The Sjogren's Syndrome Survival Guide

Little is known in the medical community about Sjogren's (show-grins) Syndrome - the most prevalent autoimmune disorder. Sufferers often spend years going from specialist to specialist before being properly diagnosed. This debilitating illness, in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks its own moisture producing glands, results in dry eyes and dry mouth, and dryness of the skin, nose, and vagina. It can also affect the kidneys, Gl tract, blood vessels, lung, liver, pancreas, and the central nervous system. The Sjogren's Syndrome Survival Guide is the first and only book to provide a specific programme of self-help strategies for sufferers. Psychologist and chronic illness specialist Teri Rumpf, Ph.D., and Kathy Hammitt, Past President of the Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation, are both Sjogren's sufferers. They offer readers the newest medical information and an in-depth explanation of the disorder, including how it is diagnosed. They teach readers how to advocate for themselves within the health care system and how to team up with a physician to coordinate the necessary medical care. Readers patients learn the most effective ways to reduce symptoms, deal with pain, and cope psychologically with Sjogren's challenges.