More saliva production

A lot of autoimmune disorders are triggered by something that happens to your body. Sometimes it's something as simple as the flu or it could be something like your case of surgery. However you mentioned that you have elevated inflammation markers and painful joints. Depending on your age that could be an indication of polymyalgia rheumatica. It typically does not affect people under 50. It's kind of known as an old person's disease. LOL I suggest you look into that disease and see if it matches any of your symptoms.

Yes, you can produce saliva and still have Sjogrens. Dry mouth was my very first symptom, 22 years ago, but it lasted less than a year in its most severe form. Since then I've produced more or less normal amounts of saliva, during the day anyway, but I still have anti-salivary gland antibodies in my blood. In fact, they've often been higher during periods of remission than during flare-ups - but that's how Sjogren's goes for some of us.

I can't think of any event that sparked off SS in the first place, but I certainly notice that any stress in my life will trigger a flare-up.

I personally prefer to steer clear of meds as far as possible, but this has to be an individual choice. I take L-thyroxine for an underactive thyroid and use a steroid inhaler for mild lung inflammation - both the result of SS - but am not on anything else. I've had GERD for years, in fact about 15 years before my first SS symptoms, but have always managed it with lifestyle measures.

I have joint problems and have been diagnoised with SS now for 23 years and i take fish oil pills they are natural  I do not take any medication expcept for natural medicines or pills. I believe that i had SS for at least 10 years before i was diagnoised And i still have saliva, but when i wake up my mouth is so dry my tongue bleeds, when i was first diagnoised i didn"t have any saliva in my mouth at all for at least two years, i drank so much water i thought i was going to drown my kidneys, the worst thing for me now is the fatigue,  I noticed my dryness straight away when the illness began, i am not sure what i linked it to although i did have glandula fever years earlier 

Hi the first two years were the hardest for me, but it got better but the tiredness is a terrible thing, after having it now for 23 years, My advice is to take one day at a time,,, and to accept who you are and the limitations it brings, but for me i went on and got a degree and travelled the world after being diagnoised it was not all doom or gloom for me, but now for the last years like 4 years i have not been able to work, i am now 54 and 55 in two months so i have had a pretty good run with it, but acceptance of who you are is the most important, not what you want to do but what you can do, I was very ill a few years ago and on life support for 11 days and my life hung in the balance, i had phumonia and complications due to SS that it had effected my lungs. I have totally different outlook on life and live my life to the fullest that i can, enjoying my 9 grandchildren and my children and husband, I have never taken medication for SS and i never will, i believe that long long term it makes the auto immune a lot worse, but take all natural products including 4 fish oil tablets aday, and hair skin and nails tablet, and i take high strength magnesium for the cramps, and will take a muti vitamin, i also will lift small weights and will do excercises with band to help improve my muscle tone i love to swim and go for quiet walks it is important to stay well physically as much as you can, sometimes i will go to bed for the day if i am too tired and i don"t mind that I just feel i have to do everything i can to help myself i wish you all the best and everyone else here to find some peace and acceptance chrissy