Day 4: Rachel (Diagnosed at 25)
Please finish the following sentence: "Sjögren's has taught me...":
Patience with myself and my body.
What are your most difficult symptoms?:
Fatigue and joint pain
How has Sjögren's impacted your life (either physically, emotionally, financially)?:
I feel more limited than friends my age. It’s emotionally exhausting having an unseen disability. Balancing my energy that I give at work in hopes that I still have some to give to friends and family tends to be my greatest struggle.
How do you effectively cope with the complexity of symptoms?:
Having a good support system! But ultimately understanding that I have limits and just because people don’t see them on me doesn’t mean I have to justify or over explain. My no is enough.
What do you wish people knew about your Sjögren’s?:
It’s so much more than dry eyes!
How do you incorporate self-care with managing Sjögren's?:
Emotional rest.
What is your go-to Sjögren's product?:
Topical nsaid, Epsom salt baths, Refresh eyes and Aquaphor
What’s your best Sjögren’s tip?:
Growth is not always one foot in front of the other. Sometimes growth looks like staying still and weathering a storm. Don’t give up on pursuing the right treatment for you. You deserve to life a full life and as much as we can feel limited we need to continue to pursue life with all we’ve got and spend our energy on things that matter and bring us the greatest joy.
Day 4: Rachel (Diagnosed at 25)
Please finish the following sentence: "Sjögren's has taught me...":
Patience with myself and my body.
What are your most difficult symptoms?:
Fatigue and joint pain
How has Sjögren's impacted your life (either physically, emotionally, financially)?:
I feel more limited than friends my age. It’s emotionally exhausting having an unseen disability. Balancing my energy that I give at work in hopes that I still have some to give to friends and family tends to be my greatest struggle.
How do you effectively cope with the complexity of symptoms?:
Having a good support system! But ultimately understanding that I have limits and just because people don’t see them on me doesn’t mean I have to justify or over explain. My no is enough.
What do you wish people knew about your Sjögren’s?:
It’s so much more than dry eyes!
How do you incorporate self-care with managing Sjögren's?:
Emotional rest.
What is your go-to Sjögren's product?:
Topical nsaid, Epsom salt baths, Refresh eyes and Aquaphor
What’s your best Sjögren’s tip?:
Growth is not always one foot in front of the other. Sometimes growth looks like staying still and weathering a storm. Don’t give up on pursuing the right treatment for you. You deserve to life a full life and as much as we can feel limited we need to continue to pursue life with all we’ve got and spend our energy on things that matter and bring us the greatest joy.