@Str4kymz. Hello and welcome to your Parkinson's family and forum. I have also put you on my team so now you're a member of team Sterling.

I have a younger sister who has Sojourns Disease. Her life is a mess. Symptoms have been hair loss, scaly, itchy skin and scalp, dryness everywhere and just trying to feel comfortable in her own skin is most difficult. She's just skin and bones. Sometimes it gets worse than others and these flareups won't allow her to get rest that she needs. She is only 60 but has had it for years.

I've been meaning to tell the whole team about this. This is very significant. If you have three or more illnesses, tell Medicare because Medicare helps special case people who have numerous diseases. So in your case you have PD and Sojourns. Perhaps you are a diabetic or have bipolar disease or heart problems. If you have more than your share of diseases, call MEDICARE and discuss the special release program they offer. The program does not require any copayment and I think it includes medications as well. I am assuming you are on Medicare now.

When you get on the phone with the Medicare folks, get ready to spend a while with them because all of them are not SPECIALISTS and cannot tell you what you need to know or where you need to go to get this benefit. Gather everything around you that you will need ...pen and paper. Your pills and water, and a snack.

Please let me know how you fare with this. I don't know of anybody who has joined the program or has had all the requirements to do so. Godspeed dear girl. Sterling

I was diagnosed with Sjogren's several years ago, from a blood test in regard to a heart cath. My ANA was elevated. This is how I met my rheumotologist, who ran more tests and found the problem. Last year he connected me to my neurologist when I noticed tremors. Last June the diagnosis changed to PD. Sjogrens is hard on the teeth and the eyes, This is how it starts, and then it can travel to many others places in the body. I lost many teeth in my twenties and no one knew why, or why I was so tired all the time. I have a good dentist who has been working hard to help me keep my remaining teeth. Autoimmunes are really hard to deal with because the general opinion is that the patient is just imagining things. I am so grateful for my doctors!

@A MyParkinsonsTeam Member. I know, the Apps question is crazy in a way. I didn't realize there was so much out there to talk about, shows how computer and cell phone unsavvy I am. No you did not sabotage anything. It is nice to chat about our lives outside of PD. It sounds as if you had a wonderful father. Memories are such delightful things a lot of the time, aren't they. I never learned to swim much as I taught myself and never had the opportunity to do it much. I made sure my boys learned, although the oldest took a long time to learn. When he was 5 I started him in swim lessons during the summer, and it took all summer for him to get out of Stage 1. All he had to do was to dunk his head under the water 10 times. By the end of summer and last day, I think they moved him to Stage 2 just to be nice. We gave up on lessons until his younger brother (4 years younger) became 5 and started lessons. He was a fish! Please take care.

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@A MyParkinsonsTeam Member. I'm so glad to hear from you. It's funny, I have had bad teeth for years and even after knowing I had Sjogrens and that it could work havoc on your teeth, I never thought to place it as a cause! I have no idea how long I have had Sjogrens but I've had dry skin for years. Hmmm something to think about. I have many gold crowns in my mouth. I went to my rheumotologist for several years but stopped going as there is none in my town and she was 100 miles away. Also, there wasn't much she was doing for me that my own doctor could not do and I see the neurologist too. Please take care.

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@A MyParkinsonsTeam Member. I was surprised by how much chatter there has been regarding this question. It must have been a good one, especially since most did not know anything about it. But until I was dx, I didn't either. Hmm. Yes, I go by Sue. However, my middle name is Suzanne. My first name is Grace, but I was never called that. My father just felt Grace Suzanne sounded better than Suzanne Grace. Grace was my mother's name. After many, many, many years and with current climate and having to use my first name for official things, medical care, and travel, I am not embarrassed by it anymore. However, I still go by Sue or Suzanne. Long answer again for short question. One thing to remember, not everyone with dry eyes has Sjogrens but it is something that can be tested for but very rarely is. I hope you are doing well. Take care.- Sue

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