Question
Hi
After over a year of going to Drs with aching and swollen joints (suspected Rheumatoid arthiritis), it appears I might have Sjogrens Syndrome, I was told this was based on the antibodies Ro & La results.  However, I notice that on all hospital and medical sites I have read the main symptoms are dry mouth and dry eyes, neither of which I have, in fact after reading the "other symptoms" the only one I have is aching joints.  My question is - do you know if it is usual / unusual to actually have sjogrens and yet not have all the dryness they mention?  
I am having more blood tests done in a month but it will be a few months after that before I will be "invited" back to the Rheuatologist and able to ask any questions(in UK now and NHS is a bit slow).

Look forward to hearing from you.
Thanks
Linda

Answer
I think "might have" is the key phrase here.  You seem to have something unfolding that your docs are just not sure about yet. Waiting a few months isn't uncommon here in the US, either, especially when the symptoms aren't adding up to something obvious.  I hope in the meantime you were given information about and treatment for joint pain.  

With the area of diseases you're talking about, treating symptoms may be the most you will ever be able to do.  However, a diagnosis may have its own importance down the road if it helps you to be vigilant to complications.  Keep working with your docs to treat now and diagnose as soon as possible.  

One thing I suggest when you're faced with a period between appointments is to start a pain and symptom diary. Include things like time of day, what you were doing when you noticed the symptom, how long it lasted, how "bad" it was (maybe even relative to your mood,) what relieved it (if anything,) etc.  For instance, I may say that it's 10:00 am and I'm having a nagging pain in my hip while sitting at the computer.  It isn't bothering me too much since I'm in a pretty good mood, and I notice that if I change position it lessens, so I get up and stretch and it eases up.  I may note later in the day it disappeared altogether.  This may have been something I'd forget or overlook at my next appt. but now I can scan my diary the day before to see what things may be significant or repeating and make a note to bring them up.