WARNING: The Embarrassing Bodies website contains images of an explicit medical nature and nudity in a medical context.

Embarrassing Bodies , 9:00pm Friday 12th March 2010 on Channel 4. Catch up for free »

Conditions

Sjögren’s Syndrome

Microsopic slide showing Sjögren’s Syndrome's cells

There are more than half a million sufferers of Sjögren’s Syndrome in the UK, but it’s a condition that you probably won’t have heard of. Named after the Swedish eye doctor, Henrich Sjögren, who described a ‘syndrome’ consisting of features that included: dry eyes, dry mouth, vaginal dryness and aches and pains; it is a non-life threatening condition that typically develops in women in their 30’s to 60’s, although it can develop at any age and affects both men and women. It occurs when the body’s immune system reacts against itself and destroys the mucous secreting glands (such as those producing saliva and tears) as if they were foreign bodies. Treatment is about managing symptoms and preventing or limiting organ damage. Artificial tears are used to ensure that the dry eyes remain healthy, while saliva substitutes, coming in the form of gels and mouth sprays, are used to alleviate the discomfort of a dry mouth and throat.

What the Men in White Coats Say

Comments and Questions

You can share your experiences and thoughts with other Embarrassing Bodies site-users below. Comments & Questions are reviewed by moderators, but if you see anything on the site that worries you, please report it and one of our moderators will look at it as soon as possible.
Please note: Unfortunately Channel 4 cannot respond to individual inquiries. If you have any concerns, you can check out NHS Choices, but ultimately it is always best to check with a health professional.

i have had a swollen and sore tongue since having my ovaries shut down with an injection every 3 months i cant at eat it is so painfull my tongue has cracked down the middle and i dont have much saliva





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your comment.


Please don’t swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

I was diagnosed with Sjogrens Syndrome just over 3 years ago. I'm only 34 and have an array of problems! I haven't found alot of help out there and i need some! Hospital has given hydroxychloroquine-plaquenil table to take which helps a bit but when i come off the tables my parotid glands swells as big as appears a second face around my neck and ear, any soluction with out taking these tables and would i have to be on the table for the rest of my life? swollen parotid glands, i'm so sick of being sick! Can anyone help?? Any advice??





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your comment.


Please don’t swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

Hi I often have painfull eyes during the day, getting stabbing pains in them or throbbing all the time, I have one eye lid which is red, over the last couple of years I have had a bad eye infection which eventaully healed and the Opthalmist said my ducts were blocked and showed me how to witpe them every day to prevent them from bocking, when I was six I had day surgery on a tear duct, also over the last year I have ahd a very dry mouth through the night that dry my toungue will be stuck to my gums. I have atheritus noddules in my hands which can be very painful and in my feet, some days I feel like I am 80 with my muscles but I push my self to keep going as I have preschool to run. I lost my mum in September and she had a few illnesses and one in particular which ended up killing her, Poly-arteritus which apparnatly not alot of reserach as been carried out onn it but it was worrying to hear about as it was my mams immune sytem which packed in, she also had Rhomatoid and Ostio Ateritus, Fibromilagia, Diabetes which was insulin dependant, she had had tripple bypass five years ago, she also had CKD and it was C-Diff which she got that finaly ended her time with us. I am also very worried about all that I have mentioned as I have an auntie who came out of surgery tonight for a four heart bypass, she is 70 but my mam was 61 when she had hers and an uncle died at 61 of an heartatack, so not alot to worry about. I like to stay healthy.





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your comment.


Please don’t swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

Hi I've had red eye lids for a long time and the optician said that it was blepharitis which he said was like a form of dermatitis of the eyelids/lashes. He told me to use a very dilute solution of Johnson's baby shampoo and warm water and to give the eyelashes (especially the ones on the upper lid) a gentle massage - and to not rub hard or overdo it. I've found this really helps. I have Sjogren's Syndrome and blepharitis can be a symptom of this. I also get bloodshot eyes because they are so dry and I use Viscotears single dose units (no preservative) to lubricate my eyes. They can make your vision go blurry for a couple of minutes because they are quite viscous. Although very comforting, I haven't found that they prevent my eyes from becoming bloodshot. I think this may just be another part of the disease. I'd be interested to know if anyone has found any cure for bloodshot eyes not caused by drink or lack of sleep!





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your comment.


Please don’t swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

hi i am very much concerned to my auntie's condition,because she is sufferring from this condition,even her gp cant do sumthing about it, she had this swollened gland,because i think saliva flow is being blocked,she doesnt felt any pain,but she losses her appetite, and her gp prescribed her an antihistamine. i wish you can help her.





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your comment.


Please don’t swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

I was diagnosed with Sjogrens Syndrome just over 3 years ago. I'm only 23 and have an array of problems! I haven't found alot of help out there and i need some! I've just spent the last 4 days in hospital with severely swollen parotid glands, i'm so sick of being sick! Can anyone help?? Any advice??





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your comment.


Please don’t swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

I have lumps on the back of my throat for about yr and a half now. Sometimes white parts coming out, not oozing, just small white lumps. Its looks very red sometimes and can hurt and even bleed. I went to my gp and they told me it was nothing to worry about, but I am! Help me please! : )





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your comment.


Please don’t swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

I would like to know why for along time and it won't go away i have two red blemmish marks on the heel of each palm of my hands. any idea's what they can mean or be? Thanks x





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your comment.


Please don’t swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

hi, i have been having this severe pain in my buttocks for the past 1yr and has become worst which i noticed that my buttocks has dramatically reduced by 4inches without weightloss. what r the causes and what can i do to stop this pains. thank u





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your comment.


Please don’t swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

I have very dry eyes . I put drops in them everytime i wake in the night & that can be three times a night. they stick together. They can also have pains in them.





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your comment.


Please don’t swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your comment.



Please don’t swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

It looks like no one else has asked this question, so please fill in the rest of your details below.





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your answer.



Please don't swear or be rude in your questions, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting questions. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines


Important Notice

The information provided on this website (including any NHS Choices medical information) is for use as information or for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical care by a qualified doctor or other qualified healthcare professional. We do not warrant that any information included within this site will meet your health or medical requirements. This Embarrassing Bodies site does not provide any medical or diagnostic services so you should always check with a health professional if you have any concerns about your health.


If you want to embed our videos in your site, read our embedding T&Cs here


More Information

  1. Consultation: Ichthyosis

    In Videos - Dr Harper treats a women for the skin condition Ichthyosis, with am…

  2. Vaginas

    In Episodes - The EI team roll into Norwich to setup a clinic in one of the count…

  3. Quick Health Advice: Bad Breath

    In Videos - Dr McKenna gives out information on how to test for bad breath and…

  4. Consultation: Enlarged Labia

    In Videos - A woman comes to see Dr McKenna about her enlarged labia.

  5. Consultation: Vaginal Prolapse

    In Videos - Dr Harper examines a woman who has suffered a prolapsed vagina afte…

  6. Consultation: Second Adult Circumcision

    In Videos - Dr Jessen examines a patient in need of a new circumcision

  7. Dr James Russell

    Doctor Info - Find out more about Dr James Russell.

  8. Dr Priya Manickavasagar

    Doctor Info - Find out more about Dr Priya.

  9. How To Check Your Vulva

    In Videos - Dr Harper's guide to how to self-check your vulva against vulval ca…

  10. Consultation: Soreness on the Penis

    In Videos - A patient is examined for soreness around his penis

  11. Dr Christian Jessen

    Doctor Info - Find out more about Dr Christian

  12. Dr Pixie McKenna

    Doctor Info - Find out more about Dr Pixie.

  13. Dr Dawn Harper

    Doctor Info - Find out more about Dr Dawn.

  14. How To Check Your Testicles

    In Videos - Dr Harper's guide to how to self-check your balls against testicula…

  15. Bodies Behaving Badly

    In Episodes - Episode 1 of Embarrassing Teenage Bodies examines conditions includ…


More Information

Content supplied by NHS Choices

Sjogren's syndrome is a condition where the body's immune system malfunctions and begins to attack healthy tissue (an autoimmune condition). Read More »

Be on the Show

Have you been inspired by the patients in the current series to seek help for your problem? Apply to be on the show here >