Living with Sjögren’s disease can involve much more than the eyes and mouth. Symptoms such as dryness, fatigue, pain, and brain fog can affect energy, focus, movement, and the ability to complete daily tasks.

MySjögrensTeam asked members, “Which type of symptom affects your day the most lately?” Here’s what those who responded shared:

These results reflect the experiences of MySjögrensTeam members who answered the poll, not everyone living with Sjögren’s. Still, their comments show how physical, cognitive, and emotional symptoms often overlap.

Here are some of the key takeaways.

Physical symptoms were the top response by a wide margin, and fatigue was one of the most common concerns in members’ comments.

Fatigue related to Sjögren’s can feel different from ordinary tiredness. It may last even after rest and make everyday activities harder.

One MySjögrensTeam member shared, “My biggest issue is fatigue. I’m exhausted.”

Another member said, “The fatigue. It is stealing my life.”

“The fatigue. It is stealing my life.”

— A MySjögrensTeam member

Fatigue can affect work, household tasks, relationships, exercise, and self-care. For some people, it may also overlap with pain, poor sleep, or brain fog.

Dryness is one of the best-known features of Sjögren’s. Dry eyes may cause irritation, a gritty feeling, blurry vision, or sensitivity to bright light.

One MySjögrensTeam member explained how dryness affected both comfort and vision: “My dry eyes are my worst complaint. My vision is blurry at times because it is so dry, which is very frustrating.”

Dry mouth may make it harder to swallow, speak, or taste food. It can also raise the risk of dental decay and mouth infections.

One member described how dryness affected an ordinary task: “Sometimes, my mouth is so dry, I can’t tell my alarm to turn off.”

Dryness may affect reading, driving, eating, speaking, sleeping, and other parts of daily life.

Members also described joint and muscle pain, nerve symptoms, digestive changes, and trouble sleeping.

Sjögren’s can involve joint pain, stiffness, muscle aches, and pain throughout the body. One MySjögrensTeam member explained, “The body pain is what fatigues me. It is more muscle pain. Thighs and upper arms.”

“The body pain is what fatigues me. It is more muscle pain. Thighs and upper arms.”

— A MySjögrensTeam member

Sjögren’s can also affect the nervous system and cause digestive symptoms.

One member described how unpredictable digestive symptoms could be: “Today, it was a surprise diarrhea attack. I go from constipation to diarrhea, but I never know when I’m going to have an accident.”

Sleep may be another challenge. Trouble sleeping can be part of Sjögren’s, and poor sleep may make fatigue, pain, brain fog, and emotional stress feel harder to manage.

As one member put it, “I can’t seem to ever get enough sleep.”

Mental symptoms were the main concern for 8.4 percent of poll respondents. Sjögren’s can involve brain fog, poor concentration, and memory problems that interfere with work and daily tasks.

One MySjögrensTeam member described experiencing both brain fog and fatigue: “It’s really neck and neck between the fatigue and the brain fog being the worst.”

For some people, cognitive symptoms affect work and communication. One member shared, “The inability to focus is pushing the limits with my business.”

“The inability to focus is pushing the limits with my business.”

— A MySjögrensTeam member

Brain fog may also make it harder to find words, follow conversations, stay organized, or complete familiar tasks. These changes can be frustrating.

Emotional symptoms were the top concern for 2.2 percent of respondents. Even when emotional changes are not the main symptom category, living with unpredictable fatigue, dryness, pain, and brain fog can still take an emotional toll.

One MySjögrensTeam member said, “That anxiety about literally everything. Ugh!!”

“That anxiety about literally everything. Ugh!!”

— A MySjögrensTeam member

Cognitive symptoms may also affect how people feel about themselves. One member shared, “It’s so embarrassing and frustrating and can almost make you feel like you’re not even you.”

These comments show how physical, mental, and emotional effects can overlap rather than staying in separate categories.