Sjogren's

 I saw a video about the difference between Sjogren's, Rheumatoid Arthritis and MS as far as how to tell which you most likely have by symptom. I watched it because Sjogren's keeps coming up in my searches when I am looking for information on symptoms I have. They mentioned a few things that they indicated are symptoms particular to Sjogren's that I suffer from. There was also an indication that people with Sjogren's are more likely to benefit from a plant-based diet, especially one rich in carbohydrates, because, they have a tendency to become more acidic in nature from eating any significant amount of animal protein. This was not by a plant-based advocate doctor. I don't remember who it was by, though. Dr. McDougall would, of course, have agreed whole-heartedly as he stated that the main cause of autoimmune conditions is that people eat animal proteins while having a leak gut, because, then the body is on alert and what is "invading" happens to be quite a bit like proteins in our body. I have found no examples of people being known for changing their diet with Sjogren's to good effect. I have seen plenty with other autoimmune conditions, though. One of the symptoms was a more pronounced "pins and needles' effect. As in many have it to some degree in feet and hands, but people with Sjogren's are more likely to have it in other places, more often, and possibly darned near all over, at least at times.  Another was the feeling of "lightening" shooting down your back or through the back of your thighs. They also described the way the RA and MS feel tired versus Sjogren's sufferers.  They said the latter is a more pervasive, all the time tired as their immune system is always  fighting.  I have those things going on.  I was told before that my problem is not that my immune system is weak, it is that it is too strong and fighting all the time, and that was when I was a young girl, not quite teenage, the first time. I considered all this. Including that stress plays a factor. Allergens definitely do.  Eating starch, specifically potatoes, sweet potatoes and Basmati rice -really help. Fasting helps. I told you before that I felt best and was best able to handle eating food when I was fasting at least 48 hours. But, that was after I had done intermittent fasting and purposeful eating of quite a bit of vegetation, so what had been irritating me was mostly cleaned out. I am interested in learning more about Sjogren's. Particularly the symptoms and what people with it have found helps them cope or even improve or thrive. With a focus on what they ate, stopped eating.

Your symptoms and experiences, including the muscle cramps, feet "locking up," widespread soreness, pins and needles, lightning-like sensations, and pervasive fatigue, align with some hallmark features of Sjögren’s syndrome, an autoimmune condition that primarily affects moisture-producing glands but can cause systemic symptoms. Your interest in dietary interventions, especially plant-based approaches, and the connection to fasting and stress aligns with emerging research and anecdotal reports about managing Sjögren’s. Below, I’ll address your request for information on Sjögren’s symptoms, coping strategies, and dietary approaches that may help, drawing on credible sources and your prior conversations about dietary sensitivities and preferences.Understanding Sjögren’s Syndrome SymptomsSjögren’s syndrome is a chronic autoimmune disorder where the immune system attacks exocrine glands (e.g., salivary and lacrimal glands), leading to hallmark symptoms of dry mouth (xerostomia) and dry eyes (xerophthalmia). However, it’s systemic, affecting multiple body systems, and symptoms vary widely. Based on your description and the video you referenced, here are key symptoms relevant to your experience, including those you mentioned:Dryness-Related Symptoms:Dry Mouth: Difficulty swallowing, altered taste, dental cavities, or a sore throat due to reduced saliva production.

Dry Eyes: Gritty, burning, or sandy sensations in the eyes.

Other dryness: Dry skin, vaginal dryness, or dry cough from affected mucous membranes.

Neurological Symptoms:Pins and Needles (Paresthesia): Sjögren’s can cause peripheral neuropathy, leading to tingling or numbness in the hands, feet, or, as you noted, more widespread areas. This is more pronounced in Sjögren’s compared to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or multiple sclerosis (MS), where neuropathy is less systemic.

Lightning-Like Sensations: These could reflect Lhermitte’s sign (electric-shock sensations down the spine or limbs), which, while more associated with MS, can occur in Sjögren’s due to nervous system involvement. Small fiber neuropathy, common in Sjögren’s, may also cause burning or shooting pains, particularly in the thighs or back.

Fatigue:Sjögren’s fatigue is often described as pervasive and unrelenting, distinct from RA’s joint-focused fatigue or MS’s fatigue tied to neurological flares. It stems from chronic immune activation, as you were told in childhood about your “overactive” immune system. This aligns with your experience of constant tiredness.

Musculoskeletal Symptoms:Muscle cramps, soreness, and joint pain (arthralgia) are common, potentially exacerbated by inflammation or electrolyte imbalances from dietary triggers. Your “locking up” feet and calf cramps could relate to neuropathy, inflammation, or dehydration from gastrointestinal issues linked to Sjögren’s.

Systemic soreness may reflect myalgia or fibromyalgia-like symptoms, which often coexist with Sjögren’s.

Gastrointestinal Issues:Up to 90% of Sjögren’s patients experience digestive challenges, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)-like symptoms, bloating, or acid reflux (GERD). Food hypersensitivities, like those you’ve experienced, are common and may trigger symptoms.

Other Symptoms:Sjögren’s can affect organs like the lungs, kidneys, or liver, and increase lymphoma risk.

Stress and allergens, as you noted, can exacerbate symptoms by amplifying immune responses.

Your symptoms, particularly the widespread pins and needles, lightning-like sensations, pervasive fatigue, and muscle issues, strongly align with Sjögren’s systemic nature, especially its neurological and inflammatory components. The distinction from RA (more joint-specific) and MS (more central nervous system-focused) lies in Sjögren’s broader glandular and peripheral nerve involvement.Dietary Approaches for Sjögren’s: What Helps?There’s no one-size-fits-all diet for Sjögren’s, but research and patient experiences suggest that dietary changes can significantly manage symptoms, reduce inflammation, and improve quality of life. Your interest in plant-based diets, fasting, and specific starches like potatoes, sweet potatoes, and Basmati rice aligns with some promising strategies. Below are dietary approaches, focusing on what people with Sjögren’s have found helpful, based on your preferences and prior conversations (e.g., your tolerance for graham flour, mung beans, and rice, and sensitivities to wheat, legumes, and Rosaceae fruits):Plant-Based, Anti-Inflammatory Diets:Rationale: As you mentioned, some sources suggest that animal proteins may increase acidity or immune activation in Sjögren’s, possibly due to leaky gut, as Dr. John McDougall proposes. A plant-based diet rich in phytonutrients, antioxidants, and fiber can reduce inflammation and support gut health, where 70–80% of the immune system resides.

Evidence: Studies, like those cited by the Sjögren’s Foundation, show that plant-based diets, particularly the Mediterranean diet, may reduce inflammation and improve symptoms like dryness and fatigue. A 2020 study found that women with primary Sjögren’s adhering to a Mediterranean diet had better nutritional status and symptom control.

What Helps:Vegetables: Cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, kale, Brussels sprouts) and leafy greens are high in anti-inflammatory compounds and support gut health. You’ve noted benefits from “quite a bit of vegetation.”

Fruits: Low-fructose, non-Rosaceae fruits like blueberries, bananas, and kiwi (as you previously found tolerable) provide antioxidants without triggering your sensitivities.

Starches: Potatoes, sweet potatoes, and Basmati rice, which you find helpful, are low-glycemic, fiber-rich, and provide butyrate for gut health, aligning with your prior focus on butyrate-rich foods.

Whole Grains: Quinoa, oats, and rice (your preferred grain) are high-fiber, anti-inflammatory options. Your tolerance for graham flour suggests coarsely processed grains may work better than refined wheat.

Healthy Fats: Omega-3 fatty acids from flaxseed, walnuts, or chia seeds (avoiding fish if you’re plant-based) can improve salivary output and reduce inflammation.

Patient Experiences: Some Sjögren’s patients report reduced fatigue and joint pain on plant-based diets, especially gluten-free, high-fiber ones. For example, dietitian Cristina Montoya, who has Sjögren’s, advocates for Mediterranean-style diets with vegetables, fruits, and omega-3s. Anecdotally, patients on X report symptom relief from avoiding animal proteins and focusing on plant-based foods, though specific cases of reversal are rare.

Avoiding Trigger Foods:Allergens and Sensitivities: Your history of reactions to wheat, legumes (except mung beans and soy), and Rosaceae fruits (e.g., apples) suggests food hypersensitivities, common in Sjögren’s. A 2015 study found that eliminating trigger foods (e.g., wheat, dairy) resolved IBS-like symptoms, joint pain, and fatigue in Sjögren’s patients. Your allergen-triggered cramps and soreness align with this.

Inflammatory Foods: Avoid trans fats, high-glycemic foods (e.g., refined sugars), alcohol, caffeine, spicy foods, and acidic foods (e.g., citrus), as they exacerbate dryness and inflammation.

Animal Proteins: As you noted, Dr. McDougall and others suggest animal proteins may worsen autoimmune symptoms via leaky gut. While evidence is limited, some Sjögren’s patients report fewer flares when minimizing red meat or dairy, which aligns with your plant-based preference. Grass-fed beef, if consumed, may be less inflammatory due to higher omega-3s.

Your Experience: You’ve avoided wheat products and found mung beans and soy tolerable, suggesting a personalized elimination diet works for you. Your reaction to corn-derived ingredients (e.g., HFCS) also indicates avoiding processed foods.

Fasting and Gut Health:Fasting Benefits: Your success with 48-hour fasting and intermittent fasting likely reduces inflammation by giving your gut a break, allowing it to repair and clear irritants. Fasting may lower immune activation and improve gut microbiome balance, which is dysregulated in Sjögren’s.

Gut-Focused Diets: Research suggests gut dysbiosis and leaky gut contribute to Sjögren’s. Probiotic and prebiotic foods (e.g., fermented foods like kimchi, or fiber-rich starches like your preferred potatoes) can restore gut health, reducing systemic inflammation.

Your Strategy: Your combination of fasting and vegetation-heavy eating aligns with this, as it minimizes exposure to triggers and supports gut repair, consistent with your prior focus on butyrate and glutamine.

Hydration and Dryness Management:Hydrating Foods: High-water-content foods like cucumbers, watermelon, and zucchini help combat dryness. You’ve found sipping liquids while eating helpful, which aligns with recommendations to moisten foods with broth or sauces.

Avoid Dehydrants: Alcohol and caffeine worsen dryness, as you’ve noted with allergens. Sugar-free gum or lozenges can stimulate saliva without promoting tooth decay.

Supplements:Omega-3s and Vitamin E: These antioxidants may improve salivary function and reduce inflammation. Plant-based sources like flaxseed oil or almonds are suitable for your diet.

Probiotics: May help gut health and reduce IBS-like symptoms, though evidence is preliminary.

Consult a Professional: Supplements should be guided by a dietitian, as you’ve expressed interest in personalized approaches.

Coping and Thriving with Sjögren’sBeyond diet, Sjögren’s patients use various strategies to manage symptoms and improve quality of life:Stress Management:Stress, as you noted, exacerbates symptoms. Mind-body practices like meditation, yoga, or tai chi reduce cortisol and inflammation. Your experience with a mantra-like practice (“Stop being anxious”) and interest in Transcendental Meditation align with these benefits.

Patient Tip: Many report improved energy and reduced flares with regular meditation or gentle exercise like walking, which you’ve mentioned doing.

Lifestyle Adjustments:Hydration: Sip water frequently and use salivary stimulants (e.g., xylitol gum) to manage dry mouth.

Exercise: Gentle activities like yoga or tai chi improve joint mobility and reduce fatigue without overtaxing your body.

Sleep: Addressing stress and diet improves sleep, which reduces fatigue and inflammation.

Medical Support:Medications like pilocarpine or cevimeline can alleviate dryness, while hydroxychloroquine or rituximab may help systemic symptoms.

Work with a rheumatologist or allergist to test for food hypersensitivities (e.g., IgG assays) and confirm Sjögren’s via antibody tests (anti-SSA/Ro, anti-SSB/La) or salivary gland biopsy.

Patient Experiences:While specific Sjögren’s success stories are less documented than for other autoimmune conditions, some patients report significant improvement with plant-based, gluten-free, or anti-inflammatory diets. For example, a patient with Sjögren’s and IBS eliminated wheat and dairy, resolving bloating, joint pain, and fatigue.

On X, patients share that avoiding trigger foods (e.g., dairy, gluten) and prioritizing hydration and omega-3s reduces flares, though complete reversal is rare.

Your experience with starches and fasting mirrors these anecdotes, suggesting you’re on a promising path.

Addressing Your Specific PointsDr. McDougall’s Theory: His view that animal proteins trigger autoimmunity via leaky gut is controversial but aligns with some functional medicine approaches. Limited evidence supports this for Sjögren’s, but your symptom relief on a plant-based diet and fasting supports this hypothesis for you personally.

Lack of Sjögren’s-Specific Diet Success Stories: Unlike RA or lupus, Sjögren’s dietary research is sparse, but studies like the 2015 SUNY Buffalo trial show symptom resolution with elimination diets. The Mediterranean diet and plant-based protocols are gaining traction.

Acidity and Animal Proteins: The idea that animal proteins increase acidity in Sjögren’s lacks robust evidence but may relate to inflammatory responses or gut dysbiosis. Your tolerance for plant-based starches supports reducing animal proteins.

Fasting and Starches: Your success with potatoes, sweet potatoes, and Basmati rice likely stems from their anti-inflammatory, gut-supportive properties. Fasting’s benefits may reflect reduced immune activation, aligning with your prior linoleic acid concerns and gut health focus.

Recommendations for You Based on your symptoms, dietary preferences, and prior conversations: Continue Plant-Based Focus: Emphasize starches (potatoes, sweet potatoes, Basmati rice), cruciferous vegetables, and low-fructose fruits (blueberries, bananas). Avoid wheat, Rosaceae fruits, and high-fructose foods like HFCS.

Try incorporating mung beans or organic soy, which you tolerate, for protein.

Fasting Protocol: Continue intermittent fasting or occasional 48-hour fasts, as they reduce inflammation and suit your body. Pair with nutrient-dense meals post-fast to avoid deficiencies.

Track Symptoms: Keep a food and symptom diary to identify triggers, as you’ve done successfully. Test small amounts of new foods (e.g., quinoa or millet, which you found less palatable) with preparation tips like soaking.

Medical Evaluation:Consult a rheumatologist for Sjögren’s-specific tests (e.g., anti-SSA/Ro antibodies, Schirmer’s test for dry eyes). An allergist can confirm food hypersensitivities, especially given your allergen-triggered symptoms.

Discuss neuropathy symptoms (pins and needles, lightning sensations) with a neurologist, as small fiber neuropathy is common in Sjögren’s.

Stress and Lifestyle:Explore meditation or yoga to manage stress, building on your calming mantra practice. Gentle walking, as you’ve done, supports joint health.

Hydration and Dryness:Use hydrating foods and salivary stimulants. Avoid caffeine and alcohol, which you’ve noted as triggers.

Limitations and Next StepsWhile plant-based diets and fasting show promise, evidence for reversing Sjögren’s is limited, and no cure exists. Your personalized approach—avoiding triggers, fasting, and eating starches—mirrors successful strategies in small studies and anecdotes. To explore further:

I can search for recent studies or X posts on Sjögren’s dietary interventions if you provide specific foods or protocols to investigate.

Share updates on your fasting or dietary experiments, and I can tailor suggestions, recalling your preference for rice and avoidance of wheat or Rosaceae fruits.

For personalized guidance, consult a rheumatologist and a dietitian familiar with autoimmune conditions. They can tailor your diet to your sensitivities and test for Sjögren’s to confirm the diagnosis. Disclaimer: Grok is not a doctor; please consult one. Don't share information that can identify you.

Thank you, Grok.  I think I have studied up on it enough, for now.  This, "Sjögren’s syndrome is a chronic autoimmune disorder where the immune system attacks exocrine glands (e.g., salivary and lacrimal glands)"is very helpful to me.  I have been asking doctors about my inflamed salivary glands for most of my life. They were like that, off and on, as a child. After getting married, having kids, all the stress of a truly horrendous choice of a marriage mate, they have been quite swollen and sore a significant portion of something like 35 years. More often, just swollen enough to feel weird, not produce much saliva and look like lumps of awkward fat under the skin where they sit.  I'm going to copy off the information you found for me and call it a night. Goodnight, Grok!

You're very welcome! I'm glad I could help clarify some things about Sjögren’s syndrome, especially the connection to your inflamed salivary glands, which sounds like a long-standing and frustrating issue. It makes sense that stress and life challenges could have amplified those symptoms over the years. I hope the information gives you a solid starting point to discuss with your doctor. Feel free to reach out anytime if you want to dig deeper or explore more strategies. Goodnight, and take care!