"Since I was diagnosed with Sjögren's, I have learned..."
Many new things about the condition, including symptoms that I had no idea were part of Sjögren’s. My neuropathy in my feet doctors believed to be diabetes. My dry mouth doctors believe to be a gerd. My dry, dry, dry skin that doctors believed to be a lack of oil in my diet, etc. There are a constellation of symptoms that accompany this condition that begin to make one understand what is going on with your health. I think getting finally diagnosed by a lip biopsy, though painful, helped me the most because my serum test was always negative. Then, when I started reading up on Sjögren’s, I realized this is where all these odd symptoms fit. So now I know how to get better medical care.
What are your most difficult symptoms? Neuropathy and parietal nerve pain in my jaw.
How has Sjögren's affected your life and how you’ve been able to effectively cope with the complexity of symptoms? Knowledge of symptoms is key to understanding how to go about living with them. My diagnosis is new and due to COVID-19, I can’t see a rheumatologist until medical offices are opened up again.
What do you wish people knew about your Sjögren’s? Although I don’t have life threatening symptoms, they are a major hassle to deal with on a daily basis.
Given recent global events amid the coronavirus/COVID-19, do you have any specific concerns because of Sjögren's? I am concerned that I cannot get see a rheumatologist until things settle down again.
What’s your best Sjögren’s tip? Sip water throughout the day to help with oral dryness.
“Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.” – Mother Teresa
"Since I was diagnosed with Sjögren's, I have learned..."
Many new things about the condition, including symptoms that I had no idea were part of Sjögren’s. My neuropathy in my feet doctors believed to be diabetes. My dry mouth doctors believe to be a gerd. My dry, dry, dry skin that doctors believed to be a lack of oil in my diet, etc. There are a constellation of symptoms that accompany this condition that begin to make one understand what is going on with your health. I think getting finally diagnosed by a lip biopsy, though painful, helped me the most because my serum test was always negative. Then, when I started reading up on Sjögren’s, I realized this is where all these odd symptoms fit. So now I know how to get better medical care.
What are your most difficult symptoms? Neuropathy and parietal nerve pain in my jaw.
How has Sjögren's affected your life and how you’ve been able to effectively cope with the complexity of symptoms? Knowledge of symptoms is key to understanding how to go about living with them. My diagnosis is new and due to COVID-19, I can’t see a rheumatologist until medical offices are opened up again.
What do you wish people knew about your Sjögren’s? Although I don’t have life threatening symptoms, they are a major hassle to deal with on a daily basis.
Given recent global events amid the coronavirus/COVID-19, do you have any specific concerns because of Sjögren's? I am concerned that I cannot get see a rheumatologist until things settle down again.
What’s your best Sjögren’s tip? Sip water throughout the day to help with oral dryness.
“Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.” – Mother Teresa