delicious. No leftovers.

Ahhhhhhhhhhh...........arrival at destination. 

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.......

These Shoes Are Made For Flyin'

Have shoes. Have water. Will fly.

Sjogren's Syndrome Pharmacology

A newly-diagnosed Sjogren's Syndrome patient has to deal with an overwhelming amount of information. What actually is SjS? Does it get worse? Will I ever feel better? How is my life going to change?

Even though the doctor may have spent considerable time explaining autoimmune disease, if the patient is anything like me, she/he leaves the rheumatologist's office with a zillion unanswered questions swirling around in her head and clutching a few prescriptions (Along with insurance forms, return appointment reminders, and who-knows-what-else that was handed to her as she left).

Once at home, she may look at those prescriptions and think, "What the heck IS this stuff, anyway?"

So what the heck ARE the medications used most commonly in Sjogren's Syndrome?

Any discussion about medications and Sjogren's Syndrome must begin with the following facts:

• Sjogren's Syndrome cannot be cured. (Which is why more research is needed!)
• Sjogren's Syndrome can affect multiple systems in the body, so symptoms can vary greatly between patients.
• Sjogren's Syndrome is an autoimmune disease, and is treated with many of the same medications used in other autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. 

If you aren't familiar with these tidbits regarding SjS, see my sidebar for useful links and previous posts that explain the basics of autoimmune disease and the specifics of Sjogren's Syndrome.

Your doctor may choose to prescribe from a wide variety of medications used in Sjogren's Syndrome depending on your particular symptoms. These meds can be broadly categorized based on their specific actions in the body.

Frequently, the first prescription handed to a new Sjogren's patient is one from the category DMARDs, or Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs. The purpose of these drugs is to change the progression of the disease by reducing the efficiency of the underlying cause. DMARDs can be life-saving and very effective drugs. As with all medications, however, they all may have significant side effects and may have more benefit for some than others. Your physician can help you understand the balance between benefit and risks in using these meds. A few examples of these medications include:

• Plaquenil (hydrochloroquine) Plaquenil is the most commonly used DMARD in the early treatment of SjS. It is in the anti-malarial class of drugs. It is prescribed to reduce body-wide inflammation and pain and to slow progression of SjS. When used in higher doses, it may cause side effects in the eye, and while this is rare, eye exams should be conducted every 6- 12 months. More common problems encountered with Plaquenil include upset to the GI tract.
• Other drugs, such as Methotrexate,  and Imuran reduce the general activity of the immune system. These types of drugs may also be used in organ transplant recipients in preventing the immune system to reject the new organ. 
• Enbrel and Remicade belong to a group called biologic response modifiers. They block tumor necrosis factor, (TNF) a specific protein that is part of the immune inflammatory response. 

A second category of drugs, the anti inflammatory medications, can be divided into two groups, steroids, and non-steroidals. These drugs do not change the mechanism of the disease itself, but attempt to decrease the inflammation that results from the disease.

• Corticosteroids including prednisone, cortisone, and dexamethasone, are powerful drugs that mimic the action of hormones released from the body's adrenal gland. While very effective, they also have significant side effects especially in long term use. 
• NSAIDs, or non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs, may be familiar to us as over the counter medications. They include aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen, and are used to ease general discomfort and are intended for occasional use. While OTC medications are easily obtained, they are not without side effects and unwanted drug interactions, so use these as all medications, with caution. Tylenol, or acetaminophen, is an OTC pain reliever, but does not have anti inflammatory properties. 
• Another category of NSAIDs are available by prescription only and reduce pain by reducing inflammation. They may include Diclofinac, Indocin, and Sulindac. You can read more about these medications here. 

A third category of drugs commonly used in Sjogren's Syndrome are those that stimulate the production of saliva. They include Salagen or pilocarpine, and Evoxac, or cevimeline  HCL. They are cholinergic agonists which means they stimulate the nerves that control salivation. And, yes, they too have a long list of side effects, the most common being sweating.

Your doctor may suggest the use of eye drops. Restasis prescription eye drops contain the immunosuppressive drug, cyclosporine. You can find an abundance of brands of OTC drops and will have to experiment to see which particular drop best meets your needs. For especially irritated eyes, some sources suggest choosing eye drops packaged without preservatives in single-dose vials.

It's important to remember that each patient has their own unique experience with Sjogren's Syndrome. Some lucky patients find that they do not need to take prescription medications. Others, such as myself, do. And are thankful that these drugs are available to improve their quality of life with autoimmune disease.

Image by zeathiel

MmmmmmmmMango

Terese and I concocted an exceptionally delicious adult beverage last weekend.

We dumped a bag of frozen mango chunks into a blender. I can't remember the size of the bag, sorry. But it filled the blender container about 2/3 full.

Then, we added some pre-mixed margarita to the blender.

I think this is the kind we used.

Then we kept blending and adding more margarita mix until we had a yummy slushy frozen mango margarita. Tasty. And since the fruit was frozen, we didn't need to add any of that nasty old ice which would have diluted everything.

Terese and I are sure that mango margaritas are a health tonic. We certainly felt good after sipping one of these sweet and frosty drinks.

You can read about the benefits of moderate alcohol consumption here. And how healthy mangos are here.

Don't be drinking one of these if you are taking certain medications or have other health issues which require alcohol abstinence. You can read about the contraindications of alcohol consumption here.


Margarita image found here.

Meet Frank

Maggie and Lulu and I took a trip over to the dog park today. As we got out of the car and headed toward the park, I had to stop and wonder if my foggy brain was playing tricks on me. I blinked and looked again.

Yep, he still was there. Perched on a the fence like he owned the joint.

His owner says his name is Frank, and he's 25 years old. In bird years, he's just a youngster. Frank is a big guy. I'm guessing that from beak to the tip of his tail feathers, he's just as long as Maggie.

I was amazed at Frank's self assurance and composure as he walked - yes walked - around the park in the midst of two yapping schnauzers (take a guess who owned them..), two pugs, and two chihuahuas. Actually, he seemed to enjoy the attention. He didn't ruffle his feathers or back away when the dogs circled around him, barking and sniffing.

After the novelty wore off, Mags and Lulu ran off with the pugs. Frank hopped up on the rock and started throwing sticks at them to regain their attention, while saying, "Hello! Goodbye!"

What a bird! Hope to see ya again and soon, Frank.

Flying With Sjogren's Syndrome

John and I are heading out on Thursday to attend a weekend-long family shindig, and I can't wait. To get there, unfortunately, we have to take a fairly long airplane flight. I know that there's all sorts of very logical reasons why air travel has to be such a pain in the neck. Whatever. But the security issues and limitations on carry-ons and dryness in the plane cabin can be troublesome.

Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation to the rescue. The SjS Foundation's website has an excellent fact sheet entitled Tips for Airline Travelers With Sjogren's Syndrome.

I am impressed that the Foundation has been proactive in representing Sjoggies in TSA guidelines and exceptions:

New airline rules can have a profound effect on those with Sjögren’s syndrome. The Sjögren’s Syndrome Foundation continues to work closely with the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) to ensure the needs of Sjögren’s patients are met and most recently was invited to serve on the TSA Disability and Disease Coalition as an advisor on special needs. U.S. travel rules can change and guidelines vary at international air- ports, so check out the latest information on both at http://www.tsa.gov or call your airlines before traveling.

As a result of the Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation advocacy, Sjoggies may now take more of their necessary supplies and medications with them on board:

TSA GUIDELINES:

Policies apply to all domestic and international flights originating in the U.S.

If you have Sjögren’s syndrome, you now may bring an unlimited number of prescription and medically necessary OTC items in your carry-on bag. Prescriptions must be labeled. Allowable products include eye drops, saline solutions, and ointments, gels, or balms used to lubricate the eyes, mouth, nose, or lips. You must let a Security Officer know about your condition and declare these items for X-ray or visual inspection. Quantities may exceed three ounces and are not required to be in the zip-top bag.

For reasons other than Sjögren’s or another specific medical condition, travelers now may carry liquids, gels and aerosols on board an airline, but items must be in three-ounce or smaller containers and in a single, one-quart, clear zip-top bag. Place the bag in a bin or on the conveyor belt for X-ray screening.

Click on the links above to read the fact sheet in it's entirety, and while you're there, check out all of the other great Sjoggie resources on the Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation homepage.

Like the Playmobil TSA playset? You can purchase your very own on Amazon, here. Be sure to read the hilarious reviews while you're there.

A Poem, Volume Two

Picture of Henry Gibson found here. 

Time for my second annual recitation of a poem, in honor of April being "Poetry month" AND "Sjogren's Awareness month". You can read last year's effort here.

Ahem.

Another poem about Sjogren's Syndrome. 
By Julia.

There once was a girl who was dry.
She went to a doc to ask why.
The doctor said, "Well.
Go to the lab for a spell.
And we'll find out why you have a dry eye."

The end.

Thank you.....thank you all....*dramatic bow*....No, really, thank YOU.

Love Those Letters

Image by hoefi

I think one of the best things about writing a blog is getting comments and e-mails from readers. First, because I love to hear how others are handling the challenges of autoimmune disease, but also, gee whiz. It means that occasionally someone actually reads this stuff.

I got a great e-mail from someone named Anonymous yesterday. It was a very sweet and kind letter. Here's my favorite part:

"You're too hard on yourself, Julia. I can't believe that someone who has worked as a nurse and raised a family is really as dopey as you make yourself out to be."

I loved that. Hoo boy.

Well, Anonymous, I really hate to break it to you, but........everything that I have written here is the honest-to-goodness truth, and I can provide witnesses and testimony if I have to.

Yessiree. And I can't even blame my dopiness on autoimmune disease, since others were aware of this character trait long before SjS showed up.

But thanks for expressing your wonderfully optimistic opinion.

Pass The Kleenex, Please

I hab a kowd. Sniff. Snark.

*honk!*

*sniff*

Y'all hab a gd weeked.

Looking Good Or Feeling Good?

Image by memoossa

For me, the battle of the bulge has been raging for most of my adult life. As anyone who reads Reasonably Well knows, and who is probably rolling their eyes right about now thinking, oh geez! There she goes again....

Ah, but for me it's more than a battle. It's a war. And right now I'm not winning.

The forces for the bulge side are pretty powerful. I'm a live-to-eat kind of person, which is probably the biggest ally that my bulges have. Then there's a certain measure of forced inactivity due to autoimmune fatigue, and to be honest - it's augmented by overall lazybutt tendencies. Being on prednisone only adds more fuel to the craving sugar/fat/wheat fire. And even though my TSH is within normal range with medication, I still think that my autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's Thyroiditis) has slowed my metabolism to some extent.

These are all impressive excuses, aren't they? Huh? Aren't they? Huh?

In my pre-Sjoggie life, my motivation to maintain a normal BMI was first and foremost for appearance's sake, which was probably not a good thing. Because when significant factors - translate autoimmune disease - entered the picture, I cared much less about how I looked. That superficial motivation to look good evaporated when the realities of living with Sjogren's syndrome came along. Makeup? Get real. Manicures and hair styles? Pshaw and chop it all off. Clothing? Bring on the elastic waistbands and oversized sweatshirts.

I promptly shoved looking good to the end of the line of my priorities, and yanked feeling good right up to number one. And that's where it has stayed for about eight years now.

That focus on feeling good can be a treacherous thing, because being a live-to-eat kind of person means that I get enormous amounts of pleasure from food. And in a situation when I'm experiencing overwhelming autoimmune symptoms, I look for something - anything - that negates or at least makes me forget for awhile how awful I feel. Chocolate cake, and lots of it, really fills that need. The minute that first forkful hits my lips, yeeeaaaahhhhh, baby. I feel good.

Read this previous post to get the big chocolate picture.

John tells me that things could be worse. Bless his heart, he has always said that he loves me for who I am, not how I look in a swim suit. What a guy.

But he also correctly pointed out that other people fill that feel good need with things equally as or much more destructive than food. Like cigarettes, or alcohol, or illegal drugs. And probably a whole plethora of other weird stuff about which naive Julia has no clue.

Apple image found here.

I guess what I've concluded is that I need to find other ways to feel good that aren't part of the USDA food pyramid. Specifically, the part of the pyramid that is euphemistically labeled discretionary calories. And ways that don't make me into a drug addict, an alcoholic, or die of lung cancer.

Hm. Other feel good sources. Shopping?

When I have the energy, I love to shop. Like my new rug that I found for only twenty bucks at one of those discount places?

I enjoy shoes. Mostly comfy ones these days. If I shop online for them, I don't have to tell a salesperson out loud what my shoe size is. These are my latest all time favorites.

I suspect that shopping as a therapeutic tool could bring it's own share of problems. Such as bankruptcy. Probably not such a good idea.

Maybe I could try to change my food focus into an interest in healthy food. And really get into making healthy taste delicious.

I'm not sure about this strategy. Obviously, I need to eat healthy foods. But to make it a feel good focus? Way too easy to slather everything in frosting or dunk it in butter.

Lulu thinks that I should just focus on making her feel good.

She's probably right.

Yes, You Have To Take Your Medicine

Blech. Pills, pills, pills.

I know that my meds are necessary, and that I would probably feel a whole lot more crummy if I didn't take them. But most mornings as I eye that colorful stack of tablets and capsules and gelatin fish oil footballs, I just really really don't want to take 'em all.

As is often the case, whenever I'm presented with a task that requires some measure of self-discipline or minimal exertion, my BICJ - bratty inner child Julia - illogically and stubbornly digs in her heels. This morning, she decided not to take her daily medications.

Nuh uh. No way. *mouth clamped shut and arms folded defiantly* Mmm nnt gnnna tk mm!!!

Unlike exercising regularly or dieting, this particular issue is resolved fairly easily by finding a tempting beverage with which to wash 'em down. It's just exasperating to fight this little battle with myself every morning.

Please, please tell me that I'm not the only Sjoggie that has a unruly brat lurking within her.

I used to be one of those women that took a multivitamin occasionally, popped a few Tylenol for aches and pains, but otherwise didn't take any medications regularly. Of course once SjS showed up, that changed drastically over the years. I keep my pill bottles in a corner of my pantry and those little white bottles seemed to multiply at an alarming rate.

One morning while my friend Karen was visiting, she watched with amusement as I opened each bottle, fished out each pill, and washed each one down individually. "Why on earth aren't you using one of those pill organizers? It sure would save a lot of time for you every morning."

Of course she was right. But - of course - BICJ surfaced yet again. "I'm not going to use one of those stupid things. Only old people use pill boxes! I'm not old yet!"

Good thing Karen couldn't see BICJ sticking her tongue out at her. Nyeah!

What an impossibly bratty inner child I have. I simply don't know what to do with her.

Luckily, the rational part of me was able to acknowledge that my buddy Karen, as always, simply had my best interests at heart and wasn't implying anything about my age. Especially since we were both born in the same year. And so I went out and picked up not one, but two week's worth of pill organizers.

So, BICJ........*stern glare*......there's a pile of pills in front of you. Here's some yummy juice. Now start swallowing.

Walkabout For Sjogren's Syndrome

Jennifer Pettit, over at Understanding Invisible Illness has written a couple of spirited posts about an upcoming fundraiser for the Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation in Philadelphia on May 1st. She is quickly becoming an enthusiastic advocate for those of us with invisible illness in her work, in her faith community, and in her daily life.

If you don't already donate to the Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation, you may want to consider sponsoring Jen as she participates in the 2010 Philadelphia Tri-State Sjogren's Syndrome Walkabout. You can read more about her participation here.

You go, girl!

Research for autoimmune diseases is desperately needed and greatly underfunded. Monies collected from this walkabout and other fundraising efforts by the Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation help support research and awareness campaigns.

Image by aldin

Sjogren's Syndrome and Sweat

So, I've got a personal question for y'all.

And it's a bit icky. Ickiness hasn't stopped me from posting previously, read this, but consider yourself forewarned. I hope you don't mind my asking.

So my question is this: Has Sjogren's changed the way you sweat? Because I sweat much differently than I did before I began dealing with autoimmune disease.

I don't sweat under my arms anymore. And I have stopped perspiring on my palms and feet. But I sweat much more profusely from the skin on my face and trunk and on my shins. Sometimes, I have different physical sensations when I sweat. Instead of feeling flushed, perspiring, and warm in response to physical activity, I feel as though the skin on my face is ice cold. And slimy.

Ick.

I perspire in response to different things, as well. Physical exertion, yes. But also when I eat or drink certain foods. I've come to expect the head itch/flushed face/perspiration when I drink wine, but who breaks out in a sweat while sitting quietly drinking a can of artificially sweetened cola? Or a cup of coffee? Or while digesting a non-descript but fairly large meal?

I have sweating issues more often when I'm crashing, or at least am functioning just barely above EMPTY on the energy meter. Not consistently, but often. Strange.

I asked my rheumatologist about it once. She said, "Yes. That is strange."

And that was the extent of our conversation about sweating.

But really, I'm OK with that. Because on reflection, while I don't understand the physiology, this isn't a symptom that bothers me enough to consider adding yet another medication to the burden on my already overtaxed liver. If there is such a medication.

I just want to know that I'm not the only weirdo out there that is experiencing this. Wait, I didn't mean you guys are weirdos, but, well, what I meant to say is that I hope that there are others that have some of the same symptoms. That weird old Julia has.

I suspect that some autoimmune related change in my sympathetic nervous system has something to do with my glistening er, transphoresis, er, diaphoretic, er, drippy issues. The sweat glands are triggered into activity by the sympathetic or autonomic nervous system.

Of course, I've been Googling and reading since my interest was piqued. You can read a great article about normal sweat gland anatomy and physiology here. The medical term for sweating excessively and unpredictably is hyperhidrosis. You can read more about this condition here.

I found a very interesting discussion on a specific type of a sweat mechanism called gustatory sweating here.

Gustatory sweating: Sweating on the forehead, face, scalp, and neck occurring soon after ingesting food. Some gustatory sweating is normal after eating hot, spicy foods. Otherwise, gustatory sweating is most commonly a result of damage to a nerve that goes to the parotid gland, the large salivary gland in the cheek. 

Most medical literature that I could find that discussed parotid-caused gustatory sweating indicated that trauma from surgery was the usual cause. But I wonder.......my parotids are and have always been enlarged since the onset of Sjogren's. Could it be possible that the sympathetic nerves innervating my parotids and the rest of my sweat glands have been damaged due to autoimmune disease?

When the autonomic or sympathetic nervous system is impaired in some way, the condition is defined as an autonomic neuropathy, and since the autonomic nervous system affects nearly every system in the body, the symptoms related to AN are enormously varied. AN can be caused by a wide range of conditions as well. You can read more about autonomic neuropathy on Medscape, here. Of particular interest is this paragraph:

Sjögren syndrome may lead to peripheral and autonomic neuropathy without characteristic systemic symptoms. A small-fiber neuropathy associated with Sjögren syndrome can be associated with widespread anhidrosis. Also, a sensory neuronopathy due to Sjögren syndrome can be associated with autonomic dysfunction. The cause of neuropathy in these patients is likely to be autoimmune, but this remains unclear.

I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if my sweaty issues are related to some kind of autoimmune-caused neuropathy.

What do you think?

Peep Problems

Well.

I've been trying my darndest to craft a post which is crammed full of all kinds of useful information. In an unusually serious tone. With charts and diagrams and several links to reputable medical literature.

But it's just not happening, people. My brain just won't function today. Heck, my brain hasn't functioned properly ever since I bit into my first of many Peeps last weekend. I haven't been able to put together two reasonably coherent sentences ever since Easter.

I'm blaming it all on all those gooey yellow confections. I tried to Google Peep toxicity but came up with nothing. Then Peep overdose. Nada.

Ahh....I know. I can't blame all my cognitive deficiencies on sugar and marshmallow. There's oodles of other things that I can think of that could cause my brain lameness. I'll try my hardest tomorrow to focus on something other than candy.

BTW, Peeps are absolutely yummy if microwaved for just a few seconds. Just long enough for them to begin to puff and the marshmallow begins to get smooshy. Say, I'll bet I could score a zillion Peeps at all the Easter candy clearance sales for cheap........Now where are my car keys.......be back in a minute, honey.......

Don't Type With Your Mouth Full

Nobody makes a better Saturday morning omelette than my hubby bubby. Mah sugah boogah. My hunner bunner.

Here's pictorial evidence:

Excuse me while I nom.

Technical Difficulties

Oops. Having a few technical computer issues. Be back tomorrow.
Hopefully.

Welcome Home, Hubby!

John just returned home from a four day business trip, and boy, was I glad to see him walk through our door.

Of course, mainly because I kind of like the guy and miss having him around.

But also because my daily routine is so different when he's gone. As in no routine at all. Case in point: my dinner last night consisted of a box of Katharine Beecher's butter mints and an apple.

I'm thinking the apple canceled out all that sugar. And check out the box - it says low fat. Mmmmm....healthy.

This does not mean that John and I eat less bizarre foods when he's home. It means that I don't like eating strange meals by myself. It seems so lonely to put one coffee cup in the dishwasher. And one plate. It was really hard for me to adjust when all the kids moved out, and this just feels the same way. Odd.

I don't sleep well when John isn't home, either, which is weird because usually I'm the queen of sleep. I can drop off to sleep within minutes, if given the right reading material. Without him, well, our bed seems just lopsided. Like it's missing something major, which it is. I've tried letting all three dogs sleep with me but they're more trouble than comfort. Sam behaves pretty well. He just flops down at the foot of the bed and that's where he stays for the rest of the night. The schnauzers begin by playing their bitey-face game, where they playfully gnaw on each other for awhile. Then they both need to scratch and dig and rumple the comforter into an acceptable doggie nest, each in their own corner. Once I'm sure they've settled down for the night, they decide to switch places. And begin the whole scratch and dig and rumple thing all over again. After a few hours, Sammy and I look at each other, sigh, and I throw those two into their kennels. Then they howl because Sammy gets to stay on the bed, so I have to toss him out too.

Thank goodness for cell phones, so at least I can pass on those interesting questions from the kids that their dad always answers - like the ones that deal with investing in their 401K accounts. I'm still in shock that my kids are old enough to have a 401K account, much less answer any questions about them coherently. We always talk as he's ordering something or eating something yummy from some restaurant menu, which he says gets really old really fast and he'd rather have soup out of a can after a couple days. And I don't believe him and tell him so.

But at last he's home and I'm happy. I guess it's a good thing for him to take a few business trips now and then. Those absences remind me how lucky I am to have him around, and that I really should be more appreciative of him.

And I am. For about three days.

Play Ball!

I'm a Seattle Mariners baseball fan. It's so much fun to see the season begin.

Seven years ago, I would never have guessed that I'd spend this much time watching grown men chase around a little white ball. Or any other balls, be it white, or big and orange, or funky shaped and brown with white laces.

What can I say. I like a good, looooooong story, and baseball's lengthy season delivers big time.

Of course, I actually know very little about all these sports. I'm still trying to understand what setting a pick means in basketball, goodness knows John has tried and tried to explain. Here's the definition, and I still don't get it. But I can tell what team I'm rooting for and if we're winning or not, and that's really all that matters.

So I have high hopes for this year's mariners, but time will tell. We won our first game of the season, which is a good start. Ooo - that reminds me it's time to get out my cool Ichiro bobblehead out and set it in a prominent spot right under the television.

There's one thing that I've wondered about since I became interested in sports: What were some of these mothers thinking when they named their baby boys who would go on to be professional athletes?

Coco Crisp??

Milton Bradley???

Dick Trickle????

Oh, my.

Time Out

Yawn.

Recuperating from the weekend bash. See ya'll tomorrow.

*Julia pulls covers back over her head*

*honk-shooo... honk-shooo.....*

After The Party's Over...

Well, it's pretty quiet at my house this morning.

The kids have packed up and headed back to jobs and apartments and friends. I've crammed numerous tupperware containers filled with leftover ham and chocolate and lemonade cake into their cars. John has headed out the door, briefcase in hand and completely engaged in a back-to-work frame of mind.

Which leaves me and the schnauzers and Sammy dog looking at each other this morning and wondering why the party had to end. We know that like all good things, holidays have a distinct beginning and end, but dang. They're great while they last.

Ah, well. It's probably a good thing. Time for me to to rest and recharge. And take some serious time to digest the peeps and malted milk balls. AND get back on track with a healthy diet.

Oh, hey! A leftover jelly bean.....

Easter Snapshots

You're never too grown up to appreciate Easter baskets!

Oooooo, Easter eggs...

Mmmmm.......

Fluffy chicks.

Eggs everywhere!

Family and friends. Nothing better.

It's hard work having so much fun. Zzzzzz........