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Suggest Treatment For Dry Mouth, Frequent Urination And Eye Irritation
Posted on
Mon, 4 Jan 2016
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Mon, 4 Jan 2016
Answered on
Tue, 2 Feb 2016
Last reviewed on
Question : I am a 56 year old male. about a month ago I began experiencing dry mouth. no matter how much ( or what) I drink my mouth is dry and I feel thirsty. About the same time, but subsequent to the initial problem I began needing to urinate constantly. Usually about once every three hours. My eyes feel dry and itchy and even my skin seems to be aging at a rapid rate. What the heck is going on?
Brief Answer:
A few thoughts:
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
I am concerned about some of your symptoms. While increased thirst (and the resulting increased urination) might be from turning the heat on in the house which creates a dryer environment, it can also be a sign of diabetes. High sugar levels in the blood cause polydipsia (increased desire to drink) and polyuria (increased urination). Often there is also increased hunger, but not always.
The dry eyes can, again be due to a dry environment, but can also be due to an autoimmune disorder called Sjogrens. While this affects women more than men, it would still be useful to consider.
I suggest you go to your doctor's office and have the following tests:
urinalysis for sugar, ketones, and protein - (for diabetes)
fasting blood sugar - (for diabetes)
Antinuclear anitbody (ANA) - for Sjogrens
Anti-SSA (Ro) an antibody test "
Anti-SSB (La) an antibody test
Rheumatoid factor
ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) which is a nonspecific test for inflammation
Your doctor may also want to do other tests.
So do make an appointment. There is treatment for both problems.
If you can't get in to see your doctor in the next week, go to an urgent care to at least get some of these labs started.
If you are willing, please let me know how you are doing after your evaluation. If this discussion is closed, you can write via a new question by putting my name at the beginning of the first line of the question and it will get to me.
I hope this helps.
A few thoughts:
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
I am concerned about some of your symptoms. While increased thirst (and the resulting increased urination) might be from turning the heat on in the house which creates a dryer environment, it can also be a sign of diabetes. High sugar levels in the blood cause polydipsia (increased desire to drink) and polyuria (increased urination). Often there is also increased hunger, but not always.
The dry eyes can, again be due to a dry environment, but can also be due to an autoimmune disorder called Sjogrens. While this affects women more than men, it would still be useful to consider.
I suggest you go to your doctor's office and have the following tests:
urinalysis for sugar, ketones, and protein - (for diabetes)
fasting blood sugar - (for diabetes)
Antinuclear anitbody (ANA) - for Sjogrens
Anti-SSA (Ro) an antibody test "
Anti-SSB (La) an antibody test
Rheumatoid factor
ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) which is a nonspecific test for inflammation
Your doctor may also want to do other tests.
So do make an appointment. There is treatment for both problems.
If you can't get in to see your doctor in the next week, go to an urgent care to at least get some of these labs started.
If you are willing, please let me know how you are doing after your evaluation. If this discussion is closed, you can write via a new question by putting my name at the beginning of the first line of the question and it will get to me.
I hope this helps.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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