Day 1: Jenna (Diagnosed at 29)
Please finish the following sentence: "Sjögren's has taught me...":
That if I listen to my body and slow down when I start noticing signs of a flare, that I can still live a great life!
What are your most difficult symptoms?:
Throat dryness that causes a tickle and coughing fits or the laryngitis that occurs following too much talking or talking too loudly
How has Sjögren's impacted your life (either physically, emotionally, financially)?:
I had to resign from my career as a teacher, which really impacted my life in a variety of ways. I've found a way to live a rather normal life now even though I had to change careers.
How do you effectively cope with the complexity of symptoms?:
I pay attention to my body and the signs that tell me I'm getting close to having a flare. I slow down when I need to and do a lot of deep breathing.
What do you wish people knew about your Sjögren’s?:
I wish people would understand that just because I don't physically look like anything is wrong, you can't see what's going on inside my body.
How do you incorporate self-care with managing Sjögren's?:
Allowing myself to rest when I feel exhausted, reminding myself to take deep breaths, and not stress over the little things.
What’s your best Sjögren’s tip?:
Don't give up. Keep moving, learning, working. You lose what you don't use.
Click Here to Learn More about Sjögren's Flares
Day 1: Jenna (Diagnosed at 29)
Please finish the following sentence: "Sjögren's has taught me...":
That if I listen to my body and slow down when I start noticing signs of a flare, that I can still live a great life!
What are your most difficult symptoms?:
Throat dryness that causes a tickle and coughing fits or the laryngitis that occurs following too much talking or talking too loudly
How has Sjögren's impacted your life (either physically, emotionally, financially)?:
I had to resign from my career as a teacher, which really impacted my life in a variety of ways. I've found a way to live a rather normal life now even though I had to change careers.
How do you effectively cope with the complexity of symptoms?:
I pay attention to my body and the signs that tell me I'm getting close to having a flare. I slow down when I need to and do a lot of deep breathing.
What do you wish people knew about your Sjögren’s?:
I wish people would understand that just because I don't physically look like anything is wrong, you can't see what's going on inside my body.
How do you incorporate self-care with managing Sjögren's?:
Allowing myself to rest when I feel exhausted, reminding myself to take deep breaths, and not stress over the little things.
What’s your best Sjögren’s tip?:
Don't give up. Keep moving, learning, working. You lose what you don't use.
Click Here to Learn More about Sjögren's Flares