Stella's interview
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How did all start?
When I was 25 years old
Do you already have a diagnosis? How long did it take you to get it?
Yes, I have a diagnosis and it was easily diagnosed by blood tests
For what medical specialties have you been treated? What has been the most useful specialty for your?
Endocrinologist for Hashimoto's disease and a Nephrologist for Sjogren"s syndrome
What has been the most useful thing for you so far?
I follow my doctors' advices as far as I can and I colsult them in case of any medication side effect or strange symptoms
What have been your biggest difficulties?
My biggest difficulties are mouth sores, hand and feet dryness
How has your social and family environment reacted? Have your social or family relationships changed?
My family does not support me a lot. My husband has Chronic Kidney Disease and he is in a more difficult condition than me. I always put my needs aside
What things have you stopped doing?
I have stopped socializing for many years now. I avoid infections, I protect myself.
What do you think about the future?
I will continue being very careful
So far, which years have been the best years in your life? What have you done during them?
The best years in my life were before my husband's accident which caused many injuries, hemiparesis and kidney damage.
What would you like to do if you didn’t have your condition?
I would like to travel, being more social and enjoy more time with my child
If you had to describe your life in a sentence, what would it be?
Daily struggle
Finally, what advice would you give to a person in a similar situation?
Be patient with the condition, follow his or her health care provider, try to follow a healthy diet, avoid overworking his or her body, balance daily duties, take breaks to relax. I would also suggest any kind of phsychotherapy, whatever makes a person feel more calm, reduce stress and accept his or her self as a person and not as condition
