Supposedly it takes many years be diagnosed with Sjøgrens from the time the symptoms first appear. And when they start to appear, its hard for a patient to understand that the symptoms is actually caused by Sjøgrens.
In the early phase of the disease Sjøgrens symptoms mimic ordinary "day to day" health problems that all people experience from time to time. Therefore its normal for patients to rationalize these symptoms as being a result of stress, or just normal temporarily aches and pains.
For decades the scientific and medical communities have unsuccessfully tried to find a cure for autoimmune diseases. So far immunosuppressive drugs, like steroids, and symptoms relief medications, like eyedrops and painmedications, has dominated the treatment offered.
However, some scientists are now starting to collect the missing pieces of the puzzle, and have presented a hypothesis that all autoimmune diseases are caused by chronic infections by intracellular bacteria, living inside the phagocytes of the people affected. Based upon this science, a treatment has been designed to kill these bacteria. Hundreds of patients world wide, in close cooperation with their medical teams, are currently using this treatment, with good results.I have just started the treatment and you can read more about my progress in my blog.
To this website, here you can read about my experiences with the autoimmune disease Sjøgren's Syndrome ("Sjogren's"). The site is designed for fellow sufferers, doctors and familiy members of people suffering from Sjøgrens.
When I first got sick I spent more than four months in bed with strong pains everywhere and drowning in nightsweats. I did have some strange symptoms for some months prior to being bedbound, but I just didn't have the time to care about them much. Later, when a throat infection kicked in, it was like my whole body decided to give me a beating I'd never imagined was possible. It was surreal, sometimes it still feels like.... read more
A magazine about living life to the fullest with any disability, invisible disease, or chronic pain and features a collection of articles, personal stories, book and product reviews, health resources and an active message board for the disabled, or those living with chronic pain or illness.
About The Author of "But You Dont Look Sick"
Christine Miserandino is a writer, blogger, speaker
and patient advocate from NY. She also happens to
be someone who is living with Lupus. Her writing
has been featured in numerous newspapers,
magazines, medical newsletters and television
media.
From the age of fifteen, Christine Miserandino has been diagnosed with a myriad of illnesses from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome to Epstein Barr, and finally, many years later to a determination of Lupus. Though battling a shopping list of symptoms, Christine has consistently been told, by both well-wishers and doctors alike, “But you don't look sick.” as if that was some kind of compensation for being chronically ill. Many times, being pretty or not sickly looking, made it harder to validate an illness you cannot see.
