What Is Sjögren’s Syndrome?
Sjögren’s (SHOW-grins) syndrome is a systemic autoimmune disease that affects the entire body. While many patients experience dry eyes, dry mouth, fatigue, and joint pain, Sjögren’s syndrome can also cause dysfunction of organs such as the kidneys, gastrointestinal system, blood vessels, lungs, liver, pancreas, and central nervous system. At OP, we have been dedicated to helping Sjögren’s syndrome patients throughout the entire 29 years of practice.
Living With Sjögren’s Syndrome
A dry mouth is a very common symptom associated with Sjögren’s syndrome. Dry mouth (xerostomia) will likely cause rapid natural tooth decay. Xerostomia can be especially frustrating with denture wearers because of the pain as well as the denture not adhering as it should. Sjögren’s Syndrome also affects the mouth by making it more prone to oral infections, mouth sores, and increased difficulty with chewing and swallowing. No one patient is the same and we take pride in listening, understanding, and then acting. We understand that a lot of our patients have already begun a long journey, desperately seeking to find out what is happening with their oral health. We understand Sjogren’s syndrome, and we are dedicated to helping our patients.
How OP Can Help
Our OP doctors focus exclusively on complicated cases. Consequently, our doctors treat more rare conditions than most doctors see in a lifetime. We are renowned for using technology to assist with diagnosing and designing solutions for our patients. We are pioneers in creating more effective, less traumatic, and longer-lasting treatments. Our team has completed advanced training in surgery and prosthetics. Our patients benefit from that quest by receiving not only the best treatments to minimize the impact of Sjögren’s syndrome but also receiving the best chance at a high quality of life.
30 Days To Imagine Having Sjögren’s Syndrome
The Sjögren’s Syndrome Foundation is a wonderful foundation that has dedicated themselves to helping Sjögren’s syndrome patients as well as educating the world about this syndrome. In honor of April being Sjögren’s Awareness month, The Sjögren’s Foundation invites you to read “30 Days to Imagine Having Sjögren’s”. This syndrome can look different for each patient, we hope that this blog can give you or loved ones a sense of understanding about what Sjögren’s syndrome can look like. Here at OP, we understand the struggles that you are facing, and we are here to help.
- IMAGINE seeing ten doctors over ten years and still not knowing what you’ve got. That is Sjögren’s.
- IMAGINE having chronic fatigue that can take the living out of life. That is Sjögren’s.
- IMAGINE your dry mouth and tooth decay is connected to an autoimmune disease. That is Sjögren’s.
- IMAGINE your dry mouth makes you lose your public speaking career. That is Sjögren’s.
- IMAGINE that it’s terrifying to be without your water bottle to alleviate your dry mouth. That is Sjögren’s.
- IMAGINE when water is not enough to replenish the lacking moisture in your body. That is Sjögren’s.
- IMAGINE having your eyes hurt every day. That is Sjögren’s.
- IMAGINE feeling as if there is sand in your eye and being told your eyes are fine. That is Sjögren’s.
- IMAGINE having to regularly see a rheumatologist, dentist, ophthalmologist, OB/GYN, psychologist, neurologist, urologist, endocrinologist, internist and gastroenterologist. That is Sjögren’s.
- IMAGINE being constantly fatigued and being told, “You are just depressed.” That is Sjögren’s.
- IMAGINE having a mysterious disease that no one can diagnose. That is Sjögren’s.
- IMAGINE losing all your teeth in middle age. That is Sjögren’s.
- IMAGINE knowing you are sick and being told you are crazy. That is Sjögren’s.
- IMAGINE you are male and diagnosed with a predominantly female disease. That is Sjögren’s.
- IMAGINE living with a chronic disease unrecognized by many health practitioners. That is Sjögren’s.
- IMAGINE having dental problems 50 times more than a normal person. That is Sjögren’s.
- IMAGINE the debilitating disease you suffer from is sometimes referred to by physicians as a “nuisance.” That is Sjögren’s.
- IMAGINE burning symptoms in your feet keeping you awake at night. That is Sjögren’s.
- IMAGINE having a disease with no simple solution or treatment. That is Sjögren’s.
- IMAGINE having a disease that is hard to explain to your best friends. That is Sjögren’s.
- IMAGINE having a disease that can leave you disabled, yet no one has ever heard of it. That is Sjögren’s.
- IMAGINE knowing there is an increased risk of your baby being born with fetal heart block. That is Sjögren’s.
- IMAGINE having episodes of diffuse joint pain with no explanation. That is Sjögren’s.
- IMAGINE living a life absent of intimacy because of your chronic disease. That is Sjögren’s.
- IMAGINE feeling terrible constantly and being told it’s all in your mind. That is Sjögren’s.
- IMAGINE having a disease with no cure and only symptomatic treatment options. That is Sjögren’s.
- IMAGINE worrying that this will happen to your daughter or granddaughter, too. That is Sjögren’s.
- IMAGINE feeling as if you have the flu, all day, every day, and no one knows why. That is Sjögren’s.
- IMAGINE having a disease with a name no one can pronounce and almost no one has heard of. That is Sjögren’s.
- IMAGINE a world where everyone has heard of Sjögren’s. That CAN BE Sjögren’s.
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