Any suggestions on what to look for when buying a small, portable humidifier for my Sjogren's?

Thanks - don't think I have an infection as I'm not coughing up anything suspicious looking. I had

Pneumonia last year so I know what to look out for. The cough isn't bad or constant - I think it's my throat and larynx that maybe inflammed because I do have a salty taste all the time these days. I agree that drinking too much is counterproductive as it washed away the good stuff as well. But with this voice box issue and mild breathlessness it's the only thing I can think of to do. I such saliva stimulant pastils and spray artificial saliva but none of it gives any lasting relief to my throat and oesophagus/ hoarseness so I suspect the problem is starting lower down - reflux (which I do have) perhaps?

Apple sauce sounds interesting. We have lots of cooking apples on the tree just now so it would be great to learn your recipe here so others can benefit top perhaps?

There are all sorts of inhalers that help with different kinds of coughs and/or shortness of breath. Pneumonia isn't the criterion for treatment of these issues; symptoms are. Prolonged coughing or just daily coughing even if not prolonged can bring on or aggravate hoarseness. Have y'all mentioned these things to your doctors? If all else fails, try sucking on cough drops. Many theater and radio folks swear by Slippery Elm Bark lozenges. I used them when I was still narrating talking books.

As to applesauce, I'm flattered that you assume I cook my own! I buy it at the grocery store. But it's pretty simple. Wash, peel & chunk your apples, put in sauce pan with a little water & summer til done. If you add sugar, dissolve to in the water before adding apples and watch very carefully since sugar causes things to burn more quickly.

Let the apples cool a bit before you either mash them or process or blend them. You can mix in other fruit at the beginning, or sticks of cinnamon. Ground cinnamon should be added toward end of cooking if you use that. Enjoy!

I have had prolonged spells of coughing in the past but not recently. The hoarseness just arrived from nowhere with some breathlessness too. Guessing it's the dry air aggravating my dry larynx as I'm struggling to swallow food unless I have a tumbler of water to sip with it.

Re the applesauce - sounds good although I try to avoid sugary food and acidic stuff for sake of my oral health. I've got away with a lot less dental agro for sticking with this rule - which is good because I'm no fan of being in the dentist's chair!

I do not understand a willingness to experience breathlessness long enough to be talking about it here without talking to a doc about it. It is a huge thing and, well, decreased oxygen to brain is never good. But that's just me, I guess.

Unsweetened applesauce only has 8 - 11.grams sugar/half cup. If one eats 5 or 6 spoonfuls spread throughout the day that won't even be half that sugar amount. Remember, this is just a comfort measure to alternate between water and especially when so parched that water makes us dryer. If you make your own or buy organic there won't be any added ascorbic acid. Even the commercial sweetened stuff is so gentle on entire digestive tract that it's been part of the BRAT diet for more than 40 years.

Sounds great. I'm just in the middle of relocating for third time in a year so all sixes and sevens.

Re breathless - well I think it's more a case of hoarse but I did go to see a GP about it a few weeks ago. He listened to my chest and couldn't hear anything untoward, tested my oxygen levels and pointed out that lead having a CT with contrast from thorax down to pelvis the next day. He reassured me that this would show up anything untoward.

This was two weeks ago today in fact and I haven't heard anything from the rheumatologist or radiologist so I'm thinking that nothing untoward can have shown up. I did phone the rheumatologist's secretary last week to check results and she told me they were sitting on his desk waiting for him to return from annual leave yesterday.

I have an appointment with a GP again tomorrow but I think I'm in the clear for lymphoma and for anything too dramatic at least. I hope this reassures you that I haven't done nothing - but I think it has to be about Sjogren's dryness in my larynx or oesophagus. I had a gastroscope last year and they did say that I had signs of GORD so maybe this is the problem. The point is that the breathlessness is quite low key and seems to be part of this wheezy voice I've recently developed too. I don't have much of a cough as I've said.

Sounds perfect thanks - will bookmark. Are you going to get one? I have to wait until we've moved somewhere pernanent - in transit just now.

Hi Tumtum! I am getting one for sure and my GP recommended it today also. I have put in for a couple on my review sites so I can get for free or at a deep discount

BTW...my GP suggested a 2nd or 3rd referral for my SJS and agreed not to go back to that rheum! I She also filled out forms so if I do not want to drive over 1.5 hours to see new rheum, I can see someone outside them. Very sweet of her! Then she scheduled an appt with ENT for an endoscopy of my throat and a test where I drink a liquid as they xray me. She says she wants to cover all bases. Do you think it's a good idea or waste of time? I wish she could treat me but she says it is way above her. 

I think she sounds brilliant! At the end of the day GPs need to know a little about a lot and she's totally right not to treat you. My old GP treated me himself often and got it all wrong. Specialists know a lot about a little and a good one needs to play detective for you. Best of luck. X