Cheryll
Patient-to-patient topic:
Dry eyes and Sjögren's.
What do you wish you knew when first dealing with this symptom/situation?:
How debilitating it can be.
What are the top 3 over-the-counter products or tools you use when dealing with this symptom/situation?:
Glasses/goggles (7eye brand), Humidifier, Omega 3.
What is your best advice for another patient dealing with this symptom/ situation?:
Take every measure to keep irritants like dust, wind, air from getting in your eyes.
In a few short sentences, please tell us your story with this symptom and anything additional for advice for another patient going through something similar.:
I began having symptoms at age 24. First one eye got red and itchy which my Ophthalmologist diagnosed as conjunctivitis and prescribed me steroid drops which helped. The following week my other eye was inflamed and same protocol was used. Then both were inflamed constantly. It took 2 years to be diagnosed by my Allergist after realizing I had no allergies. The next few years were torturous as it felt like I was in a never-ending nightmare. About 5 years later, I was referred to a specialist at an university hospital who performed an amniotic membrane transplant on both eyes as they were so badly scared from years of inflammation. That procedure accompanied by a glasses/goggles changed my life by significantly reducing the number of flares in my eyes. They are still dry, but flares are seldom as long as I protect them.
Please finish the following sentence: "Sjögren's has taught me...":
Resilience.
What are your most difficult symptoms?:
Itching, burning, watering, and excretion from my eyes when inflamed.
What do you wish people knew about your Sjögren’s?:
That it takes every ounce of my determination to show up every day with a smile on my face.
How do you incorporate self-care with managing Sjögren's?:
Self-care is the most important thing to coping with Sjögren's. Learning to say no even when others do not understand. Taking time to yourself.
How has Sjögren's impacted your life (either physically, emotionally, financially)?
In addition to dry eyes, I have dry mouth, fatigue, brain fog, and muscle pain. Physically, there are many times I can't be with my family because I need to rest from fatigue and pain. Emotionally, I have had to give up many things I used to enjoy like being outside when it's windy or going to the beach to read a book. Financially, I have practically emptied my savings account twice choosing Holistic treatments which are not covered by insurance.
What is your go-to Sjögren's product?
7eye glasses with the eye cup.
What’s your best Sjögren’s tip?
Rest and keep a sleep routine.
Cheryll
Patient-to-patient topic:
Dry eyes and Sjögren's.
What do you wish you knew when first dealing with this symptom/situation?:
How debilitating it can be.
What are the top 3 over-the-counter products or tools you use when dealing with this symptom/situation?:
Glasses/goggles (7eye brand), Humidifier, Omega 3.
What is your best advice for another patient dealing with this symptom/ situation?:
Take every measure to keep irritants like dust, wind, air from getting in your eyes.
In a few short sentences, please tell us your story with this symptom and anything additional for advice for another patient going through something similar.:
I began having symptoms at age 24. First one eye got red and itchy which my Ophthalmologist diagnosed as conjunctivitis and prescribed me steroid drops which helped. The following week my other eye was inflamed and same protocol was used. Then both were inflamed constantly. It took 2 years to be diagnosed by my Allergist after realizing I had no allergies. The next few years were torturous as it felt like I was in a never-ending nightmare. About 5 years later, I was referred to a specialist at an university hospital who performed an amniotic membrane transplant on both eyes as they were so badly scared from years of inflammation. That procedure accompanied by a glasses/goggles changed my life by significantly reducing the number of flares in my eyes. They are still dry, but flares are seldom as long as I protect them.
Please finish the following sentence: "Sjögren's has taught me...":
Resilience.
What are your most difficult symptoms?:
Itching, burning, watering, and excretion from my eyes when inflamed.
What do you wish people knew about your Sjögren’s?:
That it takes every ounce of my determination to show up every day with a smile on my face.
How do you incorporate self-care with managing Sjögren's?:
Self-care is the most important thing to coping with Sjögren's. Learning to say no even when others do not understand. Taking time to yourself.
How has Sjögren's impacted your life (either physically, emotionally, financially)?
In addition to dry eyes, I have dry mouth, fatigue, brain fog, and muscle pain. Physically, there are many times I can't be with my family because I need to rest from fatigue and pain. Emotionally, I have had to give up many things I used to enjoy like being outside when it's windy or going to the beach to read a book. Financially, I have practically emptied my savings account twice choosing Holistic treatments which are not covered by insurance.
What is your go-to Sjögren's product?
7eye glasses with the eye cup.
What’s your best Sjögren’s tip?
Rest and keep a sleep routine.