Are most people able to work full-time with Sjogren's
Posted , 7 users are following.
I'm a working professional accountant who was just recently diagnosed with SS. I desperately need to find a new job but I am nervous with my condition. I now know that stress is a trigger to my flare-ups. I'm wondering if I should find a less stressful job (which will most likely mean less pay) or keep soldiering on.
I have cognitive issues with my SS. This can pose a problem when working in my profession.
Has anyone had their symptoms improve or lesson with age? I'm afraid the older I get the more severe my symptoms will get.
0 likes, 12 replies
lily65668 tammi70556
Posted
It varies widely from one individual to another. I was 51 when I got my first SS symptoms and doing a demanding conference organiser job. I got laid off three years later (nothing to do with SS, the company was failing) but worked through to age 66 in various other jobs with no problems, although my symptoms were gradually increasing.
It wasn't till I got to age 70 that my symptoms started becoming more troublesome, though I don't know how much of that was down to the natural ageing process anyway.
Some people will have a different progression. There seem to be as many variants of SS as there are sufferers.
tammi70556 lily65668
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aitarg35939 tammi70556
Posted
Tami, all that we do around here is treat symptoms. Cognitive issues are symptoms. I don't know what you're experiencing or how bad it is. I use Glutathione, either as Reduced Glutathione or L-Glutathione (much more $$$ for same effect) to treat my speech problems & help with mental organization & memory.
I've spent a lot of time with some excellent American neurologists over the last 25 years, none of them at all interested in these particular problems. Acupuncturists & naturopaths care a lot more whether it takes me 10 seconds or 1 minute to finish a short sentence & whether I suffer word sorting problems in the process. You might visit with some of these folks before giving up a career you've worked hard to achieve.
One thing's for sure in my experience: the more we think about cognitive problems the more we notice them. But others don't always notice that anything had happened.
tammi70556 aitarg35939
Posted
Thank you for the information and encouragement. My issues are short term memory, not being able to recall words or using the wrong word and not being able to focus. When I don't have a flare-up I think I do fine. I've been at my current job for 7 years. I'm afraid if I start a new job that the leaning process will be stressfull . I'm going to try the l-glutathione and see if that helps.
aitarg35939 tammi70556
Posted
You may also want to work on short-term memory. Most people don't understand that we can improve our short-term memory skills, absent some form of dementia. There are many ways to do this but one place to start is by actually punching in all the phone #s rather than letting our phones do that. If you make even 5 calls daily, this helps. You must be good at remembering numbers anyway, so that's a good place to start.
Another very easy exercise requires a stopwatch function or clock w/seconds display and a deck of real playing cards. Shuffle cards well, then time yourself as you sort them into suits. Do it no more than 3 times every day, or just once daily & keep track of your time. This works on more than just memory & has been used to help stroke/brain injury victims regain cognitive skills. Trust me, your time will improve. There are more exercises like this. Learning anything new helps.
I started with 100 mg of glutathione at about age 57, and I now use 150 mg. 7 yrs later.
Good luck.
aitarg35939 tammi70556
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tammi70556 aitarg35939
Posted
I'm deficient in vitamin D and take supplement to keep levels normal.
aitarg35939 tammi70556
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tammi70556 aitarg35939
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Yes--I had my level tested a few months ago. They did find my B12 was deficient. I had stop taking B vitamin supplement for awhile. I now know I can't stop taking it
aitarg35939 tammi70556
Posted
I would've sent this as a PM but you aren't set up to receive them:
If your cognitive symptoms started after going on a statin drug such as lipitor, that medicine could be causing the problems.
tammi70556 aitarg35939
Posted
I wouldn't take a statin drug. I'm not one for medications from pharmaceutical companies. I try to avoid if possibe.
christine_73623 tammi70556
Posted