These are some of the resources I have found most helpful in dealing with Sjogren’s Syndrome and autoimmune diseases in general.
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Diagnosed with Sjogren’s Syndrome and feeling overwhelmed? Visit the Sjogren’s Syndrome Foundation website first. You’ll find videos, print resources, links to support groups, and lots of helpful advice. You are not alone!
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Heat and Cold Therapy for Arthritis Pain (WebMD)
“What Is Arthritis? Arthritis includes a variety of inflammatory and noninflammatory joint diseases such as osteoarthritis, gout, rheumatoid arthritis, and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Although the term arthritis is applied to a wide variety of disorders, arthritis means inflammation of a joint, whether the result of a disease, an infection, a genetic defect, or some other cause. “
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On the potential connection between primary Sjogren’s Syndrome and gluten intolerance:
The Moisture Seekers Sjogren’s Syndrome Foundation Newsletter: “An Inside Look at Sjogren’s and Gluten-Free Diets” (K. Wilkinson, Vol. 32, No. 9, October 2014, p.1, 14.)
Journal of Gluten Sensitivity: “The Connection Between Gluten Intolerance and Sjogren’s Syndrome” (Alexander R. Shikhman, MD, PhD, FACR, 2011. pp.22-23.)
Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology: Gluten Sensitivity in Patients with Primary Sjogren’s Syndrome (2007, Vol. 42, No. 8, pp. 962-967.)
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Recent genetic research on Sjogren’s Syndrome:
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The Immune System Recovery Plan (2013) by Susan Blum, MD, MPH
This book is a wonderful resource for autoimmune patients looking for specific information about how to talk to their doctor(s) and take an active role in managing their own health. See my full review here.
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Living Well with Autoimmune Disease (2002) by Mary J. Shomon.
Reading this book has been one of the best actions I’ve taken since being diagnosed with Sjogren’s Syndrome. Mary Shomon provides a wealth of detailed information for taking control of your own health. While some of the information may seem scary and overwhelming at first, this hope-filled and inspiring book ultimately helped give me the resolve (and tools) to face my illness with optimism. If you have any autoimmune disease, I can’t recommend this book enough.
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Skin Deep (R) Cosmetics Database
The Environmental Working Group’s “Skin Deep” online database provides easily comprehensible data and toxicity ratings for over 75,000 products. If you can’t find your favorite products in the database, try looking up individual ingredients. The industrial chemicals and toxins that we use on our bodies in the name of beauty can be absorbed by our skin and wreak havoc on our systems. While the amount of toxins in an individual product may be negligible, most people use around a dozen different personal care products every day, and those minute amounts can really add up fast. Try looking up your shampoo, conditioner, body wash, sunscreen, lotion, lip balm, make-up, toothpaste, hair styling products, and other personal care products for an eye-opening look at the non-food sources of inflammation that impact us all every day.
What IF...? Gourmet 