Long Story Short - My Sjogren's Natural Healing Journey

 Magnesium is another supplement that made a tremendous improvement in my eyes.  I've tried several different types, and found Magnesium Malate tablets work best for me (Source Naturals, 3750 mg.). I tried the capsules, but crashed within a few days.  Tried again to make sure it wasn't a coincidence, and got the same result.  Dr. Carolyn Dean has a lot of great info on magnesium in her book,  The Magnesium Miracle

  One of the best things I've discovered to help my eyes is Zienna glasses.  They have a silicone eye shield that holds in moisture and protects my eyes from air and dust.  I found them in Columbus at  Perimeter West Eyecare .  They took some getting used to, but now I couldn't make it through the day without them.  

  This one sounds pretty basic - doesn't all water hydrate?  For me, that hasn't been the case.  Distilled water and water from a Berkey filter have both caused my Sjogren's to flare.  I find I do best with spring water.  I order 5-gallon jugs from our local Culligan dealer.  I make sure to drink a full glass of water first thing in the morning (after brushing my teeth ;-)  I drink lots of water, but I avoid sipping throughout the day.  This tends to take away the little saliva I do have.

For me, prayer has been more important than any supplement, therapy, or exercise.  Each day, I unite my sufferings to those of Christ on the cross.  I offer them up for the salvation of souls and try not to waste any difficulty or inconvenience.  I am not always so valiant in my efforts as I would like, but when I struggle, I look at a crucifix and draw closer to Christ for support.  For those of you who are not familiar with the concept of redemptive suffering, this article explains it much better.  Fr. Ricardo also has an amazing talk on the subject here .   I'm praying for you too.

  Recently went to a biologic dentist because of my ongoing dental issues (cavities, gum recession, etc.) due to my Sjogren's.  He feels that most of my issues are caused or exacerbated by my mouth breathing.  I've tried to break this habit since I was a kid without success.  This week I've watched videos and read a lot on the Buteyko breathing method .  I've found mouth taping to be extremely helpful.  My mouth is no longer constantly dry and my eyes have more tears as well!!  

  My diet is the foundation of all I do.  In the beginning, I tried a host of diets:  GAPS ,  The Wahls Protocol ,  Autoimmune, the Cause, the Cure ,  The Maker's Diet ,  Weston Price .......  I eventually pulled everything together to create a diet that works for me.  I recommend reading these books to learn the basics as well as the science behind their approach.  Each person is different, so it takes some trial and error to find the right balance.  Basically, I don't eat anything my grandma couldn't have had as a child.  Here's a basic outline of the rules I follow: 1.  I don't eat any gluten. 2.  I don't eat peanuts - these are HIGHLY inflammatory for me.  This was a tough one to give up, but I am now addicted to almond butter instead. 3. I avoid all artificial food. 4.  I drink raw milk and get my eggs from the farm. 5.  I make my own kefir and kombucha (had to quit kombucha due to issues with toot...