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It is common for women with Sjögren's syndrome to experience vaginal dryness and painful intercourse.

Vaginal moisturizing products help to replenish natural moisture and relieve discomfort. These products include:

• Replens, a nonhormonal vaginal moisturizer that lasts for hours or even days.
• K-Y Silk-e.
• Vagisil Personal Moisturizer.

Vaginal lubricants can make intercourse more comfortable for you by relieving the friction you might experience if you have vaginal dryness. But vaginal lubricants do not add moisture to the vagina and are not useful for everyday moisturizing. Look for a water-based lubricant instead of an oil-based lubricant, which can interfere with the vagina's natural cleansing process. Vaginal lubricants include:

• Astroglide.
• Wet Lubricant Gel.
• K-Y Jelly.
• Maxilube.
• Surgilube.

Stomach

• Take a nonprescription antacid or acid reducer, such as Pepcid or Zantac, when needed, to reduce heartburn.
• Raise the head of your bed 6 inches to reduce the backflow (reflux) of stomach acid into your esophagus when you sleep.
• See your doctor if you have heartburn or reflux that does not respond to self-care.

Energy (reducing fatigue)

• Listen to your body. Alternate rest with exercise. Gradually doing more exercise may help lower your fatigue.
• Limit medicines that might make you feel sleepy, such as those used to treat anxiety, colds, or pain. But do not stop or change your medicine usage before talking with your doctor.
• Don't skip meals, especially breakfast. Improving your diet may increase your energy level.
• Reduce your use of caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol, which tend to contribute to fatigue.

Comfort (relieving inflammation and pain)

• Try daily gentle exercise-swimming in a warm pool may be good if your joints ache-and get plenty of rest every night to relieve aches.
• Acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin or ibuprofen, can help reduce mild swelling and pain. See a doctor for severe swelling and pain in the glands, joints, and muscles, which may require a different medicine or further evaluation.